So I thought I’d talk about Rick Perry. Rick Perry is the current governor of Texas and is currently running in the republican primaries for the presidential nomination. If Perry wins the nomination from the republican party then he will, most likely, face Barack Obama in the presidential election in November of 2012. What stuck in my craw regarding Rick Perry is his blatant discrediting, and often complete ignoring of scientific evidence, so I felt compelled to write the following.

Now that you’re all caught up on the context, on to my observations on Rick Perry.

The crucial problem with Rick Perry is not his abhorrent policies, his hypocrisy, or his rich donors, although those are problems.

The problem with Rick Perry is that he claims there is great debate over evolution, climate change, abstinence and the death penalty. Now while there may be merits to each of these arguments, no matter how slim, Perry does not argue those merits, and he doesn’t particularly debate his own positions.

The problem with Rick Perry is that he disagrees with evidence that is plainly presented to him.

On abstinence: Rick Perry Has a George Bush Moment

Now he could be arguing that abstinence is 100% effective when applied correctly [Unless you're the virgin mary] but he’s arguing that it’s the best method of contraception to be taught in schools. He doesn’t argue the evidence, he argues his faith, or his belief or whatever.

Rick Perry – 0, Evidence – 1

For the other points on the death penalty, evolution and global climate change see after the jump.

On the death penalty: Rick Perry’s “Ultimate Justice”

Perry claims that the majority of Americans are in favour of capital punishment, and while the poll I’m looking at from 2009 states that 65% of Americans support capital punishment, it also states that when given the choice between capital punishment or life imprisonment 48% choose imprisonment over 47% choosing to support the death penalty

Also if Rick Perry believes that the death penalty is a deterrent, why are so many people in his state being executed by the state? If it was a deterrent, there would be nobody on death row.

Rick Perry – 0, Evidence – 2

[2009 death penalty poll]

On evolution: RICK PERRY SPOUTS ON EVOLUTION

Perry claims that evolution is a “theory that’s out there” and that it has “gaps”. The theory of evolution does contain some gaps I will admit, however the aim of science is to close those gaps. Stating that a theory has faults is no reason to disregard the theory, it’s a reason to better that theory.

I have not heard Rick Perry offer evidence as to why creationism is a better theory than the theory of evolution. Science is about making a theory more robust, and rejecting less robust theories.

If Perry has a “belief” about evolution then he doesn’t have any evidence. Science is not the domain of beliefs, it’s the domain of facts and evidence.

Rick Perry – 0, Evidence – 3

On climate change: Rick Perry on Global Warming – Presidential Debate 2011

Perry again makes the unfounded claim that the jury is out on climate change. There is debate among scientists as to whether man is responsible for global climate change, but the debate is not whether it’s occurring or not, the debate is about degrees of magnitude, and specific results. The results are in and 97-98% of scientists in the field agree that global warming/climate change is being contributed to by man. [PDF link here]

Perry comes out with the down home country sentiment “Galileo got outvoted for a spell” which is not the issue. Facts are not voted on. Besides Galileo was “outvoted” by the catholic church, a religious organization. The catholic church has a horrible record on acknowledging the evidence. That and when prompted to name a scientist the best that Rick Perry could do was Galileo, whom died 369 years ago.

Rick Perry – 0, Evidence – 4

As a quick disclaimer, this post was intended to show you that Rick Perry does not hold evidence in high esteem. Whether he disagrees with the evidence, doesn’t believe it, or flat out ignores it; he’s wrong.

These are 4 examples of Perry’s key opinions, and I have provided refutations of those points based on the evidence, and Perry’s position falls flat every time.

Never trust a man that does not agree with evidence, or facts.

Comment is free, but I will not allow this post to be hijacked.

National Novel Writing Month is held over the course of November, and you’ve got 30 days to write a 50,000 word novel.

I entered, with an idea that I’ve had for a while and I reached 50,000 words before midnight on November 30th.

The current title of the novel is

Of Dieselpunks and Detectives

I’m really jazzed about being a novelist and I am stoked that I managed to win my first time out.

What’s even better about all this though is that I have a finished novel. And after my sweetheart and I get done editing it we’re going to try and enter a contest to get a publishing deal. The deadline for that is fast approaching so I’m going to get working on some more editing.

Enjoy these little NaNoWriMo winners badges in the time being. Every time there’s one more book, the world is a little better off.

Excelsior!

Without further ado – Tin Star.

