Top 10 Yellow Dog Patrol Posts of 2013

Just like every other media source, it is late in the year, hence it is time for the obligatory "Best of 2013" post.  

Here are the top 10 posts from YellowDogPatrol.com for 2013 as judged by their traffic:

10) Where has All the Ammo Gone?
  9) Shinedown, Three Days Grace and P.O.D Concert Review for Green Bay
  8) Cris Carter - Best Offensive Player Ever for the Vikings?
  7) What is the Song in the Kia Cadenza Commercial?
  6) Coexist Bumper Sticker and the Carjacked Car
  5) Obama as Satan on The History Channel's The Bible
  4) Getting Back My Yellow Dog 
  3) Bob Seger Green Bay Concert Review and Setlist
  2) BB King Concert Review Appleton PAC
  1) How to Gift an iTunes Playlist

Post Vacation Bad News, Good News

The Bad News:

• Gophers lost their bowl game
• Weather was less than optimal in the Carolinas
• I took a digger skiing
• I already miss my family
• I gained a couple of pounds back
• I gotta go back to work
• Weather here is horribly cold

The Good News:

• Irish won their bowl game
• Weather in Carolinas was significantly warmer than it is here
• Despite nearly a 10 year hiatus, I skied really, really well
• I had enough hugs and laughs from my family to last me for a couple of months
• Weight is still very under control
• I have a Double Bubble card

20 Things We Should Say More Often, Plus Ten Bonus Ones

Here are the bonus ones:

1. You mean a lot to me
2. How can I help you?
3. Another beer?  Hell yes
4. I admire that in you
5. You look awesome
6. This one is on me
7. I am blessed and grateful
8. Here, let me get that for you
9. That sunrise/sunset is absolutely beautiful
10. Thank you, Lord

Which ones are still missing?

Beyonce Makes a Dying Girl's Wish Come True

I admit I'm not a fan of Beyonce's, but after watching this, you can't help but have a lot of admiration:


It takes so little to mean so much, doesn't it?

Phil Robertson vs. A&E, or Bigger than That?

Answer?  It's bigger than that.

What is happening is that "political correctness" is attempting to drown our what is perceived to be an offensive opinion.  Never mind that Phil's religious orthodoxy holds an equally offensive opinion in the other direction.  And in this day and age, political correctness trumps religion.  Every time.

Who's right?  Me personally, I always come down on the side of openness and dialog, and against bullying and censorship.  And that is exactly what GLAAD is espousing.

I have dear friends and family that are gay.  It is my belief that they were that way their whole lives, and that they cannot change who or what they are.  It is not their choice, anymore than my heterosexuality is my choice.  That's just how I see the world.

Some people see the world differently, and that's fine.  We're better as a society when we talk to each other and communicate.  But when there is a demand that all talk cease, and when bully tactics are applied to promote a position, we all lose.

If anything, the gay community should know what it is like to be forced to comply by powerful forces.  By doing the exact same thing to those of a religious persuasion, they ultimately become what it is that they abhor.  And that's the irony of the entire situation.  Tolerance demanded but not given gets nothing.  Only hate.

And religious, gay, both or neither, haven't we had enough of that?

WestJet Scores Social Media Home Run

It borrows a lot from Coke's Happiness Machine campaign (too much, perhaps?), but still the campaign caught viral fire, and the benefits for WestJet's brand are solid.

Pretty good stuff:

Amazing Mountain Biking Video

I cannot image these guys' strength, vision, and balance.  I just about fall over in my chair watching it...

The Power of "I Don't" Over "I Can't"

A number of months ago, I learned of a study via Lifehacker that was conducted by The Journal of Consumer Research.  In the study, they split subjects into two groups, then presented those subjects with a temptation.  The group that used the internal mantra "I can't x..." actually broke down on their promise at twice the rate that the group that used "I don't x..."

Not only that, but the "I don't x..." group persisted in their fortitude more successfully in the long term as well.

At the start of the year, unbeknownst to the benefits of the use of the phrase "I don't x..." I started saying "I don't eat sweets," when offered them.  And for about a full calendar year, I haven't broke down once.

However, after having read the report, I started incorporating the mantra as it pertains to my trips to the gym.  Dozens of times I have said to myself that "I don't miss workouts," while lying there dead tired in bed.  And every time my big butt has hauled itself out of bed and headed off to the gym.

It may not work for everybody, but more me it has been a very powerful tool.