The Mason Minute

By now, you've heard that flu activity across the U.S. is very high. But it's not just the flu. Many are suffering from RSV, COVID, or the norovirus. You might say it's a perfect storm of viruses right now. Experts call this a quad-demic. There's no secret to avoiding any or all of these viruses. To minimize risk, wash your hands, cover your cough, clean and disinfect often, and be mindful of vent...

We all know that drinking the proper amount of water keeps you hydrated and helps with weight loss. But for many people, me included, water is boring. Some experts say switching to sparkling water is just as good for you, and the carbonation can help make you feel full. New research says that sparkling water can also help boost your metabolism. Of course, the researchers are quick to point out tha...

In recent years, we've heard more talk about mental health and body image. Anorexia and bulimia are two of the most researched and discussed body issues. While they typically target women, specifically young women, the problems can be found in men, too. For researchers, finding ways to reverse these trends is a significant challenge. And while they're working hard, researchers have found a new for...

This time of year, if you're like most people, you try hard to avoid catching a cold or the flu. You're doing whatever you can to boost your immunity. So many people I know caught something over the holidays. Knock on wood, I've been able to avoid catching anything so far. A few years ago, I read that elderberry supplements can help you stay healthy. My wife and I have been taking it every day sin...

You often hear people say that it's the little things that bring us joy. One of those things is the ability to pay at the pump when I go to fill up my car at the gas station. I started driving before you were allowed to pump our own gas. It was a significant change when full-service went away and no-service debuted. While the technology appeared in the mid-70s, most of us couldn't swipe our credit...

All eyes are on Washington, D.C., this weekend. And while some of it has to do with the upcoming inauguration, most of the attention surrounds TikTok. The Chinese-owned social media app is on a figurative death row. Unless the owner, ByteDance, sells it to a US-based company, new legislation will require the app's removal from the various app stores within 48 hours. Many think the incoming adminis...

For many years, researchers have claimed that birds and dinosaurs are related. But now, some biologists argue that birds have evolved from some species of flying dinosaurs. They are the only remnants to survive the extinction during the Cretaceous period 65 million years ago. These experts haven't been able to determine how they did it. Some feel that birds adapt well, and that's how they can surv...

This may sound like an odd question, but are we losing history? I read a story recently that upset me. It said that 20% of people recently surveyed had no knowledge of the Holocaust. This statistic touches on a subject I think about often. When we teach history in school, how do we determine how much time is spent on a topic? Every year is another year added to history. Many things I learned in sc...

One of our most significant concerns is inflation. Many people feel the price of filling their shopping cart keeps going up. And while it may seem that the price of everything is climbing, that may not be true. National Public Radio has been tracking the price of everyday food items for the last six years at a Walmart in Georgia. What they're finding is fascinating. While some prices have increase...

Every day, as I scroll through my news feed, I'm reminded about how the world of newsgathering has changed. Having a lengthy background in the media and starting my career in news and sports, I see that. But I'm often reminded that there's a difference between perception and reality. For years, we've been hearing that Nashville has a stolen gun problem. Every year, more guns are stolen from vehicl...

I'm sure you've seen the commercials for Lume and Mando, the full-body deodorants. If you watch any TV, it's hard to miss them. It's hard to believe that this product was only invented less than a decade ago. How many people are afflicted with body odor issues and need a product like this? I don't have a problem with body odor; I just sweat a lot. Many people my size have the same problem. What I...

When you're young, you live for a snow day. That means no school and a chance to go out and play in the white stuff. You could go sledding, build a snowman, and even have snowball fights. But as an adult, there are no snow days. And now that we can work from home, there's little chance of playing hooky. But, since it's the weekend, why not enjoy the weather? For me, staying in, staying warm, and d...

If you live in an area where it snows regularly in the winter months, you know the key is preparation. Most families have a shovel or two, and these days, many have a snow blower. Plus, it's also essential to keep some ice melt handy. There are several varieties of sidewalk salt, but even though we often deal with icy sidewalks here in Middle Tennessee, it's usually hard to find. We make sure to p...

