First things first… Again, my most sincere appreciation to all those voices who have called, written and contacted us expressing support. The level of support during this effort to silence our voice is overwhelming and very much appreciated.
The people at WordPress open source software are apologetic, and they point to the people at WordPress.com/Automattic (the business) as the issue; two different groups.
On the technical side of the equation, there is a team of independent website engineers, platform designers and exceptionally skilled technology folks working to assist us. They are working brilliantly on this process, and our CTH community would be lost without their diligent efforts.
We are blessed to have brilliant people on task, focused and executing. To say this is a considerable task would be an understatement. It is very time consuming.
At first blush, the migration seems a simple process of exporting and importing the current CTH data…. until you realize the sheer scale of data involved. There are approximately 35,000 research articles and more than 7,200,000 comments in our decade-long archives each with an independent url to handle. The first step to secure the research library resulted in an export base of 60 files, each file holding massive amounts of data for transfer.
Ten years of graphics, pdf’s, charts, images, videos and millions of internal citations within that library equates to a lot of data. Combine that with a customary 10,000 to 20,000 word daily output of analysis, and then thousands of daily unique comments, and the server space needed for file transfer (as well as the import time) was a seriously unknown variable.
So, the team built a temporary site to see how long the transfer would take. After initial efforts, the engineering realized they could not auto-run the import. Simply the issue was overloading server capacity and few systems could handle the load.
The result is the 60 files can only be loaded in batches of five at a time. Each file takes approximately 30 to 45 minutes to import. The test run took place over two+ days, and we identified a total import time of 30 to 60 hours.
By taking this painstaking approach, we are ensuring that all internal links do not result in a “404” dead link notification. Meaning the library will remain intact, and all external links that lead to the CTH library will be able to find them. Additionally, and/all citations within the CTH library will be retained, and people will be able to use all the embed links; and also importantly, all prior links to your previous comments are retained.
After we knew the architecture and data import would take approximately two days; and adding the anticipated scale of bandwidth to foresee; we have signed up for host data services with an organization that should be able to handle the volume. We are soon to transfer the data from the temporary site into the permanent site on permanent servers.
NOTE: During the transition and data transfer we will need to shut down commenting function for CTH (WordPress) until CTH 2.0 launches. The mirroring of the site during this process will take (based on the test run) approximately 40 hours +/-. As a result, it is highly likely comments will be closed for around two days. Unfortunately, there is no other way to pull this off; it is simply a matter of volume and scale.
We will continue to post new articles and you will be able to see them, you just might not be able to comment on them until the full data transfer to Treehouse 2.0 is complete. Likely, I will have to cross-post to both websites during this transitional phase.
[Remember, the articles from CTH/CTH 2.0 cross-post onto Twitter, and you can also comment there. Or use the Twitter link to return to the CTH 2.0 article when live]
On the good news side… the functionality of the new site should be similar to what you are currently experiencing. There will likely be quirks after the launch that will need to be worked out, but the user experience will hopefully remain (essentially) as it is now, albeit you will not need a WordPress account for functionality. We are using the WordPress open-source software, so most of the current site functions should transfer.
There are some proprietary WordPress.Com features that will not transfer; however, we will immediately begin a priority process of building-in those features via plug-ins where possible…. there are a variety of add-ons that can enhance the new site and even make it better. We will use those features when feasible, and when possible in our budget.
♦ Some exceptionally kind people have requested a subscription platform; however, it has always been my mission to provide the raw and cited details, with an opinion toward what it means, totally free for everyone to use as they choose.
I do not consider my finished products proprietary, because they can always be made better by smart researchers who can find even more details for a bigger story, and make it even better. The site openness and accessibility is as important to me now as it was when The Last Refuge of misfits first assembled 10 years ago. CTH will never charge for access to the truth as we can discover it.
Just as many generous people had excellent suggestions for website hosting; however, many of those were disqualified simply because they cannot handle the volume of CTH traffic without major upgrades and CTH would be paying for those upgrades. The results of the test site disqualified a lot of hosting options. We simply have a ton of data and a great deal of bandwidth use on a daily basis. Our selected host has the capacity (fingers crossed) to handle the scale we need.
