The Little Thread Which Grew - the Apollo '73 to Everything But

[CarmeloOrchards]

Re: So much has changed in only 2 years!

Carmelo, in line with what you wrote, I've noticed that suddenly are viewership has taken a huge jump. We passed 500k on Nov 21, here only 3 days later, on Nov 24 (both are Australian dates) we are already at 508,400. That is 8,400 in just 3 days or 2,800 a day. That works out to 19,600 per week which is about 4 times more than we have been averaging our first 2 years!

Perhaps once a thread exceeds 500,000 hits it gets distributed more than other locally originated threads. Does anyone have a clue why readership would quadruple once 500k was reached?
Lakey

Reminds me of the old Yogi Berra line, "Nobody goes there anymore - it's too crowded."

 

[lkwdblds]

Re: So much has changed in only 2 years!

Reminds me of the old Yogi Berra line, "Nobody goes there anymore - it's too crowded."

Hey Carmelo, its 5 hours later, 11 PM, California time. We went up from 508,400 to 510,400 in just the last 5 hours. Currently there are 3 members and 92 guests reading the thread. It seems like someone has assigned this thread as reading to a large group.

My dream is that it would be a university class wanting to understand better the mysteries of Scientology. We have always had a few scholars reading our pages, but never in this quantity. Prior to reaching 500,000 hits, our biggest day was 1,300 when Johnny, the Magic Thetan first became active. Here we just made 2,000 hits in the last 5 hours and about 10,000 in the last 3 days. There are 98 people reading the "My Story Inside Scientology" category and 95 of them are reading our thread and only 3 are reading all the other threads combined. Some major change has taken place.
Lakey

 

[FoTi]

Re: So much has changed in only 2 years!

Carmelo, in line with what you wrote, I've noticed that suddenly our viewership has taken a huge jump. We passed 500k on Nov 21, here only 3 days later, on Nov 24 (both are Australian dates) we are already at 508,400. That is 8,400 in just 3 days or 2,800 a day. That works out to 19,600 per week which is about 4 times more than we have been averaging our first 2 years!

Perhaps once a thread exceeds 500,000 hits it gets distributed more than other locally originated threads. Does anyone have a clue why readership would quadruple once 500k was reached?
Lakey

That is kind of curious. I wonder who all those people are that are reading this thread?

 

[Panda Termint]

Re: The old days - Aboard the Apollo - 1973

LOL, they may not be doing too much actual reading. Many visitors to this thread are undoubtedly quite curious as to wtf would anyone here have to talk about for over 675 pages and 13,483 posts?

 

[Karen#1]

Re: The old days - Aboard the Apollo - 1973

Carmelo has invited me to join this thread a few times.
So here I am.

Can't go backwards and read it all, but will contribute from time to time.

Lakey, I have always enjoyed your posts.

Just curious :

1) Has the Maderia/Funchal incident been discussed ?

2)
Crossing the Atlantic in blackness with the Apollo in total darkness to avoid being seen ? Anyone on this board that crossed the Atlantic ?

 

[The Anabaptist Jacques]

Re: So much has changed in only 2 years!

Hey Carmelo, its 5 hours later, 11 PM, California time. We went up from 508,400 to 510,400 in just the last 5 hours. Currently there are 3 member and 92 guests reading the thread. It seems like someone has assigned this thread as reading to a large group.

My dream is that it would be a university class wanting to understand better the mysteries of Scientology. We have always had a few scholars reading our pages, but never in this quantity. Prior to reaching 500,000 hits, our biggest day was 1,300 when Johnny, the Magic Thetan first became active. Here we just made 2,000 hits in the last 5 hours and about 10,000 in the last 3 days. There are 98 people reading the "My Story Inside Scientology" category and 95 of them are reading our thread and only 3 are reading all the other threads combined. Some major change has taken place.
Lakey

And you don't even have any nudity on this thread (this is a plug for the FCDC thread)

The Anabaptist Jacques

 

[lkwdblds]

Re: The old days - Aboard the Apollo - 1973

Carmelo has invited me to join this thread a few times.
So here I am.

Can't go backwards and read it all, but will contribute from time to time.

Lakey, I have always enjoyed your posts.

