The Ultimate Answer to Kings: By Special Request...

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.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

By Special Request...

So we got maybe a little deep into the beer yesterday afternoon. Our neighbor S had a company group visiting some of the local homesteads, getting all excited about off-grid power systems and stuff. Somehow, our Boot Hill had become part of the tour - which I'm not sure I'm too crazy about.

Anyway, Claire suddenly burst out in a song I hadn't even thought of in decades. Between the two of us we belted out verses as well as we could remember, thoroughly appalling our fellow imbibers who had never heard the song - and had never heard either of us sing - and couldn't understand why we'd admit to having done so.

And so, by special request of Claire, (who hates my normal "music" videos) I bring you:

Forest Lawn!