The Mason Minute

If you spent any time online yesterday, you likely found some of your favorite websites down. There was a major outage with AWS, that’s Amazon Web Services. And they host much of the content like video, images, and sound files for sites like Amazon, Snapchat, and Reddit. Plus, they host content for places like CNN Business and Venmo. AWS even hosts the mp3 files for the Mason Minute, even though I don’t deal with them directly. For me, it made work tough as I couldn’t access many of the websites I need daily. They don’t go down oft...

October is always a special month for my family. It starts on the first with my parents' anniversary and then on the 20th, which of course is today, my father's birthday. This year, it's even bigger than most years because my parents celebrated their 65th anniversary, and today, my father celebrates his 90th birthday. I joke that I've known him since he was 25. And that's hard for me to fathom. I can't imagine what it's like for him to think about all those years. It's a fantastic accomplishment for anyone. And this one's hitting me a little bit hard. Because...

One of my favorite parts of the weekend is enjoying a good meal. Not that we don't eat well at home during the week, but I do love dining out. When we grab a meal, it can be something simple or fancy. These days, it's usually something simple. I'm looking for something tasty, quick, and inexpensive. And things like that are harder to find today. It's especially tough when you're on the road. During football season, we spent a lot of time traveling to watch our nephews play football. And your options are often minimal when traveling. I miss the...

I have a decent pain threshold, or I think I do. But there’s one pain in general that, while not debilitating, is one of the nastiest and annoying pains. That pain is from paper cuts. I’ve had recurring back pain for decades, and you can’t compare the two. Back pain is a nagging pain that comes and goes. But paper cuts are a stinging pain that may only last for a few hours or a few days. But when you have one, you often lose focus, or at least I do. You can treat it with an ointme...

Have you ever heard of the lipstick index? It's a term economists use to gauge whether we're on the way to a recession. They base it on the idea that people buy certain items in advance, in bulk, when the economy starts to go south. For women, things like lipstick, eye shadow, and most makeup in general. There are other indicators, too. We talked about one a few weeks ago. It's when certain food items like Hamburger Helper see a sales increase. Numerous factors fall into this lipstick index. I always knew that there were items that the experts watched...

I talked about this a few months back. Researchers in North Carolina are looking at changing the traffic lights we encounter every day. For as long as I’ve been driving, the overwhelming majority of traffic signals have had red, yellow, and green lights. But these researchers are working on adding a fourth light to the mix, a white light. No reason for this extra light is to trigger autonomous vehicles. They’re preparing for the day when there are more driverless vehicles on the road than there are drivers. Testing of this fourth signal is about to begin, and many...

I know that Gen Z and younger people prefer text messages. Older folks like me, who don't like them, still prefer email. I stopped counting the number of emails I get per day, but it's usually in the hundreds. If you do any online shopping or ever give a business your email address, you're bound to get lots of email from them. And often you'll see the headline say, "You just visited us —could you please take the time to fill out the survey?" Everybody wants your input. And while there is some value, most people stop filling them out af...

It was only yesterday that the kids were heading back to school. But many are on fall break right now. Some school systems had a break last week, others this week, and the week after. My nephew Ray is on fall break from college this week. And while the rest of his classmates enjoy the entire week at home, he’s already back on campus because he’s a member of the football team and the football team is getting ready for a big game this weekend. And keep the players occupied. They have practice scheduled all week for eight hour...

When people find out you live in Nashville, the first thing they ask about is our Lower Broadway tourist District, where all the celebrity bars are located. I'm sure this happens to people who live in Las Vegas, New Orleans, or any tourist-driven city. They expect you to know everything that's happening in the tourist hot spots, even though you never spend any time in that part of town. I even found out there's a term for all of the celebrity nightspots we have in Nashville: star bars. Every year, more and more of them open up, and a few...

Sometimes, it's the small things that get under your skin. And while this shouldn't affect my life, it bothers me. I was watching some college football last week and noticed that, with two minutes left in the first half, the referees called the two-minute timeout. And this has been a part of football for decades upon decades. But they never just called it a timeout; they called it the two minute warning. And then later that day, another game, same thing. The next day, watching the NFL, the same thing. Now I understand. It's always been a timeout, but it's...

