Before you all groan, no, I'm not talking about the annoying song that sticks in your mind after going on the ride of the same name at Disney World/Land!
The other morning, in my office in Great Shelford, England, I was exchanging emails with Tawny in California and FoAnna in Australia and it occurred to me how small the world has become with the internet.
Isn't that fun?! We can communicate with pals from all over without having to wait for the post office or a man on a pony.Among the Banditas we have gals in four countries - The USA, Canada (KJ Howe), Australia (FoAnna and Christine W) and of course, me in England. Not only that, but we have 10 states represented (11, if you count NJ *g*).
Even without looking at the blog site stats we know we have regular visitors from Down Under, all over the USA and Canada and Minna and Eva in Finland. When you look at the cool stats, they tell us we've had visitors from 79 countries over the last month! (We know that Keira checked in during her visit to India).
I thought it would be fascinating to see where all our visitors today come from. Do we have representatives of all 50 US states, all the provinces and territories in Canada, all the states in Australia and both islands in New Zealand? How many different countries visited us today? Anyone from South America? South or East Asia?Isn't it wonderful to know we can be friends with people who are physically so far apart, thanks to the click of a button and some fibre optics?!
Let us know - yes, even you lurkers *g*. Where are you joining us from, today?
126 comments:
GR?
yay limecello! you're quick! :)
I'm from northern Minnesota! :)
What a great post, Anna! I definitely agree that advances in technology have allowed so many more of us to connect. :)
As for my location... I'm currently in Ohio.
Congrats limecello, your quick tonight or I am slow. Take good care of him because I have him spoiled.
Congrats, limecello!
It's a great, fun post. My CPs are from Canada and Maine, but we're in constant contact with one another.
I'm from upstate New York.
Hi Anna, great post. We do meet people from all over the world with just a click of a button. It is amazing.
I am from Kentucky so where is everyone else from?
Vrai, Anna, what a clever idea! I think knowing our demographics is really fun and interesting.
I'm from California, but I know I'm not the only one. I'll weigh in anyway because, you know, even though the budget is in a $#** mess, it's still the golden state! And I love it.
What a great idea, Anna! It's such a thrill hearing from readers and BBs all over the world. Looking forward to seeing where everyone's from!
Limecello congrats on the GR!
I'm from Queensland, Australia, btw.
Like Jo and some others, I'm from the Golden State, too. :) The farthest I've ever checked the blog from is either Korea or Jamaica--it's amazing how the Internet has "shrunk" some parts of the world!
Congrats on the GR, Limecello! Virginia, I imagine he must be quite satisfied after the brownies! I'd hurry over to your house myself with such incentive and terrific company! ;)
Finland, Finland, Finland:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgTyVkpJY3g
Cincinnati, Ohio. Although, I'm from Chicago and I'm usually there about once a month, so sometimes I'm posting from the Windy City.
Congrats limecello! Hope you have a fun day with the GR in Ohio.
Two states already, with Dani in Minnestoa!
Isn't it great, Elyssa? I'm currently trying to work out how to have a crit group meeting with my CP's in NJ. I'm looking at various chat options. Has anyone used Skype or anything like that?
4 states! Virginia, we have a couple of Banditas in Kentucky too.
Good to see someone from the Golden state, Jo - financial situation notwithstanding.
5 states - can we reach 50?!
I'm in rainy England - and today it is actually raining! It's not as common as one might think. *g*
Woohoo - our first Aussie of the day! That's one for Queensland.
5 states and 2 countries.
Wow Fedora - you have checked it from afar! Korea!
I've checked it from Dubai. I think that's my furthest afield.
Our third country! Hi Minna!
(I must admit your post reminded me of that Monty Python song 'Finland, Finland, Finalnd' *g*)
Congrats limcello enjoy your day with him.
This is a really good post Anna and I am so amazed at how close the world feels with the internet I don't know how I ever got along without it.
Well I am from Sydney which is in New South Wales Australia and have lived here always.
