Go figure, statistics on a cold day and a Merry Christmas

Just wanted to stop for a minute to acknowledge a tremendous increase in traffic on Free From Editors since late October. My Google analytics program shows that more than 2,000 new folks have found their way here since Halloween.

A slow day on the site is now 400 hits, compared to 80-90 back in March and I have regular readers from 205 Michigan cities. Understandably most of the traffic comes from Booth cities like Saginaw, Bay City, Flint, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Muskegon, Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids and the suburbs surrounding those cities. For example, Flint area readers frequently check in from Grand Blanc and Burton.

But I also receive a fair share of visits from Waterford, Lansing and even regular visits from someone in Marquette. As I said previously, I have had visits from every state in the country except Wyoming and the two Dakotas. Not sure any of those states knows what a computer is anyway.

Since starting this project more than a year ago, I've learned how to embed videos, upload photos, link to other blogs, set posts for later publication and other computer skills I would never imagine I could learn. Hey, maybe, Newhouse would hire me to work with their new Special Projects guy. I know at least as much as he does about working online.

All that to say that I appreciate all of the folks who stop in here and comment (positively or negatively) and your patience with my occasional lapses in judgment.

To be honest there isn't much left to say about the current state of Booth/Newhouse. They seem to be on a trek to slowly bleed to death with no real leadership in sight. But as new things come up, and certainly they will, I will post them.

For example, I'm compiling a list of former colleagues who are now either set on taking the buyout, those on the fence, those being pushed and those who are safe for the next round. As soon as I have a clearer picture (one very good copy editor just signed her papers for the buyout on Monday - a huge loss for the Journal) I will post them.

Blogging may slow a little over the Christmas holiday as we, like all of you no doubt, are very busy with family, church, activities, travel and the other range of things people do during the holidays. Tonight my wife and I and members of my church are hosting a discussion of Rick Warren's "Purpose of Christmas" and a party following for a group of senior citizens in a Davison senior living complex.

As always, if I see something interesting (newspaper related, or not) I will post it.

From me to you: Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!