Status Update and Announcements

It has been a while since I have posted, and I would like to apologize for my absence. The Kickstarter campaign and its aftermath took a lot out of me; however, I still feel that my hiatus should have had more planning involved. Fortunately, not only was the Kickstarter campaign successful, but I have learned a few things about my operational limits.

As I turn my attention to revising Rosaria of Venice in earnest, I will resume updates on Runicfire. They will, however, be less frequent than before. I will commit to one post a week while I am in the middle of revising, with additional updates if I have time. Some of these will be essays, and others will be the usual Monday link round-ups. I plan to return to my original schedule of three updates per week—however, as I enter my last year before earning my bachelor’s, fulfill the Kickstarter rewards and look for a day job, it may be some time before I can return to that schedule.

I’d like to thank any regular readers for your patronage and your patience, and I’m looking forward to getting the blog rolling again.

This Week on Runicfire: May 27th – June 2nd

Monday's links include the announcement of the Xbox One (and Microsoft's de-emphasis on games), an exhibit about propaganda at the British Library in London, and the disturbing case of how a racist paper of poor scholarship earned one man a Harvard doctorate.

Wednesday shall feature a review of Star Trek Into Darkness—as well as the case for why we should care more about the quality of our entertainment.

Friday's post explores the surprising link between Chinese philosophy and the genesis of the European Enlightenment.

Stay tuned!

Schedule Mishaps, and Kickstarter Things

As I have been busy getting the Rosaria of Venice Kickstarter campaign ready to go, I did not manage to get yesterday's post up. I do apologize.

In order to keep this from happening (as there are no signs of me getting less busy in the coming weeks), I will be scaling down my posts for a while. I will still try to keep to my Monday/Wednesday/Friday schedule, but expect more reposts and shorter comments. I will resume long-form essays—including the one planned for yesterday—as soon as things begin to clear up.

On the bright side, I'm starting to update Runicfire.net with some much-needed content. A dedicated page for my forthcoming novel is up, and that will be the main page for the project until the Kickstarter begins next Friday, May 24th. If that interests you, please check it out and keep an eye here for updates. I will also be adding a section which consolidates other fiction and goodies I post here, and just generally rounding out the site as much as I can.

And lastly, as consolation, an awesome picture someone posted on Facebook:

And with that... I will be seeing you next week with Monday's usual links. Have a good weekend!

This Week On Runicfire: May 13th - May 19th

Monday's links: Colony Collapse Disorder, the recent history of famine, and pictures from the International Space Station.

Wednesday's post delves into the world of Steampunk.

And on Friday, a look at the world outside of Europe in the 15th Century.

Runicfire Recap: April 25 – May 6

I've been crunching for finals the past few weeks, and have slipped on my Google+ and Facebook announcements. My apologies. I have, however, been continuing to pump out content here on Runicfire, and I'd like to catch up any readers who follow me on Facebook or Google+ on what they might have missed. Recap begins beneath the jump:

This Week on Runicfire: May 6th — May 12th

Monday's links discuss the definition of time, the difficulty in measuring the human mind, the launch of SpaceShipTwo, and Northern Ireland's new schism.

On Wednesday I delve into the history of science fiction, in the first of a series of posts on the genre and its sub-categories. On Friday I delve deeper into the subject with a look at the alternate history genre.

With the Rosaria of Venice Kickstarter launch approaching, you can expect more updates on the novel as well. Please check back throughout the week for these and the Wednesday and Friday articles. I believe you'll find them an interesting read.

Wednesday, May 1st Post moving to Friday, May 3rd

As I'm embroiled in finals, I am moving tomorrow's post to Friday, and doubling up with the update originally planned for that time. We will be back on schedule for next week.

I apologize for the inconvenience, and am looking forward to updating Friday!

This Week On Runicfire: April 29th — May 5th

This Monday's links cover the utility of emerging 60-GHz WiFi, political contention over global warming despite scientific consensus and an increasing overabundance of evidence, and the duration of the longest sunset you can see while driving on Earth.

Wednesday concludes "The Case for Global Warming." In Part 3, I explore the consequences of allowing global warming to continue, with an emphasis on a 2012 report by the World Bank.

And on Friday I share some of the recent work done for my novel.

Please stay tuned!

This Week on Runicfire: April 22nd – April 28th

Monday's links: astronomy, a short PDF from my biodiesel research for last week's post, and the tragic suicide of a young woman from the Bay Area.

Wednesday will see part two of "The Case for Global Warming," in which I explain the greenhouse effect in detail, and how we know that humanity is the cause of global warming.

Friday was originally slated to be on hydrogen fuel cells, and may still be. However, I may swap it out with another post whose subject is closer to home.

