I Got It Honest |
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It ain’t nothin’ but a small frame house on an acre lot | |
It ain’t that much different from any other house on the block | |
And it may not look like we’ve got all our share of the promise | |
But at least one thing’s for sure, I got it honest | |
Roll out of the sack every mornin’, head on down to the mill | |
Give ’em all I got for eight, ’cause that’s the deal | |
If you’ll check out my paycheck | |
Well, you’ll see that there ain’t that much on it | |
But every single penny I’m paid, I got it honest | |
I never had to hang my head in shame | |
For puttin’ a price tag on my name | |
Never turned my back on what I believe | |
Or let my heart be ruled by greed | |
‘Cause buddy if I didn’t earn it, I don’t want it | |
That way I can always say, I got it honest | |
Now you ain’t looking at some dude | |
That was born with a silver spoon in his mouth | |
And I might seem like some kind of low-life | |
To that high-falutin’ crowd | |
But I’m plain spoken, straight talkin’ | |
And damn proud of what I have accomplished | |
And some folks appreciate that and some don’t | |
But, I got it honest | |
Now when I die, I may not leave my kids a fortune | |
But I hope they know’d my life stood for things that were important | |
And I’ll hand out the same sturdy old values | |
Of my daddy and my momma | |
It made me every ounce of what I am and I got it honest | |
I never had to hang my head in shame | |
For puttin’ a price tag on my name | |
Never turned my back on what I believe | |
Or let my heart be ruled by greed | |
‘Cause brother if I didn’t earn it, I don’t want it | |
That way I can always say, I got it honest | |
Friend there ain’t no doubt about it, I got it honest | |
Writer(s): Bruce Burch, Marcus Franklin Johnson, Aaron Tippin | |
Performed by: Aaron Tippin | |
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On This Day In: | |
2015 | Less And More Irritation |
2014 | That Marvelous Feeling |
2013 | Exceptional |
2012 | A Wild And Crazy Believer |
2011 | A Lack Of Scarcity |
The Joy Of Prevention | |
Archive for April, 2016
As I Recall
Posted in Included Video, Lyrics, Philosophy, Videos, Work, tagged Aaron Tippin, Bruce Burch, Country Songs, I Got It Honest - song lyrics, Marcus Franklin Johnson, Music Videos, Philosophy, Work on April 30, 2016| Leave a Comment »
Growing Greatness
Posted in Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged Fred Brooks, No Silver Bullet, On Learning, On Software Designers, Quotes on April 28, 2016| Leave a Comment »
How to grow great [software] designers: | |
1. Systematically identify top designers as early as possible. The best are often not the most experienced. | |
2. Assign a career mentor to be responsible for the development of the prospect, and keep a careful career file. | |
3. Devise and maintain a career development plan for each prospect, including carefully selected apprenticeships with top designers, episodes of advanced formal education, and short courses, all interspersed with solo design and technical leadership assignments. | |
4. Provide opportunities for growing designers to interact and stimulate each other. | |
— Fred Brooks | |
From his essay: “No Silver Bullet“ | |
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On This Day In: | |
2015 | When It Is Darkest |
2014 | Knowledge And Doubt |
2013 | Three Thoughts |
2012 | Gentle Reader |
2011 | Leave The Light On For Me Anyway |
Singular Reality
Posted in Movie Review, Movies, Philosophy, Science and Learning, tagged A Beautiful Mind - movie review, Alicia Nash, Economics, Game Theory, Gladiator, Jennifer Connelly, John Forbes Nash Jr., Mathematics, Moderate To Strong Movie Recommendation, Nash Equilibrium, Nobel Prize for Economics 1994, Non-Cooperative Games, Paranoid Schizophrenia, Philosophy, Russell Crowe, Science, Sylvia Nasar on April 27, 2016| 2 Comments »
A Beautiful Mind (2001) — movie review | |
This movie asks the question: is it possible to separate genius from insanity? The movie is an adaptation of the book (biography) of the same name written by Sylvia Nasar. The movie relates the story of American mathematician John Forbes Nash, Jr. Nash won the Nobel Prize (shared actually) for Economics in 1994 for work he did back in 1950 on “Game Theory” – more specifically on non-cooperative games. Russell Crowe, of “Gladiator” fame, stars as Nash and Jennifer Connelly stars as his long suffering wife, Alicia Nash. “Long suffering” because she cared for him most of his adult life as Nash himself suffered from paranoid schizophrenia. | |
