The Ultimate Answer to Kings: Introducing Basie the Wonder Dog!

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, November 30, 2011

Introducing Basie the Wonder Dog!

I took a bunch of pictures with M's Mom's new dog Basie and the boys, but the lighting was terrible and they didn't come out. And anyway...well, this is a family blog. They play dominance games in ways that could make them a floor show in the raunchiest of gay bars.

But he did hold still for one good portrait later...

9 comments:

DonkeyBuster said...: Dangme, it's a yeti!; November 30, 2011 at 2:19 PM
Anonymous said...: Thanks for the pic. That is one big ole honking dog. Probably eat my toy poodles as hors d'oeuvres.; November 30, 2011 at 6:21 PM
Anonymous said...: I'll amend my previous remarks to anonymous. Picture a dirty snowstorm with legs.

Haha.... that look says 'Why yes, it is all about me. Isn't it?'

Buck.; November 30, 2011 at 10:11 PM
Anonymous said...: Best lookin' dog out there!!; November 30, 2011 at 10:14 PM
Anonymous said...: Joel, Joel! Be careful! A giant mutant wolf has gotten loose in your cabin!; December 1, 2011 at 2:20 PM
LJH said...: He's magnificent! Same paintjob as my Anatolian mix, Sissy. Sis is only 90 lbs. and she's blind so her eyes are mostly white. She scares the bejeezus outta folks who don't know she harmless though.

Whatcha got cooking in that pot on the stove?; December 2, 2011 at 9:48 PM
Joel said...: Nothing, just water. Humidifies things a bit, and there's always a pot of warm water available. The Lair doesn't have a water heater yet.; December 3, 2011 at 11:56 AM
Anonymous said...: Funny you should mention the Anatolian. I saw one and the coloring was right on...but they are very tall, and he is not; December 3, 2011 at 5:21 PM
MamaLiberty said...: Beautiful dog, but I would not want to deal with the amount of fur that pony will shed. LOL; December 4, 2011 at 10:23 AM