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

1:00

Cloning (MM #4923)

The Mason Minute ·

2024/09/13

Recently I was up late, watching TV. I think I was watching one of the streaming apps, when a commercial came on from a company that is cloning pets. For a minute, I thought it was some SNL skit, but it was an actual commercial. With prices starting at $1600, they can clone one of your beloved pets. I remember the first time I heard about using DNA to clone animals. It was the mid-1990s, and some Scottish scientists were working on creating the perfect clone for a sheep. You might remember Dolly,

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1:00

Threats (MM #4922)

The Mason Minute ·

2024/09/12

For as long as there's been high-profile crime, there's been copycat versions. But this week, my news feed has been filled with stories about young students making threats, online or in person, at schools across America. Experts think these situations are being triggered by last week's school shooting near Atlanta. Many say it's a cry for help. But what are we doing to help these young people? We talk about gun violence and mental health, but it's only talk. These are cries for help. And we all need

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1:00

Continue To Struggle (MM #4921)

The Mason Minute ·

2024/09/11

For many people, September 11, 2001, changed their lives permanently. And I'm not just talking about people from New York. Even though it's been 23 years, many of us still struggle with what happened that day. While we shouldn't be shocked that our enemies tried to attack us, it's all that has happened since then that bothers so many. The horrible events of that day brought our country together, but that spirit only lasted for a short time. Today, it feels like we're more divided than we've been in

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1:00

Cows And Ducks (MM #4920)

The Mason Minute ·

2024/09/10

Car culture is a unique experience. We all have different ways of identifying with people who share our passions. I'm not sure how cows and ducks came to be a part of creating a community, but they have. Last year, I talked about Jeep Ducking, where Jeep owners leave rubber ducks for others who share their passion. And while it's been going on for a couple of years, Subaru owners are doing something similar. If you want to call it that, the game is called Moo Moo Subaru. And like with Jeeps, Subaru

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1:00

In Danger (MM #4919)

The Mason Minute ·

2024/09/09

Every time we get behind the wheel, there's a possibility that something terrible will happen. We could encounter a drunk driver, someone who's on the phone, or text messaging. We're always in danger whenever we get in the car to go somewhere. But now, many worry about a hidden danger. Over the weekend, someone shot at cars on I-75 in southern Kentucky. Gunshots hit nine vehicles, and five people were injured. This event isn't the first time that vehicles on the highway encountered someone shooting

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1:00

Season Is Changing (MM #4918)

The Mason Minute ·

2024/09/08

It's been a sweltering summer. But you can finally see that the season is changing. It's not because the temperatures are dropping or the leaves are changing color. You can see that Fall is here because the football season is in full swing. The college games started last week, and the NFL is back this weekend. And while the weather hasn't changed much yet, you can already feel the change. There's something about the football season that changes people. It may not be that way everywhere, but you can

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1:00

This Year (MM #4916)

The Mason Minute ·

2024/09/06

I check my online news feed numerous times throughout the day. That's how I keep up with what's happening in the world. But I had to step away from it yesterday. So many of the headlines discussing the Georgia school shooting added two words that really bothered me. It wasn't just another senseless shooting, but it was the worst school shooting this year. I don't know why those two words bothered me so much. I think it speaks to how we've normalized these acts of violence. And I can't even imagine

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1:00

Cash Back (MM #4915)

The Mason Minute ·

2024/09/05

Every time we turn around, someone seems to have their hand in our pockets. Businesses continue to find creative ways to separate you from your money. Some will say they're still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. And while this may be true for small businesses, many companies are making record profits. But it's still not enough. Many of the courtesy services that stores offer are likely gone for good. For years, a cashier would ask you if you'd like cash back when you pay with a debit card. But

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1:00

Sunglasses (MM #4914)

The Mason Minute ·

2024/09/04

As society changes, etiquette is often a topic of discussion. While some things never change, with every new generation, there are always adjustments. One topic that's acceptable in only a few social settings has concerned people for many years. We're talking about sunglasses. Wearing them at night is always a no-no unless you're a celebrity like Jack Nicholson. However, wearing sunglasses when talking to others day or night is unacceptable in many social circles. Some say that our eyes are the

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1:00

Sitting In The Dark (MM #4913)

The Mason Minute ·

2024/09/03

As I write this, I'm sitting in the dark. The only light I have is the glow from the screen on my iPad. Last night, I was getting ready to produce this new episode of the podcast when we lost power at the house. That happens here in Nashville more than we like, but it's partly a product of overhead power lines. Usually, when something like this happens, I just wait for the brief darkness to be remedied and move on. But this outage is much different. A vehicle took out a power pole on the road

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1:00

Blue Collar (MM #4912)

