*Aside from a handful of bloggers and a relatively small bunch of party insiders, most locals won't be interested in who's running for political office until mid-October, if then. Don't take my word for it. Try a Jay Leno stunt one day and ask some strangers to identify "famous" people like a mayor, congressman or state legislator. You'll be stunned by how many can't do it.

*Speaking of Leno, I thought he was great as a guest on David Letterman's old Late Night show. But when he beat out Letterman for "The Tonight Show," Leno became mostly unoriginal and safe. Letterman has it all over him in the creativity and edginess departments. So, too, does Conan O'Brien. I hope Conan doesn't go soft on us when he takes over "Tonight" on Monday.

*If you don't listen to this week's "Media Project" at 6 p.m. Sunday, you won't hear it in its usual replay slot at 3 p.m. Monday. That's because WAMC's fund drive begins bright and early on Monday morning. You can hear the program anytime next week and thereafter on the Web at WAMC.org. As noted in a previous post, there's a special guest gracing this week's program. It's former top-rated Capital District TV anchor and "Media Project" regular Lydia Kulbida.

*The Freeman editorial board weighs in on Sonia Sotomayor on Sunday. We like the Supreme Court nominee, but it's not a love letter.