Over the past several weeks the tech team behind CTH 2.0 has been working on a test site to optimize the battle-tank known as The Last Refuge.  This is phase-3 of the CTH anti-fragile system, know as the optimization phase.

The goal of optimization is to take the decades-old weight of our site, lighten the server load, increase the response time and simultaneously generate a site that optimizes based on the type of hardware being used by reader: desktops, laptops, tablets and mobile phones.

When CTH originally launched over a decade ago the theme was responsive to desktop and laptop computer users.  Mobile platforms were in their infancy.  Now more than half of website users are coming to sites from tablets or phones.  The optimization phase will make those user experiences easier and more responsive.

The landing page of CTH will not change too much (example image on left). However, each of the top links “About Us”, “guidelines” etc will generate a different impression for the user.  The right margin will be streamlined on the Main landing page, and we will be introducing an alliance of allies to replace the old-school blogroll.

Most of the decisions for the layout, font and navigability have been worked out; and now the coding is underway to generate the final product.  Once that is established we will run it through the paces on the test site before switching over; much like the process we used when we switched from WordPress/Automattic to our own server network.

Several website operators have reached out asking us to provide details on the infrastructure being used to stay “anti-fragile”, meaning outside the reach of big tech.  There may come a day when that information is possible to share, but it will not be in the near future.  CTH is operating with an abundance of caution in the era of deplatforming and targeting.

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Friend of the TreeHouse John Spiropoulos files a ground report to showcase some lesser contemplated impacts from the COVID-19 regulatory rules and restrictions.  As John shares:

“The larger story is the impact on their “customers” — young ballplayers. My report is about one small business involved in one sport in one state. The shutdowns have hurt every young player in every sport, tens of millions of them. Youth sports fulfill a vital role in a young person’s life, providing valuable life lessons. It matters not whether they make it to the “next level” or whether that’s even their desire.”

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A recent question: “Thank you Sundance for all your hard work and keeping us informed and armed against information warfare. But what is the plan from here ?”

Begin with the end in mind.

In July/August of 2020, it became abundantly clear what the intents of the collaboration between Deep State leftists and Big Tech were.  CTH then began a proactive process called “Operation Alamo.”

Operation Alamo was essentially a quietly created insurance policy against the worst case scenario in the outcome of the 2020 election.

It is my informed opinion that discussions surrounding ‘Operation Alamo’ were intercepted. However, we organized, operated and planned as if all those communications would be intercepted.

That intercepted information led to CTH’s immediate deplatforming in the days after the election.  Big Tech was told who to target first, Automattic took a payment and proceeded according to their instructions.  The goal was to remove CTH from the fight…. they failed.

A dedicated team of wolverines within the machinery of Big Tech were part of Operation Alamo, and they were quick to establish CTH 2.0, which is where you are right now.

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Hundreds of people have asked for a new email notification system that will alert people to new content posted on CTH 2.0. It has been a lengthy process of research and deliberation & we have selected a third-party vendor to deliver the requested email notification service.

We have purchased Feedblitz as the provider to send email notifications. You can sign up by clicking the “sign up for email delivery” link in the right margin just under the search box. When you click the link you get this registration box:

[Feedblitz Privacy Statement Here]

CTH looked at several options over the past six weeks.  Feedblitz seems to be the best, scalable option for this service.  However, a note of caution…

Whenever you subscribe to a notification system you are “opting-in” to a system that needs to track your identity (email address) in order to facilitate the request.  The notification system, based on the entire function of the process, is inherently gathering data and assembling a list of subscribers.  [Read Privacy Policy Here]

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The CEO of Parler, John Matze, appears on Fox News to discuss the targeting of the social media platform and the removal of their website from Amazon servers.

Obviously the issue of targeted deplatforming is one close to the current community of CTH 2.0 users and administrators after we suffered a similar targeting from WordPress/Automattic.  However, there is something about the Parler construct that is puzzling.  WATCH:

Outwardly, Parler launched as an alternative to Twitter for conservative and liberty-minded voices concerned about having a space for free speech.  With that in mind why would Parler start by using Amazon host services for their platform?

While it is not OK for Parler to be removed under any circumstances, John Matze primary responsibility was stewardship toward the Parler user community.  Responsible stewardship would not include going to the ideological Big Tech enemy, Amazon, for the primary provider tools for the platform.