♦ The domain name will remain the same: “TheConservativeTreehouse.com”, and should be seamless in transition to the new website. However, after CTH 2.0 launch you may need to clear your browser “cookies” and “cache” so that your search or bookmark reaches the new servers accurately.
How you can tell – If you find yourself only finding older articles when you visit CTH this will be the problem. Clear your “cache and cookies”, search or use your bookmarks for CTH again, and your browser should redirect you to the correct website.
We are up against a deadline of December 2nd – As a result, the graphic design of CTH 2.0 should not look much different. The site will (should) appear the same to users until we go through a process of modifying the design but retaining the theme. Our website theme is over a decade old; we are keeping it but will be refreshing some of the aspects (like the blogroll etc). On an independent site we will have options to add enhancements and make the site carry more features. That part should be fun.
When the comments go live again, please be patient if you get hung up in a moderation cue. One of our challenges will be the absence of Askimet spam filtering. It may take time to release some comments if they are hung up in moderation. The site admins do a great job with comment moderation and release so it shouldn’t be too much of an issue; and quite frankly, there are likely to be benefits from not having the WordPress software filtering through the comments as they post. Spam removal will be a priority.
Please bear with us as we work through some of the challenges of comment moderation in our new platform. It should be seamless, but just in case… well, patience is appreciated. Be assured we will work diligently during this go live phase to deal with any comment issues as rapidly as possible.
♦ Random Stuff – You may not notice, but your user experience is a top priority to us. One of the ways we do this is through opening links in a new window on your browser. As you click on any citation in a CTH article that action opens a new window in your browser; and when you “x” out of that window you return to your original place in the article. This was always a standard convenience approach a decade+ ago on websites.
However, as people started monetizing their sites they realized if they forced the person to exit and come back they could inflate their clicks or impressions. 80 percent or more of websites today push you out of the article when you click a citation and force you to return to finish reading. CTH never subscribed to this inconvenient approach, and we don’t intend to do it now. Each link will open a new page in your browser. We will not inflate our statistics by forcing you to go back and forth just to read citations or more info.
Everything is essentially ready to begin the site changeover. As soon as I know when that process will initiate, I will let you know. Once activated the ability to comment will be closed for approximately one-to-two days (30-50 hrs), though we hope to make it as quick as possible. As soon as the changeover is complete, the commenting function will return to normal…. and you will be on CTH 2.0
Any questions feel free to ask below.
Again, thank you all for your support, this is your community. All of the Treehouse admins are stewards for this place, this Last Refuge, where you are what matters.
The key to Treehouse 2.0 is recognizing we are building something within a system that wants to see us removed. Being proactive will hopefully make us better stewards for our conversation. Remember, YOU are the important part.
Without you CTH doesn’t really have a purpose. I could stand outside shouting at trees with no impact; but together, sitting on the figurative porch, the conversation is rich with unique skill-sets, subject matter experts, and life-long experiences that make discussion so much more valuable. Myself and the CTH admin team cherish the value you represent.
Love to all,
~ Sundance
…Never fight until you have to. But when it’s time to fight, you fight like you’re the third monkey on the ramp to Noah’s Ark… and brother, it’s startin’ to rain.
So very grateful to you, Admin, and my fellow treepers! You are my Refuge! Everyone else in my little world has abandoned the fight and caved. Sad! Not me! I still email my Texas Senators and Congressmen. I still email President Trump.
mnhouston, I’m right there with you. Louie Gohmert is the only one I get a sensible answer from. Cornyn & Cruz not so much and my state rep clardy……..he never answers he just quotes from his newsletter which doesn’t address any issue I’m emailing him about.
Dear Sundance and Administration,
You are the only news source that I trust. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Good luck as you transfer your files, I know that it is a massive project and I appreciate that you are doing it all for us! The quest for information, the quest for truth, the quest for ethics is in your hands and we are humbled. You are in my prayers.
Sundance- You will always be one of my great heroes along with our President Trump. I believe that both of you were sent here at this time of our greatest crisis, through Divine Intervention.
In the few short years that I have been part of the Fellowship of the Tree House, my life has changed for the better and I feel truly at home here. This has become more than a special place- to me it is almost sacred.
You know that there are many thousands of us like myself who will always support you, just say the word and let us know whatever you need.
