I’m Scott Shackford, editor in chief of the Desert Dispatch in Barstow, Calif., and this is my blog. This blog has a number of different intentions:

• It allows me to write about issues and topics a little less formally than I do on our opinion page. As an editorial writer, the positions I express on A4 are written in a particular style familiar to most opinion readers. But not every opinion or commentary concept I develop is appropriate for that space. Here I may talk about some local, national, or world issues in a fashion that I hope is a little less pedantic.

• It allows me to fill readers in on what goes on in the newsroom at the Desert Dispatch and answer questions about how and why we do what we do and hopefully draw out some feedback. I may also talk about some projects or stories we’re working on, particularly if we’re looking for area residents to talk to us for them.

• It allows me to amuse (hopefully) by sharing some of the bizarre publicity-seeking communications that we would never put in the newspaper. These don’t come from Barstow residents, mind you. I’m talking about strange press releases and e-mails from people across the country who think we would use our limited print space to let readers know about their self-published books, give them free advertising for their new products, or otherwise deviate from our efforts to provide useful or interesting information to our local readers in order to serve their agendas. Some of them are good for a laugh.

This isn’t the only blog we’ve added to the Desert Dispatch. Reporter Aaron Aupperlee is putting together a blog about his interesting and unusual encounters out here in the desert. Sports Editor Matthew Peters will also be maintaining a blog about local sports-related issues.

This blog will allow for comments. Please follow the same guidelines of respect and appropriate behavior as we request for comments with our stories. Personal attacks against other folks, “flames,” spam, and comments that have nothing to do with the topic at hand will be deleted.