At one point in my life, I spent a lot of time in the kitchen. But obviously, I spent too much of it sampling what I was making. But every now and then, I do try to get creative. For a recent office luncheon, I decided to whip up a batch of skillet queso, or, in this case, crockpot queso. I've eaten skillet queso at numerous restaurants throughout the years, and they all have slight variations. But who knew that one restaurant's menu change would get so many people upset? That's right, some people on the internet are currently expressing...

Here in the south, for many, the beverage of choice is sweet tea. But if you're an unsweetened iced tea drinker like me, you're faced with a myriad of options to sweeten your beverage. You can use sugar or products like Sweet'N Low, Equal, Splenda, or Truvia. It's a newer choice made from the stevia plant. But one of those sweeteners may do something more than replace sugar. It can help those suffering from hair loss grow hair. Researchers have found that combining stevia with minoxidil, the hair-loss agent in Rogaine, can improve the hair growth process. Let me try...

Like many people, I enjoy traveling. However, as I have found in recent years, I don't travel as frequently as the young people in our office. Many of them think nothing of traveling to Europe for vacation, or to somewhere warm like Jamaica, Bermuda, or Antigua over our Christmas break. While I've been to most states and traveled across our borders a few times, I still want to see the USA on a greater scale before my time is up. I saw a meme on Facebook the other day that claimed the average American has only visited seven states. I...

I’ve always been a news junkie. I guess I have my father to blame for that. Well, I didn’t mind poring through a few newspapers over the weekend, or the daily edition of USA Today, but the Internet changed everything for me. Now I can explore and delve into a vast array of subjects. Some are serious, and some are frivolous. But I’ve always justified it as a way to talk to anybody about anything. I’m a sucker for health news, so whenever I can read about healthy eating options, I’m all in. Yesterday, a story abou...

I don’t know many people who enjoy shopping at a big box store. Yes, it’s convenient, and the prices are great, but the experience can cause significant stress for people. I don’t get stressed when visiting a big box store, but at times, I do get a little frustrated. Many busy families are finding one way to go around going to the store. And that’s by placing orders online. Then, stores like Walmart have personal shoppers who walk through the stores and fill those online orders. The other night at Walmart, I had my first encounter with mul...

If you've ever spent a great deal of time with teenagers, it's often difficult to get them to talk to you. You'll get the basics, but it's rarely an actual back-and-forth. And when you do have conversations with teenagers, it's often basic stuff: social media, sports, and maybe, where to find the best chicken nuggets. But it's not often that you can sit down with a young person and talk business. Over the weekend, I was chatting with my nephew, Ty, and we were discussing marketing. We discussed his entrepreneurship class and some of the products they're currently selling or...

When you're a digital pack rat like I am, you never know what kind of old files you're going to find. The other day, I was in my home office looking for something, but I don't even remember what it was, and I came across some old files that included digital videos. I shot them back in 2004/2005 and am amazed at how technology has advanced. I was shooting a new country music singer in my radio station conference room, named Taylor Swift. And all I have are 30-second snippets of her songs. The technology didn't allow us to record anything...

Today we're exploring technology, again. But this time, I'm walking down memory lane. When I looked at the calendar this morning, I realized it was 10-4. You know, like the old CB radio catchphrase, 10-4, good buddy. It's hard to believe the CB radio craze occurred just over 50 years ago. Although it was short-lived, it was remarkable how it took the country by storm. Everybody marveled at the technology. And of course, fast-forward to today, and it seems relatively simple, very outdated, and to some downright silly. Today, we take for granted the ability to communicate with others while driving...

Many people won't admit it, but they fear technology. Everything's changing at such a rapid clip that many people don't know what to do. And some people can even be considered technophobic. No, technophobia isn't a clinical medical illness, but experts say many suffer from this fear. Two of them are my parents. For as long as I can remember, they've shied away from technology. They don't use the Internet. They don't even have an old-school answering machine. And the only cell phone they have isn't even a smartphone. They only use it for emergency purposes... Click Here To Subscribe...

Many times, as I'm heading to and from work, I think about how long I've been driving. I recall the things I've seen and the predicaments I've gotten myself into and out of. And I owe it all to my driver's education course in high school. It has been a long time since most schools discontinued driver's ed due to funding issues. While there are private companies that can train you for the road, I'm not sure if the experience is quite the same. The state of Ohio has just announced that anyone under 21 who applies for a license must...

