Tag Archives: 2016

Critical Thinking Tools for Sorting Through the Slosh this Election Season

It’s that part of the democratic cycle again: political junkies stay tuned into their favorite 24-hour news sources while most of the rest of us seek to escape the endless deluge of nonsensical ads, non-sequitur attacks, and noncommittal answers to the questions that surround the presidential election season.

Political campaigning is by nature rhetorical: every candidate and every campaign exists to convince you that they’re right, and would prefer to keep you from spending too much time thinking through your values and determining what candidates and approaches offer the best solutions to our societal problems.

As November looms, your civic responsibility grows heavier every day: you can’t afford to let the campaign trail cacophony lull you into lazy thinking. To maintain your clarity of thought this election season, acquaint yourself with the most egregious and ubiquitous violations in rational thought carried out by our political candidates, and by doing so strengthen your intellectual defenses against irrational thought.

Beware Cognitive Bias

Cognitive biases are lapses in rational thinking that are simply the result of our imperfect human brains constantly needing to make imperfect decisions with imperfect information. Our natural mental reflexes categorize things and dismiss certain information as unimportant often resulting in assumptions or omissions that we never even notice ourselves making.

Confirmation bias is one of the most endemic, that little psychological short-circuit that inspires our deep love of listening to voices that sound like and agree with our own. It’s why most of us have a favorite news channel or paper that happens to line up unsurprisingly well with our own worldview.

Through the digital age our cognitive biases have gone viral, yielding the subjectively skewed social media bubbles we post and tweet and read in every day. Google and Facebook spend a lot of time finding out what you like so they can give you more of it and hide dissenting opinions from your search results and news feeds.  Being unaware of the effects of the transparent social bubble encapsulating your mind can lead to such cognitive errors as availability heuristic or the bandwagon effect.

Most social justice warriors could benefit from tuning into Fox News a couple times a week, just as defenders of traditional values and fiscal responsibility could stand a dose of MSNBC now and then. The mental exercise of engaging thoughtfully with the often ridiculous-sounding voices of the “other side” may not sway your beliefs one way or another, but it will ensure that you better understand the pros, cons, interests, and assumptions surrounding issues that are never as black-and-white as our politicians present them to us.

Cutting through Common Logical Fallacies

Reading a list of logical fallacies is like reading the guide to campaign rhetoric. Whereas cognitive biases are errors within your own subjective mind and thinking, logical fallacies are objective errors or inaccuracies in others’ argumentation; put simply, it’s when someone talks a smooth line, but the logic doesn’t quite add up.

There are more logical fallacies than rational statements in today’s election cycles, and lists attempting to enumerate them all run long. Here are three of the most common offenders during election season:

1. Post hoc fallacy

“Under the President X Administration, jobs were lost/crime increased/cost of living went up” is an argument endlessly thrown at us from both sides. There’s also its opposite: “During my time as governor/senator/mayor, unemployment fell and healthcare became more affordable.”

The post hoc fallacy is one of the most pervasive because it’s one that, on the surface, usually seems to make sense without much thought. It’s the assumption that when thing B happens after thing A, then thing A must be the cause of thing B.

When listening to such claims, be sure to ask yourself a few questions, like how Candidate X’s policies influenced outcomes in Issue Y.

2. Failing to address the argument

“I think what we really ought to be focused on” and “the real issue at hand here is” are just two of the least subtle ways candidates outright refuse to address ideas and arguments, but the more subtle ways can be more dangerous.

Also known as a red herring argument or the ignoratio elenchi fallacy, it’s most misleading when it succeeds in distracting its audience. This fallacy often teams up with our innate confirmation bias, leading us to praise the off-topic answers of our favorite candidates but call foul when the other team breaks the rules.

When watching a debate or interview, be wary of any talking points that follow a sudden redirection of the topic to what “the real problem” is, and instead seek out substantial answers on the issues that matter to you.

