The Ultimate Answer to Kings: It's been a very busy weekend.

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.

Sunday, April 4, 2010

It's been a very busy weekend.

Landlady got all her framing materials ordered, and I've the rest of the stuff for the retaining wall and french drain on the way. W got a whole bunch done on the dome - we hung the door, his plumbing and basic electrical all work. We had to haul the generator out there for power, but when we plugged it all in the lights lit and the outlets...outlet. Tomorrow we find out if he can get a sort-of premature sign-off from the inspector, even though there still isn't glazing in the windows. The window are all framed in now.

I don't celebrate Easter, but for those of you who do I hope you had a pleasant holiday. W sent me a picture, which I just got home and received, that pretty much sums up the boys' attitude toward the whole thing. No offense meant.