Just curious :

1) Has the Maderia/Funchal incident been discussed ?

2)
Crossing the Atlantic in blackness with the Apollo in total darkness to avoid being seen ? Anyone on this board that crossed the Atlantic ?

Hi Karen - I am thrilled to receive a post direct from you and to hear that you like my posts. You know, I was introduced to you twice. Once in March of this year at Chen Academy celebration. I was there with Candy and we exchanged hellos. The other time was at the big Scn New Year's Eve party at the Shrine auditorium as 1998 changed to 1999. I was there and Heber was talking to a group of people. I hadn't seen Heber since 1981 but he and I worked together quite closely at CCLA in the early 70's when he was Assistant Guardian for Finance and I was sort of running CCLA Treasury Division.

While he was talking, I went over and stood in front of him and he yelled out my name and shook my hand and hugged me and then introduced me to everyone in his group. I believe you were present as well and I was introduced to you.

Anyway, to answer your questions:
(1) Funchal Madeira - Where I attempted to jump ship and went to the American Embassy there and told them I lost my passport and asked for a temporary replacement - Yes, that is somewhere early on this thread around page 3 or page 4.

As far as the major incident having to do with the Apollo All-Stars and the ship and its crew being attacked by a rock throwing mob at the docks, I don't believe that incident has been discussed on this thread. I am familiar with it because I read the Kima Douglas story and she has a great write up on that incident. Also, Afaceinthecrowd has mentioned it on his All Stars thread, I believe.

(2) On crossing the Atlantic in blackness. I routed out around Dec 11, 1973 so I was not present for the Atlantic crossing and did not mention it. One of our top posters on this thread, Afaceinthecrowd was present on that cruise, I believe. I don't think that he has described that cruise on this thread but maybe he has done so on some other ESMB thread.

Karen, please do contribute on this thread from time to time. You would be a great addition to our thread and, as you now know, we have a very large audience for your posts to reach.
Very best, Lakey

 

[lkwdblds]

Re: So much has changed in only 2 years!

And you don't even have any nudity on this thread (this is a plug for the FCDC thread)

The Anabaptist Jacques

I believe we had a bit of nudity once or twice. There was an incredibly sexy video posted about a very of Swedish looking Super Model types parachute jumping in the nude in Europe somewhere, maybe Germany, because Wagner's "The Ride of the Walkyre" music is playing.

FCDC is right around 300,000 posts which isn't too shabby either.
Lakey

 

[lkwdblds]

Re: The old days - Aboard the Apollo - 1973

LOL, they may not be doing too much actual reading. Many visitors to this thread are undoubtedly quite curious as to wtf would anyone here have to talk about for over 675 pages and 13,483 posts?

Uh, you missed the page count of the thread. We're at 1,349 not 675.

Why do you think they are not reading much? Don't they have to read to satisfy their curiosities? Two hours ago, there were 95 people reading the thread and no there are 96. With the number remaining constant like that for 2 hours, it would suggest that people are reading.
Lakey

 

[Karen#1]

Re: The old days - Aboard the Apollo - 1973

Hi Karen - I am thrilled to receive a post direct from you and to hear that you like my posts. You know, I was introduced to you twice. Once in March of this year at Chen Academy celebration. I was there with Candy and we exchanged hellos. The other time was at the big Scn New Year's Eve party at the Shrine auditorium as 1998 changed to 1999. I was there and Heber was talking to a group of people. I hadn't seen Heber since 1981 but he and I worked together quite closely at CCLA in the early 70's when he was Assistant Guardian for Finance and I was sort of running CCLA Treasury Division.

While he was talking, I went over and stood in front of him and he yelled out my name and shook my hand and hugged me and then introduced me to everyone in his group. I believe you were present as well and I was introduced to you.

Anyway, to answer your questions:
(1) Funchal Madeira - Where I attempted to jump ship and went to the American Embassy there and told them I lost my passport and asked for a temporary replacement - Yes, that is somewhere early on this thread around page 3 or page 4.

As far as the major incident having to do with the Apollo All-Stars and the ship and its crew being attacked by a rock throwing mob at the docks, I don't believe that incident has been discussed on this thread. I am familiar with it because I read the Kima Douglas story and she has a great write up on that incident. Also, Afaceinthecrowd has mentioned it on his All Stars thread, I believe.

