They say that Louis XIV had the inscription Ultima Ratio Regum castinto 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.
When you accept that "liberty is not coming in your lifetime," in the sense that the world isn't going to come around to your "leave the peaceable alone to live their lives" ideal, you have two alternatives. You can despair, give up, go with the flow.
Or, since you can't change the world, you can work on the one thing that's really available to you for revision - yourself. How much freedom can you squeeze into your own life?
I decided to learn the answer to that question. That's what this blog is about.
Oh, I've also written some books, links available below. Plugging them is what this blog is about, too.
"Freedom Outlaw. It’s not what you do; it’s how you do it. It’s an attitude — from which actions always follow. It’s a do-it-yourself occupation. And a lifetime vocation."
"Authority should derive from the consent of the governed, not from the threat of force." - Barbie
"They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance." - Last words of Gen. John Sedgewick, Union Army, May 9, 1864
"While you're out there smashing the state, don't forget to keep a smile on your lips and a song in your heart!" - Phineas T. Freak
The...average man's love of liberty is nine-tenths imaginary, exactly like his love of sense, justice and truth. Liberty is not a thing for the great masses of men. It is the exclusive possession of a small and disreputable minority, like knowledge, courage and honor. It takes a special sort of man to understand and enjoy liberty – and he is usually an outlaw in democratic societies. – H.L. Mencken, Baltimore Evening Sun, Feb. 12, 1923
Oleg Volk
FREE BRADLEY MANNING! (With each purchase of Bradley Manning of equal or greater value.) - Anon
"A slave is one who waits for someone to come and free him." - Ezra Pound
"If you can’t be a good example, then you’ll just have to be a horrible warning." - Catherine Aird
"You can't make an omelet without breaking eggs." The sophistry of villains - Bah! - Robert A. Heinlein, Double Star
"The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all possible worlds; and the pessimist fears this is true." - James Branch Cabell
"Never underestimate the ability of shit to find a fan." - F. Paul Wilson
"I saw the problem plain as day, while I was down there on my back before." - Kaylee
I SAW WHAT YOU WROTE!
"Mister President, do not let so great an achievement suffer from any taint of legality," - Philander Knox
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Setting aside the sheer BLASPHEMY, this still looks really dumb.
Saw this at Endo's blog, which has more information.
I note that the video is extremely light on performance information, except that the guy with Niska's accent manages to empty a magazine without a jam. Once. Maybe that's indicative of the pistol's reliability. Points of impact? Not mentioned. Fact that you'd probably need about a 90" waistline to conceal it? Unimportant. Likelihood of going straight to pound-you-in-the-ass prison if you ever used it in a defensive shooting? Near certain.
I'm fascinated more by the fascination with multiple-barreled handguns than by the guns themselves. I once had opportunity to put a whole box of ammo through a COP .357, and what I most recall - though the list of reasons why I'd never want to own one arising from that session was lengthy - was that the four barrels all consistently shot to four separate points of impact. Consistently. We fired it off sandbags just to be sure. Kinda soured me on the whole concept.
But what the hell? Go for it. Lemme know how it works out for you. Fair warning: Their website sucks to an astonishing degree. Looks like somebody got so busy being artistic they neglected to add much in the way of information or navigability.
My dad had one of those COP derringers for a while. Best use for that was as a get the fuck off me gun. The trigger was most deplorable. Kicked like a mule on angel dust. He sold it. I think he paid about $200 for it back in the 80's. Don't know what he got for it. I have seen a few recently in the $1000 range.
I sort of thought it was cool when he had it. Still wish he hadn't sold it. I always thought the old 1800s multi barrels were interesting and a modern version no matter how impractical it really is has a place in my collection right next to the Astra I can't find.
Leaving aside the sheer silliness factor... if they really wanted to sell any of them they need to find someone else to demonstrate it. This guy's grip was so poor and loose that the recoil/muzzle flip almost took it out of his hands a few times. At best, he needs to lose the gloves.
If it had only one trigger, I am guessing that ATF might frown on it.....definition of a machine gun being "more that one shot per pull of the trigger."
Silly idea. it probably weighs a ton, is klunkier than Hell. Loading the mag must be interesting. If I want something that big, I'll go with my 44 Mag, thanks. More punch, more range, more accuracy, and no monkey motion when it fires.
Anonymous... look at it again. It only has one slide... so, even if it has two triggers, how do you fire only one side? If only one side fires, the other round would eject... probably. Or slam fire maybe?
Somebody just didn't think this thing all the way through.
7 comments:
Meh. The only use for a pistol is to fight your way to your rifle anyhow. This is rather "gimmicky"...
Ick.
OTH, once we get that drive belt on JMB, our energy problems are licked.
I hear the Keene Keystone Kops are ordering these for all their SWATties to go with the BearCat and their tacticool mugs
My dad had one of those COP derringers for a while. Best use for that was as a get the fuck off me gun. The trigger was most deplorable. Kicked like a mule on angel dust. He sold it. I think he paid about $200 for it back in the 80's. Don't know what he got for it.
I have seen a few recently in the $1000 range.
I sort of thought it was cool when he had it. Still wish he hadn't sold it. I always thought the old 1800s multi barrels were interesting and a modern version no matter how impractical it really is has a place in my collection right next to the Astra I can't find.
But that 1911 like thing.......errrrr....... no.
Buck.
Wow. Just--wow.
I'm all kinds of about the "because I can" excuse, really. But--wow.
Perhaps it's intended to give aneurysms to the hoplophobes? Maybe there's some value there.
Paging Col. Cooper...paging Col. Cooper...the 2012 Waffenposselhaft award shoe-in has arrived.
Leaving aside the sheer silliness factor... if they really wanted to sell any of them they need to find someone else to demonstrate it. This guy's grip was so poor and loose that the recoil/muzzle flip almost took it out of his hands a few times. At best, he needs to lose the gloves.
it looks like it has two triggers.
If it had only one trigger, I am guessing that ATF might frown on it.....definition of a machine gun being "more that one shot per pull of the trigger."
Silly idea. it probably weighs a ton, is klunkier than Hell. Loading the mag must be interesting. If I want something that big, I'll go with my 44 Mag, thanks. More punch, more range, more accuracy, and no monkey motion when it fires.
It *does* look kinda kewl.
Anonymous... look at it again. It only has one slide... so, even if it has two triggers, how do you fire only one side? If only one side fires, the other round would eject... probably. Or slam fire maybe?
Somebody just didn't think this thing all the way through.
Think? Ah! That's what they missed.
Post a Comment