Have you ever felt a burning desire to really let me have itafter disagreeing with my point of view in NationalUnderwriter magazine on insurance and risk management issues,but just didnt get any satisfaction out of mailing, faxing or evene-mailing a response? Now's your chance! Just respond to any of myblog entries, or to the comments of your fellow readers.

I do receive a lot of feedback for my weekly column in NationalUnderwriter magazine–appearing in both the print edition as well ason our Web version, available at www.propertyandcasualtyinsurancenews.com.

However, given the amount of mail I get, perhaps I neglected torespond to you fast enough (or not at all). More often than not,because of the inherent space limitations in a print publication,your letter probably never ran in the magazine, or only a slice ofit survived in a followup column.

That should no longer be a problem starting with the launch ofthis blog at www.property-casualty.com.(For more details, see “Ground Rules” on my blog's home page, andfor my bio, see “Who's The Blogger?”)

When I first considered doing a blog, I received two conflictingsigns. The first was a New Yorker cartoon featuring two dogs, withone telling the other: I had my own blog for awhile, but I decidedto go back to just pointless, incessant barking.

Besides a good laugh, that gave me pauseuntil I had a Chineselunch in which my fortune cookie read: Many people will be drawn toyou for your wisdom and insights. Of course, this was the samerestaurant whose cookie had predicted: You will excel in the fieldof medical research, but I chose to take it as a good omen tocharge ahead.

Almost every week, I have the privilege of sharing my views withNU's print and Web readers about breaking news, trends and/orpersonalities in the industry. Often, a letter or two (or a dozen,in some controversial cases) come my way. Space is at a premium ina newsmagazine, but a blog gives both of us a much broaderopportunity to sort through the many challenges confronting thisindustry.

Indeed, a blog by definition provides many advantages over aprint magazine column.

For one, a blog will allow me to comment immediately on abreaking story, rather than wait for the magazines next edition togo to press.

For another, while my print columns are normally devoted to onetopic each week, I can file an unlimited number of comments on theblog, driven by the news rather than press deadlines.

Third, Dan Gillmore, author of We The Media, points out that ablog turns a lecture into a conversation. Letters to the editor arewelcome, but with a blog, readers will have a chance to respondimmediately to one of my posts, as well as to the comments ofothers, and I can answer back in kind. Blogs create a genuinedialogue, debate and community.

Fourth, I invite readers to post not just reactions to myopinion pieces, but also critiques of NUs content and storyselection. I also look forward to generating many article ideas andgaining invaluable feedback on how we can do our jobs better.

On the blog, I will post each editions print column and inviteresponses. Over the course of the week, Ill comment on breakingnews stories as they occurshorter takes than in print, meant mainlyto spur a reader dialogue.

Ill also post a question from time to time to launch adiscussion about a key industry development or trend. In addition,Ill call attention to major stories appearing on our Web newsservice or in our newsmagazine, inviting readers to comment on whatweve published, while encouraging ideas for subsequentarticles.

In this way, the blog will complement my print column, notreplace it, while providing readers with more opportunities to maketheir voices heard. Dont be shy. Im eager to get your feedback andinsights.