3. Ad hominem – attacking the person, not the argument

This one seems particularly egregious this election cycle, with the name-calling and mudslinging seen across the political spectrum. Ad hominem attacks denouncing someone as a bigot or unpatriotic or otherwise attempting to discredit a speaker based on their identity is a small logical step above schoolyard taunts and spitballs, and none of it constitutes actually saying something thoughtful about an issue.

Be wary of candidates who spend most of their campaign time talking about other candidates’ characters and personal lives than their positions on the issues. Remember that even though public officials make mistakes, that doesn’t make the beliefs they profess inherently flawed.

When it comes down to casting your vote this election season, be sure to do it with clarity of thought. Carefully navigate your own cognitive biases and cut through the distractions of the fallacious rhetoric, and don’t let election season devolve into one giant, ironic distraction from the issues that matter to and affect you.

To reflect further and think deeper about your own political beliefs, non-partisan sites like www.isidewith.com and www.politicalcompass.org offer thought-provoking quizzes meant to explore how your own values and beliefs line up with those of current and historical candidates and schools of thought. You can also find detailed information on candidates for public office, their positions, and voting records at www.votesmart.org.

All You Need to Know About 2016 Music Festivals This Season

It’s that time of year again: time to get out your cut off jean shorts, throw on your favorite dancing shoes, and get into your best festival gear. Summer festivals are the highlights of this sunny season we wait so patiently for every year from our winter abodes.

As touring becomes one of the only viable ways for musicians to make a living, more and more music festivals are popping up across the country. Festivals are what draw us out into the exploratory summer season to see who’s who and what’s what and dive into the never-ending hopes of what might happen on the dance floor. Discovering new music and hearing old favorites are what create the ecstatic memories of summer days. Here, we’ve put together some of our favorite festival choices for this summer’s musical lineups.

 

SASQUATCH – May 27th to 30th – The Gorge Washington

Sasquatch has to be the most scenic festival that happens all summer. Held right over the beautiful gorge in Washington State in a natural amphitheater, it is the best backdrop for any artist, and this year their lineup is spectacular. Sasquatch has an eclectic lineup of musicians from hip hop artists like A$AP Rocky, to the electronic tones of Grimes.

 

PITCHFORK – July 15th to 17th – Union Park, Chicago

Following in the footsteps of longstanding festival Lollapalooza, the well-known music blog Pitchfork has been hosting an annual music festival in Chicago. Pitchfork has become famous for being on top of the up and comers in the music biz. During the Pitchfork festival they host a wide range of those artists just hopping on to the main stream scene. Musical acts like FKA Twigs, Porches and Blood Orange are just a few of the varied musicians Pitchfork will be showcasing this year.

 

COACHELLA – April 15th to 17th and 22nd to 24th – Indio, California

Each year the best of the best from the music industry make the trek out to L.A. to catch a glimpse of what’s happening at the forefront on the global and national scene. Because of the crazy crowds I’ve heard its best to try your luck staying out of the festival grounds and hitting the VIP parties in and around Los Angeles You never know who you might find in the city streets.

 

WANDERLUST

Wanderlust festivals occur throughout the summer in various places across the U.S. This is not a music festival, but rather a yoga festival. Wanderlust festivals offer a space to deepen into your personal practice, find other like-minded individuals, and enjoy a high caliber of teachers from all over the world. The music is more of a side note but some of the acts are quite extraordinary.

 

PANORAMA – July 22nd to 24th – Randall’s Island Park, NYC

For the past few years Governor’s Ball festival has been holding down the summer music vibes on Randall’s Island in NYC, but this year Panorama is making its island debut. With headliners like LCD Soundsystem, Kendrick Lamar, and Arcade Fire, I have a feeling it’s going to be an East Coast adventure not to miss.

 

MO POP – July 23rd and 24th – West Riverton Park, Detroit

Detroit is landing more and more on the lips of those talking about artistic movements. It has become a hotspot for a growing art scene, which has sparked a number of festivals in the city, including Mo Pop. This year’s lineup is especially exciting, with many of the headlining acts being musicians I love, yet rarely find on festival flyers. Artists like Father John Misty, Shakey Graves, Glass Animals, The Head and the Heart, M83 and Haim will be sharing their musical styles.

