….. For most of my life I have assumed that those among the general public who have opinions and preferences different from mine were “just like me …. but different”. I no longer assume that. I am not participating in The Great American Michael Jackson Tribute. I don’t hate Sarah Palin. I’m the “different” one.

….. I was never “gone”; just standing over in the shadows watching all the foolishness falling all over its self. OK, I was also “having some work done” AND finding out where all the non-Jacko mourners were hanging out. …… BobLee relates a Tom Watson anecdote and has a word or three on the passing of “Uncle Wally” Cronkite. .

…… BobLee starts grabbing stuff from his stack of stuff. A double handful of tidbits that have accumulated over the past month and by their obvious importance, or total lack of, merit a mention here. This is one of those cornucopia columns that you all say you so enjoy …. And yes, we mourn for Joyce DeWitt.

….. Really, I wanted to be the ONLY Internet genius NOT to write about “Skip, The Cop & Obama”. I resisted for a week as 1000s of my cyber brethren dutifully expounded from every point along the Self-Righteous Know-It-All Spectrum. Then I heard from fellow legend IowaHawk. “BobLee, it’s your turn Bubba. Lay it on us.” You don’t say no to IowaHawk.

…… I suppose I’ve got to do some sort of pre-season prognosticating. I’m having a problem with it this year which I will elaborate on. The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street any day now as socio-cultural Armageddon inches ever closer …. but over at The Wally the future is ahead of them.

…. I almost wrote this column two months ago during MaryMess. The UNC System was hoisted on its petard and John & Jane Q Taxpayer were pilloring rotting produce at the hallowed hydra-headed academic Godzilla. Something told me hold off there’s more to come. …… “More” arrived on Sunday.

….. Guys who sell chain saws appreciate tornados. Guys who sell windshields appreciate dump trucks carrying pea gravel down the highway. Guys like me who entertain folks like you really appreciate RICK PITINO this week. When circumstances make our jobs easier we’re happy. Philandering per se is a moral misdemeanor. Having consenual sex with a psycho two-bagger …. on a table, is plumb foolish.

…… Like a radio talker on Fridays, I’m asking you buddies and babes WHAT YOU THINK? This UNC System brouhaha is getting messy and it’s not going away until the first game kick-off at least. It touches some fundamental issues about “colleges” and the relationships twixt towns & gowns. My questions for you will be a bit unfair. So’s Life.