The Ultimate Answer to Kings: What not to wear when the government guy comes calling...

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.

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

What not to wear when the government guy comes calling...

Eating breakfast and planning out my day, I decided I'd better start with laundry. It's a beautiful, sunny morning, but it's also Monsoon so who knows how long that'll last?

While hanging the first load, I got to thinking about a brief conversation Landlady had with me before the building inspector arrived. I don't really like black t-shirts because they're too hot, and don't usually wear slogan shirts because...well, because I'm not 16. But this one, a gift from Claire, always kinda tickled me.

Curiously, she didn't want me around when the government man came calling. I wonder why not?

4 comments:

Diogenes said...: I so want that shirt. LOL; August 31, 2010 at 9:27 AM
Pat H. said...: I like that one.

Another one that might draw attention is this one.; August 31, 2010 at 2:56 PM
Phil said...: I seriously get a kick out of you dude.; August 31, 2010 at 11:46 PM
Anonymous said...: Personally, wearing ANYTHING with a bullseye on it is just bad juju.; September 1, 2010 at 6:41 AM