My Early Election Choices!

Ok gang here are my choices for the offices I have researched and decided on to this point. Now I could still change my mind before election day so if you are running and not on the list give me a call and convince me. You will notice that my choices are not a straight ticket. While to many peoples dismay I have gone from a Reagan Republican to a Democrat but I still vote for the person not the party as you will see.

1. President of the United States - Barack Obama, if you read my blog you will see why.

2. United States Representitive District 5 - John McGoff - I have met John and he seems like a good guy that will work hard for the district. Bottom line on this one is Dan Burton needs to go play golf.....well let me re-phrase that...Dan Burton needs to play golf but no longer on the taxpayer's dime. Bye Bye Dan!

3. State Senate District 30 - Luke Kenley - this may surprise people but I respect Senator Kenley for many reasons. While I may not always agree with him he is the single best person for the job bar none. The R's in Hamilton County especially on the Council and Commission seem to have it out for him but I think he will do just fine.

4. State Representitive District 29 - Kathy Richardson - Well I also respect Kathy I was a bit surprised that she is running unopposed. I know Kathy is the hometown lady but she needs to defend some of her decesions at the State House. Maybe next election..

5. I will not go into the Judge and other county offices that don' have a challenger.

6. Judge of Circuit Court - I need to do more research on this one.

7. County Commissioner District 2 - I think Steve Dillinger is a good guy that does a good job. He has some challengers and I am looking for some good things from Jeff Curtis but it will be tough. I will hold my choice at this time.

8. County Commissioner District 3 - Steve Holt - Good guy but have some issues with decesions made by he an Commish Altman.

9. County Council - At Large - Elect 3 - Chris Brown and Ford Hebner I hope will be the two new guys and I will cast my third vote for Brad Beaver. The others needs to go and we will see how Brad does over the next term.

10. Noblesville School Board.....hmmm this is interesting..I need to do much more reseach on this one and this will include a few posts between now and May.

That is all for now gang......

But no matter whethere you agree or not....support your persone and get out and vote.

An Open Letter to Steak and Shake

Many of you may have never heard of our homegrown hamburger chain but some of you I am sure have had a Double Steakburger with Cheese and a Chocolate Shake at some time in your life and they are really awesome.....well at least they use to be.

Steak and Shake has been in the news of late with hostile investors trying to get on the board, firing their CEO and conference calls that in all honesty blame their problems on everything under the sun except them selves. Well they don't need Wall Street, Mega investors or 20 MBA's to come in and fix it for them. The board needs to load them selves up in a van and make a little trip.

No they don't have to go far. They need to drive up to the Noblesville Dairy Queen. A recent trip to the ice cream wonderland got me thinking about Steak and Shake...here is what they need to notice.

First as you walk in a seasoned Ice Cream Parlor manager says Hi, Welcome to Dairy Queen. He is dressed in a ironed White shirt and tie. His name tag says he is the manager but my guess is he is much more. After his welcome he asks if he can take our order or if we have any questions...hmm. Well this particular DQ does not serve burgers so that is a bit different then Steak and Shake but they do serve Hot Dogs and Shakes and Ice cream. He treated Nash with respect as he did all his customers asking him "What would you like young man?" he took all our orders. We sat down to wait and I started noticing a few more things.

1. The DQ had not had an overhaul in a long time and looked just like a DQ from when I was much younger. But with that said there was not a single thing in that DQ that needed repaired or replaced. It was in almost perfect condition.
2. It was spotless!!! From the floors, tables, walls, windows, restrooms to the cooking and preparation area it was spotless. I mean I looked under the fountain coke dispenser and you could see your reflection in the stainless steel.
3. The other thing I noticed as the manager and one of his school age employee's made the ice cream treats that had been ordered is that they were not slapping them together as fast as they could. They where actually taking their time to offer us not only our favorite item but that is was an artistic masterpiece at the same time. And they tasted really good to. Nash and I went through more napkins then need to be shared in this post.
4. And you know what, when we were done and leaving the manager leaned over the counter and said thank you for visiting us gang and come back and see us real soon.

Well growing up in the biz, I can tell you I don't get my expectations blown away often but they sure did a great job of impressing me.

Well I am sure neither Steak and Shake or all the Wall Street Wonders that can tell you how you should run your business will visit the Noblesville Dairy Queen or will the seek my advice.

BUT THEY SHOULD AND THEY SHOULD DO IT NOW!!!!

Anyway, as for me...... Hey Nash, let's go to Dairy Queen!

Seven Years!