(2) On crossing the Atlantic in blackness. I routed out around Dec 11, 1973 so I was not present for the Atlantic crossing and did not mention it. One of our top posters on this thread, Afaceinthecrowd was present on that cruise, I believe. I don't think that he has described that cruise on this thread but maybe he has done so on some other ESMB thread.

Karen, please do contribute on this thread from time to time. You would be a great addition to our thread and, as you now know, we have a very large audience for your posts to reach.
Very best, Lakey

Thanks for the warm Welcome Lakey !
I have indeed enjoyed your posts and getting filled in on the early days of Yvonne Jentzsch at CCLA.

Must catch up on Kima's posts.
Dart Smohen did some remarkable stories.
Face and I are good buddies.

Before it got renamed "APOLLO"

 

[Panda Termint]

Re: The old days - Aboard the Apollo - 1973

Uh, you missed the page count of the thread. We're at 1,349 not 675.

Why do you think they are not reading much? Don't they have to read to satisfy their curiosities? Two hours ago, there were 95 people reading the thread and no there are 96. With the number remaining constant like that for 2 hours, it would suggest that people are reading.
Lakey

You're mistaken to tell me I'm mistaken about the page count. The page count is relative to the User's chosen settings; I obviously choose to have twice as many posts per page as you.

I was just suggesting a possible answer to FoTi's question. I know that I visit here often but reading everything that is posted is another matter. Occasionally something might grab my interest, otherwise I tend to do a lot of scan and scroll. I do like the thread, though, I remember telling you that some time ago.

Are the thread statistics particularly important to you for some reason?

There are currently 6 users browsing this thread. (1 members and 5 guests)

 

[DartSmohen]

Re: The old days - Aboard the Apollo - 1973

Thanks for the warm Welcome Lakey !
I have indeed enjoyed your posts and getting filled in on the early days of Yvonne Jentzsch at CCLA.

Must catch up on Kima's posts.
Dart Smohen did some remarkable stories.
Face and I are good buddies.

Before it got renamed "APOLLO"

Photo taken in Valencia dry dock. I was the Condition One helmsman who took her in. This was the end of the Liability Cruise.

Most of us were sent to Alicante to the (temporary) AO there.

A lot of this is covered in WWW PAULSRABBIT.COM

Dart

 

[Terril park]

Re: So much has changed in only 2 years!

Carmelo, in line with what you wrote, I've noticed that suddenly our viewership has taken a huge jump. We passed 500k on Nov 21, here only 3 days later, on Nov 24 (both are Australian dates) we are already at 508,400. That is 8,400 in just 3 days or 2,800 a day. That works out to 19,600 per week which is about 4 times more than we have been averaging our first 2 years!

Perhaps once a thread exceeds 500,000 hits it gets distributed more than other locally originated threads. Does anyone have a clue why readership would quadruple once 500k was reached?
Lakey

Are there any other threads here which have such a following, or is this unique?

One possible reason is that all ESMB posts are public, and many topics are spoken of here apart from scn. So if you search for example cars and planes
one might find this thread.

 

[Ted]

Re: The old days - Aboard the Apollo - 1973

Uh, you missed the page count of the thread. We're at 1,349 not 675.

Why do you think they are not reading much? Don't they have to read to satisfy their curiosities? Two hours ago, there were 95 people reading the thread and no there are 96. With the number remaining constant like that for 2 hours, it would suggest that people are reading.
Lakey

Or like me they could just keep the page open while going off to do something else?

 

[RogerB]

Re: So much has changed in only 2 years!

I believe we had a bit of nudity once or twice. There was an incredibly sexy video posted about a very of Swedish looking Super Model types parachute jumping in the nude in Europe somewhere, maybe Germany, because Wagner's "The Ride of the Walkyre" music is playing.

FCDC is right around 300,000 posts which isn't too shabby either.
Lakey

Well, that was not an attempt at posting nudity . . . it was actually the posting of a TV advertisement from Germany . . . it was done in honor of Heidrun B who at that part of our Apollo journey was discussing her German views on nudity.