I read the book (way back when) and I bought and watched the DVD, too, but really didn’t remember either in much detail. About all I remembered was the bit about agreeing to work in your own self interest as long as it doesn’t detract from the total group interest of the group you belong to. In other words, you can do anything you want to do as long what you do doesn’t hurt your team. In a world which had long accepted “dog-eat-dog” / “me first” as the fundamental of economic theory, this was a shock. Essentially, it means if we all benefit (more or less) from “the game”, no one should try to destroy the game to keep anyone else from winning or from benefiting a little more than everyone else. At least, this is the rational course of action. | |
The movie is beautifully shot and Connelly is simultaneously drop-dead gorgeous and sympathetic in her role. I must admit to not being a big Crowe fan. I haven’t seen many of his films, so my opinion is somewhat biased here, but I think this was the first movie where I thought, “Wow! This guy CAN act.” What I really found interesting was that there is “chemistry” between the two leads, but it didn’t strike me as sexual chemistry – even when it was meant to by the scenes. They “seemed” to me to be adult friends who genuinely cared about each other – loved rather than being in love. Either way, I thought they were both excellent in their respective roles. | |
Maybe I understand the concept of the Nash Equilibrium better than before, even if I still have no clue about the math behind it. Final recommendation: moderate to strong recommendation. I don’t really feel like I understand schizophrenia any more than before watching this movie. I’m not sure if we are meant to. Nash himself said it was difficult to separate the delusions from the real because both the delusions and his mathematical genius both came from the same place: his mind. Is it possible to separate genius from insanity? The answer seems to be: only with love. | |
“…My quest has taken me through the physical, the metaphysical, the delusional, and back. And I’ve made the most important discovery of my life. It is only in the mysterious equations of love that any logical reasons can be found.“ | |
— John Nash | |
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On This Day In: | |
2015 | He Says It’s Hard To Get There From Here |
2014 | Question From A Founding Father |
2013 | Make Heroes |
2012 | See And Hold |
2011 | Am Not, Are So |
Pre-Reacher
Posted in 2016 Book Review, Book Review, Reviews, tagged 2016 Book Review, AFib, Jack Reacher #8 - The Enemy - book review, Jack Reacher Book Series, James Patterson, Lee Child, Strong to High Book Recommendation on April 26, 2016| 2 Comments »
The Enemy (2004©) — book review | |
This book is #8 in the Jack Reacher series written by Lee Child. Yes, I admit it. I’m coming late to the party… (More on this later.) | |
A couple of years ago, I borrowed the movie “Jack Reacher” from my brother (review here). I enjoyed the movie so much I actually watched it several times in the weeks following and then looked up the character on Wikipedia. There I “discovered” the movie was based on a series of books by Lee Child. This book is the eighth book in the series, but it is the prequel to the entire series. That is, the first book starts with Jack out of the Army and goes from there. In this book, Jack is still in the Army. | |
The book is about a series of murders (duh!) and some missing papers which might lead to a “problem” for the Army. To say more is to give away much of the book. (Sorry…) We also learn about Jack’s family. | |
I bought this book with a gift voucher my Hil gave me for my birthday back in March. I also picked up the first volume in the series, so there will be a review of that in due time. I was reading the book in the waiting room of my blood testing facility. I have to give blood every month because I’m on blood-thinners for my AFib. An older lady (I’d say seventies or early eighties) was sitting next to me and she was also reading. She asked what I was reading and I showed her the spine and said: “One of the Jack Reacher series…” She interrupted, “I’ve read them all. They’re terrific! If you like that series, I also recommend James Patterson (and she held up the paperback she was reading). My reading club loves both authors and get them as soon as they come out.” How’s that for a personal recommendation from a stranger?!? (My wife got a chuckle out of this, too, because, as she says, I’ll talk to anyone… Including random, little old ladies I sit down next to in a waiting room.) | |
