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
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
I simply can't express...
...The myriad reasons and ways in which this is a bad idea...
Weer'd World has a veritable cavalcade of Mall Ninja videos including my personal fave, Mr. Elite Fighting Team Guy. It's all guaranteed to rot your brain right down to your toes, and make you think maybe some parents should be a bit more discerning as to who they let live in their basements.
The thing I find scary and embarrassing about exhibitions like this is that I once dreamed I was of being Mr. HSLD without the inconvenience of undergoing the necessary training, which would only have pointed out for all the world to see that - physically, mentally, morally and emotionally - I'm incapable of ever becoming any such thing. It was just a boy-dream. Fortunately, back then there was no YouTube on which to humiliate myself for all time and I eventually grew out of it.
But I did love my useless gadgets and imaginary tactics.
I think we all go through that phase. I was once going to work my way through all the Army badass schools, SF through Delta, then who knows what super secret badass opportunities lay beyond?
I went to Air Assault, then Airborne, but once in an Airborne Infantry line unit for a few years, I had an opportunity to go to Ranger school. I declined. :) I had discovered the real world limits to how badass I wanted to be. In short, I had enjoyed all I could stand. LOL
Priceless! He doesn't seem to have a problem with pointing a gun at himself. If he keeps it up we'll eventually see an article about his tragic demise from a self inflicted gunshot wound. Hopefully he'll do it before he breeds.
5 comments:
I think we all go through that phase. I was once going to work my way through all the Army badass schools, SF through Delta, then who knows what super secret badass opportunities lay beyond?
I went to Air Assault, then Airborne, but once in an Airborne Infantry line unit for a few years, I had an opportunity to go to Ranger school. I declined. :) I had discovered the real world limits to how badass I wanted to be. In short, I had enjoyed all I could stand. LOL
Reality... what a bummer.
I couldn't resist.
Words fail me.
I would have loved to see what Jeff Cooper would have said about this.
Priceless! He doesn't seem to have a problem with pointing a gun at himself. If he keeps it up we'll eventually see an article about his tragic demise from a self inflicted gunshot wound. Hopefully he'll do it before he breeds.
Erm... looks like airsoft to me...
I believe it is airsoft. Still a very bad idea.
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