I do hope that one day I will be able to travel and meet some of the people that I have met on the net and I call friends. Thanks Guys
Have Fun
Helen
I think we can count Chicago as well as Ohio, then, Becke.
So, we're up to 6 states and 4 countries (I forgot to include myself!) and if I include NJ - 7 states.
Southeast Kansas! :)
Spain and sometimes Norway when I am home in holidays.
I'm from a small town in Massachusetts, about an hour west of Boston.
Helen - we're planning on a trip to Oz in the next few years, so hope to meet up with some Down Under pals then.
So, is that 2 Australian states, 7 US states and 4 countries?
Yay Gillian from Kansas - another state!
Hi Hvitveis! Good to see you and thanks for adding to our country tally! How are things in Spain today? Where in Spain are you?
And how lovely that you visit us from Norway too.
Hi Margay - another East Coaster! That brings us up to 9 US states and with Hvitveis, 5 countries. How exciting!
I live in a city called Zaragoza. It is one of the biggest cities in Spain, but as it has no beaches noone knows about it outside the country. (Unless one likes fotball.)
Today it is raining here witch is something of a happening. (less than once a month) It is quite funny actually. Coming from Norway harsh weather and perpetual rain is quite a normal thing and here traffic collapses when it drizzles. And the annual "Oh my god! It has snowed ten cm! People are stuck in traffic! Schools closed!" always have me laughing.
Hi Anna!
Sorry, but it's too late, the song is already stuck in my head. And you are so right - It is a very small world. I love visiting with my cyber friends from Australia, England, Rome, Washington, South Carolina, and Georgia. I couldn't have imagined this 20 years ago.
I'm visiting from New Jersey.
Congrats limecello, keep that naughty rooster in line today.
I am from West Virginia, born and bred.
Hey, Anna!
I'm checking in as the Texas contingent! Am at work, so will check back when I get home this morning.
Ah yes, Hvitveis - I know where you are ... and understand what you mean about people not having heard of it. I think a lot of Brits (other than footie fans) don't realise there is a beautiful country beyond that Spanish coast!
Speaking of footie - my favourite player is a Norwegian - Ole Gunnar Solskjaer!
There are a few Americans and Canadians who laugh about people not used to bad weather too.
*waving* hi Marisa - I do miss being down the road from you and Maria in NJ!
Sorry about the song!
Hi Dianna from West Virginia! I used to go there a lot when I spent time in VA as a child.
Good morning Suz, aka the star *g* of the Texas contingent!
We're up to 11 US states! How cool!
Oh and don't worry if your state or country has been mentioned - we still want to know where you're joining us from!
Limecello, I hope the GR is ready for Ohio in January. *brr* You may have to "sweeten him up" since he was dead spoiled by Virginia! *g*
I'm in Raleigh, NC, which all my Facebook friends know got 4 inches of snow the other day! Of course, it's supposed to be almost 50 degrees F today, so our Very Unusual Snow will be melting. :-(
North Carolina is the Tarheel State, originating from colonial NC's days as an important source of pitch, or tar, for naval ships. The state is famous for its many pine trees, so it was a big tar producer. Tarheel was a derogatory term during and after the Civil War, but the students at UNC embraced it for their newsletter name in 1893 and it became a source of pride.
NC is also a top grower of sweet potatoes in the USA and also has more commerical hog farms than any other, I do believe. Hey, we take what we can get. *g*
We do have lovely mountains and beaches and, although I'm originally from Tennessee, I think NC is one of the prettiest places I've ever seen!
Hvitveis, we got 4 inches (just over 10 cm) of snow on Monday here in NC (southern USA) and it closed everything down! Of course, we have little snow-moving equipment (because it never snows) and lots of inexperienced snow drivers.
The worst is, it gets a bit above freezing, so everything melts during the day, then it all refreezes at night, so we have black ice the next morning. They only plow roads in the cities (I am outside the city), so roads are terrible in neighborhoods and fine in town. It's a whole thing!
Orlando, Florida here. And it's a whopping 33 degrees at the moment, which is darn cold for this part of the country. I'm loving the change. It'll be back into the upper 70's next week.
