detailed analysis of referer logs
Old news is like yesterday's papers. No-one is interested.
The chart of failed spammers is as good indicator of traffic to your blog as any.
Old gems may totally get ignored depending on timing.
I might have one avid reader.
Lots of people are looking for information about 'Dixons Tax Free Shopping', 'SonicStage 3.3' (are you listening, Sony ?) and, oddly enough, 'Paul Scholes + family'.
Google is a popular but sub-optimal search engine for blogs as monthly archives may contain a wide variety of unrelated content (Roy Keane, Antibes, Blog, Chameleons, DAB) which will ultimately confuse people and waste time.
Not many people will comment. Even fewer will link.