Several years ago, before blogs were the rage (indeed, before most people even knew what a blog was), I felt the need to write more than the local papers were willing to publish. I also wanted to write about issues extending beyond Glen Cove and its surrounding communities - something in which local newspapers, for obvious reasons, take little interest.

So to satisfy my desire to have fun writing, I created a blog and named it, "The Quill." It generated thousands and thousands of hits. Why? I have absolutely no idea. I'd like to think that people got interested and they followed it. But I don't know for certain.

Now, I've got the blogging bug again. I do a lot of writing for a living, so it comes pretty easy. But what I don't get to do for a living is to write about the things I find interesting. Politics - especially local politics - just happens to be one of those things.

All that said, the point I'm making here is that I've decided to write about "stuff" again. So, I've created a new blog at www.nassaupolitics.blogspot.com which I call "Real Politik and Other Senseless Activities." The subheading describes it best, I think: "The term realpolitik is often used pejoratively to imply politics that are coercive, amoral, or Machiavellian. Welcome to Nassau County, New York, America's Principal Place of Political Patronage."

It's more likely than not that I will offer fewer letters to the paper in the future than I have in the past. However, I do want to encourage others to send in letters, because I have always believed that everyone who reads the paper reads the letters. They're what make a local paper lively and interesting, and they invite community involvement in local issues. Sure, there are some who have been highly critical of letters I have written; but on balance, I've been very surprised at times by strangers I've met who have said, "Oh, I know you. You're the guy who writes those letters. Keep it up."

So, for those of you who would like to write, but are just a bit timid about the reactions you may get if you take a position on an issue, let me just say, "Fuggedaboudit and go for it."

I would like to thank Mayor Suozzi and all the other politicians who have been so generous with their guffaw-producing antics in public office. Whether it be appointing your wife's best friend as deputy mayor notwithstanding that she lives on the South Shore, or making a corporation owned by your own best friend the city's new consulting director of strategic initiatives at $4,500 per month (that's $54,000 per year folks), you've provided more fodder for this letters column than you can probably imagine.

So, I say, a fond adieu - at least until I'm inspired to send in another letter. There are those who might say, "Good riddance to this guy." To them I say, "Hey, maybe I will be back."

Oh, by the way. Has anyone noticed? The garbage is still piling up behind the movie theatre. Somebody ought to send in a letter about it. It'll keep 'em honest.

Michael A. Levy