The Mason Minute

I've never been a person who likes getting their hands dirty when they eat. Sure, I can handle burgers and pizza, but ribs and wings aren't something I prefer. At age 12, my nephew Will is a connoisseur of wings. He has no problem rolling up his sleeves and getting into that sauce. For him, not only is the flavor important, but the quality of the chicken is even more important. That's impressive....

If my memory serves me correctly, the internet, as we know it, is just over 30 years old. While technically it dates back to 1983, the browser-based World Wide Web debuted in 1993. That means I've spent nearly half my life on the web. While many of us have a love-hate relationship living online, it's changed my life for the better. But I am aware of how it's changed our habits. Some say the intern...

I've been following sports for a long time. Some of my earliest memories are going to games with my father when he did radio play-by-play. I followed in his footsteps for a short time in my radio career. And while I haven't stayed obsessed with sports throughout my life, I still keep up with most major sports. The other night, we were watching the Georgia v. Georgia Tech game that set the record f...

Whenever I head back to Indiana to see my nieces and nephews, I hear stories of how they're doing in school. Two of my nephews are currently in high school. One is a Senior, the other a Junior. Their tales of education today remind me why I would never want to return. So many people wish they could do it all over again, but with the knowledge they possess as an adult. Even if I had that, I wouldn'...

I realize that I can sometimes sound like a grumpy old man. That's the life of a Baby Boomer. I never complain about big things, only the silly things that aren't really an issue; you know, first-world problems. I'm a big fan of the quarter-zip sweater. I have dozens of them. They're warm, durable, and always seem to stay in style. But recently, I've noticed many stores selling half-zip shirts and...

It may be Black Friday, but don't worry; I haven't taken up running. When people started jogging in the 1970s, I tried it for a moment, a very brief moment. I have always hated running. I never liked it when I was young and in good shape. Running was something we had to do if we lost a basketball game, it was never a positive. But today we celebrate 5K, as in 5,000 episodes of The Mason Minute. I...

Happy Thanksgiving! For many, it's been a challenging year, but there is so much to be thankful for today and every day. Many people have traditions that are associated with Thanksgiving. For some, it could be gathering with family; for others, watching football on the tube; and for most, eating. And may do a lot of eating. And while I love to eat, I don't often gorge myself on turkey, dressing, p...

The motion picture Wicked has already grossed $175 million worldwide in just one week. My wife will see it with some of our nieces and nephews on Friday. I took her to see it on Broadway years ago, and that was more than enough for me. I've never been a big fan of musicals, so I don't mind missing the movie version. Interestingly, some theaters are advertising that they will allow no singing along...

Nashville is still one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S., And that means we continue to deal with the growing pains that many cities face. Increased crime is one of the bigger issues. Stolen cars and guns are a continuing problem. Lately, the criminals are getting much more brazen. Smash-and-grab robberies are on the rise. And recently, an ATM was stolen from a 7-11 store. The robbers drov...

You should take note if you're thinking about using cash when you're out shopping this holiday season. Some stores will be looking at your dollar bills closely. Stores like Walmart and Target will no longer accept torn, mutilated, or discolored cash. Retailers are extra cautious since the one-dollar bill still needs to be updated with the new security features. Many are opting not to accept any cu...

For many people, visiting their favorite Mexican restaurant often means margaritas, tacos, chimichangas, and fajitas. And while many people know that I love tacos, I also splurge every now and then and order fajitas. But one thing has always bothered me when I order them. While often served on a sizzling skillet filled with meat, pepper, and onions, they always come with just three tortillas. This...

If you've watched any TV lately, there's no doubt that the holidays are almost here. The never-ending number of commercials is just one of the obvious clues. I can tell by the number of teases for the latest holiday baking shows on the Food Network. I must admit, while I do love this time of year, my waistline doesn't. My wife is a baker and always has a few extra cookies left over for me. Plus, s...