As always, please stay tuned!

This Week on Runicfire: April 15th - April 21st

Via this Monday's links, we learn of segregation's lingering ghost, the Devil's Kimchee, and jokes hidden in old Star Trek episodes.

The more I hear about the environment, especially the melting of arctic ice, the more alarmed I become. I also find it surprising how many people remain skeptical of global warming, or that we are causing it, so on Wednesday I will review the case in favor of the theory, including how I came to be convinced of the matter.

In the same vein, I've been wondering about biodiesels and have not checked up on the technology in some time. I'll be writing about my research on Friday.

Please stay tuned!

This Week on Runicfire: April 8 - 14

Monday's links include the Aztec ball games, USDA studies on how children in some schools have learned to enjoy and partake in vegetables, and an inspiring essay on space travel.

Wednesday has more on the Aztec ball games, with an emphasis on human sacrifice—and its history worldwide.

And on Friday, I talk about how much of what we're taught about Columbus in school is false.

Please stay tuned!

This Week on Runicfire: April 1 - 7

I hate doing anything important around the first of April. It always makes me feel silly. But with that aside, here's this week's schedule.

Monday's links cover a little more on the propaganda model of mass media, the Fermi paradox (or why we haven't made contact with aliens yet), and the history of food.

Wednesday continues the food discussion as I explore how contact with the Americas altered Western cuisine, and Italian food in particular.

And Friday, I have some more fiction to share with you.

Be well, and please stay tuned!

This Week on Runicfire: March 18 – 24

This Monday's links cover store mannequins, the Higgs boson, meteorites and water on Mars.

Wednesday's post examines the Renaissance and its role at the root of modern Western civilization, and how today's industrialization contrasts with the values of that period.

And on Friday, a look at the effects of the Internet versus television as the new mass medium.

Please stay tuned!

This Week On Runicfire: March 11 - 17

This Monday's round of links talk about how thinking harmless things are harmful makes you sick, the upside of pessimism and one man's experience of growing up Catholic.

Wednesday's post will be partly about how culture affects sense of time, but mostly about how any one culture's understanding of being human is woefully incomplete.

And Friday I unleash my inner fanboy and tell you why you should watch Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. Hint: it is the greatest television animé ever made. Yes, even greater than that one.

Stay tuned. I'll see you in the week!

This Week on Runicfire: March 4 – 10

This Monday we open with a set of links to articles on prison reform, the plight of the VFX industry, and the potential ramifications Obama's pending decision on the Keystone oil pipeline may have on the environment.

On Wednesday I'll be putting up a brief piece on filmmaking.

And Friday shall feature Part II on "Telling Time in the Renaissance:" my series on how the people of the Italian Renaissance kept track of time. You can find Part I here.

Enjoy the week, and stay tuned!

This Week on Runicfire: Feb 18 – 24

Runicfire is entering its second week, and we have another roster of posts. Here's what to expect:

• Today, Monday the 18th, I reflect on the San Francisco Writer's Conference and the possibility of a second Renaissance.
• This Wednesday, the 20th, a brief post on recent developments in science.
• And for Friday the 22nd I explore the process of revising, including tips I picked up this weekend and some notes from my own experience.

Due to some limitations I have discovered with Blogger, I will be switching Runicfire over to Wordpress. The process will likely take a month, and involve a visual retooling as well. Don't worry: everything I have posted so far will transfer over, and the new site will be prettier, more useful and easier to use than before.

Here's to a good week!

This Week on Runicfire: February 11–17, 2013

Today marks the beginning of Runicfire's first full week of operation, and also a busy and exciting time for its author! Here's a look at what's in store for the next seven days:

• I will be attending the San Francisco Writer's Conference from Thursday through Saturday. I hope to learn a lot more about the craft and business of writing from the panels, and to find plenty of opportunities to network and promote my novel, Rosaria of Venice. I will be posting a recap of my experience next Monday, February 18th. My more immediate reactions can be found on my Twitter feed @AaronM_Miner.
• Speaking of my novel, this Wednesday I'll be writing about some of my historical research for Rosaria of Venice. When you're writing a steampunk alternate-history version of 15th-century Italy starring a Renaissance woman, you need to do your homework. And researching the Italian Renaissance is very fun homework.
• And on Friday... a little treat to my early readers!

Stay tuned!

Mr. or Ms. Reader, I Presume! Allow Me to Introduce Myself.

Dear Reader,

Welcome to Runicfire!

You are no doubt wondering where on Earth you are, and who the blazes this bespectacled, bearded man pictured on the right sidebar happens to be. Worry not. You will have your answers soon, but be warned: you may get a tale out of the bargain.