The Mason Minute

If you've walked through a Home Depot or a Lowe's, you've likely seen one of those giant skeletons. They've become a sensation over the last few years. Here in Nashville, a few homes keep their on display year-round. They've been the hot Halloween decoration, but that may change thanks to TikTok. A new oversized character has debuted this year, and Target stores have already sold out... Click Here...

The television and motion picture writers are back on the job. But in many cases, they don't have anyone to write for since the union representing actors and actresses remains on strike. Artificial intelligence has been a significant factor in the negotiations, but revenue sharing is the primary factor keeping everyone on the picket line. While that doesn't seem like a considerable sticking point...

Don't be alarmed, but your smartphone will go off this afternoon. The government is testing the Wireless Emergency Alerts, or WEA for short. You're probably familiar with the weekly EAS test on most radio and TV stations. Well, the WEA is a similar system, but targeted to smartphones. With so many people cutting the chord, a new way to reach everyone is necessary... Click Here To Subscribe Apple P...

If you live in a city with a lot of traffic, you know timing is everything. You often must fine-tune your morning routine to be as efficient as possible. When driving in rush hour traffic, you know that when you leave for work matters. When hitting the road, there's a window where heading out the door on time means a shorter commute. I have a twenty-minute window of time with which to work. Leave...

For many people, social media has become an addiction. They find it difficult to stop scrolling through their apps, reading, or posting the latest updates. But as we all know, sometimes life gets in the way, and we must get to work. Some have found a new way to put down their phone. They go into monk mode. Think of it as living a simple existence like monks. They go silent. Some have resorted to u...

Deciding what to have for lunch and dinner has always been challenging. I love many foods but rarely know what I want for either meal. Yesterday, we decided on sub sandwiches for lunch. And as I ate, I wondered why we now call them subs rather than grinders or hoagies. They're all the same thing, but I haven't seen a restaurant that called them something other than a sub in years. What we call the...

Plastic waste is a worldwide issue. Advocates are targeting many companies, tasking them with creating less petroleum-based products and utilizing more recycled plastic. One of the largest toy companies in the world, LEGO, promised to reduce their reliance on petroleum and cut their carbon footprint. But after years of testing and research, they announced this week that they were shutting the proj...

You could say that I'm a curious person. I'm always curious about the latest trend or when I notice something that might become trendy. Over the last couple of years, I've seen people driving Jeeps with small rubber ducks in line across their dashboards. Some people have just a couple, while others may have dozens. With a quick search, I found that this is called Jeep Ducking, and it's become popu...

I've seen and done a lot of strange things in my life. But one of the weirdest things I've seen in quite a while is the news headline: 'Kevin Mason Captured.' The story of the other Kevin Mason has been all over the news recently. And while I don't think anyone would ever confuse the two of us, it did impact my life a bit... Click Here To Subscribe Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicGoogle PodcastsT...

When I was in my teens, my car was a part of my identity. Of course, it isn't easy making a stock VW Beetle seem cool. I switched to a header-style exhaust system to make it sound more impressive. The car gave the impression it was much more powerful than it was. Loud mufflers are a great way to attract attention. Usually, it's just young kids with noisy vehicles, but not here in Nashville... Clic...

Life changes, and so does technology. I've been on the earth long enough to see numerous advances in communications. Growing up, we had the phone on the wall with the long cord. When it rang, you answered. Then, the answering machine became a way to avoid talking to people. The device was gone a decade later, and voicemail handled the task electronically. Today, voicemail will soon be a thing of t...

We all know that stereotypes can be damaging, and to better our society, we should work to prevent them. But, while stereotyping can be harmful in the real world, there is a place where stereotypes are welcome. Television, the movies, and morning show radio have all proven that stereotypes can lead to immense success. The entertainment business uses them in a way that people enjoy. And that is bot...

