PODCAST

The Mason Minute

Kevin Mason

Musings From the Mind Of Kevin Mason; a retired radio guy who just won"t give up the microphone.

society & culture personal journals

All Episodes

1:01

Highlights (MM #5196)

The Mason Minute ·

2025/06/13

Sometimes, the strangest thing can trigger a memory. I don't remember the trigger, but the memory is as vivid as it can be. The other day, I started thinking about my childhood pediatrician. While I can't remember his name, I can remember the layout of his office and the waiting room. In the waiting room, he had a big rack filled with magazines. There were things like Reader's Digest, Sports Illustrated, Good Housekeeping, and one of my childhood favorites, Highlights. Nearly every kid ran around

1:01

Mansplaining (MM #5195)

The Mason Minute ·

2025/06/12

I'm sure you're familiar with the term mansplaining. If not, let me explain. I'm kidding! I don't think I have an issue with it; if I do, no one has pointed it out to me. I give everyone, man or woman, the benefit of the doubt that they know what I'm talking about. If they don't understand, I have no problem offering guidance at that point. But I've run into a situation that is not precisely the same; I view it similarly. I've dubbed this 'Britsplaining'. Since much of our social media team works in

1:01

TV News (MM #5194)

The Mason Minute ·

2025/06/11

The business of news is in constant flux. How it's gathered, reported, and presented is constantly changing. They have been for decades. For many years, people got the information they needed from the newspaper. But once radio and television entered the scene, the shifting quickened. In recent years, the internet has started affecting those longtime practices. Turn on the tube, and you can see that TV news is struggling with these changes. It's trying to keep up. And the next change may shock many

1:01

Zebra On The Loose (MM #5193)

The Mason Minute ·

2025/06/10

Sometimes, I see items in my newsfeed and shake my head in disgust. Last week, I saw the stories online. There was a zebra on the loose south of Nashville. A couple from nearby Murfreesboro decided they needed a zebra for their farm to go along with roughly 100 other animals. So they bought one from a company and had it shipped to Tennessee. The animal escaped through a fence in less than 24 hours and went on an eight-day journey. It was finally captured, unharmed on Sunday. Thankfully, the couple

1:01

No Good Deed (MM #5192)

The Mason Minute ·

2025/06/09

Since yesterday, the phrase no good deed goes unpunished, rolling through my head. It was one of those weekends. We traveled to Northern Kentucky to watch one of my nephews play baseball. The drive one way lasted longer than the game. His team whipped the other so badly that the game only lasted three innings. And the opposing team never hit a ball close to him in left field. They never hit one out of the infield. And we dodged rain most of the day. Then I gathered up my sound system for a project

1:01

Times Have Changed (MM #5191)

The Mason Minute ·

2025/06/08

For years, I never understood old people trying to explain how young they looked and felt. Now that I'm old, I get it. I'm not saying I look young, but I'm always pleased when people still think I'm in my fifties. But sometimes, I must stop, reflect, and realize how much times have changed. Of course, technology plays a significant role in these changes. But it's not just that. This weekend, I went to see my 10-year-old nephew Rhett play baseball. He's in a travel league. And the field he played on

1:01

So Many Comedians (MM #5190)

The Mason Minute ·

2025/06/07

Some people say that we're living in the golden age of comedy. Of course, they often say the same about the 1950s, the 1970s, and even the 1990s. One thing I've noticed is that we have so many comedians today. Well, at least we have people who think they're funny. Now, I'm not taking a jab at the professionals or even those who try out a routine at open mike night. The people on social media jumping into every conversation and hijacking it, trying to be funny, is causing this problem. I'm sure some

1:01

Remember Ronco (MM #5189)

The Mason Minute ·

2025/06/06

Do you remember Ronco? If you watched any TV in the 70s or 80s, I'm betting you do. Perhaps you remember their founder and inventor, Ron Popeil. If neither of those rings true, you might recognize some of their products: the Veg-o-Matic, Pocket Fisherman, or Mr. Microphone. I was thinking about one of their products recently. I was in my kitchen and had an issue with a stuck lid on my Yeti tumbler. All the items in my junk drawer to open lids weren't working. At that point, I needed to see if I

1:01

Settlement (MM #5188)

The Mason Minute ·

2025/06/05

Have you ever been involved in those class action lawsuits? I frequently get a settlement notice either via email or from the post office. I'm connected to so many websites that I get one of these things every few weeks. Most of the time, I don't even know if I even have a claim. Sometimes, I'll fill out the paperwork. Often, it's not worth my time and effort. My share of the payout is rarely more than a few dollars and often under a buck. The lawyers are the only people who really profit from the

1:01

Battery Replacement (MM #5187)

The Mason Minute ·

2025/06/04

While I love technology, I also like to hold onto my old stuff. People sometimes make fun of me for still using my old iPods. Sure, I've got an iPhone with all the bells and whistles, but I still like to use the old stuff for some projects I work on. But we now live in a world of planned obsolescence. Rather than repair the old tech, they tell you to throw it away and buy a new one. Most of my old gadgets still work. But every few years, they need battery replacement. And these days I can't find

