The Ultimate Answer to Kings: Lessons Learned Today:

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, May 26, 2010

Lessons Learned Today:

Never throw a lit cigarette into a pile of dry horse manure.

Just take my word - details are too embarrassing.

3 comments:

GunRights4US said...: C'mon Joel. We your devoted readers want details - lots of details. And as we used to say in the Marines, that's a genuine no shitter! LOL

It sure stinks when you make such a goof huh? LOL

You'll learn not to ... horse around... with fire! LOL; May 26, 2010 at 2:38 PM
Anonymous said...: Details hell. I want pictures! ;<)
K; May 27, 2010 at 2:01 PM
The Grey Lady said...: Heh,

I already knew that one Joel. :)

You word verification is lament, like I've said before, it has a sense of humour. It has been independantly verified by the above thread too.; May 30, 2010 at 6:43 PM