Detecting debating behaviors

   After watching the final Presidential debate, I have learned a few more things about debating behavior.  If you haven't already, check out what I said about it in my first blog post here.  One thing that was abundantly clear is that Hillary would panic when damning evidence against her was brought up, such as the emails released by WikiLeaks.  When someone is in a debate that they don't have enough points, statistics, or facts to win, they resort to a few different tactics, most of which are induced by a panic of "not losing".  The reason why this is important to know is because, once you think about it, each tactic is pathetic and, in no way, contributes to their chances of winning an argument.  Most tactics are a form of denial and the losing side refusing to accept the true claims of their opponent. Pay close attention because you've probably been in similar debating situations:

1. Changes the subject
     Hillary didn't want people to know about what was released so she kept trying to change the subject, typically to something she had recited prior to the debate so that she could sound more professional and to take your mind off of her losing points.  This is a cowardly act because it shows the debater is scared, or unable to protect themselves.

2. Brings up irrelevant information
      After Trump started talking about some of the crimes committed by her through the Clinton Foundation, she started bringing up the fact that Trump hasn't released his tax returns yet, and made a vague comparison to herself as though what Trump did was worse.  This is also another way of changing the subject but is, overall, another form of denial.

3. Refuses to accept claims of similarity
      If you are the opponent of someone in an argument, this is probably the most upsetting and perturbing thing to hear.  They will make a claim (let's assume a true claim) about you, yet they refuse to accept the fact that they are also guilty of the same claim.  Of course this is also known as hypocrisy, which, in some way, we are all guilty of, but there is no room for this in a debate of any kind.  The reason one does something like this so often in a debate is due to what I said earlier, being that they don't have sufficient data to win.  If they find anything to oppose you, they disregard themselves in any claim which ironically just makes them look like an even bigger fool.  Denial.

4. Plays the blame game
      "He did it!" "But she started it!"  A typical child's argument that is still common amongst debating individuals today.  No one wants to be the cause of something catastrophic, whether it be a physical event, or a topic of discussion.  The blame game is just another way of diverting attention away from one's imperfections and failures to try and make it look like, even if you are guilty of the claim, that you weren't the first to be guilty of it.  In the perspective of law, it doesn't matter who committed a crime first, if you're guilty, you're guilty.  Finding blame is a losing battle that just takes time, and because it is just another form of denial, it may never end.

5. Plays the victim card
      This one typically is a combination of the blame game, changing the subject, and bringing up irrelevant information.  The debater doesn't want to continue to try and fight a losing battle so they make accusations to look as though they are being treated unfairly.  This one is the most prevalent in society and is used to suppress someone's valid argument.  It becomes a battle to see who can take the most offense to non-offensive claims and statements and ultimately leaves the "victim" having unsettled and unkind feelings toward their opponent, even if the opponent did nothing at all.  Many false assumptions and implications are made by these card players, typically in the form of either taking a quote out of context, or rephrasing a quote with the inclusion of a non-existent implicit claim by their opponent.  This sadly works at suppressing people's public opinions, yet is detrimental to the person's ability and validity in terms of debatability and discussion.

   Think about these claims and make sure to avoid them in your own discussions.  If you're opponent is humble and honest enough, feel free to point it out to them if they are guilty of any of these claims so that you may continue to have a fair, honest, and contentionless discussion.  Don't be a hypocrite and don't be in denial, for your sake and the sake of those you speak with.

Why Ted Cruz is still making all the right moves

   If you haven't heard yet, Ted Cruz has been making calls for Donald Trump in Texas to "make sure Texas stays red."  Ever since Cruz announced this he has been getting all sorts of criticism about how he lost an even bigger battle than just the nomination, that he lost his dignity to Trump and is now his poor, embarrassed servant.  They use the poorly timed photo above as a sign he is "sad with his choice" and is regretting this decision.  The truth is that Cruz, at the beginning of the Republican primaries, pledged his support behind whomever would get the Republican nomination.  Trump harassed and insulted Cruz time and time again, including insults to his wife and father.  Just prior to the Presidential debate, Ted Cruz kept with his word and endorsed Donald Trump, but didn't leave it at that. He forgave Donald Trump, proving he can be the bigger man, and is even helping him win the election. In an interview with Hugh Hewitt, Cruz said:

