The Map In The Sidebar
# 721
Two weeks ago I added a ClustrMap to my site, and it gets updated roughly every 24-48 hours. Since this is a new addition to my site, I thought I'd take a minute to explain what you are looking at.
The map above (click to enlarge) is one of two perspectives you can view when you click on the map in the side panel. The size of each dot represent the number of visits from each location. Small dots are 1 to 9 visits. Medium dots are 10 to 99 visits, and the large dots are 100 to 999 visits.
Since its only been running two weeks, we don't have any of the really big dots, which represent 1000+ visits. I have to admit, this is a nifty service the folks at ClustrMaps are offering.
The standard map that is displayed groups clusters together that are geographically near each other, resulting in fewer, but larger dots. The view above, has greater resolution, and hence more, but smaller dots.
The intent is to see where global interest is growing in Avian Flu. Right now, the United States represents more than 60% of the visitors to this blog, but there have been times when outbreaks have occurred around the world when that ratio has been less than 50%.
Europe, the Far East, and Australia are well represented (Thank you!), but so far, Africa and South America show relatively little activity.
As this blog is written in (often mangled) English, it isn't surprising that countries with a high percentage of English speaking people visit more often. In recent weeks, however, the number of South American and African visitors has begun to rise. Hopefully that is a trend.
To view the current map, simply click on the map icon.
If nothing else, it will remind you that you are not alone in your quest for avian flu information.
