The Ultimate Answer to Kings: In lieu of my usual "Interesting Times Day" post...

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.

Thursday, April 19, 2012

In lieu of my usual "Interesting Times Day" post...

Read this instead.

Believe it or not, I have to go sand down a horse trailer now. Considering my history with whirly power tools, I'd just like to say it's been nice knowing you.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...: Happy Birthday, Joel

-UnReconstructed; April 19, 2012 at 10:06 AM
Anonymous said...: Happy Birthday! Claire told on you! --Ragnar; April 19, 2012 at 11:07 AM
Anonymous said...: H-Bday - ya' get better each year (Never know what to write for salutations).; April 19, 2012 at 5:26 PM
The Grey Lady said...: If i had known I would have baked a cake... :O)

Blessing be upon you Joel!; April 19, 2012 at 5:39 PM
Anonymous said...: Happy birthday, Joel.

Buck.; April 19, 2012 at 6:37 PM
gooch said...: Late as usual but add me to the list of well-wishers.

gooch; April 20, 2012 at 10:44 PM

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Thursday, April 19, 2012

In lieu of my usual "Interesting Times Day" post...

6 comments:

Why the hell did you scroll all the way down here?