I am happy to help. I have conveyed that to them. I will do whatever I can to defeat Hillary Clinton. My heavy focus this cycle, in addition to defeating Hillary, is on preserving a Republican majority in the Senate, and I am working hard to help my colleagues get reelected. I’m working hard to raise money for them, to help turn out conservatives in their state. And then I’m also working hard in the state of Texas to turn out conservatives, because if conservatives stay home this cycle, we could see really bad results on down ticket ballots, on judicial races, on state rep races. I don’t want to see that happen. So I’m going to do everything I can to urge conservatives to come out and vote, even if they may not be thrilled at the candidates on the ballot. I’m urging them to come out and vote anyway, because the consequences of staying home, I think, are really quite significant.

   Try to put yourself in his shoes. How easy do you think it is to forgive someone who publicly attacked your family, insulted you on national television, and accused your father of murder? Your reasons for holding a grudge are publicly documented, and thousands if not millions of people will side with you in your animosity.  Liberal society will mock you if you ditch your bitterness and will claim you are bowing down to the king's control.  Cruz looked past this, and decided to do what was right; what he and his father, and I, consider to be the Christlike thing to do.  As the son of a Christian preacher, and a devout Christian himself, he is proving to the American people that he is who he says he is, and he will always keep his word.  He is proving that he is willing to do the hard things in life if he knows it is something that must be done.

   Ted Cruz had every reason to endorse Evan McMullin, an independent candidate for president of the Mormon faith.  Cruz's arguably best friends, Glenn Beck and Mike Lee are both Mormons and he seems to get along well with those of that faith.  However, although McMullin is a conservative, his declared political party is independant, NOT Republican, which put Cruz in a difficult position.  Does he ditch his party and choose another conservative candidate that he probably is more similar to? Or does he keep his word and support the Republican party, the party he has been a part of his whole life?  I can't say I would have made the same decision as he did, he made the hard decision.  He got all the criticism he expected from the media but don't expect him to cave. He's a man of morals and a man of hard choices.  He is honest in everything he does and says which is more than we can say about the other main candidates. Ted Cruz is the man that we need as President of the United States of America which should give us all hope for 2020.  It can't come soon enough.

Why Google is so successful, and why you should love it

   The mobile world is so expansive and so competitive.  Cell phones compete against each other, Virtual Reality headsets, routers, mobile streaming and TV devices compete against each other in their own respective realms, and we see most companies sticking to their favorite realms, where they feel they will prosper most.  But Google is different; they don't want to just prosper within their already established realms, but they want to become professionals in every realm.  This is also good to drive competition within certain areas forcing better technology and better prices.  The first example that comes to mind is the Amazon Echo.  Amazon was the first to provide a product like this, and until today, they haven't had any competition, but Google intelligently jumped into the scene less than two years later to create a better assistant for a lower price.  This isn't only good for Google, but it will force Amazon to find ways to lower their cost to consumers, and to be more innovative which benefits consumers and Amazon.  Virtual Reality has been a big thing lately but really the only contenders are the HTC Vive and the Oculus Rift (and arguably the Samsung VR), but all of these options are $200 or more.  Google jumps in within a year to provide a cheaper alternative with comparable quality and range of games.  This, again, will force those in the forefront to lower their cost, provide more content, and a better experience to consumers.
   Apple, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV provided a cable set-top box like experience for mobile content and streaming through their various devices.  These were very simple and the capabilities limited.  Google shortly thereafter makes Android TV which had much more capabilities, integration with mobile devices, and for a lower cost.  Roku and Amazon Fire TV (not Apple) then decided to make comparable devices, and for a lower cost.

   The number of categories Google has dipped its toe into is too numerous for me to discuss here but be aware that it is well over 100.  As you can see Google is doing everything to have a part in every possible way it can, and because of its number of resources it has a shot in succeeding in almost everything it puts its effort into.  You care because you like having better products for a better price.  Whether you prefer Google products, HTC or Samsung products, Google is working on helping you save money and have better products.  When was the last time you saw Apple produce competition to a VR headset, Amazon Echo, Toyota, NASA, or anything that they haven't already been working on for 10 or more years?  Google isn't afraid to get its feet wet, and though not everything that has come from Google has been a marvelous success, the more they try, the more they succeed.  As a friend once told me, it's easier to make $1 million by finding a million ways to make $1 instead of 1 way to make $1 million.