I did my best to keep up with pop culture and the latest trends for decades. When I worked in radio, knowing everything my listeners were interested in was essential. But in recent years, that hasn't been a huge priority. And I realize as I get older, keeping up with the latest trends doesn't matter. The other day, the Cambridge Dictionary announced their word of the year; manifest. When I heard t...

When you talk of Doomsday to those of a certain age, the thought of nuclear war comes to mind. But the concept actually dates back thousands of years. In recent months, a fish associated with Doomsday in Japanese folklore has been showing up on a few California beaches. There have been reports of three oarfish washing up on shore this year. While that may not seem strange, until this year, there h...

If someone offers you a cup of cocoa, you can assume a few things. It's likely cold outside, and perhaps they don't like coffee. But you might want to consider having a cup more often. Scientists are finding that having a cup when stressed can benefit your health. When people are stressed, they usually reach for fatty foods. And even if you do that, having a cup of cocoa can reduce the effects of...

For years, doctors have been telling us the worst thing we can do for our health is sit behind a desk all day. The lack of movement is bad for us in so many ways. Some think a standing desk is a solution to this lack of movement. But recent research says that it doesn't matter if we're standing or sitting. The lack of movement either way is bad for us. While standing is better than sitting, the ov...

Law enforcement in Tennessee tells us we have a problem with aggressive driving. And while I think that's an issue everywhere in the US, there's something even more dangerous. Passive-aggressive drivers are an even bigger problem. Aggressive drivers just want to get past everyone. All you have to do is get out of their way, and they're no longer a hassle. But those who refuse to get out of the way...

Late at night, my mind wanders as I wind down from the day. I never know where it's going or what will trigger my next Google deep dive. The other night, I was in my home office working on some social media content and watching some raunchy teen comedy from a few years ago. And that's when my mind started to wander. Why do I prefer these movies to the ones that win Oscars? And what is the differen...

Through the years, people have adorned their lawns, gardens, and porches with many strange things. In the late 1800s, lawn jockeys were extremely popular. Garden gnomes have been popular numerous times in countries throughout the world. For some reason, for a brief time in the 1980s, many midwestern homes displayed a porch goose. What made this concrete goose so unusual is that people often dresse...

Depending on how you want to look at it, buying accessories for your smartphone is either a joy or a pain. I knew I needed to purchase new cables and chargers when I upgraded my iPhone. But I wasn't prepared for how difficult it would be to find what I wanted. When Apple switched from the lightning port to USB-C, it meant you couldn't use any of your old cables and chargers. Plus, the new iPhones...

The discovery of fire and the origin of the wheel are two of the most important things to happen in the history of the world. For many years, people thought the wheel dated back roughly 6,000 years. In 4000 BC, it was used to make pottery in Mesopotamia. Then, 500 years later, it was adapted for transportation during the Bronze Age. But now, scientists think their timeline needs to be corrected. T...

More and more people are cutting the cord and switching exclusively to streaming services. But for many, choosing which service or services to use can be frustrating. No one service has everything in one place. Some of the most popular streamers are Netflix, Hulu, Peacock, and Paramount+, but they aren't free. And while there are various free options, keeping up with them is tough. Amazon just ann...

No, I'm not trying to sell you anything. You may want to look at the title of today's podcast again. Recently, I've noticed people taking pictures of items and placing them beside a banana. These images are all over social media, and they claim that they're doing this for scale. They want to show you the item's size in the picture and to give you a reference point; they're including a banana in th...

Everyone knows that the NFL is the biggest sport in America and perhaps the world. They took their championship game and branded it as the Super Bowl; the rest is history. And in recent years, they've added new acronyms to our vocabulary. Perhaps you've seen them: SNF, MNF, TNF. They're all used in shining the spotlight on their games when played on Sunday night, Monday night, and Tuesday night. I...

Over the last few years, many chain restaurants have struggled. Changing consumer tastes and bad management often play a part. While some chains have closed locations, others have filed for bankruptcy protection. TGI Fridays recently joined the list of companies that filed for bankruptcy. They claim that the company has never recovered from COVID-19 losses. While they attempt to recover, there's o...