Today is Quitters Day. It's one of those silly holidays that no government recognizes. It falls annually on the second Friday of January. The day ties into our New Year's resolutions. Research says that most people give up on their resolutions within the year's first two weeks. In fact, the research shows that two-thirds of us have already given up on them. It's not a day that's poking fun at peop...

Sometimes, you get a sixth sense that trouble is brewing. And when I mean trouble, I'm talking severe weather. Last week, the TV weather people tried to get everyone in a panic. But for most of Middle Tennessee, it was all for nothing. But this week, you can feel something is different. There's no panic, yet everyone is preparing. At first, the weather experts predicted 2-4 inches. Then they raise...

Today, we celebrate the King of Rock n' Roll, Elvis Presley. He was born 90 years ago today. The hard part to believe is that he didn't even make it halfway. The King died in 1977 at the age of 42. I'm not the biggest fan of his music, but I've been to Graceland a few times and am fascinated with how he lived his life. He's been gone since 1977 but still significantly influences many. His fashion...

When you've been immersed in audio, video, and technology for as long as I have, you wind up with stacks of obsolete equipment. You also end up with boxes filled with cords, cables, dongles, and adapters. You don't even need to be a tech geek to end up with all these things. Anyone who's owned a few iPhones knows the struggle. Every few years, they change the connectors on their cords and cables,...

Over the weekend, we had threats of winter weather. With the potential of freezing rain, my wife and I put our wipers up. It's a trick I learned years ago. Pulling them off the windshield meant we didn't have to worry about the wipers sticking to it. Fortunately, there was no ice storm, so it was business as usual. Scraping your windshield is a hassle, especially if you're running late in the morn...

Now that I have so many streaming services, I watch a ton of movies. Many were never released in theaters. Some went straight to DVD, and the more recent movies were made just for the streaming services. I don't even mind waiting for films to finish their run at the theater. Occasionally, I find a movie on cable or one of the streamers that was popular in the theater, but I wasn't familiar with it...

My wife and I were out shopping at Walmart the other night, and as we were getting ready to check out, I grabbed a candy bar. I still enjoy one every now and then, but I try not to have too many. But as I grabbed my Milky Way, my mind wandered to my younger days. Like many people, we had a little neighborhood candy store just a few blocks from my house. I don't remember much about the store, it's...

We wrapped up our winter break yesterday and got back to the office. And without fail, I already have three co-workers who are out with the flu. They caught it during the holidays. It happens to many of us. It's almost impossible to avoid cold and flu season this time of year. We must wash our hands frequently and keep the house clean. And that means you must also stay on top of the dirty laundry....

I went to bed last night and did something I hadn't had to do in 10 days. I set my alarm. I love my job, but hate the sound of my alarm every morning. When I worked in radio, I worked many different shifts, and my wakeup time was rarely the same. Now that I work a normal 9 to 5 type job, day in and day out, the buzzer goes off every morning at 6:10. I've never been a morning person. And while I do...

The new year is here. And these days, it isn't enough to wish people a happy new year. Most people want to wish you a happy and healthy new year. They might even hope that it's a prosperous one, too. Most people say these things because they feel obligated. For many, these are just words. For a long time, I fell into that category. But times have changed, and I have, too. Because these days, the t...

They say the holidays bring out the worst in people. I don't know if that's true, but there is one thing that I know. Many people are oblivious this time of year. I don't know if people show that trait as the year ends or if we just see an overwhelming amount of people during the holidays that we don't see the rest of the year. It's likely a combination of both. People drive like there's no one on...

Jimmy Carter passed away yesterday at the age of 100. Your age likely dictates how you view our 39th President. His years in the White House coincide with my years in High School. And he was running for reelection the year I could vote for the first time. For many, he is better known for what he's done since he left office. While many know that he was President, they're likely more familiar with h...