rlfj: Blog

Chapter 19 is a bit shorter than most, and basically wraps up the M&M storyline. Come on - did you really expect the Grim Reaper to become a corporate shill? Also, we're halfway through the story, so I am turning on voting. Enjoy!

For those interested in the Calibre program, go here:

https://calibre-ebook.com/

Download and install and you can convert any format to another. It is excellent.

The results are in, and I was surprised. Epub - 38, Mobi - 22, Pdf - 5. While most people prefer an epub reader, way more than I expected wanted mobi. Very few preferred pdf, citing issues with larger files and a lack of decent cataloging and indexing. I've added mobi and pdf version to the bookapy copy of this story. I will probably spend some time going through my other files and convert them to mobi and add them to the bookapy catalog, but that's a lot longer project. Thanks for the answers. FYI, I generally had the autocorrect screwups figured out. Some were pretty funny. You know who you are.

All that being said, just as many people commented that I or others could use the Calibre ebook management system. I've used it to create files for years, and it is excellent. It converts from my original Word doc and docx files to an ebook, but it also can convert from one ebook format to another, and it has more formats than I've ever heard of. Since I can't put a web address in a home page blog post, I will put it in the personal blog. Just go to my blog and you will find it.

'Be there with bells on' has several possible sources. One is that medieval court jesters wore bells on their costumes. Most included the idea that it comes from the practice of putting bells on horse harnesses and straps, sometimes for parades and circuses, sometimes to pay off rescuers if your carriage or wagon went off the road. The expression itself dates back to at least the early 18th Century.

What I described in the M&M approach to Grim is pretty standard. I've worked with consultants and sold a business to another outfit, and this pretty much describes what happens. The same is true in chapter 18. I've been to corporate meetings and sales banquets like I wrote, and I've seen mouthy drunks at those meetings, too! Welcome to big business!

One of my police editors described a situation where his department in the Galveston area hired a consulting company. As he described it: "In the end, they gave us several really stupid recommendations that didn't fit what we did, and left us with a book of rules and regulations…it was printed front and back of each page and was about 2 inches thick…I managed not to run afoul of the injunction against wearing a sword on my uniform…and that is the story about how the Board of Trustees blew almost $100,000" There was a LOT more silly stuff he described. It's like I've told my wife more than once about writing this story, I can't make this shit up!

A couple of small typo/errors in Chapter 17. Fixed. Thanks.

Now we get to see a totally different sort of police consulting. Do companies like this exist? You bet! Other than Miles & Madigan, the other companies are real. While researching this I went through their websites. Fascinating stuff.

The expensive dinner reminds me of a dinner I 'hosted' a dozen years ago or so. My son was stationed in Norfolk at the time and we all went down to visit. It was my wife and eldest daughter and me, my youngest girl and her fiancé (now husband), and my son, his wife, and their baby daughter. Anyway, we decided to go to dinner in Virginia Beach, where I had never been before, and we parked near a place called Ruth's Chris Steak House. I'd never really heard of it, just the name, and since Dumb Grandpa was paying, we went inside. I gulped when I saw the menu, but by then we were committed. At least we didn't have to pay for the baby. For the seven adults the price was well over $500. At least we didn't get the expensive stuff!

Here's a question I need some help with. For those of you who read ebooks, whether purchased through bookapy or other retailers, what format do you prefer? Epub, mobi, or pdf? What format does your device use? There have been occasional requests to change the format from the standard epub or offer alternative formats. Thanks.

Got an answer from zork on the CDC naming question. "The CDC was originally called the "Communicable Disease Center" (founded in 1946). It was renamed the "National Communicable Disease Center" (NCDC) in 1966, then the "Centers for Disease Control" in 1970 and then the "Centers for Disease Control and Prevention" in 1992. However, Congress requested that they continue to use the CDC acronym as it had been in use for 46 years by that time and everyone was used to it." Thank you, zork!

Congratulations also go out to Ursus32, who noted that Joe Scarborough talked about Grim 'winning a chest full of medals including the Congressional Medal of Honor' and how this was an error. Nobody wins medals, they are awarded, and it is actually the Medal of Honor and is simply presented in the name of Congress. They have nothing to do with it. I wrote this specifically that way. Does anybody out there think that an ex-politician reporter will understand his errors, or care? Or that Grim will correct him on Scarborough's show when he is trying to get him to push his book and invite him back in the future?

Anyway, Grim is back to consulting. Let's see where that goes. Enjoy!