It is very hard for me to get my hands around the fact that 7 years ago Saturday Nash arrived into my world. Seven years ago today I was still trying to get my hands around the label Down syndrome. Someday's I still am.

As I think back, those memories of Nash being born and then being told he has Down syndrome are as clear as yesterday and at the same time seem 100 years ago. We have come a long way since that day.

As a family we are involved in every aspect of his life. And you know all the things I thought would be a challenge 7 years ago had to do with Nash. Today all the challenge's seem to be with the so called professionals. You know the group, School Corporations, Administration, Principals, Teachers, State Government, Department of Education, Professors, Elected Officials ect.

You know I hear all day long on radio, television and in the newspapers that the problem with schools is parents are not invovled. Then when it is us pesky parents of children with disabilities that qualify for Special Education Supports and Services and that have acutally educated ourselves, then we are just greedy and want everything under the sun. No we just did what you asked us to do, be educated and involved in our kids education and have actually read the law and kept up with the changes that have been made to IDEA. And they just really hate the fact that we understand our rights about that law passed in 1975 that they are still trying to figure out.

Here is a hint folks: Treat us with a little respect. Understand that we have put in many hours of education ourselves on this issue and we want to work with you for the best results. Don't play games with us about who is coming and who is not to the case conference. Don't try to double speak about best practices and staffing. Just treat us with fairness and respect and we will make progress that everyone will be happy with.

Ya, you guessed it our case conference is next week and everytime I try to go in being positive and everytime they try to treat me like I don't know anything and piss me off......ok breathe deep..lol.. I will be fine by next week but really just needed to vent.

So thanks for letting me vent....

I am amazed at the things Nash has done over the last 7 years and I have no doubt the next 7 are going to be even more amazing....I am so proud of you Buddy...

Anyway, sorry I have been AWOL but it has been a busy time around here and I think I bored many of you with my shift toward politics. So I think the Tales will be dedicated stricktly to family, Down syndrome and disability issues and I will start a new blog for politics....

What do you think?

Peace Dude!

Super Bowl

Ladies and Gentlemen.....Character and class does still matter.....

Congratulations to the New York Giants for winning the Super Bowl with character and class.

Enough said.

Peace Dude.

We can fix our economy!

Well another day of doom and gloom in the economy. Stock Market down, foreclosures up, property tax's out of control. Well we created this problem now let's fix it cause it's all about JOBS!

The problem with our economy today is that the middle class that has carried us for 100 years is gone. Those coveted factory jobs at GM, Ford, Chrysler, GE and others are not going away folks they have just been moved. They have been moved to other countries like Mexico. Other good jobs in manufacturing of items like toys, and extension cords and household products and electronics are gone to China and other countries. Good paying customer service call center jobs sent to India where class's are held to give the workers American accents.....give me a break.

Let's fix it and fix it now.....let's bring that Made in America pride back! I hear this argument that those jobs went away because our market demanded lower prices. Well GM has been building vehicles in Mexico for awhile now and I don't see the price's of cars going down. I don't see companies that use to make toys here that are now made in China lowering prices. Well I will be the first to say that Profit is good...really good. But good ole American greed driven by the whiners on Wall Street is going to break us. It may be great to have the cheapest product with the highest margin but if people can't buy it because they are losing their house....well what is the point? So here are some ideas.

1. Cancel NAFTA and CAFTA - Free trade has helped everyone but the American middle class who lost their jobs. Kill it!

2. We need to impose a Tariff on all products manufactured outside this country for a period of 5 years. It needs to be reasonable to make American Made products competitive again but not high enough to stop all imports. Remember Toyota and Honda and others make many products here now and that is great. But the other stuff coming in needs to have a tariff for 5 years. Now before you go nuts and call me a socialist let me remind you if it where not for the Tariff's imposed on motorcycle imports for a short time by President Reagan, Harley Davidson would not exist today.

3. During this 5 year period we should offer a tax credit to all business investment in capital manufacturing operations in the US that will increase that companies US work force.

4. We must create corporate tax penalties for moving jobs from the US to other countries. And create tax incentives for moving jobs from overseas to the US, as long as that company did not benefit from moving the jobs overseas to begin with.

5. We need to cap mortgage rates to go no higher then 8% for 4 years. We also must cap credit card interest rates at 15% for 6 years to allow the American public to get out of debt and start saving again. Again nothing wrong with profit but when the Feds make rates 3.5% and the top interest rate is 30% on credit cards....hmm nothing wrong with profit but that again sounds like greed created by Wall Street analysts.

