Michael Rooney
@mr00ney.bsky.social
Philosopher by training. Co-author, with Richard L. Epstein, of Critical Thinking (5e). Eight-time winner on Jeopardy. Southern Californian. Sansei.
“But in her original notes, she refused the bargain: she planned to have visitors to Omelas save the child, knowing they were dooming all.”
When I wrote this a year ago I had no idea how bad things would get. Today, eight years after she left us, I'm trying to follow Ursula's advice: write and worry. Write and act. Worry and keep writing.
lithub.com/the-way-of-w...
lithub.com/the-way-of-w...
The Way of Water: On the Quiet Power of Ursula K. Le Guin’s Activism
In the past two months, I’ve found myself thinking back to an essay Ursula K. Le Guin posted on her blog in November 2016. It was one of her last long essays, and she wrote it at a time when she—li…
lithub.com
January 23, 2026 at 11:13 AM
“But in her original notes, she refused the bargain: she planned to have visitors to Omelas save the child, knowing they were dooming all.”
Zoom into the Heart of the Tarantula Nebula
YouTube video by Space Telescope Science Institute
youtu.be
January 23, 2026 at 9:25 AM
Reposted by Michael Rooney
Reposted by Michael Rooney
French Prime Minister Clemenceau was one of Monet’s biggest supporters.
In 1914, he urged Monet to take on a grand project: huge water lily panels.
By 1916, it became a state commission—and from then until his death, Monet devoted himself completely to it.
In 1914, he urged Monet to take on a grand project: huge water lily panels.
By 1916, it became a state commission—and from then until his death, Monet devoted himself completely to it.
January 23, 2026 at 6:11 AM
French Prime Minister Clemenceau was one of Monet’s biggest supporters.
In 1914, he urged Monet to take on a grand project: huge water lily panels.
By 1916, it became a state commission—and from then until his death, Monet devoted himself completely to it.
In 1914, he urged Monet to take on a grand project: huge water lily panels.
By 1916, it became a state commission—and from then until his death, Monet devoted himself completely to it.
67,800 BP: Chauvet is closer to us in time than this art is to Chauvet.
“If our results are any guide, evidence for equally ancient, or even older, cultural traditions may still be waiting on cave walls across the region.”
(Or, more obviously, in Africa.)
leakeyfoundation.org/humanitys-ol...
“If our results are any guide, evidence for equally ancient, or even older, cultural traditions may still be waiting on cave walls across the region.”
(Or, more obviously, in Africa.)
leakeyfoundation.org/humanitys-ol...
Humanity’s oldest known cave art has been discovered in Sulawesi
Researchers in Indonesia have found a hand stencil painting that was made at least 67,800 years ago, making it the oldest securely dated cave art found anywhere in the world.
leakeyfoundation.org
January 22, 2026 at 8:44 PM
67,800 BP: Chauvet is closer to us in time than this art is to Chauvet.
“If our results are any guide, evidence for equally ancient, or even older, cultural traditions may still be waiting on cave walls across the region.”
(Or, more obviously, in Africa.)
leakeyfoundation.org/humanitys-ol...
“If our results are any guide, evidence for equally ancient, or even older, cultural traditions may still be waiting on cave walls across the region.”
(Or, more obviously, in Africa.)
leakeyfoundation.org/humanitys-ol...
Reposted by Michael Rooney
RFK Jr. appointee Kirk Milhoan has just clearly stated, out loud, that he wants to experiment on the people of the United States by seeing what happens as vaccination coverage plummets and infectious diseases spread.
January 22, 2026 at 7:47 PM
RFK Jr. appointee Kirk Milhoan has just clearly stated, out loud, that he wants to experiment on the people of the United States by seeing what happens as vaccination coverage plummets and infectious diseases spread.
“Ancient Greeks could not have imagined that the glories of Pergamon would end up in the bogs of some primitive, outlandish peoples in the distant north. Maybe we should think of repatriation as a form of insurance.”
—from part 2 of this piece
www.nybooks.com/articles/202...
—from part 2 of this piece
www.nybooks.com/articles/202...
The Plunderers’ Dilemma | Susan Tallman
Museums have been apologizing for the overlap of their ethnology collections with the subjects of colonial occupation, yet many still struggle to articulate a clear mission.
www.nybooks.com
January 22, 2026 at 7:28 PM
“Ancient Greeks could not have imagined that the glories of Pergamon would end up in the bogs of some primitive, outlandish peoples in the distant north. Maybe we should think of repatriation as a form of insurance.”