Well, a history of Texas, (as told by a girl from Ohio, raised by people born in Tennessee)...
Uh...okay it was part of the Spanish territory, then became part of Mexico after the Mexican war of Independence. Then in 1835 the Anglos living in Texas had a revolution and it became a free standing country, known as the Republic of Texas. In 1845 they petitioned to be annexed as a state.
So Texas is known as "the lone star state", because it was the only state that was an independent country before joining the Union. AND it's why there is only ONE star on the state flag.
It's also the home of Dennis and Randy Quaid, Matthew McConaughy, Sandra Bullock...and moi!
Oh, what fun! I'm checking in from Upstate South Carolina, USA! It's clear and crisp this morning - a chilly 29 F.
South Carolina was one of the 13 original colonies that declared independence from Britain during the American Revolution. South Carolina was also the first state to secede from the Union and was a founding member of the Confederate State of American. The terrain ranges from the terrific beaches (and golf courses) at tourist destinations like Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head and the beautiful historic, antebellum city of Charleston to the salt marshes of the Lowcountry to the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Upstate. Many people would be surprised to learn that we have earthquakes in South Carolina.
Our state slogan is "Smiling Faces Beautiful Places" and it describes this state well.
A few famous people from South Carolina are Chubby Checker, Stephen Colbert, James Brown ("Godfather" of Soul), President Andrew Jackson, Jesse Jackson, Eartha Kitt and Vanna White (of Wheel of Fortune fame).
I'm so thankful for how the internet has brought so many wonderful people into my life *g*
I'm from Northwestern Pennsylvania - Home state of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Go, Steelers!!
;-)
Fun post, Anna!
Waving to you in snowy North Carolina, Caren! NJ was kind of like that too - a bit of snow made everything come to a stop - which entertained friends of ours from Denver!
Thanks for all the info about NC too. I love learning new things about places.
Who knew Florida got that cold? Wow, Terry - do you guys have heating? I know that sounds so ignorant, but in a lot of climates where it is hot, they don't.
When we visited Anchorage in Alaska, they had a heatwave of 75 degrees and couldn't cope because they had no aircon!
Cool info about Texas, Suz - even if you're not a pureblood! Or are you?
Hey - we're up to 13 US states! I wonder if we can get over halfway?
No Canadians yet either?
Hi PJ - great to see one of my favourite places mentioned - Charleston! In fact, one of our cats is named CC - after Charleston in (South) Carolina!
You have some cool people hailing from your state.
Hey Beth - I met someone who had family right near your town in PA this weekend. Another example of a small world!
We're already up to 15 States!
Frigid Rhode Island says good morning Banditas!!
I love talking to people around the world.
I'm in Toronto, or if you want the local pronounciantion written photentically: turrono :)
I'm in wv.us.
And while I don't read romance, I have some interesting observations (to me at least) on the international aspect of this blog.
You guys appear to be a wide range of sub-genres. It seems some of you write historical, some YA, some crime-fiction-type stuff, and there are probably more sub-genres represented than I can list. (My apologies, BTW)
But what I find interesting, is how romance, as an overall concept is one of those things that seems to not only transcend geographic borders, but all of the vast cultural differences those borders can represent. It lends creedence to the idea that there are a select few universal languages. I can list three.
Music.
Art.
Love.
With those, lines on a map just don't matter, do they?
Good morning my international and diverse friends!! Anna, what a great idea for the blog today!
P226 what a lovely thing to say. I heartily agree. This is why I don't understand people bashing romance -- why would you bash something that makes people happy the world over?
As for me, I'm in Oregon, where they call the native-born kids web-foots for all the rain we get. But here's our sneaky little secret -- its doesn't rain at all during the months of July through October. We have dry summers and absolutely gorgeous falls. Winter is a mix of rain and sun, rarely gets too cold. We had a huge snow event this December, but that's rare. It's a lovely, temperate climate, and oh so green...