6. We need to allow anyone that wants to move to this country legally to be able to join us just as our families did before us. But we need a central processing point (remember Ellis Island) and we must stop the flow at our borders. No if ands or buts on this one.

7. To help control the problem we need to fine and take away the license to do business of any company convicted of hiring illegal immigrants. This fine needs to be $250,ooo for each illegal in employment and the license and or tax id suspended for 2 years. To help even the playing field we should pay a $10,000 reward to anyone that turns someone into the local prosecutor that leads to a conviction ( and yes this needs to be a local issue) Everyone should be welcome to come to America as long as they do it right. And all illegal immigrants in our prison system should be deported to their country of origin along with a bill to their country. If the US happens to owe that country money or aid...take it off the tab.

8. The last item would be a complete overhaul of our education system.....that next.

PEACE DUDE!

In rememberance!

Just thought I would share with you this powerful speech today. If it were not for the progress made by Rev. Martin Luther King Jr the rights granted to individuals with disabilities under laws like ADA and IDEA would not be possible.

Thank You.

I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.
Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.
But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.
In a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check — a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.
It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.
But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.
We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. They have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.
As we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied, as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their selfhood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating "For Whites Only". We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.
I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.
Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.
I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.
This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.
This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."
And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!
Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!
Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!
But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!
Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!
Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.
And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

American Mortgage crisis!

Well you can't turn on a single news story or financial show right now and not hear about the American Mortgage crisis. Home loans are going south all over the place and banks and mortgage companies are taking huge financial write off's. Let me make some observations on this subject and also ask some questions. Now I am not an Economist with more degree's then wall space but just a good ole boy from the banks of the Buck Creek....but..

I grew up in a pretty decent area along the Buck Crick and those houses were owned my the parents of many of my friends. I was thinking about that the other day and some of those parents owned their own business's and many others worked in the auto industry at places like Fisher Body, Warner Gear, Chevrolet and others.

Today many of those folks would not be able to own those houses because those jobs are gone. Moved to another location or down south to Mexico.

As I was listening to the radio on the way home they were discussing a bank that was getting ready to write off the largest amount loss in their long history and it was all mortgage related.

Well I challenge the markets on this one. I don't think we have a mortgage crisis in this county we have a job crisis. The jobs that supported the middle class that owned their homes and bought a new car every 4 years are gone. Their is no middle class anymore. At least no jobs to sustain a middle class.

Another question. I thought when bank foreclosed on a property they become the owner of the property? What are they taking the charge on? Just the paper of the loan while the newly gained asset shows up on a different part of the balance sheet to be dealt with as profit later?

Well bottom line is I really feel sorry for Wall Street and the banks....not.

We have to quit sending everything we make in America overseas to be made and then shipped back to us because if we keep this up we will not have any jobs or money to buy them.

Enough! We need to bring back that American Made Label. You re-focus on that and we can fix the economy and the mortgage crisis.

In my next post I will tell you how we can do it.

Have I gone way to political on all of you? The comments have stopped. Do I at least have you thinking?

PEACE DUDE!

Government Run Healthcare

Question for everyone!

If as many of the candidates say the United States does not want or need Government run health care why have none of them come out for abolishing Medicare?

Just a question.

Peace Dude!

New Hampshire

Well folks it looks like it's going to be a dog fight to the end. Congrats to Senator McCain and Senator Clinton.

Now it's off to the South and the West for the Obama Machine.

YES WE CAN!



PEACE DUDE!

Thought I Would Share!

Obama on Individuals with Disabilities

Well if you read this blog you know my passion for the rights of Individuals with intellectual disabilities. I thought it only appropriate that If I am going to support Senator Obama in his race for the White House that I post his thoughts on the issue.

Please click the link below to be directed to that information.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/awdplan

Share your thoughts Gang.

Peace Dude!

Leadership!

In a recent debate Senator Obama was criticized by his counter parts for being naive based on commenting that he would meet with our enemies face to face.

Here is Senator Clinton's comments"

Obama's toughest Democratic primary competition in the race for the White House, Sen. Hillary Clinton, criticized Obama earlier this year for saying he would meet with Ahmadinejad during a debate, called his comments irresponsible and attacked the Illinois senator for being inexperienced.

Many other folks on both sides marked this off to inexperience...Interesting.

Let me share this with you.

"Interest in forming personal bonds was especially distinct in his meetings with world leaders. He chafed at the layers of communication that he felt complicated international relations. In the diary, we see him searching for a way to improve his contact with the successive general secretaries of the Soviet Union: Brezhnev, Andropov, Chernenko and Gorbachev. While Reagan was always guarded in his attitude toward the Soviets, he believed that progress would be made if he could communicate directly with them - by letter, telephone or in person. And he was right."