—from part 2 of this piece
www.nybooks.com/articles/202...
—from part 2 of this piece
www.nybooks.com/articles/202...
Reposted by Michael Rooney
The same people who tore families apart on the auction blocks 200 years ago
January 22, 2026 at 4:38 AM
The same people who tore families apart on the auction blocks 200 years ago
Finally finished this twelve-part biographical podcast. Its overtly historical moments were the most compelling segments, but the last episode, focused on Kuti’s children and grandchildren, was most moving.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/f...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/f...
Bloodline Covers
Podcast Episode · Fela Kuti: Fear No Man · EP12 · 42m
podcasts.apple.com
January 21, 2026 at 1:25 PM
Finally finished this twelve-part biographical podcast. Its overtly historical moments were the most compelling segments, but the last episode, focused on Kuti’s children and grandchildren, was most moving.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/f...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/f...
Reposted by Michael Rooney
This is the most astonishing graph of what the Trump regime has done to US science. They have destroyed the federal science workforce across the board. The negative impacts on Americans will be felt for generations, and the US might never be the same again.
www.nature.com/immersive/d4...
www.nature.com/immersive/d4...
January 20, 2026 at 10:53 PM
This is the most astonishing graph of what the Trump regime has done to US science. They have destroyed the federal science workforce across the board. The negative impacts on Americans will be felt for generations, and the US might never be the same again.
www.nature.com/immersive/d4...
www.nature.com/immersive/d4...
Reposted by Michael Rooney
Bessent: "Someone, maybe your parents for their retirement have bought 5, 10, 12 homes."
January 20, 2026 at 3:24 PM
Bessent: "Someone, maybe your parents for their retirement have bought 5, 10, 12 homes."
Reposted by Michael Rooney
Today feels like a good day to spotlight the recent appeal made by Kurihara Toshio, one of the preeminent Japanese reporters on the war memory beat, to journalists covering war today.
Its drawn from his research on the failures of Japan's media establishment in the 1930s:
apjjf.org/2025/9/fedman
Its drawn from his research on the failures of Japan's media establishment in the 1930s:
apjjf.org/2025/9/fedman
January 19, 2026 at 8:39 PM
Today feels like a good day to spotlight the recent appeal made by Kurihara Toshio, one of the preeminent Japanese reporters on the war memory beat, to journalists covering war today.
Its drawn from his research on the failures of Japan's media establishment in the 1930s:
apjjf.org/2025/9/fedman
Its drawn from his research on the failures of Japan's media establishment in the 1930s:
apjjf.org/2025/9/fedman
Reposted by Michael Rooney
if you think this administration is mentally unwell, you should see the cognitive sewage that its political base is consuming... it's hard to look at the absolute psychosis being peddled by candace owens (larger audience than fox, cnn and msnbc combined) and not conclude that things only get crazier
January 19, 2026 at 8:25 PM
if you think this administration is mentally unwell, you should see the cognitive sewage that its political base is consuming... it's hard to look at the absolute psychosis being peddled by candace owens (larger audience than fox, cnn and msnbc combined) and not conclude that things only get crazier
Reposted by Michael Rooney
it's being revealed that a basic purpose of education is to instill trust in the process of scientific or scholarly research. You may not remember all you learned, but you were shown that experts have reasonable answers. Once you demonize higher ed, you get flat earthers, MAHA, woo-woo, etc.
January 18, 2026 at 4:30 PM
it's being revealed that a basic purpose of education is to instill trust in the process of scientific or scholarly research. You may not remember all you learned, but you were shown that experts have reasonable answers. Once you demonize higher ed, you get flat earthers, MAHA, woo-woo, etc.
Reposted by Michael Rooney
This is, to be clear, a call for the largest general strike in American history.
Unions and community orgs are calling for a Minnesota-wide shutdown in 10 days to protest the ferocious assault by federal immigration agents. They're saying on Jan 23, no work, no school, no shopping. SEIU Local 26, UNITE HERE Local 17, & others are supporting, w/ more to join. By me, Amie Stager
“We Are Facing a Tsunami of Hate”: Amid ICE Crackdown, Unions and Community Groups Call for Minnesota Shutdown in 10 Days
Following the ICE murder of Renee Good and an assault on the state by federal immigration forces, a labor-community coalition is calling for residents to refuse to work, shop or go to school on Januar...
inthesetimes.com
January 14, 2026 at 9:09 AM
This is, to be clear, a call for the largest general strike in American history.
Reposted by Michael Rooney
Mom Rosa “recalled receiving phone calls from a concerned neighbor, whom she said had seen the girl wandering the streets looking for her father.”
