This is the first blog under my new primary email address and so I'm continuing to move on to the next phase of my life.

As with anything new, the uncertainty that lies ahead can be a bit disconcerting but the positive excitement and anticipation of the good things that are to come far out weigh the negative.

Please, I want this to be an interactive blog, so let me know what you think. Do you agree, disagree or think I'm just full of baloney?

Each phase of our life offers a variety of learning experiences and varied adventures. So, this blog will address a myriad of topics, situations and events.

Let's make this blog an open book. I'll discuss any topics or subjects that are reasonable and clean. This is a G-rated family blog. If you want PG-13 or worse, go the movies or watch late night television. For that matter, not-so-late-night TV can be pretty raunchy sometimes.

Writing should be a fun adventure. In the words of Star Trek's Captain Jean-Luc Picard, let's "make it so!"

This is harder than I ever imagined to say but I want to let all my readers know that this is my last blog as The Oakland Press Opinion Page editor.

I was told that it was a corporate decision to eliminate Opinion Page editors in Michigan and Ohio.

I want to thank all of you for following me. Please look for my personal blog that I will establish in September.

Normally, editorials are written based on news stories that have been published a day or two or earlier than the Opinion Page piece.

But sometimes we push the envelope on this policy and actually write an editorial based on a direct interview or discussion with a source.

Such was the case, as I’ve highlighted last week, with Israeli Reporter David Bedein.

Occasionally, visitors will come in with news — and supporting documentation — that just screams for an editorial, even if we passed on writing a news story about it.

In addition to Bedein, we’ve done editorials based on visits with such social agencies as the Salvation Army, Common Ground and governmental groups.

The first editorial we ever did supporting a new international bridge between the metro area and Canada came after a visit with representatives of several groups and government agencies that were promoting its construction.

And while we’re on the subject of pushing the editorial envelopes, throughout the year we also write about the major Christian, Jewish and Muslim holidays.

They may not be earth-shaking or eye-opening but they do tend to remind people of why they are getting those holidays off or why their neighbors may not be going to work on a particular day.

The Oakland Press also prides itself on doing upbeat editorials that, if nothing else, just gives credit where credit is due. Those pieces don’t necessarily have to be critical of a person or a group.

So, you see, editorials can come in all shapes and sizes and view points but one thing is constant, they have to be based on good, solid information.

As the old journalistic axiom goes, “we’re only as good as our sources.”