You're right OUG, the bloggers in the forum also contribute significantly, and apologies if I have slighted you all. There would be more than 4000 who have posted here, although I'm not sure how many might have started threads. You can see the long list of those who have contributed here http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/user.asp.

And thanks to the congratulations of all. Perhaps I should indulge in some champagne, but then again, perhaps not. Maybe after 5000.

Dear Forrest,

Thank You for sharing your story with us.

We visited my mother-in-law yesterday in her
aged care facility and we shared afternoon tea
with the other residents in one of their
lounges. There was an exhibit on display in the
lounge that was made up of newspaper clippings,
war medals, phtographs, and bits and pieces of
military uniforms belonging to the deceased husbands
of some of the residents. It was to mark Rememberance Day.

We got to talking with some of the ladies and one
lady who was British spoke of her polish husband who
flew a "spitfire" during the war and was one of many
polish officers who helped the British in their fight
against the Germans. Everyone has a story to tell.
The more we hear them the more we learn.

That's why forums such as this one, are of great value.
Sharing our experiences, we learn things we may not otherwise
be able to do. So once again it Thank You Graham ,and Staff,
and Thank You to all who share this cyberspace with us.

Wish to add my congratulations to Graham, that is quite an achievement.

I do get a lot of interest out of OLO and I read far more than I post on. Mostly I contribute to make a point the others have not. Lately I am finding the threads started by posters far more interesting than the articles section.

On thing I would like to know. How big is the average daily readership?

GY yes a thousand thanks.
Your child OLO has helped me to grow.
I like the place.
While posting over four thousand posts in another place long before coming here.
It was here I gained the few skills I have.
Found spell check, it some times is a refugee from my feeble attempts but in the end, some times, it comes out right.
Internet? yes but the site is a construction that took and takes endless effort.
Goononyabloke!
My cash flow not what it was but will ASAP contribute to the site , just maybe again I can rattle the tin, think about it folks
Whats a news paper cost?

Graham,

Congrats from me too.
OLO is a singular site.
Thanks for giving us the opportunity to share our thoughts and to learn a few things too.

At the risk of diverting a General Discussion topic to the Articles area of the Forum (which, nevertheless, is not against the rules), I would like to raise a matter in relation to one of the newer authors now to be found in the (at least to me) newly discovered authors index: the apparent pseudonimity of the author Lao Zi.

Zi, according to the index, was first published on OLO nigh on a year ago (17 November 2010). Zi also transiently was attributed with the article 'The boot on Australia's windpipe' published on 1 November 2011, an article actually contributed by OLO author Dick Davies and seemingly mistakenly attributed to Lao Zi, as explained by GrahamY later in that thread. See: http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=12792#221430

Zi has since, as GrahamY foreshadowed in his explanation, been published with the article 'Leadership in government: A comparison between Australia, the US and China' on 8 November 2011.

Does this mean that OLO will accept and publish articles under a pseudonym, with the author's real identity given equivalent protection to that of any OLO user posting under a pseudonym? Or do slightly different rules apply?

If the answer to the first question is, even conditionally, 'yes', would it be possible for an existing OLO user to have, with full legitimacy, a second OLO identity for article publishing purposes in the event of their not wishing to use any existing OLO userID they may have?

`

Given that Belly has raised the subject of financial contributions to OLO, could I suggest the copying of the OLO archive to DVD (with perhaps annually updated versions being marketed, 'going forward') for sale to viewers and users? Not all users have a fast internet connection, and such an archive accessible within their own computer may be a benefit.

Availability of a DVD archive may facilitate the posthumous bequest of 'collected works' of posters, the true identity of which may be unknown to relatives and friends whilst those posters remain alive. OLO userID 'Bronwyn', who hopefully has not died, suggested this literary heritage potential some time ago.