His story after the jump.

Joey Pilman was just a regular idiot working in a corner store in Castlefinn City. One day a guy burst in and held him up at gunpoint. All of a sudden a Castlefinn City sheriff burst in and started firing; the thief shot back and killed the sheriff, but died in the fight. Pilman spied a deputy badge on the floor and realized something – the deputies have the same power as the sheriffs and are subject to no laws. He grabbed the badge, hotwired a car and had the time of his life charging around the city.

The sheriffs found their dead buddy and started hunting down the missing deputy badge. When they found Pilman trying to “commandeer” a pair of shotguns they beat the shit out of him. The Maori (one of the sheriffs) held up the deputy badge in front of his face, told him he was nothing but a “Fucking Tin Star” and threw him off a bridge.

Pilman woke up in the hospital weeks later with no recollection of who he was or what was going on. A police officer was trying to talk to him about the incident, but all he could focus on was the officer’s badge. The only thing he could remember was a man holding a badge up to his face and calling him Tin Star. After knocking the officer out and stealing his uniform and badge he ran out and fled to England. Over the period of two years Tin Star became more delusional and paranoid. He convinced himself he was justice incarnate. He hunted down and killed cops that didn’t “deserve” their badges, didn’t deserve to wear the shield. He began collecting badges, he started pinning them to a trench coat and a waistcoat. Eventually he had enough badges to be almost completely armoured and nearly bullet proof.

However, in the back of his mind there was a badge, a Castlefinn City sheriff’s deputy badge. So he returned to his city with his badges and his coat and he went hunting.
The rest of the story is a tale for another time. Hope you enjoyed this first character bio, more are in the works right now.

So here it is, the first few paragraphs of my as yet untitled Dieselpunk Novel.

The oil and grease didn’t wash off anymore, his fingertips were permanently blackened. Within a year he’d have black palms and wrists. Another year and he’d have black forearms and feet. It’s impossible to stop the progression and after it makes your hair fall out, it turns the whites of your eyes black.
Most men don’t even bother washing once it reaches the armpits, because it’s pointless. You can’t go back under the dome with the rest of the static folk; City Lords, Bucky followers and the tower residents. Most of them have never even seen a lifelong engineer with thick black skin and terrifying eyes. They didn’t even want to know about you once you stopped looking like them.
He put a hydro-tobacco cigar between his wet black fingertips and walked away from the engine room to one of the skeleton cars to feel the dirty air on his face. He lit his cigar and looked across the dry, crinkled earth. Danny was an engineer now, and he would never be getting off this train.

There’s big plans in the works for the near future, including branded clothing, custom coffins and even an advertising campaign BUT…

Today we talk about something else. And the thing we talk about today is the media career of The Mad Carpenter. I went out for an audition today, to play the role of an extra in a TG4 production called Ealu II. The information I got about the gig, both from Mema who found the announcement in the paper (Thanks again Mema) and from the staff at the audition, Including the director, is that it’s about famous Irish prison breaks.

We went in in groups, chatted a bit about our experience in media/acting filled out the usual forms. Now answer me honestly here people – Do I look like the sort of guy that would be in prison in the 20′s or the 40′s in Ireland?

Thought you’d say that.

It’s called “Blood, Fire and Spades in Castlefinn City”. If anything comes of it I’ll definitely let youse all know.

Nikki, my industry mentor, suggested that I get Final Draft 7, the industry standard program for writing screenplays, plays and TV shows. It’s fantastic software, and anyone who wants to be a writer and has an extra 200-300 dollars lying about, get your hands on it.

Oh yeah, the picture.

So, on Monday my dad was working around the house of this woman, he’s in telecommunications contracting just so you know, and they got to chatting. She mentioned that she was a First Assistant Director on several popular TV shows in the UK. He then proceeded to talk her ear off for the next hour or so about me, and my media experience. She was very interested, she gave my pa her number to give to me [are you keeping up?] he texted it to me, I left a message on her voicemail, and then settled into bed, ready to try again on wednesday evening, today.

My phone rang, it was her, and we proceeded to talk for around 90 minutes about the industry, what I wanted to do, her work, my work….

She called me “Babe” and said that she could be the first entry in my “little black book”. It was exactly the sort of conversation I envisioned having with someone in the business we call show. A business with no equal apparently.

So I’ve been writing and reading my previous works, editing and refining and picking out my best work. It’s been a busy few days, but it could very easily be very, very worth it.