The Mason Minute ·

2024/09/02

When Labor Day started in the late 1800s, it was a day to honor the people who made their living in the labor trade unions. However, a day to honor only part of the workforce would fail. So, through the years, it became a day to celebrate the blue-collar and white-collar office workers. I've longed joked that there's a third group of workers, the no collar workers. Those are people who wear T-shirts to work. Radio is one of those industries long represented by the no-collar crew. Today, I reflect a

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1:00

Dr Rick (MM #4911)

The Mason Minute ·

2024/09/01

It's sometimes hard to keep up with all of the characters on TV trying to sell you insurance. Jake from State Farm, The Geico Gecko, and Flo from Progressive are some of the best-known. And while I don't care about those pitch persons or animals, there is one insurance spokesman I love. He's Dr Rick from Progressive. You don't see his commercials as much as Flo's, and that's a shame. He's the self-help guru trying to keep you from turning into your parents. Every time I see one of his commercials

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1:00

Scammers (MM #4873)

The Mason Minute ·

2024/07/25

One of the downsides of the internet is that it's filled with scammers. All these people do is find ways to separate you from your money. And social media hasn't helped. Most platforms give these crooks more opportunities to harass you. Facebook has a big problem with fake users. Criminals create fake profiles and then ask you to connect. Once you do, they will send messages to engage you, hoping to extort you eventually. I report 2-3 of these bogus users weekly, and Facebook rarely takes action

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1:00

Getting Older (MM #4872)

The Mason Minute ·

2024/07/24

Like many, I have mixed feelings about getting older. The upside is just living another day, let alone another year. I try not to consider the downside, but it's hard to escape. The random aches and pains that seem to last longer can be frustrating. But for me, the one thing that reminds me just how old I am is the announcement of another notable name that has passed away. The loss of a musician, athlete, or celebrity from our youth reminds us that our time on earth is short and getting shorter

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1:00

Politics (MM #4871)

The Mason Minute ·

2024/07/23

Like many people, I've been glued to my TV and trying to keep up with all that's happening with the Presidential race in the last ten days. I usually try to stay away from politics here on The Mason Minute. It's a habit I learned long ago in the news business. I'm sure I could get more listeners by discussing politics, religion, and sex. But you can go to many places to learn about those subjects. My goal is to keep things as light-hearted as possible. And with everything happening right now, it

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1:00

Friend (MM #4870)

The Mason Minute ·

2024/07/22

If you look it up in the dictionary, the definition for the word friend states something like a person you know with whom you have a bond of mutual affection. But since the dawn of social media, that definition has changed. Our social media connections are now often considered friends. It's been that way since the days when MySpace ruled the internet. So when we now refer to our friends, what does that mean? Are there levels of friendship? Social media platforms even allow us to assign people to our

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1:00

Dine-In (MM #4869)

The Mason Minute ·

2024/07/21

My wife and I go out to eat less often than we used to. Years ago, we used to eat out 5 or 6 nights a week. But in the last few years, it's been the reverse. Now, we usually dine at home 5 or 6 nights a week. And it's not the same when we go out for dinner. COVID-19 changed everything. Now, when you walk into a restaurant, they ask if you want to dine-in or carry out. And in some places, dining there isn't really an option. We stopped at Pizza Hut last night for the first time in a long time, and we

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1:00

Limitations (MM #4859)

The Mason Minute ·

2024/07/11

Yesterday, I was thinking back to the days when I was fearless. And it's not just me. When we're young, almost nothing will stop us. If we want it bad enough, we'll do whatever it takes to try to achieve it. Sometimes, that lack of fear is just foolishness. But as we get older, we learn our limitations. Or at least we need to. Sure, staying healthy is one of the keys to living longer. However, I believe that knowing and accepting our limitations is highly important. It's still okay to push

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1:00

Fearless (MM #4858)

The Mason Minute ·

2024/07/10

Age gives us perspective. At least, that's what I try to tell everyone. Looking back at my younger days, I'm amazed at how fearless I was. Perhaps it's naïveté, but we don't have as much fear when we're young. Or, as I think back, we lack common sense. Many things I'd try or do when I was in my twenties or thirties I'd never consider today. And I don't even think about the silly things I did as a teen. We learn a lot as we get older. We learn from our mistakes and what we avoid. While it's best

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1:00

Olympic Qualifiers (MM #4857)

The Mason Minute ·

2024/07/09

The Olympic games begin in less than three weeks. But some athletes still don't know if they will make the trip. In the US, we just wrapped up Olympic qualifiers for some of the most high-profile sports, like track and field and gymnastics. In Europe, basketball teams are still playing to see if they're heading to Paris. And those are just the sports I'm aware of. How fair is this to the athletes? After preparing for years, some have to make life arrangements in just a few weeks. With something so

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