David Colarusso
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David Colarusso
@davidcolarusso.com
2.7K followers 1.2K following 1.6K posts
Co-director @suffolkLITLab.org (Legal Innov. & Tech). Attorney & science educator by training & practice. Data scientist, craftsman, & writer by experience. No mannels.

My bots: @icymilaw.org, @news.bot.suffolklitlab.org & @lolscotus.bsky.social
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David Colarusso @davidcolarusso.com · Sep 5
One of my favorite things about working at Suffolk is how frequently I get to walk through the Boston Public Garden. Here’s a painting based on a picture I took before class this week.
A finished watercolor and ink illustration depicts a collection of the swan boats in front of a bridge at the Boston Public Garden. The boats are painted green and red, with swan figures at their backs and rows of empty brown seats in front of them. The bridge has stone towers topped with lamps and elegant railings, leading to a staircase on the right side. Behind the bridge, lush trees in shades of green, gold, and purple fill the background under a bright blue sky. The ink outlines add sharp definition to the architectural details, foliage, and reflections in the water. The date “9/5/25” is written in the lower left corner, and a hand holds the sketchbook open against a wooden surface. A photo of the iconic swan boats docked in the Boston Public Garden lagoon. The green boats, each with a large white swan figure at the back and rows of wooden passenger seats, are reflected in the calm water. Behind them stands the elegant pedestrian suspension bridge with stone towers, white railings, and globe-topped lampposts. Lush greenery fills the background, including a large weeping willow and other trees, all under a bright blue, cloudless sky. A watercolor painting in a sketchbook shows a scenic park scene with a set of swan boats in the water. The boats are painted red and white with swan-shaped figures. Behind it stands a bridge with stone towers on either side, surrounded by lush greenery. Trees in shades of green, gold, and purple rise in the background under a bright blue sky, their colors reflected in the rippling water below. The painting is surrounded by the artist’s tools: an open watercolor palette with pans of vibrant colors, a brush, and a mixing tray with green, yellow, and purple washes.
davidcolarusso.com
Autonomy is a hell of a drug, and it's very human to value it above money. I've traded higher pay for more control (e.g., work-life balance). That being said, businesses pretend loudly they're only considering profit which, given their revealed preferences, smacks of hypocrisy and bad-faith dealing.
danrohde.bsky.social Dan Rohde @danrohde.bsky.social · 20h
I think this touches a deep, often-overlooked point. In my labour law days, I saw some employers spend MORE money fighting unionization than they would have paid accepting it. Loss of control was driving them at least as much as profits! Control is vital – with environmental policy as well.
jwmason.bsky.social JW Mason @jwmason.bsky.social · 20h
I should write the argument up properly somewhere, but I think this is fundamentally wrong. A decisive fraction of the capitalist class does oppose addressing the climate crisis, but *not* because it would be bad for profits. If anything, a green New Deal type program would raise aggregate profits.
November 10, 2025 at 5:13 PM
davidcolarusso.com
I have discovered a new level of The Sundays, one in which all the adults in the house have to go to work on Monday, but the kids have a four-day weekend.
November 10, 2025 at 12:37 AM
Reposted by David Colarusso
adapalmer.bsky.social
This is a great idea!
November 7, 2025 at 1:10 AM
davidcolarusso.com
ADMIN: We’d love to keep feeding folks if only it were legal.

JUDGES 1 & 2: It’s legal!

ADMIN: Sorry, not sure I believe you.

JUDGE: NOT feeding them is illegal! Feed them now!!

ADMIN: Let me talk to your supervisor.

APPEALS: Feed them.

ADMIN: I only really listen to one court. SCOTUS?
November 8, 2025 at 2:05 AM
davidcolarusso.com
I liked every post in this thread. 👍
free.law Free Law Project ⚖ @free.law · 5d
Today we're launching semantic search as an API. The legal technology space is booming, and this is one of the top requests we've heard from innovators. With this launch, new systems can provide powerful legal research without reinventing the search engine itself. 1/

free.law/2025/11/05/s...
Semantic Search API Now Live!
Try out our Semantic Search API in CourtListener, a big step forward in case law search!
free.law
November 7, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Reposted by David Colarusso
mithradatesvi.bsky.social
If the sandwich didn’t detonate, you must exonerate!
washingtonpost.com The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 4d
Breaking news: A jury acquitted a D.C. man who was charged with assault after throwing a sandwich at a federal agent.