Anyway, final recommendation: strong to high – a fast, fun read. Because I’ve seen the movie and now read a prequel, it’ll be interesting to see how I like the series from the start. For now, this book is very much like the movie – a fast experience (read), with lots of mystery / who-done-it, intermittent high-action and a sprinkling of non-graphic sex. | |
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On This Day In: | |
2015 | Getting The Story Right |
2014 | Like Shells On The Shore |
2013 | More And Why |
2012 | How To Gain Effective Fire |
2011 | Patriot Act |
A Sweet Smelling Blog Post
Posted in My Journal, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Claudio Naranjo, My Journal, On Ideals, On Perfection, On Roses, Philosophy, Quotes on April 26, 2016| Leave a Comment »
Searching for the ideal rose we don’t see that each rose is the utmost perfection for itself. For fear of not finding the rose we seek, we hang on to the concept of “rose” and never learn that “a rose is a rose is a rose”. | |
— Claudio Naranjo | |
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On This Day In: | |
2015 | Getting The Story Right |
2014 | Like Shells On The Shore |
2013 | More And Why |
2012 | How To Gain Effective Fire |
2011 | Patriot Act |
The Difference Is Craftsmanship
Posted in Leadership, My Journal, Philosophy, tagged General Donn A. Starry, Leadership, Military Leadership, My Journal, On Sergeants, Philosophy, Quotes on April 25, 2016| 2 Comments »
Like any art, the craft of battle requires proper tools, good craftsmanship and a little inspiration. In this case, the proper tools are good weapons, sound tactics and effective organization. Although these differ a bit from army to army, there is little to be gained by any one, or any combinations of them against a corresponding combination in the enemy’s bag. In other words, systems, tactics and organization are about even. | |
What makes the difference in battle? It is the excellence of the craftsmanship and the combined inspiration of soldiers and leaders. It is the excellence of the training, the quality of the leaders and the courage of the soldiers, there is no doubt. The problem is to get that courage harnessed in usable fashion and put to work on the battlefield. That is a problem for leaders. May I further suggest that the day of the instant hero is gone – the time when charisma alone can be made to suffice for technical skill and excellence in battle is past. Certainly, this is so when one considers the number of competent leaders who will be required to win in modern war. A few may be charismatic in addition to being technically competent; many, many more will not. Therefore, the leader problem is likewise a training problem. Quality leadership comes from sound training of leaders. | |
Sergeants are leaders. Sergeants’ business is leadership. Therefore, the sergeants must be trained as leaders – not as administrators. The cement that binds together good weapons, sound tactics and effective organizations into winning battle teams is training. Training develops excellence in the skills of leaders and soldiers, to the end that they have both the capability to fight the tough battles and win, and the conviction that they can and must fight hard and well, and that, if they do, and have a little luck, they will win against all odds. | |
— General Donn A. Starry | |
U. S. Army | |
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On This Day In: | |
2015 | However Vast The Darkness |
2014 | The Omnipresent Teacher |
2013 | Don’t Waste |
2012 | Earning Thanks |
2011 | Fuzzy Vision |
2010 | Movies and Book |
Tossers
Posted in Faith, Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged Faith, God, Logic, Philosophy, Quotes, Religious Mania, Science, Stephen King on April 23, 2016| Leave a Comment »
The beauty of religious mania is that it has the power to explain everything. Once God — or Satan is accepted as the first cause of everything which happens in the mortal world, nothing is left to chance… logic can be happily tossed out the window. | |
— Stephen King | |
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On This Day In: | |
2015 | Hunger |