God bless you and keep you always, my friend.
And thanks for everything.
I second that motion Seneca! Godsend – both of you! ??
samwise- thanks as always for your kind words and comments. We are so blessed to have this Fellowship.
I love this place.
My father almost blew up and was ready to fight his war against the commies when he thought cth was shutting down.
I myself knew there are some brilliant minds on here.
So many of you I have never met yet I trust you.
I am so glad there are many of you still fighting. The past few days I’ve felt like throwing in the towel but then I come here and read sundance, plus so many others.
Thank you too all.
Seneca, my friend, this site is our Sanctuary, where we can find solace and friendship without reservation. Thanks indeed to all.
What a shame to have to do all this, simply because someone can’t handle an opinion different from their own! Maybe and hopefully there will be some good that will come from all of this. Still, really unfortunate, as almost everyone that is on here is a patriot and loves this country!
I agree but things are going to get even more turbulent. It is better to find a new home and get everything bedded down before the roller coaster ride starts.
Love back.
When I read the salutation “Love to all, ~ Sundance”, it was a bit of a surprise to me to feel that familiar warmth inside because you know what you heard was meant and true. So yes, Love Back to all!
Thanks so much, Sundance and company, for all your hard work and dedication. It’s much appreciated. Looking forward to CTH 2.0!
It’s not possible to say in words what this site has meant to me. It’s the first place I go every day (actually, multiple times per day) because I know I will find the truth expressed there. In today’s media market, that’s like gold. Keep doing what you are doing, and the rest of us will be there. No one else on the internet comes close. Many thanks and good success with the new platform.
Love back.
Free, Totally Free as mankind and this world was intended.
Thank you Sundance for all you do and your incredible hard work so the world can see and hear the truth, everyday, all day!
“By taking this painstaking approach, we are ensuring that all internal links do not result in a “404” dead link notification. Meaning the library will remain intact, and all external links that lead to the CTH library will be able to find them”.
Ty
4thamendmentrestored.com
Good luck on the new site! If I had dev skills, I’d volunteer my time. But my skills run more on the server/network admin side of things.
SD, you and the Admin. team got this. Thanks for the update. Happy Thanksgiving.
Just one point about Askimet. They constantly filter my comments on a football site run by a commie liberal lawyer. Maybe 1 in 10 go through. And they are always moderated first.
Is it just me, or just a that how assinette works?
Someone (an admin) on that site has put you on a moderation list…..most likely, because you espouse conservative views. Askimet primarily filters out spam.
Thanks, and good to hear from you again!
Thank you. ?
Sundance, you never ever ask us for donations. I respect that.
I don’t know if you are independently wealthy and do not want to know.
But I do know that hosting and IT experts’ time is valuable and thus usually costly.
I do hope that our donations are frequent enough and of sufficient aggregate magnitude to offset all of your site transition, operation, and maintenance costs.
I shall continue to donate periodically and know you will make judicious use of those resources.
God bless you with good health and continued wisdom.
And please Sundance don’t ever be shy about the need for donations. I don’t have a lot but I will send what ever i can. just say the word.
Regards,
Eve
Very well stated GB Bari, I strongly second your thoughts.
CTH is pure gold. Glad to have found it years ago.
Glad to see it made clear that wordpress.org the open-source project is NOT the same as wordpress.com, the hosting provider. It only makes sense to go with a new host using wordpress software, best and maybe the only way to assure continuity of site features.
One thing about the transition is that it may be easier to incorporate new capabilities. Especially since wordpress has only a zillion plugins (many freely available). Probably that’s the greatest asset of the wordpress universe. I’ll put in a plea here to consider installing one of the comment plugins that includes EDITING. What a blessing that would be!
But like everyone else I look forward to v2.0, I’m certain it will be an improvement in many ways!
Good luck from one of your Australian fans. You have some good recognition for your work down here. The whole West is tied to America and the fate of Trump, whether they realise it or not. Thanks for your tireless efforts. I will be checking out the new site when it is ready. All the best with the migration.
Thanks, Sundance.
You may be amused to be reminded that medium.com (a confirmed SCYTL-linked blog) listed your site as a possible example of Russian-created propaganda aimed at influencing the 2016 U.S. election. Given what we know now, this adds even more credibility to your work, and further evidence of where SCYTL stands today, politically.
