The Mason Minute

There are some things in life you don't think about. These things have always been around and will be long after you're gone. A perfect example is grapes. I couldn't tell you the first time I ate grapes, but I probably had them in jelly form the first time. And like many adults, I've enjoyed them more in the form of wine. I read a fascinating article the other day that dates grapes back to the ext...

Hawaiian Punch was a special treat if you're a child of the 60s, 70s, or 80s. And while it's still available today, kids don't seem to care as much. Today, they have so many more options. But if you're like me, there was about Hawaiian Punch that bothered you; it never seemed to stay cold. For some reason, no matter how long you kept it in the refrigerator, it was never as cold as Kool-Aid or Coca...

You'll start seeing more sports on your television in the coming months. Warner-Discovery announced they're adding more college sports coverage on TNT, Tru TV, and TBS. While many games move to streaming services and apps, cable channels are trying to add more games to their lineup. College football and basketball draw good ratings, and that means revenue. Now, cable channels need all the ratings...

While many people today are focusing on our democracy and independence, there are still some who only care about things that go boom. Some people care about grilling out, while others enjoy having a day off from work. But many only care about shooting off firecrackers. Make no mistake. They don't care about the fireworks shows that will light up the night sky. These people only care about buying c...

It seems like yesterday that we were all home-bound due to COVID-19. And even though it's been two years since life started returning to normal, the virus continues mutating. Researchers fear that our next pandemic could happen soon and want us to be better prepared. The Bird Flu, which we've heard about for the last few years, could be that virus. And the experts want to ensure we stay ahead of t...

While I love technology, I'm tired of upgrading all the time. And while the constant spending is a hassle, that's not the real issue for me. I'm more annoyed by the time it takes to set up your new equipment as you want. It can be a smartphone, computer, or TV streaming equipment. The constant change gets tiresome. I understand the world has changed, and they no longer design anything to work for...

One of the best parts about the internet is the amount of information you can find about any subject. Along with all of the written data, you can find an immeasurable number of images plus thousands of hours of video and audio. At one time, I believed all available media would eventually be found on the internet. Until recently, it looked like that might happen. But last week, Paramount removed th...

I admit I'm obsessed with saving receipts. It's something I've done for decades. If I can get a receipt, I'll take it. It gets placed in my bill box. At the end of each year, I put that box away in storage. I even get receipts for the simplest things. Over the weekend, my wife and I stopped at a convenience store for bottled water. I paid with my credit card and asked for the receipt. But there wa...

It may seem silly, but cookies are very personal things. They're more than just a simple snack. While you can't go wrong with chocolate chips, there's something special about oatmeal raisin cookies. I realize that they're a very polarizing choice. You either love them or you hate them. I'm not ashamed to admit I'm a fan. But I find that people will judge you for that choice. We had some cookies in...

If you love sports, you have a favorite team. The sport doesn't matter; we all have some we cheer for and a few we root against. But the worst kind of sports fan is the one who will jump on the bandwagon of a winning team. It's easy to pull for a winner. Usually, it's the casual fan who jumps from team to team. I witnessed many folks jump on the bandwagon of the University of Tennessee baseball te...

I often wonder if the world around me changes so much that I usually don't notice or if I've changed. No matter the situation, there always seem to be last-minute changes. Is this new, or is this me? I don't think I'm the only one who deals with this regularly. I think it's now simply part of our culture. Are people too afraid to make decisions, or are they just holding out until the last possible...

I got lucky the other day. We all face these scenarios in life. A problem arises, and there's a quick, cheap fix, or it will be a costly situation that takes a long time to solve. That's what I faced the other day. Our thermostat stopped working on what was supposed to be one of the hottest days of the year. I'm preparing for the worst; we replace our heat pump. But, if I'm fortunate, all I need t...

