Two years ago on Columbus Day weekend (October 10, 2007 to be exact), I launched this blog with a post about the “Columbian Exchange”:

The English who settled at Jamestown are responsible for importing the tobacco plant that would be the economic backbone of mid-Atlantic states for generations (the original plant was weak and bland). They also brought the animals you’re probably grilling up today, like the pig, chicken or cow.

TEM started off as mostly a geography blog with an emphasis on politics and a taste for sports, economics, history, and regional food.  Later, as the election heated up, it took a heavier focus on the specific 2008 electoral map.  During this time, traffic skyrocketed – My highest one-day traffic is still November 4, 2008 with over 19,000 unique visitors.

Today, with the election behind us, TEM is back to its roots of analysis at the intersection politics and geography and addressing broader trends. Thanks to the longtime readers who have stuck with TEM as well as the everyone else who makes this blog a part of their daily read, and here’s to more success in the future!

- Patrick Ottenhoff