Andy Rooney

Andy Rooney,  “Andy Rooney: 60 Years of Wisdom and Wit”, Arcade Publishing Digital, 2009, 322pp. (Kindle Library Checkout Version). 

Andy died in 2011 at age 92, five weeks after his last 60 minutes episode; I kind of think he probably approved of that.

We seem to have two brains: one that we use to create conscious explanations of what we see or think, another that knows what we see or think but just can’t seem to adequately clearly state what we mean.  Andy has often handled this second part, at least for me.  Many of his observations are very familiar to me even though I had never found the words until I read his. 

Rooney began his newspaper career by writing articles for the Stars and Stripes newspaper in London, in 1942. In February 1943, he was one of six correspondents to fly on the second American bombing raid over Germany, and in 1944, he was one of the first Americans into Paris, France, in the advance of American troops. In 1945, he was one of the first American journalists to visit the newly liberated Nazi concentration camps, and would be one of the first to write about the experience.
Andy Rooney is a classic chronicler of America and her foibles. Over more than six decades of  reporting, Rooney has told it to us straight, with more than a grain of truth and humor.

I didn't get old on purpose, it just happened. If you're lucky, it could happen to you. 

If dogs could talk it would take a lot of the fun out of owning one. 

Nothing in fine print is ever good news. 

Taxes are important. President Bush's tax proposals leave no rich person behind. Voters approve of President Bush helping the kind of people they wish they were one of. 

The 50-50-90 rule: Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there's a 90% probability you'll get it wrong.