The Black Campbell

So bad it’s good:

By the way, if you’ve never read his biography, American on Purpose, have a go — I found it funny (but I’m Scottish), and inspiration (’cause I’m an American and happy to be so…)

Born 0332 16APR2011, Sofia Campbell Rhymer. Mother and daughter both doing well.

I took the wife in for her weekly prenatal exam. Turns out she’s been having contractions for the past two days or so, she’s dilated 2cm and it looks like we’re probably going to see our daughter before the end of the week.

My bet is on tomorrow or Wednesday. Wednesday is game night…it’ll be Wednesday, almost surely.

I bought the original iPad a year ago and have loved the device since I first started using it…so much so the wife bought me a MacBook Air. The original device traveled with me internationally, was stuffed in a motorcycle tail pack for trips, did interstate jaunts. I wrote my dissertation proposal on it, painted pictures, played games, read books, and watched movies and TV shows on it. I used it more than I did my old Dell Inspiron 14 laptop (which was not exactly a shoddy device.)

I was a bit iffy on the new iPad. I played with it a bit and the speed of the machine was definitely improved. The addition of the cameras didn’t much matter to me, but the addition of a Verizon alternative for 3G was tempting. So I upgraded to the iPad 2 32GB Wifi+3G.

The good: the speed and stability are much improved. Websites load quick, games play fast (although my favorite, GT Racing is glitchy on the new device. Boo!) It’s thinner, it’s lighter — it’s verging to too thin and light, really — and still feels sturdy. Wifi runs just as well as the old machine. I’ve had none of the camera and microphone issues that others have had, so far, but I also haven’t really done much with them. I can’t comment on the 3G service, yet; I haven’t fired it up. The Verizon plan, however, starts with a 1GB/mo plan at $20…a much better deal than AT&T’s cheaper plan, but it’s not really cheap compared to the Death Star’s 2GB plan for a few bucks more a month. I never used a full 2GB when I bought that plan but did get close on the cheaper one. The speakers are about as good as the last, but seem a bit less powerful because of their placement.

Best of all: the battery life is maintained. I’m averaging an hour/10% of battery with wifi active and moderate usage. Turn that off and be sparing with the stuff you’ve got open and you’ll be able to pull the 14 hour marathon I did from Edinburgh Scotland to Albuquerque, NM.

The downsides: the camera — and there’s no way to put this kindly — suck. The backside camera is maybe a 1MPx and the resolution is worthy of a cheap 1999 digital camera. The frontside is better, but not much. There’s supposedly trouble with the cameras handling video, but I suspect that’s probably software related and will get fixed.

I had none of the other complaints — the backlight bleed, the yellow from the fixative, nor the alleged Verizon issues if you turn off 3G then reactivate. (This can be handled for the now by cycling the power.)

I also got the smart cover for the thing. One of the problems with the iPad — it’s gorgeous, but you want to protect it. Having a full cover kind of defeats the whole styling of the device. The smart cover protects the screen, but shows off the iPad. It connects with magnets and when closed, it turned the machine off; when opened, it powers on. Very slick. It can get in the way when held in landscape for games playing, and it’s supposed to fold up to be used as a stand, but I found it didn’t really like doing that. Practice your oragami skills… I had it come off by accident at one point while futzing with the way I was holding it, but that’s the worst thing I have to say about it.

So for looks and usability, the new iPad is tops. I can see it already taking over most of my computing needs from the Air. The price point’s the same as the old one, so it you were on the fence with the original, buy this one; if it’s too pricey, don’t.

The original Real Racing HD for the iPad was a solid game with good graphics, passable physics, and a nice challenging set of races. The downsides were that foremint hadn’t gotten licensing for vehicles, so everything was a generic Golf, Challenger, Mustang-style car.

The new game really takes advantage of the increase in firepower the iPad 2 has. Graphics are better, smoother, the game physics are improved with car damage for impacts — avoid the other drivers, while still difficult, is more advised in this version. They also got licenses for a bunch of cars — Ford and Chevy, Nissan and Volvo, MacLaren, Lotus, and Jag for the high end. The courses are essentially the same, but the better graphics and smoother response from the accelerometers on the iPad2 make drivin much easier.

For $10, it’s definitely worth the price of admission.

I’m Scottish. I love otters. I like cats. This combined them all in a great bundle of cute. Enjoy!

In the series, the Colonials use an assortment of rifles: for the first few seasons they are P90s (mostly likely because they had props from Stargate as well as shovelfuls of 5.7x28mm ammo — hence the move to the “futuristic” FiveSeven handgun), and toward the end of season one they’re using Beretta Cx4 Storm Carbines in 9mm.

Let’s face it: a 9mm carbine against an armored mechanical monstrosity is, well…stupid. So here’s a simple retcon for you — use the Beretta Rx4 Carbine in .223. They look almost the same, but they have a “real” rifle round that, if they were loading steel tips, could punch through Cylons. The Beretta Rx4 and the Benelli MR1 look almost like the Cx4…it if had balls.

Stats for Battlestar Galactica RPG: Leo GMR1 5.56mm   Damage: d8W   Range: 125 yards   Cost: 3500 cubits   Availability: Military.  (Figure a civilian version would be semi-auto, cost half as much, and be “rare”.)

Now lets do it up for the James Bond: 007 RPG: Benelli MR1 / Beretta Rx4 5.56mm

The Benelli uses the same ARGO gas-piston system of their combat shotgun and R1 rifle series, giving the MR1 superb reliability and clean operation. The rifle uses standard M16/M4/AR15 magazines, which are released by an ambidextrous release on the receiver, the bolt release and safety are on the forward trigger guard. The rifle can be had in a solid stock or collapsible, like their M4 Super 90 series shotgun.

The MR1 is similar in power and range to AR carbines with a 16″ barrel, but the accuracy is slightly less precise — that said, the MR1 has a tendency to shot 2″ groups out to 300 yards consistently…it jus doesn’t tend to shoot much tighter. Recoil is less than on the AR series of rifles.

PM: 0   S/R: 2/10   AMMO: 30   DC: I/L   CLOS: 0-20   LONG: 35-65   CON: n/a   JAM: 99   DR: -3 RL: 2 COST: $1200

Bullshit. Sophos, a free anti-virus program for Macs, just found three trojan exploits that cruised in from websites in my Java folders for Safari on my MacBook Air. And yeah, yeah — malware, virus, whatever. Mac catch crap just like PCs.

Expect to see more malware written for Macs as they gain market share. (It works just like real software — why write it unless there are machines to run it.)

Been crazy busy here at the Campbell’s household. Between medical appointments, researching the dissertation, and preparing for the government shutdown to clamp the wife’s income shut, I’ve been busting the hump trying to get my next novel Perseus ready for primetime. That hasn’t left much room for anything else.

That said, Perseus is now in the 50,000 word range, about half done, and if I hold to my output level for the next fortnight, it’ll be into proofreading and editing before the end of the month, and might be up on the Kindle Store by the end of May. After that, I’ll start working on the print-on-demand version. If this happens as it looks like it might, I could have Perseus out for the public before the rerelease of Cawnpore, my historical novel set in the India Mutiny of 1857.

Work continues on an updated version of a certain venerable espionage game system. Hoping to have it ready for playtesting and layout by the end of the year.