The Mason Minute

Over the weekend, someone called in a bomb threat for one of the businesses in Nashville's Lower Broadway tourist district. My first thought was there could be a connection to 9/11. I don't know how the two might connect, but that's often my first thought when tragedy strikes this time of year. I've never understood the purpose of bomb threats. Do people call them in to cause panic? Many people su...

With more businesses trying to cut costs, many have chosen to reduce staffing and push self-checkout onto customers. One major fast-food giant is going the opposite way. McDonald's has announced they plan to remove the self-serve beverage stations from their restaurants. They still plan on employing the kiosks where you place your order, but having someone behind the counter pour your soft drink i...

In recent years, there's been a lot of talk about products shrinking in size. Years ago, a half-gallon (64 oz) ice cream container shrunk to 56 ounces. Then, a few years later, they shrank again to 48 ounces. Prices didn't drop either; they remained the same or often increased. If you ask most people, shrinking portion sizes are a significant frustration. I usually feel the same way, but I found a...

I learned something new yesterday. Nashville has ten sister cities across the world. Every town I've lived in has a cultural alliance with a city in some foreign country. This week, Nashville announced they've partnered with Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan. While I have no issues with this, I wonder why we even bother forging the relationship... Click Here To Subscribe Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicGo...

Running my own business for nearly 20 years, I learned many things. One of the biggest lessons was knowing when to pivot. They may not teach that in business classes, but it was an important lesson. I adjusted the focus of my business a few times through the years, and it worked well. But I also missed a few chances to change direction and paid the price. Many social media sites also feel the need...

I'm not sure how long it's been, but the other day, we broke down and bought some new furniture. We picked up a new couch and recliner. The sofa we're getting rid of lasted us 15 years, which these days is a fantastic feat. But there's one thing I forgot about the process. You have to get rid of the old furniture. There are many options, but none of them seem to be easy... Click Here To Subscribe...

Insurance companies are beginning to panic. They feel climate change is causing more natural disasters, meaning they must pay on homeowner claims. Over the last few years, there have been so many major hurricanes in Florida that insurance companies have canceled policies and have stopped issuing new ones. Their lack of desire to payout proves there has always been a flaw in how the insurance busin...

Today is Labor Day, and I'm somewhat confused. What is Labor Day anymore? The government created the holiday to honor our blue-collar workers, those who labored. It's supposed to be a day where we pay tribute to those who, as Donna Summer would say, work hard for the money. But we don't live in a country that's focused on labor. Many jobs like that have moved to countries like Japan, China, or Mex...

Three letters strike fear into nearly everyone. No, I'm not talking about the IRS. Nor am I thinking of the FBI or CIA. Three letters that can cause a fantastic amount of stress are HOA. I've never heard anyone say something positive about their homeowner's association. People think they bring some benefit to the neighborhood, but I need help agreeing... Click Here To Subscribe Apple PodcastsSpoti...

It's human nature to be curious. But why are we so fascinated with accidents on the highway? We encountered some rubberneckers last night as we were heading home from dinner. There was a truck on fire across the road. So naturally, everyone had to stop to look. It was causing a massive traffic jam for those of us on the other side of the road. I understand why it was causing a slowdown on the side...

Walmart has been taking a lot of heat recently for reducing the number of cashiers and increasing the number of self-check stands. They're about to make another change that has incensed some customers. Walmart is about to make changes to its shopping carts. You need to pay a deposit to use one of these new carts. While it may be an experiment, it could roll out very soon nationwide... Click Here T...

As we age, many of us pay more attention to our health. When something doesn't feel right, you wonder if it's a health problem or just a one-off issue. One topic many think about is heart health. Researchers have studied heart attacks for a long time. And they believe they've identified the telltale signs that you could soon experience a heart attack. And one specific detail of this study is fasci...