We just don't want anyone from...er...that big state to our south...to know that. We're worried the rest of them will move here. ;-)
Good Morning all from LA - Lower Alabama !! And here in the Deep South it is at present 36 degrees!!! And we are expecting temps in the 70's with rain tomorrow.
Way to go on catching the GR, limecello! Did he bring his snowboots? We really need to check into that bad boy's luggage and see what he has in there.
I LOVE being able to talk to my friends in Australia, England, Germany, Austria and India with just the click of a button.
The only thing that is better is meeting you all at Nationals!
Hi Marie! Good to see you, babe!
And good to see the smallest state represented.
Is that a new book cover I see?
Yay our first Canadian of the day!
Hi Tiffany - love Toronto - it's a fab city. Went to see a Leafs game there once and had a great time (even if you did beat my boys!).
Morning P226 - I just remembered you were from WV too. You taught me some cool facts about your home state when I was there.
You're right - we do have people who write and read a variety of genres and sub-genres. And romance does indeed transcend the lines. It gives me hope in desperate times.
Interestingly, I think that is true of all the popular genres of fiction. You only need to go to a mystery/crime convention or a sci-fi convention to see the similarities with romance (and we're all sniffed at by the Literati!)
Greeting to you in Oregon, Kirsten. What a great sell job on your home state.
I love that I'm learning about where you all come from. It's so cool. Keep the info coming.
So, we're up to 17 US states, 2 Australian states, 1 Canadian province and 6 countries!
Aww Louisa - it was great seeing you at conference too. Look forward to seeing you in DC, I hope.
And 'Bama BB Louisa brings our US state count up to 18!
Hey, Danie88 in Northern MN! We're practically neighbors, with me down here in St. Paul! Wave next time you come through!
Hey, PJ, we're on-track for a high today of 33--exactly the low you're experiencing in Orlando & considering frigid. :-) Around here, that's ice cream weather. I worked at an ice cream parlor in college (in Michigan)& when it hit freezing or above in January, all the kids put their shorts on & played frisbee in the quad. We had lines out the door for ice cream all day.
Perspective is everything. :-)
Ohio rules! After all, we have the GR (Thank you Limecello).
Great post, Anna - I envision you with one of those huge world maps frantically pushing in flag pins whenever someone new sends a post today. Looking forward to the stats.
It is indeed a small world, but so much fun! Not sure how I ever managed without all of you. I even purchased one of those mini-laptops, just so I wouldn't have to lose contacts when traveling (and without lugging my big laptop around).
LOL Susan - it is indeed a matter of perspective! You Minnesotans are a tough bunch!
Donna - you know me too well! If I could have found a way to have a virtual map and stick pins in it live on the blog, I'd have done it!
Donna - you know me too well! If I could have found a way to have a virtual map and stick pins in it live on the blog, I'd have done it!
Google maps lets you do that.
Before you all groan, no, I'm not talking about the annoying song that sticks in your mind
You mean like "Spider Pig, Spider Pig.....?"
VBEG {waving to Suz}
Fun post, Anna! I, of course, am with Virginia living in Kentucky. I frankly don't have the energy to look up all the fascianting facts about the Bluegrass State but if it hadn't been for good 'ole Daniel Boone crossing the Appalachia's the REST of the USA might not have been found!
You're welcome ;-)
And p226...you rock. I take your observation as the HIGHEST compliment for our genre of romance fiction.
Oh and the fartherest I've checked the blog would be Ireland....and various bars throughout the US :-)
Sir Douglas Quintet - Meet Me In Stockholm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBfz5f7_xXk
Congrats, Limecello.
Hi Anna,
I'm in NY. I miss having you as a neighbor.
Alphaville - Big In Japan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXPUkrz7Uow
Good morning, Banditas!
I'm checking in from sunny Missouri, USA. You're right on about how small the world has become. Even though I've been online for years, I still think its so cool you can "talk" to someone halfway around the world at anytime you want.
Cheers!
Tracy G.
Google Maps, huh, P226?
Can a simple non-technically minded gal like myself handle that?
Oooh Joanie - you're in trouble when Suz gets home from work!
