Features November 7th 2012 - Over the Edge HOW TO WIN AN GALA MUNOZ FEATURES EDITOR In light of all the presidential debating that went on in October, there is plenty to be learned from the debating style of each side of the Republican and Democrat party. While there are the obvious tips like “stay calm” and “know your facts,’ other understated yet useful pointers can be learned from the four presidential and vice- presidential debates that occurred this past election season. Taking a look at the Republican side of the political spectrum, Romney’s debating style tended toward inductive reasoning with the construction of an argument based off of general propositions that are derived from specific examples. The premises of an inductive logical argument suggest truth but do not entail it; thus it can be a probabilistic way of arguing in that it only states that, given the premises, the conclusion is probable. Inotherwords, whilethe premise forthe argument can be true, the same does not always apply to the conclusion. While this form of reasoning can be useful for convincing those who don't know all the facts, as soon as you are matched with an opponent that knows the ins-and-outs of the topic at hand, things can fall out of your favour very quickly. In comparison, Obama tended towards deductive reasoning which involves using given true premises to reach a conclusion that is also true. Deductive reasoning differs from inductive reasoning in that a specific conclusion is arrived at from a general principle and if the rules of deduction are followed this procedure ensures an accurate conclusion. That being said, to rely on deductive reasoning for your argument does not always mean that you will have an invulnerable point of view: it is possible to have a deductive argument that is logically valid but is not sound. An argument is valid if it is impossible for its premises to be ARGUMENT LIKE A true while its conclusion is false. An argument can be considered sound if it is valid and the premises are true. In all, there can be harm in either methods of arguing and to develop a sound and valid side of the debate, you must be prepared to back up all your premises with logical and thorough facts. As seen from both Obama and Romney, having good public speaking skills and confidence in yourself can often assist you more than just the delivery of facts alone. Often people will read body language and assess the confidence that is behind the presentation in order to decide whether a point seems valid or not. A great method in which to expose your opponent's flaws during a debate is to ask questions: inquire “can you give me an example?” These types of questions will invariably lead your opponent to the truth and if they are honest, they will concede. Because of the nature of the debates, the moderator acted as the source of inquiry and thus the candidates themselves were not able to make use of this helpful method; you can be sure, however, that with this method of probing, your opponent will be forced to reveal how strong or weak their argument is. Once you've made sure to cover the basics, like sticking to the subject, avoid playing dirty and showing your opponent that he or she is wrong rather than blatantly saying so, learn from the candidates' mistakes by not wearing so much makeup that you look like you're doing “blackface,” wearing the right clothes that say you are relatable to your audience (or opponent) in terms of your fierce fashion sense, and, most of all, maintaining a trustworthy and open demeanour. 20 THINGS TO KEEP YOU SANE DURING THE WINTER GALA MUNOZ FEATURES EDITOR Now with winter clearly here to stay and hibernation mode fully engaged it’s hard to look forward to anything besides seeing green grass once again. Here are some ideas for fun things that you can do to lighten your spirit without even leaving your house or dorm room: sHost a movie, poker, video game or board game night eTest out a new TV series (recommen- dations: Breaking Bad, Workaholics, Game of Thrones) *~Become a baker extrordinaire -Take up knitting or crocheting (bonus: warm socks and scarves) *-Do some plain ol’ reading *Start a blog or create a Tumblr ac- count «Brainstorm for the perfect Christmas gifts for your family and friends *Reorganize your closet (bonus: spring cleaning will be a breeze) -Invest in some at-home exercise vid- eos and equipment to help off-set all that baking *Sit down and write a bucket list ‘Indulge in a luxurious bubble bath (something that all genders can ap- preciate) *Cook a gourmet meal *Organize the junk drawer (and while you're at it the rest of the drawers in your house) *Catch up with distant friends or rela- tives over Skype «Invent something *Perfect your favourite warm beverage (be it hot chocolate, café or tea latte) *Teach yourself or let YouTube teach you how to play a new instrument -Build a fort (no one is ever too old for forts) «Have an indoor picnic -Decorate for Christmas (never too early!) DADDYO'S PIZZA & RIBS REVIEW ae GALA MUNOZ FEATURES EDITOR While | won’t make the audacious proclamation of putting it in the num- ber one spot, DaddyO’'s Pizza & Ribs, tucked in beside Canada’s Best Value Inn on Central, has some of the best pizza in Prince George. With options for pick up, delivery or dining in, there is something to suit everyone's taste on DaddyO’s menu. Just as the name suggests, DaddyO's specializes in ribs (be it baby back, spare or regular) and pizza. That being said, their pastas and pizza subs are not things to be overlooked. For those who like their pizza spicy, DaddyO’s has a handful of delicious options to choose from. Their thick-cut, crisp crust pizza with just enough cheese and original zesty pizza sauce tells me that somebody in the kitchen certainly knows the ins-and-outs when it comes to pizza making. My personal recommenda- tions are the Cajun pizza, adorned with shrimp, Cajun chicken, green peppers, onions and cheese, and the Chicken Gourmet pizza with chicken, spinach, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes and cheese. If, for whatever reason, you can't find a pizza to suit your preferences, you can always choose the option of creating your own culinary masterpiece. Dur- ing all of my visits, pick-ups and de- liveries from DaddyO’s, | have always been met with friendly and relatively fast service. If you're feeling like a sit- down meal complete with a cute and cozy atmosphere, DaddyO’s is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Tuesday through Saturday.