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

Ad Break (MM #4824)

The Mason Minute ·

2024/06/06

If you spend a lot of time on social media, you've likely encountered a feed filled with ads. Even though everything you do online is tracked, and the sites make money from your data, they want more. That's why you see more of them every day. So what more can they do to annoy you? Instagram is rolling out new ads that they call an ad break. The reason they're different is you can only move past them once they play all the way through. YouTube has been doing this for years, and Instagram hopes to

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Cola Wars (MM #4823)

The Mason Minute ·

2024/06/05

If you drink soda or pop if you prefer, you're probably familiar with the cola wars. This battle has been going on for decades between Coke and Pepsi. Most people fall into either one of the two camps. You're either a Coke person or a Pepsi person. But the cola wars are on hold, at least for a while. There's a new player in this war that's not actually a cola; it's Dr. Pepper. For the first time, Dr. Pepper has climbed into the number 2 position in soft drink popularity. It only beat Pepsi by a

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Track Your Data (MM #4822)

The Mason Minute ·

2024/06/04

Consumers today are frustrated. And that's putting things mildly. Businesses continue to raise prices and decrease service. They're trying to push the limits without losing customers. For many, it's not working. Perhaps we've reached the boiling point. Now, many companies tell you to download their app in order to save. But they want to track your data, behavior, and online movements. They want to lure you in with some small offer and hope you don't realize what they're really after. They want to

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More School (MM #4821)

The Mason Minute ·

2024/06/03

The school year has wrapped up for more students here in Middle Tennessee. And the last thing many kids want is more school. Now, I'm not talking about summer school. But I noticed a trend around town. Most churches that conduct vacation bible school every summer now do it the week after school ends. It's been decades since I attended VBS, but I know it didn't happen the week after we cleaned out our desks. If my memory serves me, we went in mid to late July. And that was back in a time before most

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Stay Back (MM #4818)

The Mason Minute ·

2024/05/31

I've long wondered why dump truck companies are allowed to put signs on the back of their trucks telling you they aren't responsible for damage to your vehicle if something flies out of their back end. We've all seen the signs that say 'Stay Back 200 Feet'. Because Nashville is growing quickly, construction vehicles are seen on the road daily. I encounter at least one dump truck on my way to work every morning. And sometimes I have to deal with three or four. Even on multi-lane roads, they slow down

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Watching Cartoons (MM #4817)

The Mason Minute ·

2024/05/30

The other day, we mentioned that Cartoon Network was programming less to kids and gearing much of the day toward adults. Youngsters just aren't watching the cartoons like they used to. It makes sense that the MeTV network is launching a channel devoted solely to classic cartoons. It will launch in late June and targets baby boomers. They'll feature classic toons like Bugs Bunny, Yogi Bear, Scooby Doo, and the Flinstones. It sounds like they're airing all those programs we loved in our youth. There's

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Tattoos (MM #4816)

The Mason Minute ·

2024/05/29

Throughout my lifetime, tattoos have grown in popularity. When I was growing up, the only time you saw one was on grizzled old Navy vets. Today, they're almost everywhere. Roughly one-third of Americans, men and women combined, have at least one. However, researchers in Europe warn that anyone with a tattoo has an increased chance of lymphoma cancer. They're not saying that you should avoid getting one, but you need to be aware and see a doctor if there are any changes with your skin. This research

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Cut The Cord (MM #4815)

The Mason Minute ·

2024/05/28

As TV viewership continues to shrink, the cost of cable TV continues to rise. We often hear stories of those who opt to cut the cord rather than pay for channels they don't want. High-speed internet has made other viewing options possible. However, younger people still opt to avoid the programming networks created for them. Ratings for The Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, The Cartoon Network, and other channels targeting viewers under 18 are way down and dropping yearly. YouTube and TikTok are taking

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Flag Flying (MM #4814)

The Mason Minute ·

2024/05/27

It's Memorial Day here in the United States, which kicks off a six-week period where we celebrate three of the biggest flay flying holidays. I'm fascinated that we celebrate Memorial Day, Flag Day, and Independence Day in roughly six weeks. While some fly our flag year-round, many only put it on display for the patriotic holidays. Interestingly, three of those big patriotic celebration days happen in just a few weeks. This may be a coincidence, but I doubt it. Today is also a holiday in other parts

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BBQ Season (MM #4813)

The Mason Minute ·

2024/05/26

Many consider Memorial Day weekend to be the unofficial kick-off to summer. And that means BBQ season is underway, too. Or should I write it as barbecue season? That's another podcast for another day. I don't cook out much anymore. We haven't had a grill for years. I know a lot of folks who love grilling. Do many people still have those cheap charcoal grills? While some still prefer charcoal, many have moved on to gas grilling. And these grills aren't the cheap ones, either. Cooking outdoors is an

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