I was rather amazed at seeing the extent of "uncoveredness" and other rather explicit subjects covered in TV on Euro land versus the puritanical USofA

Actually, while one poster retorted in the vein of it being "indecent" and such . . . it was an actually very humorous advert and well played.

And yes, there was a nude shot in it, but hardly pornographic . . . just the lovely art of nature And what an artist Mother Nature is!

Rog

 

[CarmeloOrchards]

Re: texting acronyms for seniors

Are you trying to keep up with the kids? Are you texting for the first time?

We thought you needed help with texting your friends…after all, the kids have all their little codes…like BFF, WTF, etc.

Check it out!


So here are the codes for seniors:

ATD – At the Doctor’s
BFF – Best Friend’s Funeral
BTW – Bring the Wheelchair
BYOT – Bring Your Own Teeth
CBM – Covered by Medicare
CUATSC – See You at the Senior Center
DWI – Driving While Incontinent
FWBB – Friend with Beta Blockers
FWIW – Forgot Where I Was
FYI – Found Your Insulin
GGPBL – Gotta Go, Pacemaker Battery Low
GHA – Got Heartburn Again
HGBM – Had Good Bowel Movement
IMHO – Is My Hearing-Aid On?
LMDO – Laughing My Dentures Out
LOL – Living on Lipitor
LWO – Lawrence Welk’s On
OMMR – On My Massage Recliner
OMSG – Oh My! Sorry, Gas
ROFL…CGU – Rolling on the Floor Laughing…Can’t get Up!
TTYL – Talk to You Louder
WAITT – Who Am I Talking To?
WTFA – Wet the Furniture Again
WTP – Where’s the Prunes
WWNO – Walker Wheels Need Oil

Hope these help!

GGLKI – Gotta Go, Laxative Kicking in!



Read more: Texting Tips For Seniors! http://kearth101.radio.com/2011/04/11/texting-tips-for-seniors/#ixzz1JEYwDaOK

Karen,
The Apollo thread isn't really about the Apollo anymore. Any good Apollo or CC stories would be highly welcome.

More to the point it is a safe port, where, generally speaking, you can push your passions with impunity. No one will say disrespectful things.

The Apollo thread is like a daily paper with comics, features, in depth articles, and much less of the noise from the ain't it awfuls.

Life is for living, for raising kids well, for being smart, and having fun.

So if you have a passionate area of interest (or ten or twenty) that really would enhance others' lives with your knowledge, please share. This includes your bird dogging the Co$.

The thing about this thread is that it is read by hundreds or thousands more than most threads on ESMB. I figure, if I'm going to write something, I want the widest audience.

We've explored classic cars, John McMaster talks, power processing, old radio shows, detective novels, lots of tech, you name it, cooking (see below)

Well, here I am, standing in a line that has to be two hundred feet, waiting for Guy Fieri (from "Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives" on the Food Network) to come out from back stage and sign books, t shirts, etc.

We're at the Wiltern Theater on Wilshire.

In 1964, when I was 13, I saw Bob Dylan here. That was before he was famous. He drew about 600 that night. We sat right up close on the floor in front of the stage. Way back in the dark ages this used to be "the place."

Tonight we saw a show that **just may** be the future of performance art.

There were two opening acts, neither of whom, I had ever heard of. The first guy, whose name I've already forgot, apparently has been on the Today Show. He made a Jamaican jerk sandwich. At least part of my description is true.

The second guy was fantastic. His name was Woody. He's from Oz. He juggled booze bottles and mixed drinks in open glasses. He made some martinis and margaritas. He was phenomenal.

All of this was done with club music driving the show with the beat. Audience members were invited to imbibe and eat what was made.

Guy's act is basically talking some smack, mixing up some food, bantering with the audience, telling tales of his growing up as a chef in training. Guy had a DJ (a local guy) doing appropriate music tracks and mixes to whatever was going on.

The audience was all over the demographic place. Ages ran from 6 to 90. Lots of families - three generations all together. Lots of buddy groups, male and female. It was not like any audience i've ever seen.

and he was LOVED!

Plus Which all through the auditorium, you could smell what was being cooked on stage. Amazing. better than Dolby.

The show is a new concept, to say the least. I think it needs some more work, but I can see this being HUGE.

