The Mason Minute

I'm always fascinated when scientists can identify new forms of life. They often identify fossils of creatures that lived tens of thousands of years ago with the dinosaurs. Recently though, they found another new species. This one still lives in the ocean's depths near Antarctica. It's a distant relative of the starfish, and researchers think this is a significant discovery. There may be more crea...

Have you heard the news? Summer is over, or at least that's what I read on Facebook, or was it Twitter? Sure, the temperature was near 100 degrees last week, but Fall must be here. Nearly a dozen friends found Halloween decorations in stores this week, so Summer has to be in the rearview mirror. Okay, perhaps they're being a bit dramatic, but once school starts and football season begins, Hallowee...

Many cities and towns across America have a problem finding people willing to be school bus drivers. It doesn't matter the size of the school system. Fewer people are eager to apply; the pay could be better; that's just one part of the problem. It's a thankless job. And in our divided political climate, it's a choice few people want to make... Click Here To Subscribe Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon Mu...

It's silly to say that we live in interesting times, but it honestly seems that way. In the 1980 and 90s, many aspired to be yuppies. They lived by the adage that Gordon Gekko preached in the movie 'Wall Street'; greed is good. But thanks to the economic divide we're seeing today, I see the tide shifting more than in any decade but the 1960s. While being greedy has worked well for some, for many,...

I love technology. And like many, I often enjoy being an early adopter. But I rarely buy early or often when purchasing a new phone. Many of my friends buy a new cell phone every year or two. I'd love to do that, but I can't justify the crazy costs. I like to buy the best and hold on as long as possible... Click Here To Subscribe Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicGoogle PodcastsTuneIniHeartRadioPan...

One of my favorite meals growing up was fried shrimp and french fries. We'd buy the frozen shrimp and throw it in our deep fryer. I haven't had any in years, but for some reason, I've had a craving for it lately. I rarely think about it since I haven't owned a deep fryer in decades. And now that I think about it, it's not something you see on many restaurant menus. I didn't realize how much the cu...

Since the pandemic, many people have been researching work habits and focusing on productivity. Many employees prefer working from home, while companies want everyone back in the office. Recent research from Texas A&M has been tracking work habits and determining when we make the most errors. Can you guess the time each day when the most errors occur? They also studied errors by day of the wee...

Recently there's been a lot of talk about our First Amendment rights. Sure, some is political theatre, but it also plays in our daily lives. In my younger days, I learned a valuable lesson regarding free speech. It might be free, but you must accept the consequences if an authority figure takes issue with your words. While we, by law, have the right to say what we want, we also need to be prepared...

This time of year, people start talking about college football. The preseason rankings are out, but that's not the hot topic. Many are discussing the changes in many of the college football conferences. The Big 12, Big 10, and SEC will add teams over the next few years. The Pac-12 is shrinking to four members. Some fans want to believe it's about playing better competition. But it's really about t...

You rarely read news stories about worms. But they've been in the news as Russian scientists have revived a pair of worms frozen in permafrost for 46,000 years. The goal is to study these prehistoric worms to learn the effects of climate change. That may seem far-fetched, but the scientists are confident... Click Here To Subscribe Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicGoogle PodcastsTuneIniHeartRadioPa...

It's been the hottest summer for many cities across America. And whether it can be considered a heatwave or even climate change, large cities struggle because of the lack of green space. Nashville is currently testing a product that could help decrease the heat in our major cities. It's called cool pavement, and this technology could make a difference in the heat of our streets. By cooling down th...

I've had a unique life. My career path in the media and music business isn't what you might consider normal. So when I see something or even hear something new, I get excited. The other day, I was with a co-worker and talked about a new project she was working on. I asked why she volunteered, and she looked at me and said they voluntold me I was working on this. That made me laugh out loud. I'd ne...

The other day, I was driving behind a car with the phrase; Just got married, buy me a drink painted on its windows. A lot of bachelorettes who come to town do the same thing. Now that we have services like Venmo, making silly requests is easy. Maybe I've become a cranky old man because I don't see the point. But it must work, or I would see it less often. It would be cute if I saw this once or twi...