Source: medium.com
Pretty funny when you consider that this blog has been around since February of 2011.
This is a bit like preparing to give birth.
You assume all will go well, but you’re not sure what the new family member will look like.
There’s excitement and anticipation.
So it’s always a nice surprise.
We are so blessed to have you and Ad Min and everyone involved..Wheels Up!!!!!!
Sundance,
Is there a way to setup a donation page for those of us that would like to assist in covering costs? I agree that this information should be free for anyone and everyone, but the technology costs can be daunting, and heck if we could all chip in to cover new features, I’d be happy to do that. 🙂
God Bless and keep you Sundance!
You are a treasure I feel fortunate to have found.
Thank you ?
Strength Courage and Perseverance
WOLVERINES
Thanks for the “opening links in a new window” thing. Huge hassle when that doesn’t happen…and so nice when it does!
So glad to read about all the progress you’re making for your move,Sundance! I am so grateful for this blog and community and pray all the process goes well. You do so much for your readers.
May the Lord bless you and all the team behind the scenes.
I live for you Sundance, every day and every night. Your research is the best, your analysis par none. Then I have the ultimate pleasure of reading your brilliant commenters. I love your site, and hope you are able to get 2.0 up and running without too much trouble.
Best of luck, we will all be with you
God Bless You Sundance!!!
Moderators and Posters too!
I would be lost without all of you.
I have learned so much from you.
We have gone through so much
together. I love you All!
tomstartzblog ,
I Second Those Emotions , Tom ?
GodSpeed Sundance and Crew !
Thank You for Everything ?
The mind boggles at the size of your database! Can’t wait to experience the new site and enjoy all the comments, maybe I’ll be able to *like* comments too. Thanks for cross posting articles. Don’t think I could go 30-50 hours without reading this site. Also, thanks to Sundance and all the great mods here.
I am VERY curious about your name !
God bless the Treehouse. I truly love this site. I don’t post much but I pray for all the treepers. Thank you Sundance!
Thank you for these updates Sundance. We know you and your team are working your butts off right now and not getting a lot of sleep. Do not worry. Everything has a way of working itself out. God willing, your move over to CTH 2.0 will be seamless. Whatever it takes, I will follow you.
Sundance – here’s to your new venture!
It is said that good, kind and righteous people are magnets to other good, kind and righteous people; others flock to them. Truth is always valued and sought out by the discerning. The outpouring of this community and the physical volume of the data amassed by your blog speaks to the truth of this sentiment.
I patiently await the launch of Treehouse 2.0 with great anticipation. Godspeed and may you be blessed with your endeavor!
I don’t comment much. But in this crazy year of 2020 reading what WordPress.com did to you struck me as so unjust. For them to oust you without giving specifics is the act of a bully. Beneath all types of tyranny are many things being covered up – cowardness being one. I as so many others have benefited greatly from your work and know that a great deal of time, energy, and love of our founding principles and God are the foundation from which your work springs. Have a great Thanksgiving! And than you.
I come to CTH several times a day for in-depth analysis. God Bless you and thank you for all you do. I seldom comment, but I’m an avid student here.
Dear brothers in Christ. Do not worry about losing any information here is a copy of your Webpage where almost all the information will be saved for future reference. https://web.archive.org/web/*/https://theconservativetreehouse.com
?May God continue to bless you and God bless America. ??
Yes Duane, agree. I would like to donate, need to know new site to be sure it goes to Sundance.
Use the donate link in the upper right hand corner. It goes to a PayPal account that is administered by Sundance.
Sundance; are we going to have to sign up for new usernames and passwords, or will they migrate over also?
Im looking forward to 2.0
One question: I never created a WP account to access TCTH. I was able to initially log in using my nickname and an email account, and even though I cant change my silly avatar or like comments, Im OK with that. Will I be able to do the same with 2.0, or will I have to create an account?
jus: I am the same status and had the same thought/question.
I have every confidence that you will be able to continue as you have before without any necessity of creating an account.
Sundance, has this been a year or WHAT??!! I can’t imagine what all your brain and emotions have had to deal with! THANK YOU. And thank your family for sharing you with the WORLD! Hope you get to enjoy a blessed Thanksgiving.