I went to Altamont, The Monterey Pop Festival, and the Big Sur Folk Festival when I was younger.

Twenty years from now, I'll be able to tell my great grandchildren that I saw the birth of this style of performance. Before it hit Vegas.

 

[Leon]

Re: The old days - Aboard the Apollo - 1973

The attempt at secrecy when the Apollo crossing the Atlantic was all in vain. One night back in 1973, I think it was, maybe a year or two later, I dreamt something in my sleep and when I woke up I just knew the Apollo had made the crossing. I went down o the Org where I worked as DofP and I told the guys about the crossing and they all gave me the usual "yeah yeah, Leon's dreaming again" reply. Some time later it became clear that it had in fact happened as I said.

Heh heh heh.

 

[CarmeloOrchards]

Re: The old days - Aboard the Apollo - 1973

The attempt at secrecy when the Apollo crossing the Atlantic was all in vain. One night back in 1973, I think it was, maybe a year or two later, I dreamt something in my sleep and when I woke up I just knew the Apollo had made the crossing. I went down o the Org where I worked as DofP and I told the guys about the crossing and they all gave me the usual "yeah yeah, Leon's dreaming again" reply. Some time later it became clear that it had in fact happened as I said.

Heh heh heh.

The ESP was running high back then.

A friend of mine's sister knew what her brother was going to do before he did it.

 

[lkwdblds]

Re: The old days - Aboard the Apollo - 1973

You're mistaken to tell me I'm mistaken about the page count. The page count is relative to the User's chosen settings; I obviously choose to have twice as many posts per page as you.

I was just suggesting a possible answer to FoTi's question. I know that I visit here often but reading everything that is posted is another matter. Occasionally something might grab my interest, otherwise I tend to do a lot of scan and scroll. I do like the thread, though, I remember telling you that some time ago.

Are the thread statistics particularly important to you for some reason?

There are currently 6 users browsing this thread. (1 members and 5 guests)

We are at 511,800 views now, 1,400 more than when I turned off my computer 9 and 1/2 hours ago.

I got what you said on the page count. The answer to the question on thread statistics is difficult to answer yes or no. The truth is that I have put a lot of time and effort into this thread and when readership is high, it pleases me. Carmelo and I devised the strategy the thread would take starting in November, 2009. When two guys start something and put some thought into it and work at it, it is very pleasing to see those ideas succeed far beyond our fondest dreams.

It is sort of a real time laboratory for testing out the Physical Universe. It is gratifying to know that the physical universe will respond positively to certain techniques and actions which individuals dream up. Not only that, but I have become aquainted with some very fine people through this thread.

To be honest, I was getting tired of posting here regularly. It was starting to feel like too small of a game to devote serious time to. Others were carrying the thread in a great fashion and my posts were not getting much traction! I started to mention to a few friends that I was finally going to pack it in.

Suddenly, we reach 500,000 hits, volume immediately quadruples and Karen is brought onto the thread by Carmelo. Last night I saw 324 people were on ESMB and 98 of them were on this one thread. That is pretty amazing. I don't know who is reading it currently but it seems to be a group of about 100 people and they read us in the late afternoon and evening hours. Maybe they are in a different time zone and are sleeping at this time of day - 10:45 Pacific Standard Time.
Lakey

 

[Karen#1]

Re: The old days - Aboard the Apollo - 1973

Karen,
The Apollo thread isn't really about the Apollo anymore. Any good Apollo or CC stories would be highly welcome.

More to the point it is a safe port, where, generally speaking, you can push your passions with impunity. No one will say disrespectful things.

The Apollo thread is like a daily paper with comics, features, in depth articles, and much less of the noise from the ain't it awfuls.

Life is for living, for raising kids well, for being smart, and having fun.

So if you have a passionate area of interest (or ten or twenty) that really would enhance others' lives with your knowledge, please share. This includes your bird dogging the Co$.

The thing about this thread is that it is read by hundreds or thousands more than most threads on ESMB. I figure, if I'm going to write something, I want the widest audience.

We've explored classic cars, John McMaster talks, power processing, old radio shows, detective novels, lots of tech, you name it, cooking (see below)

Thanks Carmelo,

This was a good instant hat.
I am guessing Dart Smohen can name the male standing with Mary Sue !