2014 | Outside Dependence |
2013 | Doing Right |
2012 | A Short Course In Human Relations |
If Death Be My Future | |
Strive | |
Such A Fool | |
2011 | I’m Working For A Living |
Jumps
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Anita Desai, On Life, Philosophy, Quotes on April 22, 2016| Leave a Comment »
Isn’t it strange how life won’t flow, like a river, but moves in jumps, as if it were held back by locks that are opened now and then to let it jump forwards in a kind of flood? | |
— Anita Desai | |
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On This Day In: | |
2015 | One View Of Failure |
2014 | We Speak For Earth |
2013 | Inward Urgency |
2012 | Delayed Reviews |
Fulfilling My Duty | |
2011 | Interference |
A Stubbornly Persistent Illusion
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Albert Einstein, On Death, Philosophy, Quotes on April 21, 2016| Leave a Comment »
Death signifies nothing … the distinction between past, present and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion. | |
— Albert Einstein | |
[I wonder if he still feels that way? — KMAB] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2015 | Or You Don’t |
2014 | If You Ever Fall… |
2013 | Glory Days (part 2) |
2012 | They Follow A Pattern – If You Know What I Mean |
What I Live For (Precis) | |
2011 | Giving |
In What Direction?
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Oliver Wendel Homes Sr., Philosophy, Quotes, The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table, To Reach Heaven on April 20, 2016| Leave a Comment »
I find the great in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving: To reach the port of heaven, we must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it, – but we must sail, and not drift, nor lie at anchor. | |
— Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. | |
From his collection of essays: “The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table“ | |
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On This Day In: | |
2015 | Embarrassing Myself Again |
2014 | I’ve Never Have Had |
2013 | Glory Days (part 1) |
2012 | Feeling Old? |
2011 | Even When I Wish Really, Really Hard |
Skeptical Fathers | |
Cha-cha-cha-changes | |
Today’s Rule
Posted in Politics, Quotes, tagged Friedrich Nietzsche, Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, On Insanity, On Politics, Quotes on April 19, 2016| Leave a Comment »
In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. | |
― Friedrich Nietzsche | |
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On This Day In: | |
2015 | Remembering Oklahoma City |
2014 | Who Was That Masked Man? |
2013 | Enemy Mine |
2012 | Strengthen Me |
2011 | Service, Please |
2010 | The Church In Crisis… |
Consistently
Posted in Leadership, Quotes, tagged Leadership, Maya Angelou, On Courage, On Virtues, Post On Coward, Quotes on April 18, 2016| Leave a Comment »
Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can’t practice any other virtue consistently. | |
― Maya Angelou | |
[LOL. Reminds me of “Coward, n.” — KMAB] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2015 | We Must Dissent |
2014 | Now What? |
2013 | Judgement |
2012 | Stuck In My Mind |
Life’s Hope | |
2011 | Just Getting Up |
Directions Please | |
Man’s Advantage Over God
Posted in Quotes, tagged Marcus Harrison, On Creation, On God, On Pain, Quotes, The Memoirs Of Jesus Christ on April 17, 2016| Leave a Comment »
When I had to consider the meaning of suffering I was faced with the ageless question: Why does God allow it? | |
I conceive the answer to be that God has need of us to suffer for him; otherwise he could not know the extent of his creation, since creation without suffering does not exist. | |
God has created us to suffer through us, and since we believe that God is compassionate, think what agony our suffering must cause Him, cosmic suffering, on such scale! | |
It must be hard for God to do this to us, it must cause Him endless, infinite pain, since he is incapable of release through sleep or death. There he has shown us mercy; there we have the advantage of Him. | |
— Marcus Harrison | |
From his book: “The Memoirs of Jesus Christ“ | |
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On This Day In: | |
2015 | Deeply |
2014 | Hi-Yo Silver, Away! |
2013 | Warning: |
2012 | Thinking About Beauty |
2011 | A Founding Father’s Argument Against Public Funding Of Religious Education |
Weekend Update | |
So Far, So Good | |