"She told me she'd seen my daughter, walking by herself on the street, crying, crying out for her dad, asking, 'Where's Papi? Where's Papi?’”
"She told me she'd seen my daughter, walking by herself on the street, crying, crying out for her dad, asking, 'Where's Papi? Where's Papi?’”
“N.J. girl, 6, found alone by neighbors crying ‘Where's papi?' after dad was detained by ICE while picking up food, mom claims.” people.com/nj-girl-foun...
N.J. Girl, 6, Found Alone by Neighbors Crying, Asking, 'Where's Papi?' After Dad Was Detained by ICE While Picking Up Food, Mom Claims
The mother of a 6-year-old girl in New Jersey says her daughter was found walking alone outside their apartment crying and asking for her father over the weekend after he was detained by ICE agents wh...
people.com
January 16, 2026 at 9:06 PM
Mom Rosa “recalled receiving phone calls from a concerned neighbor, whom she said had seen the girl wandering the streets looking for her father.”
"She told me she'd seen my daughter, walking by herself on the street, crying, crying out for her dad, asking, 'Where's Papi? Where's Papi?’”
"She told me she'd seen my daughter, walking by herself on the street, crying, crying out for her dad, asking, 'Where's Papi? Where's Papi?’”
It's not all bad
Podcast Episode · Unexplainable · 01/14/2026 · 25m
podcasts.apple.com
January 16, 2026 at 8:37 AM
Chanced to see the ISS astronauts’ re-entry while jogging. Quite bright as it streaked from west to south.
January 15, 2026 at 11:52 AM
Chanced to see the ISS astronauts’ re-entry while jogging. Quite bright as it streaked from west to south.
Jupiter tonight from Los Angeles. (Castor and Pollux at top.)
January 15, 2026 at 10:11 AM
Jupiter tonight from Los Angeles. (Castor and Pollux at top.)
Reposted by Michael Rooney
Having seen several abductions up close, it is really hard to convey how much the thing they’re doing is roaming in military convoys until they see someone who is alone and isn’t white, and then jumping out in large numbers, pulling them into a van, and screeching off, all in 90 seconds or so.
"“They specifically asked me if I knew where the Hmong families lived on my street & in the neighborhood.” Lugert-Thom responded, “I don’t know anything about that” & she said they then asked, “Well, what about the Asian families?”"
"“I was a bit shaken & a bit shocked of what I was asked to do.”"
"“I was a bit shaken & a bit shocked of what I was asked to do.”"
A St. Paul resident says federal officers knocked on her door and asked her to identify Hmong and Asian households in her North End neighborhood last week.
January 14, 2026 at 2:31 PM
Having seen several abductions up close, it is really hard to convey how much the thing they’re doing is roaming in military convoys until they see someone who is alone and isn’t white, and then jumping out in large numbers, pulling them into a van, and screeching off, all in 90 seconds or so.
Reposted by Michael Rooney
Dear sweet Jesus, these photos from after they drag her away are even worse. (h/t @mprnews.org, doing the Lord's work).
www.instagram.com/reel/DTdrPvZ...
www.instagram.com/reel/DTdrPvZ...
MPR News on Instagram: "On Tuesday, Jan. 13, a woman in south Minneapolis was stopped by ICE, pulled from her car and carried by agents into their vehicle. As she was being carried the woman told agen...
3,476 likes, 207 comments - mprnews on January 13, 2026: "On Tuesday, Jan. 13, a woman in south Minneapolis was stopped by ICE, pulled from her car and carried by agents into their vehicle. As she was...
www.instagram.com
January 13, 2026 at 8:56 PM
Dear sweet Jesus, these photos from after they drag her away are even worse. (h/t @mprnews.org, doing the Lord's work).
www.instagram.com/reel/DTdrPvZ...
www.instagram.com/reel/DTdrPvZ...
The most shocking part is that the prosecutor and judge were so out of touch, as late as 1960.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...
Politics on Trial: Lady Chatterley’s Lover
Podcast Episode · Past Present Future · 12/07/2025 · 59m
podcasts.apple.com
January 13, 2026 at 7:03 AM
The most shocking part is that the prosecutor and judge were so out of touch, as late as 1960.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...
Reposted by Michael Rooney
A man travelling within the lines of a text printed in 1621. Enjoy this short 🧵 for #skystorians and friends of news flows.
January 7, 2026 at 9:08 AM
A man travelling within the lines of a text printed in 1621. Enjoy this short 🧵 for #skystorians and friends of news flows.