The Ultimate Answer to Kings: This is called a Tamalanche.

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.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

This is called a Tamalanche.

I've heard of them, but it's my first personal experience. I don't know what Tam's traffic is like, but I gather she gets more hits in an hour than this sleepy little blog can expect on a good day. She does some very first-class snark, that lady.

It seems she linked a minor piece to something here, and my first clue was when my hit rate increased over ten times between 0500 and 0600. I should say things she finds interesting more often. Thanks, Tam.

Oh, and welcome to the new folks! Feel free to make yourselves at home and wander around.