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Friend of the Treehouse John Spiropoulos attended the January 6th rally in Washington DC and provides this third video report from the event.

[First Report Here] – [Second Report Here]

This is the third “Spirit of America” report “featuring people from across the USA who came to Washington to express concerns about the election and the restrictions on the personal liberties.”  This “Spirit of America” report features readers of the Conservative Treehouse.  Meet the modern day Paul Revere riders; the “Rebel Alliance”, aka YOU!!

There may be more reports from John as he assembles, edits and presents more interviews.  Additionally, John shares with us his plan to keep reporting on stops as he travels back to California from DC.  “On the way back across the country I’m going to resume the Let’s Roll America tour with a twist. The focus: COVID Compliance and how it’s wrecked the economy, lives and personal liberties. If you have any ideas, I’m all ears.”

You can support John at his GoFundMe-Here, as well as GiveSendGo-Here Also any CTH member who would like the opportunity to meet up with John for his cross-country video segments can contact him via his email address: [email protected]

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First things first…. It is important to identify protection and favor when it surfaces.  CTH is not only thankful for our ability to be faithful stewards to our community, but at this specific inflection point we are thankful to God for his providence.  CTH stands steadfast!

Was it not for the notification and deplatforming in November, and the inspired members of the Rebel Alliance that came to our aid, we may not have survived the past 24 hours.

Thank you.  We are humble and steadfast to our mission.  Ever faithful.

To the larger CTH community, we are fortunate to have an anti-fragile system in place to withstand the deplatforming currently underway by Big Tech.  So-far, so-good, fingers crossed.

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… “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”

~ Robert Frost

2020 has been a tumultuous year for all of us.  As the eve winds down we are given to considering everything that has taken place. We are challenged; perhaps our center is askew; perhaps our faith holds a new perspective, or perhaps our exhaustion weighs heavy as we rush turning to the next chapter…. hoping, praying for a better tomorrow.

It seems a lifetime ago; a time of carelessness taken for granted; and yet, I remember it as if it were yesterday.  Driving North to see family and randomly saying “let’s just turn left in Ohio & head west.” It seemed randomly nuts at the time; however, a decade later as I held her hand & gave permission to say goodbye, I was blessed to have made that decision.

Regardless of what tomorrow brings, we have choices.  A new year’s perspective:

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Steadfast doesn’t mean when it’s easy; the term has no meaning when things are working according to our own convenient interests. Steadfast means standing strong when it’s challenging, difficult and unnerving. Just as courage is not the absence of fear, rather it is taking action despite being fearful; so too is steadfast a decision.

Often when things are disconcerting, we retreat to the place where we are comfortable. However, steadfast is unwavering despite the obstacles and difficulties. When we don’t hold the words to comfort the grieved, yet we show up and sit quietly just to eliminate loneliness, that is a steadfast commitment. When we see adversity on the face of another, and we choose to engage with our time and comfort, that is a steadfast decision.

When CTH was formed, it was a small assembly of misfits who were not fearless, but brave enough to be comfortable within our discomfort; and we knew we had to look deeply at the issues which face us. We remind ourselves that ‘truth has no agenda‘ & truth exists despite our feelings of the subject matter. The core elements of CTH are based on this principle of remaining steadfast amid the face of adversity, national, political or even personal.

The CTH armory is insightful, wise and often purposeful, but this assembly is foremost a fellowship.  A steadfast decision to stand together and figure out how all of these intense subjects, issues and events interact, influence and ultimately impact our lives.

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It is amazing to consider that less than 6 weeks ago CTH was notified of the deplatforming of our corner of the internet.  However, what is even more amazing is how fortunate we were to find a group of people, with a very specific set of skills, who knew exactly how to counter these efforts of Big Tech…  And they pulled-off an amazingly stable website architecture in two weeks.

CTH is thankful beyond imagining. Your support in this endeavor is cherished and appreciated.

We are roughly three weeks into the stabilizing phase of the site construct and while there is a lot of work ahead, the outcome is remarkable.   Here’s some updates for readers and users:

What we have created, and are continuing to build-out, is something new in the landscape of web-hosting and websites.  CTH is running stable on a platform where no user data is ever captured.  Not a single element of user privacy is controlled by any internal architecture.  Meaning, there’s not a single element of your CTH engagement that is not controlled by you, 100%.  In the modern era of websites, this is a paradigm shift.

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