The Ultimate Answer to Kings: Analysis of a deadly cluster[actoflove]

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, June 1, 2011

Analysis of a deadly cluster[actoflove]

I've basically got nothing to say today, but over at Confederate Yankee there's an excellent second-by-second analysis of the brief video released of the Jose Guerena shooting. I highly recommend it.

Also: A pointless SWAT raid in which no innocent dogs or people are gunned down: Story of a once-in-a-lifetime miracle.

2 comments:

Kevin Wilmeth said...: Thanks Joel. This morning, I needed the "miracle" bit of humor. :-); June 2, 2011 at 11:14 AM
CorbinKale said...: Why does my gut tell me that SWAT member, tasked with deploying the grenade in the house, fumbled it it, and the SWAT team was too stunned to shoot the guy when he walked out to see what was going on?

The 'grenade on the lawn to attract the homeowner' tactic, not only isn't in the playbook, it fails on the bullshit meter, too.; June 2, 2011 at 12:28 PM