In addition to, or instead of deselcting whole objects, what about in Edit Mode?  Can I somehow tell Blender I wish to DEselect faces simply by clicking on the empty grid, or empty scene space?  Instead of always a hotkey?

Thanks for all the help.  Even if non of this is possible, I would still be amazed every day at the wonders of Blender.  How can it be that a FREE software can do all of this?  It's awesome.  :thumbupboth: