It's not a criticism, it's an observation.
The latest must for men

Mike Cox

If you are one of my four or five regular readers, you know I talk frequently about how television influences our beliefs. Last Saturday's

NBC Morning Show

exemplified this assertion with two successive stories.

The first one featured politically correct grocery shopping. A young lady, who happens to be an expert on such things, gave viewers a tour. Why are all TV experts, regardless of subject matter, young, attractive women? There are no ugly people on television unless one is required for effect. All of those valley girls who talked funny, chewed gum, and hung out at the local mall, are now TV experts.

This particular one showed products we all can buy to help save the planet. There were organic foods, fair trade foods, shade grown foods, foods that practice diversity, and foods that don't punish their children.

The tour guide pointed out labels to help us become little Greenies without giving up eating what we like. She did mention the federal government is understaffed and unable to completely regulate these products. So no, we can't be sure all these products are what they say they are. But not to worry; those she was selling, I mean telling us about, were definitely legitimate.

The next feature on

the Saturday Today Show

was the latest in must have fashions; men's bags. Not purses, but carry bags for men to tote all the stuff they need to have with them.

Most of them looked like small attaché cases; pricey leather bags with stylish straps and handles. Most were made by Coach and carried a three digit price tag beginning with a five or a six. But they are the newest item television assures all of us we need.

There was one to carry to work and one to keep the many electronic devices successful men must have these days. There was one to use at the local market, presumably to buy politically correct food. To show how manly these bags are, Lester Holt modeled one, I assume without being threatened with termination. Later in the program he admitted he didn't understand baseball. Manly indeed.

A shade grown, free trade, completely organic bag made by a nonoppressed adult work force, gives the user a trendy, urban look, and promises each dollar of the nearly 700 of them one pays is for a good cause. If Visa can promise the interest on the card I must use to order online will be donated to the famine victims of Darfur, I'm buying.

While most of us who are both male and southern are swayed by trends duly reported by TV just like the rest of the country, I don't think men's bags will be very popular around here. We're still trying to adjust to mixed race couples and Dale Jr. without Budweiser.

We have briefcases, leather wallets on chains, and cargo pants with multiple pockets to store our stuff. Besides, there are too many guys named Cooter, Tiny, and Red who just won't understand.