Dear iPhone users, it's time to stop living in the past

   On September 7th, Apple announced the iPhone 7, probably one of the least anticipated iPhones to date.  iPhone users think that Apple has broken new ground and made amazing advancements.  I would have to agree... if it were 2012.  Prior to its release, iPhone 7 was already behind it's competition in every category.  Today (October 4) Google announced their own made phone called Google Pixel.  Less than a month later, Google makes it's first phone without the assistance of companies such as HTC, Huawei, LG, or other companies, and its specifications blow the iPhone out of the water, and for a fraction of the price.  They also know that Apple users are getting tired of the lack of advancements and have included an adapter in every box to help iPhone users switch to the Pixel seamlessly (pictured above.)

   But what about the dual lens camera??  Surely no one has ever done that before!  This is often how blind iPhone users are.  Dual lens cameras have been around for around a decade, but dual lens isn't a necessity for a good camera.  The Samsung S7 scored an 88 on DxOMark standards when the iPhone 7 has an 86, and the Samsung S7 only has one lens.  The newly announced Pixel phone received an 89 on the same DxOMark tests, the highest rating for any smartphone, a score higher than that of $6000 DSLR cameras!  Why can't Apple keep up?

   Devout iPhone users need to have a reality check.  Fact: 8 years ago, Apple was on the forefront of mobile technology and innovation, but that comes in large part due to the fact that they were the first players in the game.  IPhone users need to accept the fact that those who started leading the industry don't always end that way, as is the case with Apple.  For iPhone users who are looking for a still easy-to-use phone with powerful processing abilities, an amazing camera, with a much much better alternative to the sad excuse for an assistant that Apple calls Siri, AND for a fraction of the price, try the Google Pixel, or really ANY Android phone made within the last 3 years.  And don't worry, Google has a better alternative to your iMessages, Apple Music, iTunes, facetime, or anything else that Apple selfishly refuses to make available outside of iOS.  Just Google it.

Why LeBron's presidential endorsement does and doesn't matter

    Why are we seeing celebrities, sports stars, writers, directors, etc. endorse presidential candidates?  And why do we care?  Well I don't, and I'll tell you why.  The first reason should be obvious: they have no political credentials.  When someone like LeBron James, or the co-creator of South Park, Trey Parker, or Katy Perry endorse a candidate, they often do so for publicity, but it's also very much so out of ignorance.  They have no credibility and we should consider the reasons why they are endorsing their candidate of choice.  They don't know or understand the policies of the candidate very well, and they don't really think they will have an effect on them or their career.  We mock those who bandwagon to a certain team like the Cavs or the Warriors, but then they, the players themselves, bandwagon on political trains themselves.  We can assume the reason LeBron endorsed Hillary is because she supports Obama, who is black like LeBron, whom LeBron calls a good friend.  LeBron has also jumped aboard the race-baiting train and will do what he can to try and make a statement like Colin Kaepernick.
    Something else to consider is the money behind it all.  Dozens, if not hundreds of celebrities are paid by each candidate (typically the Democratic candidate) to endorse them.  Because money is very important to celebrities, and again, because they don't think any candidate can really hurt their career or income, they will take the highest bid.  If celebrities were actually educated or smart, they would know that the candidates CAN and DO affect their income and careers quite a bit.  According to Forbes, LeBron James' income for 2015 was $64.6 million which means he pays $25.6 in taxes at the very least.  If he were to choose a republican, such as Ben Carson who proposed a 10% flat tax on everyone, he'd be making $16.14 million more a year!  This is not something he, or really any other celebrity considers because, either way, they make a lot of money.
    But why does it matter who LeBron or other celebrities endorse?  Well particularly for places like Ohio, it is important.  People there almost worship LeBron James and even though he has no political merit, they'll listen to him. These type of endorsements, though credential-less, could actually swing the election to Hillary, or Trump, or Johnson, or whomever receives these endorsements.  We become so obsessed with celebrities that we idolize them and take anything they say or do as a legitimate option to be considered.  We, as voters, must find which sources, endorsers, and voices are reliable, as well as do research on the candidates' policies, history, and morals ourselves before we make our decision.  Remember, "by their fruits ye shall know them."