The Mason Minute

I don't know anyone who enjoys a trip to the DMV. I've held a driver's license in seven states throughout the years, and the way Tennessee does things just doesn't work. We go to one office to get our car title, registration, and license plates. When you need a new license, you go to a different office. Our DMV is split into two parts, while most states handle everything in the sam

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 popula

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

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

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 com

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

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 th

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 h

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 ge

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 cam