This quote is taken directly from the introduction of a book edited by Douglas Brinkley.

The Book?

The Reagan Diaries.......hmmmm well what they are calling inexperience and naive is what President Reagan used to end the cold war...

PEACE DUDE!

The Time Has Come!

Well ladies and gents the holidays are over and it's time to take our country back and get it headed in the right direction.

The Iowa Caucuses on Thursday night proved that America can ignore the media and the establishment and use their brains all on their own. Congrats to Gov Mike Huckabee for surprising everyone on the Republican side. Way to go Frater Mike!

Well for the first time in my life I have come out publicly for a candidate in a presidential campaign. I am supporting Barack Obama! I will share more in upcoming posts as to why. But let's just say I have done my homework and I feel he is someone that will take us in the right direction.

It's time to focus on politics on the Tales for a bit so I hope I don't bore you all too much.

I hope each of you will take the time to research your choice and make an educated decision. Please feel free to share your thoughts on here as I love a good, fact based Civil debate! That is what this country is built on.

Peace Dude!

Wow, a huge honor bestowed from accross the Pond!

I have been honored by my good friend Kim Ayres with the Rambling Beard Award -2007. Click on the highlighted areas to the blog or the award page to read for yourself.

I have been reading Kim's blog for a long bit now and always enjoy checking in to see what's going on in Scotland.

Thanks for the award mate and a Happy 2008 to all.

Peace Dude!

Hijacking Jeff's Blog.....Happy Birthday Honey!

To the New Years Baby of the family:

May all your dreams, wishes, and needs come true this year, as you certainly deserve it.

You are the best husband and Dad anyone could ask for! I hope you get lots of birthday well wishes!

Lots of love,
the wife, Mauzy , Nash and Seger too

Dear Santa

Dear Santa'

I hope you are enjoying loading your sleigh and getting ready for your big trip tomorrow night.

I know it's kinda late but I thought I better get my letter to you fast.

I know you are busy right now but hope you can remember a few things for the Big Dawg this year.

1. Give everyone the ability to believe in your magic for another year.

2. Give Nash the gift of continuing to believe in his abilities and to dream big audacious dreams and to achieve them all.

3. May those that are sick feel better.

4. May those that frown again smile and let loose a deep belly busting laugh.

5. Give me the strength to be a better Dad, husband and person.

6. Give our nation the belief again that all men are created equal.

7. Give the power to those that are not with us anymore the ability to watch over us on Christmas morning and know they are still loved and remembered.

8. And finally Santa let everyone that reads this note know that WE BELIEVE and hope all their Christmas wishes come true.

Your Humble Elf

Jeff....aka - Big Dawg...aka - Nash's Daddy

P.S. Have a safe trip Santa and when you are relaxing in Key West next week beware my brother in law will be there.

PEACE DUDE!

Happy Birthday Dave

It's Dave's birthday over at Chewing the Fat. You can click on his blog on the left side of my blog.

It's a great place to read awsome tales of individuals making a difference. And if you go over please take the time to read...So This is Christmas.....

Peace Dude!

Life!

Well it has been quite a week or so around the BigDawg ranch. Dealing with the loss of our good friend Annette, sorting out travel plans for Mauzy, my schedule while Mauzy is out of town and now thoughts and prayers needed for my Step Dad who is in the Hospital.

Well today Life got put back in alignment for a few hours anyway.. I was one of the parents that attended Nash's 1st grade field trip to the Indianapolis Childrens Museum. We are very lucky to have one of the best Children's Museums in the United States right here in Indy.

Well the delight and thrill of 1st graders playing in the museum today reminded me about what is important in life. A few hours of fun, knowledge, excitement and friendship. It was the most fun I have had in awhile.

Peace Dude!

Update!

Our dear friend Annette passed away early this morning. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and her friends.

Interesting that as I wright this blog entry Meet the Press is on with Mit Romney talking about Religion. Well here is what I want to know today.....

Why a loving god would allow a lady who never smoked to get lung cancer and die at such a young age leaving a great husband and two wonderful young boys behind. I always here the same answer.....he has a better plan, he knows best.....

Well somebody explain that one to me because I can assure you today that makes absolutely now damn sense.

Annette we will miss you deeply.....

Peace Dude!

Just a reminder!

Please keep sending positive strenght to Annette and her entire family.

Peace Dude!