You may have noticed that for the past two weeks, the local newspapers have been pretty lame. At least in the old days, worthless newspapers were put to good use wrapping fish.

It's not that nothing important is going on, it's just that nothing important is being reported. There's certainly a lot that could be reported and investigated.

Those of you who get around Flushing know what I'm talking about.

But not to worry. The bubble fills up quietly before it bursts.

Well, news or no news, we still like to make it worth your while to visit our website. So this week, we're offering something a little different--national and international news that The New York Times may not judge to be ''fit to print.'' In other words, the real important stuff.

Local issues, too, are analyzed and understood much more thoroughly when seen through a prism that includes ''the larger picture.''

So read, learn, enjoy and comment. This space, especially, is for you to share your thoughts with all of us.