The Ultimate Answer to Kings: Visitor to the Gulch

They say that Louis XIV had the inscription Ultima Ratio Regum cast into all the cannon of the French Army. It means "The Ultimate Argument of Kings," and that always struck me as one of the most honest and up-front things any ruler or would-be ruler ever said. "We can dress it up prettier than this, but when it comes down to the unvarnished truth this is what it's about: You'll do as I say or I'll send my goons to kill you."

I thought about that for a long time. If there's an ultimate argument, it seems only logical that there must be an ultimate answer. For years I thought the ultimate answer must be the bullets in my rifle, but it never seemed quite right. I've got bullets - he's got frigging Cannon Balls. I mean, if there were three hundred million rifles throwing bullets at him, then maybe. But we all know that's not going to happen. So if there's an ultimate answer to his ultimate argument, it sure as hell ain't bullets.

It finally came to me - and that's when I left the city, abandoned a goodly percentage of my goods, and gave all that was behind me a good, stiff Randian Shrug.

The ultimate answer to kings is not a bullet, but a belly laugh.

Friday, March 13, 2009

Visitor to the Gulch

A friend asked me to get him an estimate for installing some culverts on his property not far from me. This involved waffling for days while I overcame my aversion to asking neighbors for things (S the Road Guy's phone number) and then more days while I overcame my aversion to calling strangers (S the Road Guy) on the telephone. Finally did it, and he showed up quite promptly. Promptness is a great virtue among local service people, because it is so very rare.

So anyway, S the Road Guy showed up this morning and of course refused to leave his truck. I often forget the kind of reception strange visitors get here.

What I see...