Like many companies, Walmart is always looking for more ways to be efficient. At least, that's their description. Many feel they constantly seek ways to cut personnel costs and increase profits. However you look at it, they've announced that they will soon be making a change in thousands of their stores. They plan to move to electronic pricing on their shelves. No longer will employees manually ch...

In many homes, it's something that can lead to a lot of arguments. What's the best setting for your thermostat? Finding the right temperature for everyone is a challenge. Some care about their comfort, others only care about the cost. The government wants us to think about the power grid, and the U.S. Department of Energy has released its recommendations for the proper thermostat settings for our...

Recently, I've noticed that people have been saying bad things about grapefruit. I'm confused. Have people always disliked it, or is this something new? For many, it's associated with dieting. But is that any reason to geive it a bad rap? While it's not something I think about for snack food, I enjoy it with a protein-packed breakfast. It may have something to do with grapefruit juice. Because of...

Last weekend, I was out running errands. And as I was driving through the neighborhood, I saw something I hadn't seen in years. I saw the ice cream man. It was a beat-up old van, but all the pictures of the frozen treats he was selling brought back memories. Like many, I loved it when the ice cream truck drove down my street. While a few are still around, you don't see them like you used to. As we...

Experts say we could have record-breaking heat this summer. It will likely involve the number of days with highs in the 90s here in Nashville. We've already been dealing with 90-degree weather for the last few weeks. And now that Summer is officially here, it isn't going to get better. I prefer hot weather to cold, so while I may sweat a bit more, I don't mind too much. But my biggest problem is m...

My wife and I were watching the college baseball World Series, and she asked me why it was a double-elimination tournament. I had no idea, so I searched for the answer. There are hundreds of stories about how double-elimination tournaments work, but no explanations for why. I can think of numerous examples in the baseball world, and I played in a 3-on-3 basketball tourney organized that way, but I...

As Nashville grows rapidly, the congestion on our roadways keeps getting worse. Experts say much of our problem is related to lack of public transportation. And while that is a factor, our constant construction isn't helping. I've discussed this before, but I think our traffic lights are also part of the problem. I often find myself waiting at a red light with no vehicles coming from the cross str...

Did you know that June was Internet Safety Month? Don't worry, I didn't either. When I first read about it, I wondered if we were concerned with safety for teenagers or senior citizens. It's hard to believe I've been online for almost 30 years. It seems like only yesterday when we were still using dial-up modems. Even before the internet, it didn't take long to realize how dangerous online activit...

The weekend is over, and I got very little done. I had every intention to get to some of the small projects on my to-do list. My wife was out of town, so it seemed like the perfect opportunity. So what did I get done? Very little. I ran all the errands I needed to, but I only finished a few of my projects. My body told me I needed to chill out. For too long, I never listened to my body and pushed...

When I worked in radio, I did my best to stay updated on pop culture. That often meant checking out TV shows that didn't interest me but were popular with my listeners. With as much media as I consume, I only miss a little. But occasionally, a show comes along that I never check out at least once. I found one of those the other day. I stumbled upon an old FOX network TV show from the early 2000s,...

Due to all my sinus issues, I don't have the best sense of smell. But there's one thing I never have a problem noticing: the smell of death. You only need to smell it once because that smell is always there. In our area, it's usually an animal, often a deer, hit on the roadway. As big as a city as Nashville is, we still have many wooded areas where animals like deer, possums, and raccoons try to s...

Limiting speed in our vehicles could be a reality very soon. And I'm not talking about limiting how fast your car or truck can go. It's about ensuring your vehicle doesn't exceed the speed limit. While the possibility upsets a lot of people, some are warming to the idea. A California Congressman recently tried to introduce a bill that would place a governor in every new vehicle sold there. While h...

The term sadfishing may be new to you, but if you've spent time on social media, you've likely seen it. You might even be guilty of this yourself. Sadfishing is something that people do to elicit a response from their social media followers. It's often a cryptic cry for help. Now, the person doing this doesn't actually tell you what's going on. They're just fishing for comments, for people to expr...