I've often wondered why some songs get stuck in our heads whenever we hear them. Sometimes, they're songs you love, and other times, they're just songs you hear often. Recently, I listened to a country song from the 1990s that I hadn't heard in years. And now, Collin Raye's song Little Red Rodeo is stuck in my head. The music has been there for over a week, and I can't seem to get rid of it... Cli...

I consume a lot of media. Radio, TV, podcasts, streaming video, audio, you name it, I'm plugged in all the time. And one thing I've noticed with much of this content is that it's often predictable. Creating content, no matter the medium, is often formulaic. After a while, you see the patterns. You can even predict what's coming up next. Perhaps it's just me, but I see this happening more often tha...

Has decorating for Halloween become a competition? When I was growing up, most people just craved a jack-o-lantern and perhaps stuck a candle inside. If you had kids, you might tape a few cardboard ghosts, pumpkins, or black cats to your doors and windows. Today that isn't even really decorating for most people. This year, I've seen more 12-foot skeletons than any previous year. Plus, if your yard...

You only think about a first aid kit once you need one. We have a small box around the house, so we're usually ready for any medical emergency. But the other day at work, I ran into a door-mounted coat hook and needed to put something on the wound. So I went in search of the office first aid kit. I found many bandages, gauze, aspirin, and antacids, but nothing that could dress my wound... Click He...

Recently, numerous weather delays have occurred during college and pro football games. Back in my younger days, there were no delays for severe weather. They played the game no matter the conditions. So when did this change? I know this weather protocol has existed for a few years, but I can't remember when they changed things. Perhaps climate change is to blame, or I may need to pay more attentio...

As you get older, you focus on things you know. For many older adults, adapting to change is always challenging. You come to think that items that have been around for your entire life will be around forever. But the end is near for a product That played a big part in my youth. Yes, times change, but sometimes you have to ask why... Click Here To Subscribe Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicGoogle P...

We all have quirks. Some of them even turn into pet peeves. As I drove to work the other day, I realized that I often consumed myself with spacing. While driving, I obsess over the space between cars as they go down the road. And the spacing between vehicles at a stoplight will often have me muttering under my breath. Standing in line at a store, people need to step up or even step back and leave...

As a plus-sized man, I do my best to look presentable as often as possible. I never want someone to look at me and think there goes a fat slob. And, most of the time, that works well. But every so often, I get a little sloppy. I've found that food often jumps off my plate and lands on my shirt. But it never ends up in the middle of my shirt. I often wonder how food ends up on my shoulder, my side,...

For many, Nashville is a fun town. It's where all the bachelorettes come to have a great time. If you love country music, it's the mecca. But in reality, it's like any large city across America. We have the same issues and headaches. I can avoid the interstates on my daily commute and use city street shortcuts. But that comes with its' own challenges. Every morning and every night, my drive takes...

I recently realized that I've been obsessed with patterns for years. Now, I'm not talking about geometric shapes; I'm talking about numbers, statistics, marketing. When I worked in radio, I tried to understand the patterns of how people listened to the radio. While working in the music business, I looked at social media growth patterns for my artists. I was always looking for ways to increase an a...

Yesterday, I had a brief moment of panic. It wasn't over anything serious; it was just an honest impulse reaction when my wife asked me a question. Panic was my gut reaction, but only for a split second. Immediately I began to wonder, why am I freaking out? This question isn't a matter of life and death. It's not essential. I'm trying to understand why the mind does this, but I'm intrigued... Clic...

When I was a kid, the only people with pickup trucks were farmers and the local handyman. They were basic transportation with no frills. Of course, today, that's all changed. Pickups now offer more luxury than some base model BMWs. Plus, they're all HUGE. I was behind a new F-150 the other day, and I couldn't see over the top of the tailgate. And the drivers, that's a story in itself... Click Here...

I had to stop by the drugstore yesterday to pick up some sinus medication. When I walked in, I noticed how dark and sad the whole store was. It's always that way. I realize many people who visit a drugstore aren't feeling well. But why does the mood have to be so heavy? And now that I think of it, every drugstore seems identical... Click Here To Subscribe Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicGoogle Po...