I mean?

Have you noticed how often people say "I mean"?  I'm hearing it all the time now and it's driving me insane.  I even catch myself saying it.  I mean, what's with that? Do you think it is the new form of "uh" or "um"?  Is it a kind of exclamation point?  I'm just not sure.  Have you noticed this?  For some reason I just started to notice this recently  I mean, is it just me?  Heck, I'm even hearing it from journalists and commentators on NPR and PBS for gosh sakes.  Sometimes, after being asked a question, the first thing they say is "I mean" as a preface to their opinion!  I don't think I'm reading it in books though...but maybe I just haven't noticed.  I mean, it seems to be almost unconscious.  I'm not sure that the people saying it are even aware that they are saying it.  I mean, what do you think?