When it comes to celebrating marriage, people always talk about the big numbers like 25, 50, and, if you're lucky, 75. Those are the ones that have fancy names, such as silver, gold, and diamond. But today, the more I think about it, 65 is an amazing number, too. Today is my parents' anniversary. They're celebrating 65 years together. And well, that may not be as glamorous as 75 years, but it's genuinely a fantastic fete. I can't even fathom a number that large. And in a world where 50% of the marriages don't last, it should be celebrated in a significant way... Click Here To Subscribe...

When we were kids, we were fascinated with insects. But by the time you’re an adult, you come to hate them. It doesn’t matter what kind, they’re all a hassle. We have a problem with ants numerous times throughout the year. It could be because of where we live, the fact that we’re near the river, or perhaps that they built our house on a slab. Like many places across America, wasps are a recurring issue for us, too. However, over the last couple of days, we’ve been inundated with tiny bugs, and I’m unsure what...

I’ve been hearing this most of my life, and I’m sure you have, too. One of the keys to good health is ingesting the proper amount of fiber in your diet. It’s good for your digestion and will keep you regular. And, of course, it will aid in weight management. But did you know it can also help with your mental health? Most of us don’t consume enough fiber in our diet. Experts say most of us need 30 to 40% more. And while we do worry about being regular and watching our weight, the added benefit of mental h...

I’ve never looked up this statistic, but I’ve got to think that by the end of our lives, at least 80% of us wear glasses for some portion of them. For some of us, it starts early. I got my first pair before I was six years old. I remember getting them midway through kindergarten. And it was one of those revelations where I could finally see the blackboard clearly. But like most kids, wearing them isn’t fun. Losing them, breaking them, and just the annoyance of wearing them all the time make it difficult. Rumors have it that s...

Right now, there’s a lot of discussion about the economy. People are arguing about how we’re doing. Is there a recession or just a lull? Several indicators suggest when people are starting to tighten their belts. One indicator that may surprise you is the sales of Hamburger Helper. If you’re of a certain age, you remember the 1970s pantry staple that makes a great meal. It always sells well when times are tight and people are struggling. This year, sales are up by over 14%. Like many, I enjoyed it in my younger days when times were tight. And if...

If you've listened to the podcast for any length of time, you'll often find my media and journalistic background coming through. Due to my years of experience working in the newsroom, I strive to avoid showing bias on any subject. That's why I'll rarely take a stand on any issue. My politics, morals, and philosophies really don't matter. Because I doubt there's anything I could say that can sway your opinion on any subject. Some people think I should choose sides, but that's not my style. While I'm sure I could get more listeners by creating controversy, that's not who...

I don't have many regrets in life. A couple of small regrets are classes I should've taken, or more importantly, things they should've taught me in school. First, is accounting. I could've taken accounting classes in high school or college, but they weren't required. And at the time, I didn't think I'd ever need it. Little did I know, I'd own my own business for over two decades. My other regret is not learning anything about investing. I envy people who are comfortable playing the stock market. To me, investing in stocks, bonds, and futures is like gambling. And I'm...

Sports are big business. And I'm not just talking professional sports. It's also college sports. And when teams lose, someone has to take the blame. Yesterday, the head coach of the New York Liberty was let go, just one season removed from winning the WNBA championship. Her crime was that she didn't win back-to-back titles. The head coach of the Oklahoma State Cowboys, Mike Gundy, also lost his job yesterday. He was in his 21st season. They began the season 1-2. We live in a world where there's only one rule when it comes to sports: win now. I grew...

In many ways, the workplace is getting very stressful for both management and workers. There’s always been some level of stress for all of us, but since COVID-19, thoughts about how we conduct business have changed dramatically on both sides. In recent years, the trend of people quietly quitting has increased. A few months ago, we also discussed quiet cracking. But now we’re told there’s another process happening in many businesses while new and some. It’s called quiet promotions. It’s the process of people being given more responsibility without a raise or a title. I know perso...

As the season starts to shift from summer to fall, many people turn to their favorite fall beverage, the pumpkin spice latte. I enjoy one every now and then. And I started thinking about pumpkins and the potential for prices to increase this year due to factors such as tariffs or a shortage of product. It didn't take long to find out, I know nothing about pumpkins.  The majority that we enjoy, whether in a latte or in a pie, is grown here in America. And the number one state for pumpkin production is the one where I was born. T...

