There is much cause for celebration today at U.S. Trade & Aid Monitor. Despite being launched just two months ago, statistics provided via TypePad and Google Analytics clearly indicate that the Monitor is making a name for itself in the world of serious online journalism. (But before proceeding, please keep in mind that the Monitor neither collects nor sells personally identifiable information).
A steadily growing following—along with a small yet far-reaching international audience—is evidenced via the following numbers for this brief period of time. The numbers likely are somewhat higher, as Google Analytics began measuring this site several weeks after its commencement:
Page views: 7,004
Unique visitors: 3,978
Geographic source of visitors: 84 countries/territories
While these numbers, in the grand scheme of things in the blogosphere, do not compare to the magnitude of which the most popular blogs can exert bragging rights, the Monitor (composed of its sole proprietor Steve Peacock) is nonetheless delighted. Not bad for one guy sitting at his computer and phone just a bike ride from the beach somewhere in New Jersey!)
Many readers have written both to express outrage over various government programs and to express gratitude to the Monitor for bringing such endeavors into the public light.
The top articles that have garnered their attention are:
1) Multimillion-Dollar Crystal Glassware Project Renewed at U.S. State Dept.
By far, this piece—which exposes a U.S. State Dept. plan to basically spend a chunk of change on new champagne glasses from high-end retailers such as Bloomingdales and Bergdorf Goodman—infuriated many of the 903 visitors who read the article. Much thanks to Cryptome.org, which by linking to the piece was responsible for sending 655 of those visitors.
2) Next Phase of Advanced Global Data-Mining & Intelligence System Unfolds
Despite its second-place standing, it should be noted that this article generated 738 views in just the past couple of weeks. Once again, the Monitor credits Cryptome.org, which directly delivered 616 of those visitors.
IMPORTANT DEADLINE NOTE: Just as the Monitor was about to post this celebratory editorial, it was discovered that the highly regarded online version of WIRED magazine today published an article ("One Brain, Hundreds of Eyes: Darpa Plots Manhunt Master Controller") about the above-mentioned DARPA data-mining endeavor -- ELEVEN DAYS AFTER THE MONITOR ALREADY HAD DONE SO!
So why should you come back time and time again to the Monitor? See the above paragraph.
FreeRepublic.com and WhatReallyHappened.com sent 162 and 140 readers, respectively. Much appreciation for that.
4) Four More Contractors to Get Piece of $10 Billion Global 'Civilian Police' Pie
Thanks again to FreeRepublic.org for sending 85 readers this way. Likewise, much appreciation for the 52 readers sent via civiliancontractors.wordpress.com
5) USAID Reaches Out to Contractors for Agent Orange Cleanup in Vietnam
Despite a total 187 views of this article (129 which came directly from Cryptome.org, with additional traffic coming from a dozen other sources), the Monitor has learned that numerous veteran’s have organizations widely distributed this article in its entirety. Indeed, in several e-mails from representatives of such groups, I’ve been told that the article, as well as an earlier, related piece, has been widely distributed.
May this be just the beginning of great things to come!
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