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.
![Sign: “Either we all live in a decent world, or nobody does.” George Orwell [from his review of Anand’s Letters on India, 1943]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:qkdbu6qjhdbpijl63x7n7yn4/bafkreihb4wpy2ui4ser45x7nsxopw4srptjssry6jx3btbppmulxojpgam@jpeg)
![Sign: “Today’s to-do list: [one box, checked] Fight for Democracy”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:qkdbu6qjhdbpijl63x7n7yn4/bafkreihvkcqwzbw2vq4hk5poqu53rb2rzfi72y6qr4byy222hi4dq7m2fm@jpeg)
![Sign: “Our 3 branches of government: Corruption [next to photo of Trump] Cowardice [next to photo of Chief Justice Roberts] Cover-Ups [next to photo of Speaker Johnson]”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:qkdbu6qjhdbpijl63x7n7yn4/bafkreicqvsjulpycvnxcwchurlepm4a4ahjann4jjcnccm3vknsroblufa@jpeg)
No Kings rally, Los Angeles, 18 October 2025
October 19, 2025 at 1:51 AM
No Kings rally, Los Angeles, 18 October 2025
Seen in Los Angeles today
October 19, 2025 at 1:47 AM
Seen in Los Angeles today
P. Shelley, 1832:
October 18, 2025 at 10:34 PM
P. Shelley, 1832:
My current operational definition of “romanticizing” is any delight in a phenomenon that is contingent on being comfortably removed from said phenomenon, as in liking rain.
October 15, 2025 at 8:57 AM
My current operational definition of “romanticizing” is any delight in a phenomenon that is contingent on being comfortably removed from said phenomenon, as in liking rain.
I feared a film about 1984 would be too on-the-nose today, but I was wrong. Raoul Peck simply does not miss. His new documentary, Orwell: 2 + 2 = 5, is even more riveting and incisive than I Am Not Your Negro. In the q&a, he said a US theatrical release was something he insisted on. See it.
October 10, 2025 at 4:48 AM
I feared a film about 1984 would be too on-the-nose today, but I was wrong. Raoul Peck simply does not miss. His new documentary, Orwell: 2 + 2 = 5, is even more riveting and incisive than I Am Not Your Negro. In the q&a, he said a US theatrical release was something he insisted on. See it.
The new Metro Blue Line extension allows riders to take one train from Long Beach to Claremont (or anywhere in-between) for $1.75, which is a very good deal. On an unrelated note, that Redford fella was pretty good at picking roles in movies that stand the test of time.
October 6, 2025 at 6:53 AM
The new Metro Blue Line extension allows riders to take one train from Long Beach to Claremont (or anywhere in-between) for $1.75, which is a very good deal. On an unrelated note, that Redford fella was pretty good at picking roles in movies that stand the test of time.
TIL that the root that became in Greek “hydra” is the same that became in English “otter.”
Maybe the Greeks’ ancestors navigated more dangerous, monster-filled waters than the proto-Germans did. Or maybe they were incredible pansies.
Maybe the Greeks’ ancestors navigated more dangerous, monster-filled waters than the proto-Germans did. Or maybe they were incredible pansies.
September 23, 2025 at 8:44 PM
TIL that the root that became in Greek “hydra” is the same that became in English “otter.”
Maybe the Greeks’ ancestors navigated more dangerous, monster-filled waters than the proto-Germans did. Or maybe they were incredible pansies.
Maybe the Greeks’ ancestors navigated more dangerous, monster-filled waters than the proto-Germans did. Or maybe they were incredible pansies.
Independent UN panel’s report, concluding Israeli actions in Gaza meet the definition of genocide agreed on in the Geneva Conventions. Many of the examples they discuss—deliberate killings of toddlers, aid workers, paramedics, people at food distribution sites, embryos in an IVF clinic—are damning.
September 16, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Independent UN panel’s report, concluding Israeli actions in Gaza meet the definition of genocide agreed on in the Geneva Conventions. Many of the examples they discuss—deliberate killings of toddlers, aid workers, paramedics, people at food distribution sites, embryos in an IVF clinic—are damning.
Maybe, but the numbers don’t strongly support this as peculiar to Gen X. More AIDS deaths occurred among Boomers in the US.
August 27, 2025 at 5:01 AM
Maybe, but the numbers don’t strongly support this as peculiar to Gen X. More AIDS deaths occurred among Boomers in the US.
Overkill against a former insider who turned is classic mobster behavior.
August 22, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Overkill against a former insider who turned is classic mobster behavior.
August 9, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Not normally, true.
July 28, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Not normally, true.
Walking L.A. from north of Chinatown into Little Tokyo yesterday. It would have been a good day for kites.
July 23, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Walking L.A. from north of Chinatown into Little Tokyo yesterday. It would have been a good day for kites.
It is extremely bad. I saw fourteen or so guardsmen standing around guarding a business park (already fenced & gated) where ICE has an office. Normalizing this for civilians & military here is a prelude to expanding it everywhere (which they can now afford).
July 11, 2025 at 3:47 AM
It is extremely bad. I saw fourteen or so guardsmen standing around guarding a business park (already fenced & gated) where ICE has an office. Normalizing this for civilians & military here is a prelude to expanding it everywhere (which they can now afford).
“He said to a couple of people, “This is America, speak English only,” and the second someone would retaliate, either physically or vocally, he would run to an administrator and say that he was the one being bullied.”
(Natalie Flores, a high school classmate)
(Natalie Flores, a high school classmate)
July 8, 2025 at 3:25 AM
“He said to a couple of people, “This is America, speak English only,” and the second someone would retaliate, either physically or vocally, he would run to an administrator and say that he was the one being bullied.”
(Natalie Flores, a high school classmate)
(Natalie Flores, a high school classmate)