1:01

Severe Headaches (MM #5186)

The Mason Minute ·

2025/06/03

One of the current trends on TikTok is called the McMigrane Meal. It's spreading the word that people can get relief from migraines and severe headaches. The recommended cure is to drink a regular Coca-Cola with french fries. It may not work for all, but it can't hurt. I suffered from migraine-type headaches for many years. And I swear by a similar 'cure'. My go-to is Coke and Pringles potato chips. I guess I should have posted my version on TikTok. Who knows; it could have gone viral. While these

1:01

Price Change (MM #5185)

The Mason Minute ·

2025/06/02

When we're shopping, we're always looking for a deal. We're conditioned to look for sales or price reductions. Big box stores like Walmart and Target have conditioned us to look for the big sign shining a spotlight on our opportunity to save. But in recent weeks, news stories told to prepare for increases due to the President's proposed tariffs. My wife and I were shopping the other night, and she was looking at a new shirt. We noticed a price change sticker, but we didn't know the original price

1:01

Creamsicle (MM #5184)

The Mason Minute ·

2025/06/01

Like many kids, I loved it when I heard the bells of the ice cream truck heading down my street. I know they still exist, but they're not something you often see. Now that we have convenience stores, you can get your favorite frozen treat anytime. Back in the day, I had a few go-to choices. A bomb pop or a creamsicle were always at the top of my list. Creamsicles or orange cream isn't always easy to find. But that might change this year. Tastemakers claim that it'll be the flavor of Summer. And from

1:01

Mud Puddles (MM #5183)

The Mason Minute ·

2025/05/31

There are things we enjoy when we're children that we can't imagine doing as adults. For me, a perfect example would be playing in mud puddles. The other day, I watched a kid playing do precisely that. I was driving by, but it looked like he was playing with some toy trucks. I remember doing that as a youngster, but I quickly grew out of that phase. I'm not sure why we're so fascinated with mud when we're young. Of course, we got dirty, and that meant taking a bath, which most kids hate. It's okay

1:01

Obsessed With Sports (MM #5182)

The Mason Minute ·

2025/05/30

As a society, are we obsessed with sports? Perhaps it's just an American thing. Even in the off-season, every sport tries to stay in the public eye. We talk football year-round. When teams are eliminated from the NBA or NHL playoffs, they immediately start trying to hype the upcoming season that's months away. Yesterday, I read an article hyping who is leading the baseball MVP race, and the season only began a little over two months ago. The MVP award won't be announced until November. What's the

1:01

Pennies (MM #5181)

The Mason Minute ·

2025/05/29

By now, you've probably heard about the government's plan to stop minting pennies. They found it costs more to make them than what they're worth. There are still numerous questions about how all of this works moving forward. The government suggests rounding prices to the nearest 5¢. I've yet to read exactly how sales taxes will work into this. The good news is that if you still have pennies, you can use them because they're legal tender. But you won't be getting any back as change. But all of these

1:01

Calculators (MM #5180)

The Mason Minute ·

2025/05/28

Technology has often posed a challenge in school settings. Back in my day, pocket calculators started showing up in classrooms. At first, they were outlawed. However, teachers and administrators found a way to integrate them into their systems over time. Now, they're no big deal. But today, we have other technology that is posing problems. College students are starting to use artificial intelligence to help them write papers. Using tools like ChatGPT isn't as obvious as a calculator. And while

1:01

GOAT (MM #5179)

The Mason Minute ·

2025/05/27

You're likely familiar with the acronym GOAT if you follow any sport. It's short for the greatest of all time. People continuously argue about the merit of which people should be considered the greatest in their sport. Legendary boxer Muhammad Ali is credited with being the first person to be called the greatest of all time. Hip-hop icon LL Cool J was the first person to use the acronym when he used it for the title of an album in 2000. Today, it's thrown around in various ways that aren't

1:01

Constant Reminder (MM #5178)

The Mason Minute ·

2025/05/26

Today is Memorial Day here in the U.S., And perhaps I'm being a bit sensitive, But I've noticed in recent years how people feel the need on social media to tell us who we honor on this day. My timeline is filled with so many people making a declaration. Do you need this constant reminder? I realize some still don't know the difference between Memorial Day and Veteran's Day. But are the numbers that big? Is this just people being passive-aggressive, or are there many who don't know? Perhaps people

1:01

Perfect Treat (MM #5177)

The Mason Minute ·

2025/05/25

I love dessert. You can look at me and see that I haven't skipped the sweets through the years. I don't have a sweet tooth, but I love most sweets. You'd think someone like me who hasn't missed many meals would have one or two favorite treats. But even at my age, I'm still searching for the perfect treat. For some, ice cream is all they need. For others, it could be a preference for cake, pie, or even donuts. Me, I love them all. But I couldn't just eat one type of dessert for the rest of my life. I

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