So, you didn't check in from any Irish pubs, then?
Hi Jane - I miss having you as a neighbour too!
Adding Missouri to our list of states, Tracy. You have sun? Can you send some our way, please?
19 US states. Do I hear 20?
Where are all our Aussie girls today? And our Canadians?
Just for you, Minna!
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=jgTyVkpJY3g
Pittsburgh, PA - Home of the Steelers and the next Superbowl Champs :)
LOL Catslady - that should entice a few Cards fans out of the woodwork to challenge your assertion!
Pittsburgh is another city we had a great time in. We're hoping to get out to South Dakota and Wyoming this summer - anyone from there?
I'm a southeastern Georgia girl, USA.
Deidre
What a great blog. And a great idea. I'm checking in from Virginia. Here at the beach we're sitting at 46 degrees with highs in the 50s tomorrow. I'll take it!
I haven't travelled in a while but I think I did check in from San Fran last summer. Though as 19 of the 20 of you were right upstairs, I guess I was checking in in person too. LOL!
I love that I now have friends from the state next door to another hemisphere thanks to the internet.
Forgot to say GO STEELERS! I grew up outside PGH and lived in the city for several years. I'll be cheering my head off next weekend.
Google Maps, huh, P226?
Can a simple non-technically minded gal like myself handle that?
Yep. I made a test one. Go here:
http://tinyurl.com/c4f7tl
Scroll around on the map. Find where you are, or where you want to put a marker. When you find it, click "edit" in the left pane. Right-mouse-click your location on the map, and click "add a place-mark."
It's that easy. Anyone can add themselves (or others) to the map.
Red Russian Army Choir & Leningrad Cowboys: Sweet Home Alabama
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UuFJoexdlU
Hey VA, GREAT TOPIC!
Yes, I too am from the Golden (and this moring soggy) State. But I am a rarity these days, since I am a native Californian (though my parents were transplants from Oklahoma and Texas). ;-) Yes, that old song is true... It never rains in California... at least not from May until Oct. Our Irish relations asked if we lived in the desert! No, thanks to something called irrigation!
Let's see, I'm checked on the blog from Mexico (many times), St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, jolly ole London town, and most recently Istanbul Turkey. It was a REAL KICK to pull up Romance Bandits in those faraway places and know that the Lair was just a click away!
AC
Adding GA to the list, ddurance! That gives us a nice round 20.
Can we make the half-way mark?
Hey Terrio - VA is my home away from home! Spent a good few years living in Northern VA.
LOL we love you checking in online and in person!
Oh - that is cool, P226! I wish I'd know that before.
So, you didn't check in from any Irish pubs, then?
Um, no. Those places are wired, but not with Wi-Fi :-)
I knew you'd have checked in from at least one of your exotic trips, AC. I find it comforting too - on a daily basis since we moved!
Anna I really hope you make it down under I would love to meet you.
p226 loved your comment and so true
As for weather here in Sydney today horribly hot again it has been like this for days not even cooling down much of a night the expected temps for today around 38 celsius again I am wishing it was winter too hot for me I should be used to it
Have Fun
Helen
See Joanie - ou need to come to England!
Helen - I'll give you fair warning when we're coming, don't worry!
I'm on the map! LOL
I added to the map. That is a really cool feature. Thanks, p226.
Hahah, yeah, it's neat to see people pop up on a map like that. We have a little cluster going in the northeast US and then Anna over there across the water.
Ok, Mid-Atlantic, not Northeast.
-- P226 who is apparently geographically challenged.
Yay for all those adding themselves to the map! I'm off to eat dinner - back shortly!
-- P226 who is apparently geographically challenged.
Thank goodness it wasn't on the test! LOL
Hi Friends, Worldwide,
Congrats limecello ! not sure where the GR actually resides!
I'm in North Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Incredible to think a mere 10 years ago this would not have been possible!
(I add this time frame due to the uptake of computers by the older generations)
Every day I'm happy Gatsey invented Windows! *even with the glitches*
Cheers Carol
Thanks p226!! I'm on down here in Texas.