When I look at my daily news feed, I see another story about a new drone strike in the Russian-Ukrainian War. It seems it was just yesterday when drones were toys. As technology keeps advancing, I can see a time when people don't fight wars; it's all accomplished with drones. And that's a scary thought... Click Here To Subscribe Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicGoogle PodcastsTuneIniHeartRadioPand...

There are days when you want to scream; what's going on? A couple of weeks ago, I talked about malaria cases in the U.S. Now; I read that leprosy is surging in Central Florida. Wasn't leprosy something that only happened in biblical times? I thought that was the case, but find that the peak of leprosy was in 1983. I'm so confused. We shouldn't be concerned with diseases that have all but disappear...

Trees play an essential part in our lives. They provide oxygen, wood, paper, food, and much more. But in our neighborhoods, trees can also be a nuisance. Sure, I know they provide shade and help cool our cities, but in some communities like Nashville, they also cause many problems. Because our soil is primarily clay, shale, and limestone, our trees don't often have the best root system. So, when s...

It's been a topic of political discussion for decades. The subject is usually just whispered in the halls of buildings throughout Washington, DC. But recently, the whispers feel like they've become a shouting match. How old is too old? Many people question whether Joe Biden and Donald Trump should run for President because of their age. Senators Mitch McConnell and Dianne Feinstein have come into...

Like most cities, the speed limit in Nashville is only a suggestion during rush hour. Of course, drivers are always looking for police cars in their rearview mirror. And when they see one, drivers quickly slow down and observe the rules. It was easy when the police were driving big white Chevrolets, but now... Click Here To Subscribe Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicGoogle PodcastsTuneIniHeartRadi...

Hypertension has been something that I've been concerned with since my early twenties. So I'm interested anytime I can find information about ways to lower my blood pressure. Recent research says a slight change in my diet can make a big difference. A study from San Diego State University says adding two servings of strawberries daily can help lower my blood pressure. For once, here's a dietary ch...

It was National Chili Dog Day a couple of days ago, and whenever I think of chili dogs, I think about John Cougar's 1980s classic, Jack and Diane. It's the song that made Tastee-Freez famous for those living across America. I grew up in the Midwest, enjoying hamburgers, chili dogs, and soft-serve from the Tastee-Freez. I even enjoyed a few meals there during my college years in Virginia. They were...

Most Americans are familiar with the Amber Alert program; It helps locate missing and endangered children. It was adopted nationwide over 20 years ago. A similar program started a few years ago, and it helps find missing senior citizens. In most states like Tennessee, it's known as the Silver Alert. And while the program continues to spread across the country, some safety experts hope to have it a...

Since the dawn of time, people who eat an early dinner are considered old. Others often tease them about being a senior citizen. But life has changed a lot over the last few years. Research has found that the number of people who eat dinner before 5 pm has risen significantly. Much of that is because of the pandemic. Now that more folks work from home, it cuts down on commute times, so many people...

I've been a collector for decades. It all started with political campaign buttons back in the 1960s. I've collected a wide variety, most centered on pop culture. I always said that someday I'd start to sell my collection. And after years of moving my stuff from town to town, it's time to be a seller rather than just a buyer... Click Here To Subscribe Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicGoogle Podcast...

Perhaps I'm being a little petty, but that doesn't bother me. One of my pet peeves is when one of my subscription services decides to raise its price, but I read about it online days or weeks before I get notified by email. It's happened with Netflix, and this week it's happening with Spotify. I don't think I'm asking too much... Click Here To Subscribe Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicGoogle Podc...

In recent years, many developers have changed their business model for apps and web tools. Many relied on advertising to make their money, but times are changing. Now, they provide a free version of an app or tool but limit what it can do. Their goal is to get you to upgrade to a paid version or purchase a subscription. And while that may work for some, there's one big problem with that business m...