The Mason Minute

A couple of months ago, I saw a news story online announcing the release date for the new Mean Girls movie. The original has become one of my favorites, and I usually watch it whenever I see it on TV. At first, I was a bit confused. We've already had a sequel that came out over a decade ago. So why do we need another? I soon learned that the new version adapts the Broadway musical. The updated Mea...

Any kid in the 60s or 70s loved going to the grocery store or drugstore. It usually meant we could get a candy bar or some gum. And if I had a choice, I would usually get a pack of Fruit Stripe Gum. You know it; it's the one that comes in the striped package with the zebra on the front. But technically, I should say it came in a pack with a zebra on it. This week, the makers of my childhood favori...

I was scrolling through my news feed the other day when I saw a headline that made me pause: Revealed: The Happiest State in the US. Of course, I had to find the answer, but first, I tried to guess the answer. The happiest state had to be somewhere warm—perhaps Hawaii, California, or Florida. And without looking, I knew they would also reveal the least happy state. Would it be Mississippi, Alabama...

The Red Cross is reporting that blood donation numbers are down right now. That often happens after the holidays, but today, these stats are setting off alarms. The number of people donating blood is at the lowest level in twenty years, falling by 40%. The Red Cross is struggling to meet demand. The pandemic kept many people away. But the world is changing. And attitudes are, too. It's the second...

Traffic stops are part of the daily routine for many law enforcement officers. And most patrolmen often start the same way. They ask you for your license and registration and then utter the words; do you know why I pulled you over? A new law that just took effect in California changed that initial exchange. Beginning January 1st, officers can no longer ask if you know your infraction. Now, they mu...

I rarely ate breakfast for a long time due to lack of time. But I've made it a point to eat breakfast in recent years. And if I'm going to miss one meal, it is usually lunch. When I was self-employed, I only ate during an out-of-office business meeting. But lunch is hit or miss since I'm back working in an office. I only eat when we have a catered meeting or a few of us get together outside the of...

The retail world struggles to figure out how to keep the store experience alive; with so many people moving to online shopping, retailers need to develop new ways to remain profitable. As discussed in previous episodes, self-checkout has been one-way stores have cut costs. But it's increasingly becoming an issue. In recent months, a new type of retail theft has emerged, and it's all because of the...

When you live in a city the size of Nashville, you don’t expect to worry about seeing any black bears. But the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency tells us we might start seeing them roaming through our neighborhoods. Most black bears in Tennessee live in the eastern part of the state. But as the wooded areas they lived in became populated, they often sought new places to live. In recent years, th...

Anyone who grew up in the 1980s or 1990s likely watched one of David Letterman's late-night shows on NBC or CBS. And if you're an old-timer like me, you even watched his short-lived daytime show. He's known for recurring skits and characters. Some of the favorites include the Top Ten List, Viewer Mail, Larry Bud Melman, and Stupid Pet Tricks. You're in luck if you've been missing Stupid Pet Tricks...

Giving up alcohol is a New Year's resolution that many people pledge. In recent years, those who don't necessarily want to give it up permanently have opted to take part in Dry January. It was created in Great Britain only a decade ago. And nearly one-third of Americans who consume alcohol have started participating on an annual basis. Many feel that quitting for even a month offers many health be...

Some of my earliest memories revolve around spending time with my father at the radio and TV stations where he worked. Helping him put his TV weather maps together almost led me to a career in meteorology. Changing weather is always something I follow. And when they start talking about winter storms, I watch the weather folks get very excited... Click Here To Subscribe Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon...

With the hustle and bustle of the holidays, you might have missed this news story last week. A Florida woman is suing Hershey's over misleading packaging. A few months ago, she purchased a Reese's Halloween treat. But when she opened the package, the candy looked nothing like what was on the wrapper. She's suing the candy maker for deceptive packaging. She's asking for $5 million. And while I don'...

