michael said:
>   I think that if BB had given it
>   any amout of thought when originally stated,
>   I would have been more than clear enough.

no, i tried to figure it out, and couldn't.  sorry.


>   Now that the events have passed,
>   it makes no difference. . . .

the "events" are still in play.  just like they have been,
for the last 7 years, composed by over 2555 days...

and it _does_ make a difference...


>   If anyone is truly curious, and sends me back
>   the original message, I will help them figure it out. . . .

i am truly curious.

the archives are here:
>   http://lists.pglaf.org/mailman/private/gutvol-d/2011-February/thread.html

but i went and fetched the references for you.

>   http://lists.pglaf.org/mailman/private/gutvol-d/2011-February/007363.html

>   http://lists.pglaf.org/mailman/private/gutvol-d/2011-February/007395.html

>   http://lists.pglaf.org/mailman/private/gutvol-d/2011-February/007400.html

***

so here's your post, quoting mine, where you first used it...

> ok, so i've been on this listserve over 7 years.
> that's over 2555 days.
>
> during that time, i have advised you what to do.
> you didn't listen.  i offered to help you.  in return,
> you attacked me, denigrated me, slandered me...
>
> every day, i gave you a new chance at redemption.
> you blew it...  over 2555 chances at redemption...
>
> i have written several drafts of yet another post
> telling you how you missed the boat on what i
> have been offering you, and i will consolidate
> all those versions, and post it sometime soon...
>
> but i'm here, today, and tomorrow, and the day
> after that, and the day after that, offering you
> _still_another_ explicit chance at redemption...
>
> i will upload a web-app today.  this app will be
> a collaborative project of this listserve, aiming to
> instantiate the advice i've offered you for years.
>
> every day, based on feedback given on this list,
> i will improve the program.  you must give some
> kind of feedback -- reviews, requests, whatever --
> on the app _every_day_, or the project collapses.
>
> each day, we just have to make a little baby step,
> some kind of improvement moving us forward...
> it doesn't have to be a giant step, just a baby step.
> but if we fail to make a step one day, it's all over...
>
> we're going to start small, and take small steps.
> but if we work together, _every_day,_ it won't be
> long at all before we have something worthwhile.
>
> together, we can create something of value.
>
> or not.
>
> the decision is up to you.
>
> this is your last chance at redemption.
>
> don't blow it.
>
> -bowerbird

"You just go on quoting those regulations, Lt. Saavik."

"Hours could seem like days, days could seem like weeks."

"Second star to the right, and straight on 'til morning."

***

and here's your post, again quoting mine,
where you used the phrase the second time...

> rickywong said:
> >   What do you guys think?
>
> so, did anyone respond to you backchannel
> about your project?  or was it total silence?
>
>
> >   How many people are on this list anyway?
>
> from 300-350, depending on duplicates.
>
> that number has been remarkably consistent
> for many years, rising slowly across that time,
> but with an extremely small amount of "churn".
>
> as you can see, though, it's extremely passive.
>
> once again, everyone here has failed to meet
> my challenge for them to do a collaboration...
>
> nothing new about that in terms of this list.
>
> what _is_ new is that the outside world has
> finally risen to the point where it thinks that
> _it_ can meet my challenge, as evidenced here:
> >   http://www.pressbooks.com
>
> this is a new venture from hugh mcguire, who
> many here will surely recognize as the founder
> of librivox, an audiobook public-domain project.
>
> i have talked with hugh.  i am not convinced that
> he can best me, but i'm quite happy to see him try.
>
> so once again, everyone here at project gutenberg
> continues on autopilot, while the rest of the world
> passes them by.  oh well, it was nice while it lasted.
>
> -bowerbird

And indeed it was so that:

"Hours could seem like days, and day would seem like weeks."

***

so, what's the explanation?

-bowerbird