I keep a blog at WordPress. I post book reviews as well as posts about my writing projects. Recent posts are shown below.
Wednesday 16th May, 2012
A friend’s laptop recently died, and with it a whole load of important documents. It was under warranty, but warranties don’t cover data. Backups are important, but people tend to think they’re difficult. So here’s an easy and free way to backup your most important stuff.
Image by Sean MacEntee (Flickr)
Sign up to Dropbox using this link: http://db.tt/EsJcGBG (using that link will mean that we both get extra free space on Dropbox)
You get 2GB of space for free, or you can pay to get more. 2GB isn’t enough to save everything, but it should be enough to save the really important stuff. There are various ways to get extra free space, or you can pay for more space.
Once you’re signed up, install Dropbox on your computer. It will create a folder called “My Dropbox”. Anything you put in that folder will get copied to Dropbox’s servers, and if you install Dropbox on another computer, the contents of that folder will get synchronised between the computers. Your files will also be available via the Dropbox website, and if you have an Android or iThing, you can also install Dropbox on there to give you access to your files on your phone/tablet.
Put all your important stuff in your Dropbox folder, and it’ll get backed up. If you accidentally delete a file, or save over it, you can restore to an older version for up to 30 days.
Dropbox also has some other features that some people might find handy – you can share folders privately with selected people, you can make particular files public, easily create online image galleries, etc. In its simplest form, though, it provides simple and automatic backups.
Wednesday 9th May, 2012
Wargame Vault are running a wish list sale from the 14th to 20th of May. They will make a note of what is in your wish list at the start of the sale, then give you 25% off those titles that are participating in the sale.
All of my books will be participating, so if you’re intending to buy some soon, add them to your wish list now to take advantage of this sale.
If you’d like to be notified of sales like this in future, send an e-mail to list-join@russellphillipsbooks.co.uk to join my mailing list. Mailing list members get advance notice of sales and new releases, as well as discount codes for all my books.
Tuesday 24th April, 2012
30 years ago today was my 12th birthday. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher stood on the steps of 10 Downing Street and said, “Just rejoice at that news”. Oddly enough, she wasn’t referring to my birthday, but the recapture of Grytviken on South Georgia. This was something of a milestone in the Falklands Conflict, being the first place to be recaptured from the Argentinians.
The military commanders advised against an attack on South Georgia, as it required splitting four ships off from the rest of the task force ( fifth ship was later dispatched to reinforce the South Georgia group). The commanders wanted to keep the task force together and concentrate on recapturing the Falkland Islands themselves, but the British government wanted an early victory to ensure continued public support for the conflict.
It wasn’t an easy victory. The British didn’t suffer any casualties, but they did lose two helicopters. One helicopter pilot, Lieutenant Commander Stanley, was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for skilful and courageous flying, which saved several lives. None the less, the Argentinian garrison surrendered and the government had their victory.
Monday 2nd April, 2012
30 years ago today, Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands. 255 British servicemen gave their lives in the war that followed. More than double that number have committed suicide since the war ended.
Statistics like that are the reason I support The Forgotten Heroes. They support the veterans that, all too often, the government ignores. Please consider making a donation to help them continue to do so. www.theforgottenheroes.co.uk
Sunday 1st April, 2012
I’d like to thank everyone who took the time to complete the survey that I recently posted on my website. The results are interesting, and there were some useful (and in come cases, complimentary!) comments added.
The survey is now closed, the prize draw has been completed, and e-mails have been sent to all of the participants. I used the Random.org Third Party Draw Service to conduct the actual draw. In other words, Random .org conducted the draw as an unbiased third party. You can check that you were included in the draw, and whether or not you were a winner, by entering your e-mail address at the draw’s detail page.
The Bear Marches West: 12 Scenarios for 1980's NATO vs Warsaw Pact Wargames
A Fleet in Being: The Austro-Hungarian Navy of WWI
A Damn Close-Run Thing: A Brief History of the Falklands Conflict
Weapons & Equipment of the U.S. Army
Falkland Islands Defence Force
An Ineffective System: The M247 Sergeant York
Szent István: Hungary's Battleship