Beer drinking across America is down way down. Last year, beer consumption fell to levels we haven't seen in decades. Some say the Bud Light boycott had something to do with it. Others feel the rise in alcoholic seltzers played a significant role. In reality, it's a combination of a lot of factors. While the big brewing companies are concerned, they're not too worried. Thanks to rising prices, the...

I understand our desire as humans to change, evolve, and improve. For many, a New Year's resolution is the simplest way to start. But does it matter when we begin? I've never been a resolution type of guy. I always try to improve but avoid a pronouncement once the calendar. I like to claim that I'm the same ole me when I'm constantly changing in reality. If you make frequent small changes, you hav...

During the holiday season, I often encounter one of my favorite treats. It's something that most of us keep in the house year-round. But for some reason, cheese and crackers taste a little better this time of year. I know it's just something that exists only in my mind. Over Christmas, spending time with family, we have cheese and crackers to snack on. You can call it a snack, an appetizer, or hor...

I don't know many people who haven't spent some time inside a Pizza Hut pizza parlor. Cities big and small usually have at least one. Back in the day, they were a frequent gathering place. Many of us loved their lunch buffet, personal pan pizzas, salad bars, and even dessert pizzas. But times have changed, the menu has changed, and so has one of America's favorite pizza places. Or has it? If you y...

We've always lived in a world where there was some type of unrest. Typically, here in America, we don't get too worried because it's usually happening somewhere across the country. But in the last few years, that all has changed. We no longer feel safe when we go to the mall, to school, or anywhere there might be a crowd. The other night, when my wife and I were coming home from Indiana, we saw a...

Technology has helped advance so many things in science and medicine over the years. And experts feel that artificial intelligence will play a significant role in future advances. It might already be doing that if we can believe scientists from South Korea. Some researchers have reported that thanks to AI, they can now detect autism in children with 100% accuracy. And they can do it with a non-inv...

Thanks to the megahit movie, Barbie has been the toy everyone has talked about this year. While Mattel enjoyed a spike in doll sales this year, another of its longtime creations also had another stellar year. Hot Wheels celebrated its 55th anniversary this year, and the brand of toy cars once again earned the toy company over a billion dollars... Click Here To Subscribe Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon...

It's the day after Christmas, and here in the Mason household, it's much more important than Christmas. It's my wife's birthday. And for me, that matters so much more. In the nearly 30 years we've been together, I've tried my best to make sure that it's a day about her, not just a day of Christmas afterglow. It's often difficult to separate the two days, even when family is involved... Click Here...

As I get older, the Christmas holiday becomes a nostalgic time. And that's not a bad thing. I remember when I couldn't wait to see what Santa left me under the tree. For the most part, I usually only remember the good times. Fortunately, there weren't that many bad ones. The other day, my wife and I discussed some of the gifts we had received when we were younger. Remembering the great ones is eas...

We all have holiday traditions. Years ago, my wife's family had one where all the kids could open up one present on Christmas Eve. And somehow, each gift they opened was new pajamas. This didn't happen just once; it happened year after year. With new pj's, the pictures on Christmas morning always looked good. She didn't mind getting the new sleepwear. That's where we differ. If I got pajamas once...

Buying gift cards could be a simple solution if you're out doing some last-minute Christmas shopping. Sure, you could put more thought into the choice, but if you're like me, you're tired of fighting the crowds. Experts warn us that criminals have recently increased their focus on gift card theft. But they're not stealing the card itself; they're draining the money from the card. These criminals a...

I saw a story the other night on our local news that blew my mind. Last year, Nashville's airport was in the top 5 for gun seizures by the TSA. We came in fourth nationally. The news story said that at the current rate, we could move up to third when they update the numbers in just a couple of weeks. Atlanta's airport led the list, and that's no surprise since it's one of the busiest airports in A...

I love digging into stories on the internet about research projects that try to make some sense of our world. And since I spend so much time reading these articles, the algorithms of websites like Google and Facebook feed me daily. Just the other day, I found some research that tracked the smartest states across America, And while the results might not be surprising, how they determined this list...