What's In Your Bag?

Andy Rooney Notices A "Cosmic" Change In America

(CBS)  This segment was first broadcast on Nov. 25, 2007.

The following is a weekly 60 Minutes commentary by CBS News correspondent Andy Rooney.

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I'm always looking for major changes in our way of life in America and I think I've noticed one cosmic change in what people are doing.

It is my observation that people are carrying more stuff than they used to. You don't see anyone carrying nothing. Many people are carrying things to work even though usually what they’re carrying doesn’t have anything to do with their work.

WOMAN: I have [a] donut, wallet, sunglasses, BlackBerry, make-up case, digital camera.

I should think women might be getting stronger than they used to be too because the bags they carry are heavier.

I hadn't realized women were so well organized but one of the items most women are carrying is what they call a "planner". They carry "planners" and a bottle of water.

When they left the house that morning, they planned to drink water I guess.

If people don't have something in their arms, they're carrying it on their back. Backpacks are almost as common as pocket books. Some of them are attached to the back of the person carrying them. You wonder what they have in there that's so important.

MAN: There are some newspapers, some notebooks and various odds and ends I use for work.

Some backpacks are so heavy they’re no longer "back" packs. They're "wheel packs."

I talked to a lot of people, and most of them who were going to work had a book in their bag. There were big books and small books, but everyone on their way to work was carrying some kind of a book.

It was my inescapable conclusion that there's a lot of book-reading going on at the office, on company time.

Most of the people carrying books denied that they read at work of course.

ROONEY: On company time?

MAN: Of course not. No, no, no. On my break.

ROONEY: At the office.

MAN: No, No.

ROONEY: Do you read on company time?

MAN: No, I read on the subway.

WOMAN: A book to read, a book I need to study for later on.

ROONEY: At the office?

WOMAN: No!

Next time you're walking down the street, look around and see if there's anyone who isn't carrying something.

[janpentz]

Andy thinks that it is a sign of the times that people are carrying around extra weight like backpacks, books, water bottles, etc. Well, I must be in a "time warp". I look and see young people carrying.....nothing. No books, no water bottles, no notebooks, pencils, nor pens!!! Where am I? I''m in the hallways of the high school where I teach!!!

[dpal4]

If Andy Rooney was in touch with reality and had to take public transportation to work, he would know that New Yorkers carry books with them to read on the subway, bus, and every doctor''s office waiting room. His comment "It was my inescapable conclusion that there''s a lot of book-reading going on at the office, on company time" simply shows that Andy has not taken public transportation in a long,long time. If his driver wouldn''t mind picking me up and taking me to work everyday, I''ll happily leave my book at home.

[scwoody1]

Andy Rooney needs to be fired. I want the two minutes and forty seconds of my life back that were wasted watching this absolutely pointless commentary. The viewers of 60 Minutes know people carry things, that''s how you get things from one place to another. Tell Andy to ask himself "who cares?" before submitting his worthless stories.

[robinrobin4]

Why don''t you other 3 people leave Andy alone? And just be nice. I just wanted to tell Andy that I am a 55 yr. old women who carries a checkbook in my back pocket(maybe) 3 times a month.I have not carried a purse in 12 years.After having it stolen 3 times in 5 years, I''d say that I''m not only stronger, but smarter as well. I refuse to carry or use a cell phone
and if I feel thirsty, I look for the nearest drinking fountain or stay thirsty till I arrive home.
I do my reading at home in bed so I don''t have to be disturbed. In light of your observation on book reading, I think people just lack imagination these days and or they are just afraid or distrust their own thoughts. Happy day, every day to you Mr. Rooney.
Robin Gossett.

[plannerwoman]

What an insult to anyone''s intelligence: "When they left the house this morning,they planned to drink a bottle of water, I guess." If this is the best attempt at humor Andy Rooney can manage, then it is time for him to retire, I guess.

[krazykat2525]

i always carry bags,& yes,have a book 2 read when waiting in lines, at offices, etc. Why waste time doing nothing when there 4 so many excellent authors out there? so many good books, so little time!yes, on breaks, lunch hours, etc. & since i walk, i do carry spring water with me but do refill from water fountains. The bags can carry grocerys, any items,rather than using plastic bags which are a pain to dispose of, altho the ones I do have i recycle by giving them to Goodwill, Salvation Army & used book stores! of course!

[quatrops]

Seems like the same people, every week, feel obliged to *** about Rooney. If they aren''t the same people, I swear they''re clones. And not infrequently, they complain they get angry watching him EVERY WEEK ! !

Don''t you people have an "off" button on your remotes? I''m beginning to think you just like to see your name on the screen and aren''t up to handling anything more serious. Or, you just want to convince yourselves you are "hip" so you critique "an old fuddy-duddy".

At least Rooney, unlike some of his peers at CBS, doesn''t drone on week after week feeding us some "positive" slant about the incompetent we have in the White House or Cheney''s proto-fascist aides !

[kam1952]

I don''t know what''s in Andy''s bag, but I do know he is a BAG of HOT AIR.....retire Andy UR NOT FUNNY, WITTY, or the least bit entertaining. (Well it''s kind of fun watching you make a fool of your self week after week, since you seem to have a rather large ego and think you are so wise).

[quatrops]

" . . . it''s kinda fun watching you make a fool of yourself WEEK AFTER WEEK . . "

Kam1952 demonstrates the point I made @ 12:39. Here is someone who wants Andy to retire because he''s "a bag of hot air", but allows that he watches "WEEK AFTER WEEK" !

Maybe that''s why CBS keeps him on the air, Kam . . . to give you and some others their jollies (as in "it''s kinda fun") week after week!

On the other hand, it seems rather sad that what seems to give you pleasure is watching someone who (in your mind) is embarassing themselves. Get a life!

[dmepee]

Usually, I love Andy Rooney. Even when he was a little chauvinist. But with the "bag" episode, he proves that he''s totally out of touch. Example: I live in Yonkers. Work in Lower Manhattan. Do not want to spend $8 on lunch every day. Have an hour 10 mn commute to fill up with reading, working, listening. Not everyone has the luxury of hopping from their limo to their job, both in Manhattan, and spending $50 on lunch and buying beverages and reading matter every day. Andy has too much money to relate to the rest of us hoi polloi.

[catmontty]

People are carrying more stuff because there is more stuff to carry. Back when we used the ol'' paper and pencil to store our thoughts on, all we had to carry with us is paper and pencil. Now we have IPOD''s, MP3 players, laptops, cell phones, and other digital assistants.

People who carry a book with them to work need constant stimulation of their mind if they must be doing something instead of relaxing during their breaks. Either that or they just want to look smarter.

Face it, Andy Rooney is old, he''s not used to seeing all these high technology gadgets and fashion purses. Backpacks with wheels have been around for a very long time... they just weren''t as available as they are today. They also started out as suitcases.

[linzi12]

lol hes just making a few humorous comments on a trend he observed

cool your jets lol

[lanelleb]

Andy retire??? Please no!!! I am a 70 year old widow
and Andy is the best thing on 60 minutes. Even if I miss the rest of the show I make sure to see him. Do
I carry a lot of junk around with me? You bet I do.
I have carried a huge purse for 50 years and there are all kinds of things in it. Don''t go anywhere without it! Sure it is heavy but I never know when I
might need something that is in there!
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK ANDY!