Hey, Anna? If we're going for different states, my friend Alice B. is trying to log on today from her home in Denver, but blogger isn't being nice. Can we include Colorado in the state count?
And Joanie....can you come a little closer so I can *smack* you?
Hey Carol - I was wondering where our Aussie gals were.
I know what you mean - it doesn't seem that long ago that we had one computer to share with the entire office and it needed two disks to start it up!
*** Business_hat=on
Hey, um... all you authors here in the lair....
That google map thing...
Might be real interesting both to you and your publisher if you could get your respective readers to plot themselves like that.
Demographic marketing data like that is pure gold.
*** business_hat=off
I'm from Ontario (I'm sure I'm one o many here), but if it helps your quest, I used to be from the Black Forest (southern Germany)
I'd love to include Colorado - another place where we had a fun trip (and my boys won the hockey game!)
So, that's 22 US states, 2 Australian states, 1 Canadian province and 6 countries so far today.
You're right, P226. Isn't there a gizmo you can attach to websites that shows that visually. I know Google analytics does it.
Hey M - we love people from Ontario! Which part? More importantly, which hockey team?!
Cool on being from the Black Forest!
Google analytics is doing some wizardry in the background that involves technical methods of determining where someone is based on their IP address.
Hello to Banditas and Buddies all
over the world from this native
Texan in Houston. Never lived any
where else and never will. My
apologies to the rest of the world,
I just love my state! It offers
so much from the seashore to the
Hill Country to the Davis Mountains.
Pat Cochran
No apologies necessary, Pat! Just think of how many places you can visit vicariously through the Bandita's Lair!
P226 - your wizardry and expertise has given me an idea for a story! I may be tapping you for help some day!
I'm always available to the banditas for geek expertise.
My thanks to p226 for your map wizardry, hat on or off! I'm on
the map now!!
Pat Cochran
And Joanie....can you come a little closer so I can *smack* you?
{Dancing just out of reach} Nope!
Thanks P226 - if I can sell the current book, I'll be selling the 'idea' book as part of the series *g*.
I'm crawling out from deep within the cave to say hellooo from Venice Beach, California!
Great post, Anna! I'm going to go see p226's map in just a minute.
As for weather, it was in the 80's the other day but today it's cold and raining, in the 60's. Brrrr! Hee hee. :-)
Congrats on snagging the GR, limecello!!
*THUD* I'm mentioned by name on the Bandita blog. Right there. On the post itself. Vrai, you do me great honor.
Limecello, you got him!! 'Grats.
To mention American states... I'm from Washington.
I did it! I'm on the map. Quite frankly, I was just hoping each button I clicked wasn't going to erase the whole thing. :)
This has been a very cool post, Anna. It makes the world seem like a much friendlier, less scary place to travel, with so many friends in so many places.
I'm late, been away from home all day. But I'm checking in from Tennessee. I've checked in from all over the country while traveling.
Susan Sey- Yes, we are practically neighbors! :D It's so nice to see a fellow Minnesotan on here!
Heh - the GR came to me and brought a "heat wave" - temperatures were *above freezing!* today! So exciting. As for snow boots... more like a snow suit :P other than cleared off areas, the level of snow is taller than a rooster would be - even a golden one, poor thing.
I'm late but I'm from Caloundra an hour north of Brisbane in Queensland, Australia!
Hi to everyone!!!!
Hi Kate - hope the writing is going well. Not long now before your book is out!
Good to see another California gal.
Glad you enjoyed the hat-tip, Keira!
Yay - adding Washington to our list of states.
Yay Gillian! That map thing is so cool.
Hi Trish - adding Tennessee!
LOL about the GR's day in the snow limecello.
Yay - another Aussie gal!
So, we had:
24 US states
1 Canadian province
2 Australian states
6 countries
Awesome!
Thanks for taking part everyone - it's been such fun seeing where you've all joined us from. And a special thanks to P226 for the Map! If I get time, I'll try to put flags on for everyone who didn't get a chance to do it yesterday.
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