 

SYMBIOSIS – September 22nd to 25th – Woodward Reservoir, California

In the world of West Coast electronic music festivals, Symbiosis is the best. Held just a few weeks after Burning Man, the Symbiosis team brings many of the musicians and art installations from the dessert out to the lake. People engage in a fantasy land of lights, color, sunshine and water for a camping gathering that’s all about the art.

 

Now that we’ve helped you on your merry festival way, get that sunny weather outfit ready and book your tickets to memory-making, music land U.S.A.

Go Black and White for 2016

While you may be waiting until Memorial Day to wear white in adherence to an antiquated rule that we think you should abandon – quickly (plenty of stylists agree) – you should feel no hesitation to sport some black and white. In a sea of pastels, florals, and brightly-colored stripes, stand out with a sleek and chic combo that stands the test of time season after season.

For some black and white inspiration to color your wardrobe this season (pun intended), look no further.

No Gray Area

Everyone knows you’ll never go wrong with a black bikini, whether you’re lounging on the beach or hitting a high-energy pool party. A black and white bikini will up the style ante a bit while setting you apart from the bright and patterned suits most everyone else will be sporting.

l*space bikini black and white

The L*Space Keep it Wild Jaime bikini is the traditional triangle bikini with a few twists. The reversible bottom makes waves as a solid or patterned piece, and the top ties it together with its lace-up style plunging V. It’s also perfect for photo ops against colorful tropical backdrops, or selfies by the pool – your choice.

 

Brighter Than the Sun

Pack your bags, take a drive to Palm Springs and channel your inner Marilyn Monroe with a pair of cat-eyed sunglasses, universally flattering and, in this color combo, infinitely simple to match with any outfit. In addition to its chic form, this pair from Stella McCartney is made from 50% natural materials, so you can go green while you go monochrome.

sunglasses black and white

Compact Contrast

Looking for a tiny way to take part in this trend? A petite bag “charm” – fitting, as this fluffy charm from Iphoria adds plenty of it – is an affordable and uniquely simply way of splashing some black and white on your current ensemble.

bag charm black and white

Block Party

Nothing is more effortlessly stylish while being unbelievably easy to wear than the A-line dress. Flowing slightly away from the body, the style complements both curvy and straight-up-and-down body types alike.

alice+olivia colorblock dress

The Maya colorblock dress from Alice + Olivia is a racerback version with the added bonus of smartly-placed black and white sections meeting at the narrowest part of the waist for even more eye appeal.

 

Black and White Down Under

The newest and most sensible style of beach towel abandons its predecessors’ four-sided rectangular frame for a form more suitable for sharing – a circle.

amaroo towel beach people

The Amaroo towel itself has a perimeter of fringe and a pattern inspired by indigenous art of Australia, where its designers, The Beach People, call home. With a diameter of nearly six feet, two plus Amaroo equals cozy sunbathing in style.

 

Precious Patterns

Alright, so it’s not exactly “blingy”; but natural patterns and materials, like the black and white feathers adorning the Serafina Josephine necklace, are still very much in this year. Don’t think you have to save this chic piece of jewelry for a festival or pair it with a peasant top. The gold hardware and tidy placement of feathers makes it more than suitable for a dressed-up ensemble.

serafina necklace black and white

While you’re there, pick up the Warbler earrings (also from Serafina), that will accentuate an updo.

warbler earrings black and white

Go for Seconds

Target’s collaboration with Marimekko is a win-win for you and your guests who will undoubtedly be wowed by your ultra-chic and of the moment place settings – while your wallet feels no pain. The line includes an entire array of dishware and serving plates in strikingly simple black and white patterns emblematic of the notable Marimekko brand.

marimekko plate black and white

Options to creating a look with a couple of black and white items, whether it’s for your wardrobe or your home, are boundless. Don’t overthink it; it’s one of those beautifully simple decisions where you don’t have to pick one or the other, because they work the best together.