The Mason Minute
Musings From the Mind Of Kevin Mason; a retired radio guy who just won’t give up the microphone.
Episodes
April 26, 2024 • 1 min
The clinical term is myopia. Most of us know it better when it's called nearsightedness. I've suffered with it for over 55 years. All of my family suffers from it, too. While some people wear glasses for style, those who must wear them to correct their vision usually hate them. According to recent research, our eyesight is getting worse. Doctors predict that half the world's population will suffer from nearsightedness within the ne...
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April 25, 2024 • 1 min
Throughout my life, I've spent a lot of time watching TV. Many people my age can say the same thing. Growing up, I sat in front of the TV before I went to school and then came home and did the same thing. I still watch more than most people. But in recent years, it's not the same thing anymore. While I still watch TV, I'm not concerned if I miss an episode. Sure, I can record it on my DVR or catch it on demand, but usually, I move ...
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April 24, 2024 • 1 min
About this time every year, our front porch looks like a war zone. For some reason, barn swallows return to our neighborhood yearly to build nests and have babies. Without fail, these birds try to make their nests on top of the pillars that frame our front doors. We've tried to keep the birds away for the last few years, but it doesn't work. We've even placed bird spikes on top of the pillars so they can't build nests. We thought w...
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April 23, 2024 • 1 min
I love trivia. And I've always loved watching sports trivia shows on TV. The first show I remember is Sports Challenge starring Dick Enberg back in the 1970s. Over the weekend, I was reminded of another one of my faves from the early 2000s. The show was called Stump The Schwab. ESPN's Stuart Scott was the host, and it featured one of their top researchers, Howie Schwab. Players competed against one another, and in the grand prize r...
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April 22, 2024 • 1 min
For years, there's been discussion about the advantages of a 4-day work week. It was something that Bernie Sanders campaigned on when he ran for President in 2020. Since the pandemic, more companies have tried it, but the jury is still determining whether it will ever become the norm. But this week, an Indiana school district announced that one of their elementary schools will try a 4-day school week beginning next year. It will jo...
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April 21, 2024 • 1 min
I've got a craving for pancakes, but I might have waffles instead. While I prefer pancakes, I have a Waffle House down the street and may settle for that. There are other places I can go to get pancakes, but they're further away, and their pancakes just aren't that good. While I like Waffle House, eating waffles isn't the same as eating pancakes. I understand why they don't have them, but I wish they did. Sure, there are other thin...
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April 20, 2024 • 1 min
I've got a few household projects that I've been putting off. So, it's time to visit the hardware store and get them done. Hopefully, they won't be too difficult. I used to love those honey-do chores. But there's a big difference between doing them when you own versus when you rent. They're small projects, so they shouldn't be too involved. I used to be able to spend hours at the hardware store because I could always find something...
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April 19, 2024 • 1 min
I love technology, and usually, I'm an early adopter. But when it comes to my phone, I hate buying a new one. Some people always want the latest and greatest iPhone or Android. But I like to hold on to mine as long as I can. I still use an iPhone 7, but I know I must upgrade soon. The iPhone 7 came out in 2016, so it's technically outdated as of January. That means it will still get security updates but little else. Every day, I fi...
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April 18, 2024 • 1 min
For decades, the International Space Station has been orbiting the Earth. It's been up there so long that many people don't even think about it. But what would you do if something broke off the space station and fell back to Earth? The odds of that happening are close to impossible. But it has happened recently. Some space junk discarded back in 2021 fell to Earth last week and came through the roof of someone's house in Naples, FL...
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April 17, 2024 • 1 min
For as long as I can remember, people have discussed the difference in the salaries of men and women doing the same job. While strides are being made, for many, more is needed. Will wage equality ever happen in our lifetime? I don't know. The topic has been a big part of the news cycle for the last few days. People were shocked when they learned what Caitlin Clark would make in her rookie season playing for the Indiana Fever. The s...
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April 16, 2024 • 1 min
Attention to detail is a vital skill set to possess and master. You have to continually work at it even if you're good. And if details aren't your strength, you need to surround yourself with people who can take care of it for you. Over the last couple of days, I've witnessed examples, both good and bad. CBS-TV over the weekend proved what happens when you don't pay attention. Then, on Monday night, the WNBA showed the upside of pa...
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April 15, 2024 • 1 min
I talked about this yesterday on my Road Warrior video blog. My wife and I came very close to being in a major auto accident over the weekend. A big panel van was sitting on the side of the road and decided to pull a U-turn directly in front of us. The driver obviously wasn't paying attention, and it almost ended poorly. Somehow, I missed hitting the side of that van head-on. I'm unsure how close it was, but we missed hitting him b...
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April 14, 2024 • 1 min
Whenever I see a TV commercial for Hamburger Helper, it takes me back to a particular time in my life. It transports me back to the 1980s when I was a baby radio DJ. I didn't make much money, so I often looked for a meal that could serve as dinner and then had some leftovers that would be lunch the next day. Hamburger Helper was something that fit the bill. It's not something I've had in years, but every time I think about it, it m...
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April 13, 2024 • 1 min
In recent years, you have likely noticed that the size of your favorite chocolate bar is shrinking while the price is rising. And it looks like things are about to get worse. There is a significant cocoa shortage worldwide, and prices are beginning to increase. The days of a cheap candy bar are likely gone for good. And the store shelves may not be stocked quite as well, as candy makers adjust to the shortage. Dark chocolate lovers...
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April 12, 2024 • 1 min
Recently, I've seen a lot of stories about people getting rich with their side hustle. It reminds me of the days when I started what you could consider my side hustle. When I started my company in the early 2000s, it was something to supplement my radio work. Now, I don't think my work on the side qualifies because even in the beginning, it wasn't something I would spend a few hours working on and make a lot of money. But these day...
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April 11, 2024 • 1 min
In recent years, a phone call to customer service has been something that many of us dread. It doesn't matter what the product is; we all find that it's a frustrating experience. It's never been fun, but it's gotten more frustrating in recent years because most call centers aren't here in the U.S. For many, 'Bob" in customer service isn't telling us his real name. He's likely answering your call from a foreign country. And while he...
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April 10, 2024 • 1 min
Today, we live in a world where people constantly seek attention. It's not everyone, but those who desire to be treated special are multiplying. It's almost like they're shouting look at me to anyone who will listen. Perhaps social media is to blame. Many people think that's the case. But it's just one avenue where people find others who indulge their needs. The desire for this attention may have always been there, but lately, some...
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April 9, 2024 • 1 min
As I get older, I sometimes have problems sleeping. Sometimes, I can't fall asleep, while other times, I wake up in the middle of the night and can't fall back asleep. I had that problem the other night. And for some reason, my mind wandered to the recent Powerball jackpot. There was one winner over the weekend, and now they have a big choice: do they take a 1.3 billion dollar annuity over the next 30 years or take a one-time lump ...
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April 8, 2024 • 1 min
For many people, today is an exciting day. Another eclipse will traverse much of the United States. The last major eclipse that crossed the country was just seven years ago. While the path of today's solar eclipse crosses a more significant part of the country than any other in our lifetime, it's not like they're uncommon. An eclipse happens somewhere on Earth roughly every 18 months. But from how people act, you'd think we never h...
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April 7, 2024 • 1 min
While I understand the economics of sports, I honestly wonder why each league tries to keep extending the length of their schedule. Sure, more games mean more chances to make money. But sometimes, that doesn't make sense. Take baseball as an example. Why are we playing games right now in most northern cities? It's too cold, and the likelihood of rain or snow has increased. Chicago, Cleveland, and New York have all been dealing with...
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