I don't know one baseball, football, or basketball fan who doesn't have a favorite sports movie. It could be a classic like The Pride of the Yankees or Brian's Song. Or perhaps you love something more contemporary, like Rudy, or Field of Dreams. There are a couple of sports movies I stop and watch whenever I see them on television. And while they're not the most popular movies about sports, they've always had a significant impact on me. And of course, I also have another one that's kind of a guilty pleasure. It's a film that I probably watch 20 to 30...

For the last month, stories of the changes that Cracker Barrel wanted to make have been circling the internet. I understand people being upset. Few people like change. But restaurants change their look and logo all the time. McDonald’s changes its look inside and out every decade or two. And IHOP doesn’t look anything like it used to. But there’s one restaurant in particular that changed long ago, and few people made a big stink about it. That’s Pizza Hut. I know many who agree with me that they need to go back to how they looked i...

For years, I’ve been hearing that some of our larger coastal cities were sinking. This isn’t something that’s going to happen in my lifetime. But because of global warming and the sea level rising, cities like Miami, New Orleans, and San Francisco are in danger in the years ahead. But the other day, I read a story that shocked me. And from what I’ve read, it’s shocking the experts too. Researchers found that even though it’s on a lake and even though it’s relatively inland, Chicago is slowly sinking. Even the waters of Lake Michigan...

Yesterday, I was discussing how cell phones are being banned in schools across America. And recently I thought of another potential ban. Then, less than two weeks later, it looks like a school in Akron, Ohio, is taking the lead. They are instituting a water bottle ban. And I have a feeling they won’t be the last. Today, everyone carries around a water bottle, whether it’s a Yeti, Stanley, Owala, or some off-brand. One potential problem with these big metal bottles is that they can be used as weapons. And while I carry a big 46-ounce jug, one of m...

While I don’t have kids, I’ve often heard the plight of parents trying to figure out the right time to give their child a smartphone. For most, it’s usually around the time they go to high school, as the parents want to keep tabs on their children. However, as I discovered while spending time with my nieces and nephews a couple of weekends ago, many districts are banning cellphones in schools. In fact, my nephew, Ty, told me that this year his high school stopped allowing students to carry them during the school day. I know this is a c...

Are you lonely? I don't mean this as a joke. It's a serious question. And it's a question that a mental health group recently asked people across America. Here in Tennessee, 14% said they identified that way. I thought that number was kind of low. Come to find out, Tennessee's one of the states where people feel the least isolated. The state with the highest percentage of lonely people is Mississippi. There, 71% of people claimed to feel that way. Sure, we can feel alone at times, but to actually say it in a survey, that's a lot. And it's a scary...

We all have opinions. It doesn’t matter what the subject is; when pressed, most people will share their feelings. But in the world of social media, you now have a soapbox to share your opinion anytime you want. We witnessed it this week with the death of political activist Charlie Kirk. But for some, sharing their opinion causes them problems, not only online, but with their employer, and the one thing that many forget is that while it’s okay to have opinions, that doesn’t mean you need to share them with others. Sometimes, it’s best to say noth...

I know I say it all the time, but times have changed. Sure, a lot of it has to do with society, our culture, and even technology. But sometimes it's the simple things. When I was growing up, you could find a few cents in your piggy bank, or grab some change from your parents, and go to the store and buy a candy bar. How simple things were. Of course, in my parents' era, a candy bar was a nickel. In my preteen years, it was a quarter. It's not the same for kids today. Chocolate prices are going...

I often wonder what percentage of today's kids get braces. If you look closely at my picture, you can see I didn't get them as a kid. My two bottom teeth in the front are crooked, and there's a gap between my top two front teeth. I really don't think that much about it. I'm not that bothered. But something has changed throughout the years, and I noticed it the other night while watching some YouTube videos of some old rock bands. I saw how many of those musicians had bad teeth and needed dental work. Back in those days...

If you work in the 9-to-5 world, you likely hear people tossing around buzzwords like office culture and return to office. Every company is still dealing with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s been over three years since many people returned to what some called the new normal. But working from home, which was the norm for a few years, became the preferred way to work for many employees. And while many companies put up with it for a while, they now want business to get back to normal. But what does that mean today? It looks like th...