Well, I finally took the plunge and forced myself, at fire poker point, to gather up some goods and camp, for the first time in ages. So, I am penning this from the sunny, hot and humid slopes of Pymatuning State Park in Ohio.

Actually, I have a flat and very shady spot but the word slopes seemed to fit and I have now digressed in record time, again.

This is a sign of recovery from my latest heath related saga, (not the digression but the camping), although it is slow in coming as my energy level is like that of Methuselah, (for those who are not up on biblical history, he lived to be super old or something like that).

Guess what? This column really hasn't a thing to do with camping, I just wanted to casually let my “fans,” (all 10), know that this is not something from the vault.

This week, something came to a major boiling point and, combined with hideous and quite unladylike hot flashes that I now endure, really led to some lava-laced moments.

The following has bothered me for a long time but I just haven't broached the subject until now. Plus, this particular problem has reached warp speed over the last year or so and the timing seemed to be appropriate. As you know, we are all about being totally appropriate around here, for certain.

Remember in the past I mentioned that I was/am sick to death of people being overly offended about everything under the sun? Well, if you don't recall, I am sick to death of the collective tissue-paper feelings that we share, as a nation, so there.

This new gripe walks hand-in-hand, I think, with that above-mentioned mini-rant and has to do with everyone, from newscasters to stand-up-comedians, feeling compelled, (upon the threat of losing a job, etc.), to issue apologies all of the time.

The other day, as I crept through the living room halting periodically to rest, I overheard something on the telly that piqued my interest and ignited much ire. Not only but, it finally provided substance for this column.

Now, I don't know all of the particulars but, evidently, some news personality had his microphone on and didn't realize it. He called our darling president something along the lines of a nickname for “Richard.” You figure that one out as this is a family paper and I wouldn't want to OFFEND anyone.

Several hours, or minutes, I'm not sure which, after the colorful description of Obama exited the lips of said news person, the obligatory apology followed.

All of this, “I am so very sorry jazz,” melds into one blob of insincerity, if you ask me. Plus the words are oft repeated, verbatim, by all who have goofed. They simply take turns sharing the back-peddling verbiage.

The apology goes something like this: “Earlier in the (day, week, month,) I said something that was unfortunate, unprofessional and clearly rude about ________ (fill in the blank), and for this, I offer my most sincere apology. I should not have uttered such words and I truly am sorry for doing so.”

I think that covers everyone from Don Imus' slip to this latest person's, almost word-for-word, and I simply cannot take another moment of this manure.

If he thought the prez was a “Richard” then, so be it. I could see if he called him something that utilizes the f letter but, come on here folks—let's get a hold of ourselves.

This obviously isn't just about this gent's foot-in-mouth moment as we have people all over the map saying sorry for the dumbest things. Can we say anything these days without having to follow it up with a 100 word essay about how wrong we were to have said it in the first place?

I even do this in my column space on many occasions because I know that I will say stuff that could hurt someone or many individuals. Because of this, I oft carry out a preemptive strike, so to speak. I'm really not in the mood to do this any longer but, I will continue, I'm sure.

Moving back to the apology tour, which is a thrill-ride, ride at your own risk, kind-of-deal, we all know that the people who issue the statements of “sorrydom” are not, in any way, shape or form, serious at all about the words they speak.

They meant what they said in the beginning, and we all know that. We are not stupid, yet, they think we swallow this stuff no questions asked.

Humans do, from time to time, make honest errors in judgment concerning words spoken. That is not the subject of this rambling piece but rather, I speak of those who we all know really meant what they said originally but, heaven forbid, must avoid offending at all cost.

Again, this brings us full-circle in terms of the overt cloud of sensitivity in which we now dwell.

I've taken note of just a few things that might lead to an immediate retraction of a statement and am going to give some examples.

An apology or lengthy explanation might follow if we make mention of Obama's love for basketball as, somehow, that has become racist. Hold on to your hats if, by chance, some innocent commentator says basketball and Obama in the same sentence.