Sure hope you have competent attorney(s) looking/negotiating over any agreements/contracts…
performance metrics, tech support priorities…. offsite backups/mirroring…. security…
I was a moderator on a hugely high-traffic site awhile back, and we went through a similar WordPress.com migration when we outgrew their hosting. It was a nightmare to deal with so much data. I wish you the best of luck and I’m so glad a great team is in place!
My advice: make at least 5 backups of everything before you pull the plug. Our migration was interrupted multiple times because of server timeouts and it ended up that 3 of our backups were damaged. If we didn’t have the 4th one, we would have been screwed. I don’t recall the details of what happened, I just remember days without sleep!
Looking forward to Treehouse 2.0. Thanks for everything you and the CTH family do.
TY SD and your Team of Patriots!
Hopefully Sidney Powell’s release tomorrow will beat the comment curtain…
May you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Will RSS be functional on the new site?
Appreciate your and all your helpers efforts! Only media source and community I could possibly need or want. Look forward to being able to continue visiting your site while sipping my coffee first thing every morning & before laying down to bed at night.
Stay frosty people. Enjoy your time with your families and friends over Thanksgiving, and deny those who would drive you apart.
The ties that bind… there are bonds in life that are closer than blood, and stronger than steel. Do not lose sight of those so very precious things in life.
Sundance AdRem and everyone there at CTH.20 thank YOU!!!
If you weren’t there, we could not visit the truly Last Refuge.
With gratitude and love.
Thanks Sundance! Will be praying for a smooth transfer to CTH 2.0
Hi Sundance and Your Administration Staff:
Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Thank you for updating us in detail.
And thank you also for educating me in detail of what is really going on. I have sense it for a long time, but I just can’t figure it out how. Your articles (especially that Paris Treaty) closed the loopholes of what I needed to understand.
As I told you before in one of my recent postings, I already have included you in my prayers along with Atty. Sidney Powell, Atty. Linwood, my Pres. Trump of course, and etcetera.
But now, I will also include your administration staff.
Please say thank you from me to the technical engineers that are helping you transfer those datas.
Lastly, think of my suggestion in my previous posts of publishing all your articles in volumes of books for this generation and the succeeding generations to come.
May Father GOD, Jesus, The Holy Spirit, and Mother Mary keep on blessing you with your endeavors for TRUTH and FREEDOM.
It’s good to know that WordPress, the software, is good to go as long as you find a hosting company that doesn’t play politics. I’m just starting to create a site.
WordPress.com is a hosting site and WordPress.org is the software site.
I have had a Weak attempt at a Blogsite here at WordPress for nearly 10 years…
Ironically I Named it…. “endvoterfraudnow.wordpress.com” !
“I created this blog-site to express a Conservative’s disgust at the Obama administration’s….. (and Democrats and GOPe in general) disregard and blatant abuse of the Constitution of the United States of America …. and her citizens.”
“Barack Obama, has anyone ever noticed….
Every single thing that this man does… and every single person he surrounds himself with…. is NEGATIVE in nature !”
“They have not done one thing that has had POSITIVE results for America…”
“Mainly, his actions all have benefits for our enemies… or his actions in some way weaken the USA.”
“Of course, a lot of his actions do benefit his democrat supporters, who in return will donate to his re-election campaign…. instead of doing what is right for America.”
“The Republicans/Conservatives need to rid the Congress and the White House of this plague that has infested Washington DC. and it need to start today !”
I am Removing my Blogsite from WordPress because ….
THEY CAN KISS MY DEPLORABLE ALL AMERICAN-ASS ….and I will never Voluntarily Support Asswholes that treat Real Patriotic Americans like Sundance … like 2nd Class Citizens !
Much obliged, Sundance!!!
Feels like I’m crawling in a cryotube for a trip to Mars?
Godspeed, Treehouse flock. See ya on the other side.
Thanks for everything you do, Sundance.
Thank you so much for all you do. It’s going to challenging so my deepest appreciation for your efforts. I’m looking forward to the new abode.
One tiny suggestion, please purge the Conservative Heroes & Legislative Contact list. A few of those characters should be tarred and feathered.