My parents in Florida are bracing for another hurricane. The projections show that this one, Idalia, should make land about an hour north of where they live. They've lived in Florida for many years, so they stay prepared if the hurricane changes course at the last minute. These hurricanes often stress me out more than they stress my folks... Click Here To Subscribe Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon Musi...

It's been a brutally hot summer. And the last few weeks have been miserable. We were under a Heat Advisory for almost ten days straight. A cold front finally came through on Sunday, and our daily highs will now only be in the low 90s. I've felt horrible over the last few weeks, and I think it's all because of the weather... Click Here To Subscribe Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicGoogle PodcastsTu...

Throughout our lifetime, we're encouraged to hide our feelings. Showing emotion can be dangerous. But I know one place where expressing yourself is encouraged: the Little League World Series. They just wrapped up this year's tournament in Williamsport, PA. It's one of my favorite sporting events to watch every year. Most of these kids show raw emotion every time they take the field. You feel the j...

The other day, my wife received a sympathy gift from some of her co-workers. It was one of those Edible Arrangement bouquets. We've received a couple of them throughout the years, and I noticed that it's always the same fruit in this gift basket. I'm not complaining because it's the thought that counts, but it did make me wonder. Why do they choose the fruit they do? These arrangements always have...

When you read most obituaries, they often suggest that you donate to a specific charity instead of buying flowers. When my father-in-law passed away last week, we didn't do that. But if you're inclined, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research is a beautiful organization. But one thing they did on the funeral home website was encourage you to plant a tree in Thom's honor. That was aw...

Years ago, most people only subscribed to newspapers, magazines, and perhaps cable TV. But today, thanks to technology, most of us have numerous subscriptions. I keep track of most, but keeping track is difficult. Recently, I've received dozens of emails claiming "your subscription has expired." They're ALL spam. They never send emails like that... Click Here To Subscribe Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmaz...

The Tennessee Legislature is currently in session here in Nashville. It's a special session created to discuss school safety and gun control. While many across the state want them to tackle the pressing issues, they have something else in mind. One of the only things they've passed is a rule that allows no signs in the public gallery. We're not talking big elaborate poster board signs but messages...

I'm not a big fan of hospitals. And while I know that they serve an essential purpose, I don't know many people who would disagree. I don't think about hospitals much, but that's been different the last few days. While on the road over the weekend, I saw a billboard outside of Indianapolis that struck me as odd. Let's see if you agree with me... Click Here To Subscribe Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon...

I noticed something strange the last few weeks. I've seen a lot of dead and smelly skunks in my travels. August can't be skunk season. Now it's not like I keep track of these things, but I usually notice the smell of dead skunks in the spring and fall. Spring is mating season for most wild animals, so they're generally very active. In the fall, the weather starts to turn, and animals start looking...

My father-in-law passed away over the weekend. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease 4 years ago, and we witnessed how cruel it is. We think he could have suffered for a few years prior but never experienced the associated tremors that so many have. From the moment I met him, he made me feel welcome. And the one thing I admired most about Thom was his love of family. Long before I came around,...

I often find news on the internet amusing. And when you see something on multiple websites, it must be a big deal. So, the potential for a new Frosty flavor must be huge news because I saw it everywhere. But right now, it's just a rumor. Wendy's isn't saying anything, but if the information is accurate, this will be bigger than the announcement of the vanilla or even strawberry Frosty... Click Her...

One of the hazards of getting older is that we often have to start taking some medicine. And that's not for humans; it happens to our pets, too. After a recent trip to our veterinarian, our cat Bizzie was diagnosed with thyroid issues, so she had to start taking medicine. The vet offered a choice of pills, liquid, topical cream, or shots. We started with the topical cream but quickly found it was...

In many towns across America, tonight's a big night. It's the first night of the high school football season. For most of my life, I've paid little attention to the tradition of Friday Night Lights. But since a couple of my nephews started playing football, I've started following the game. Football on Friday nights wasn't a big tradition when I was growing up, at least for me. I spent most of my y...