The one-sided food fight became a slapstick symbol of resistance to President Trump's" summertime takeover of local law enforcement.
Jury finds D.C. ‘sandwich guy’ not guilty of assaulting officer
Sean C. Dunn admitted he flung the hoagie at a federal agent. His attorneys called it a “harmless gesture” of protest as Trump commandeered D.C. police.
wapo.st
November 6, 2025 at 8:13 PM
davidcolarusso.com
Over dinner we like to read a poem from Allie Esiri’s A Poem for Every Night of the Year, and I feel like I should have seen this one coming.
A page from a book titled “5 November ✶ Remember, Remember ✶ Anon.” features an explanation of the historical Gunpowder Plot of 1605 and the traditional rhyme that commemorates it. The passage describes how a group of Catholics, including Guy Fawkes, conspired to blow up the House of Lords during the State Opening of Parliament, intending to kill King James I. Their plan was thwarted when Fawkes was discovered guarding 36 barrels of gunpowder. Below the historical summary, the famous rhyme begins: “Remember, remember the fifth of November, Gunpowder, treason and plot. I see no reason why gunpowder treason Should ever be forgot.” The poem continues with verses recounting Guy Fawkes’s capture, the failed attempt, and a call to celebrate by ringing bells and burning his effigy. The book is open on a wooden surface, with sunlight illuminating the cream-colored page.
November 5, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Reposted by David Colarusso
filipecampante.bsky.social
Here, in a nutshell, is what makes the US legal infrastructure so vulnerable to authoritarianism: it was built for a high-trust environment in which everyone was supposed to exercise forbearance. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/u...
November 3, 2025 at 11:39 AM
davidcolarusso.com
I'm working on quotes to display on the myrssalgo.org news feed once you get to the end of its finite scroll. Here's today's gem:

What matters isn't what you can do (economic utility, intelligence, etc.) but what you choose to.
November 3, 2025 at 3:24 PM
davidcolarusso.com
We have entered the season between Halloween and Christmas. It’s time.
A television screen displays the streaming menu for The Nightmare Before Christmas: Sing-Along, a Disney Tim Burton animated musical. The image shows the character Jack Skellington in his signature black pinstripe suit, standing with one skeletal hand raised as snow falls around him. The dark, gothic background features faint lights and purple hues. On-screen text lists details such as the film’s rating (PG), duration (1 hour 16 minutes), and options to “Continue” or “Restart.” The TV, a Panasonic model, sits on a wooden entertainment center surrounded by books and other items, with a remote control resting in front of it. The warm lighting of the room contrasts with the cool tones of the movie image.
November 2, 2025 at 8:45 PM
davidcolarusso.com
We had a great Turkey Trot. Thank you everyone who donated to Arlington EATS. We raised our goal of $500, but ICYMI, I think the donate button still works. ;)
November 2, 2025 at 2:32 PM
davidcolarusso.com
From today’s walk. Happy November!
A bright autumn landscape shows a sunlit lakeshore bordered by trees in full fall color. The sun shines high in a clear blue sky, casting warm light across the scene and creating a lens flare near the top right. In the foreground, a branch with orange and yellow leaves extends across the upper left corner. Below, the lake’s edge is low, revealing patches of muddy ground and small reflective pools of water. The far shoreline is lined with trees whose leaves range from green to golden brown, suggesting late autumn. The atmosphere is crisp and serene, capturing the beauty of a sunny fall afternoon in nature.
November 1, 2025 at 6:27 PM
davidcolarusso.com
I’ve used a pseudo-random number generator to decide authorship order. Now I know there’s a better way.
dorialexander.bsky.social Alexander Doria @dorialexander.bsky.social · 9d
you are not going to believe it, but pringles may not even be the best gem in this paper.
November 1, 2025 at 3:30 PM
davidcolarusso.com
The whole family will be running in tomorrow’s Turkey Trot to raise money for Arlington EATS, our local food pantry. Here’s the donation link: turkeytrot.arlingtoneats.org/profile/cola...
Support Colarusso Family at Arlington EATS Turkey Trot 2025!
Thank you for visiting my fundraising page for the Arlington EATS Turkey Trot 5k! We are excited to trot in November in support of an organization that means so much to us. Funds raised from this eve...
turkeytrot.arlingtoneats.org
November 1, 2025 at 3:01 PM
davidcolarusso.com
Today's costume: Clark Kent on a Zoom call. "Oops, I forgot to turn on my virtual background and button my shirt."
Me on a Zoom call in front of a digital background that resembles Superman’s Fortress of Solitude, with icy blue crystalline structures filling the scene. I'm wearing glasses, a light gray blue shirt, and a blue T-shirt underneath featuring Superman’s red and yellow “S” emblem.
October 31, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Reposted by David Colarusso
sarabwarf.bsky.social
HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO ALL MY FELLOW NERDS
A two-panel comic. The top panel has a barista holding out a cup of coffee and calling the name of the person it’s for: “Frankenstein?” The bottom panel has pulled out slightly so we can see the two people waiting for their orders. One is a mad scientist, and one is the standard big green Frankenstein’s monster. Both have their hands raised.
October 31, 2025 at 1:55 PM
davidcolarusso.com
The 11yo works to make their Halloween candy last as long as possible, and for the first time ever, they’ve made it last an entire year!
October 30, 2025 at 10:13 PM
davidcolarusso.com
"Our experiments indicate that many believers are relatively rational but misinformed, and getting them timely, accurate facts can have a big impact.... And if facts aren’t dead, then there’s hope for democracy..." Will have to come back and play with debunkbot.com at some point.
Chatbots are surprisingly effective at debunking conspiracy theories
Turns out many believers do respond positively when presented with the right evidence and arguments.
www.technologyreview.com
October 30, 2025 at 2:35 PM
davidcolarusso.com
I remarked that we were out of Earl Gray tea, and the 7yo was like, “Noooooo, now daddy can’t be Captain Picard.” Yes, dear reader every cup is cosplay. 🖖
October 29, 2025 at 10:14 PM
davidcolarusso.com
Considering this for my next watercolor.
The sun sets behind a line of dark trees in this tranquil lakeside scene, casting a soft golden glow along the horizon. Wisps of cloud catch the warm light, drifting across a sky that deepens from pale yellow near the horizon to rich blue above. Reflections of the clouds shimmer on the calm surface of the water, while tall reeds in the foreground add depth and texture.
October 26, 2025 at 10:54 PM
davidcolarusso.com
Fall walk around the reservoir. High contrast. Nice light.
This photo captures a tranquil autumn landscape featuring a partially dried lake surrounded by trees in rich fall colors. Golden leaves frame the scene on both sides, while the remaining patches of water reflect the bright blue sky and scattered white clouds above. The sunlight filters through the trees, highlighting the textures of the rocky shoreline and the contrasting greens and browns of the exposed lakebed. It’s a peaceful moment that conveys the quiet beauty of late fall as the season begins to turn toward winter. A graceful mute swan glides across rippling blue water in this close-up photo. Its white feathers contrast sharply with the dark, textured surface of the pond, while its orange bill and distinctive black facial markings stand out in profile. The soft light and gentle waves give the scene a serene, painterly quality, capturing a quiet moment of natural elegance. This photo captures a calm autumn afternoon by a lake, framed by trees with leaves turning shades of gold and rust. In the foreground, a few remaining brown leaves cling to branches, while across the water, the opposite shore glows with fall foliage under bright sunlight. Puffy white clouds drift through a vivid blue sky, reflected softly on the lake’s surface below. The scene conveys a peaceful sense of seasonal transition, with the stillness of the water contrasting the lively textures and colors of the changing trees.
October 26, 2025 at 7:46 PM
davidcolarusso.com
Today’s tiny-wildlife photography: hover fly atop a pumpkin—part of yesterday’s 🎃 festivities. The light was really good, and you can see a bunch of detail if you zoom in.
This is a close-up photo of a drone fly (a hoverfly species that closely resembles a honeybee) resting on a pumpkin. The image captures fine details — the translucent wings with their intricate vein patterns, the large compound eyes, and the fuzzy thorax. The shallow depth of field and warm background highlight the insect’s form and texture, giving the shot a strong macro photography feel.
October 26, 2025 at 1:33 PM
davidcolarusso.com
The 7yo asked if I wanted to paint with her. So we each took a try at something seasonal. 🎃
This image shows a watercolor and ink illustration recreating the famous scene from The Nightmare Before Christmas, featuring Jack Skellington standing atop the curled hill of Halloween Town. The bright yellow full moon dominates the background, glowing against the dark, nearly black night sky and the twisted hill below. The artist’s use of watercolor creates a soft gradient of light around the moon, while ink lines give definition and texture to Jack and the landscape. This artwork is a kid’s watercolor and pencil depiction inspired by the iconic scene from The Nightmare Before Christmas. It shows Jack Skellington standing on the curling hilltop of Spiral Hill, silhouetted against a large glowing yellow moon. The swirling hill and the vibrant contrast between the deep blue sky, the bright moon, and the gray landscape capture the eerie yet whimsical atmosphere of the film’s visual style.
October 25, 2025 at 7:08 PM
davidcolarusso.com
We visited a seasonal pop-up donut factory to pick up some pumpkins et al. Apple-cider donuts, yum.
October 25, 2025 at 5:47 PM
davidcolarusso.com
According to my notifications, several someones rediscovered this gem earlier today. So, I figured I'd fan the flame. ICYMI.
davidcolarusso.com David Colarusso @davidcolarusso.com · Apr 22
Pictured: The first vibe coder, Geordi La Forge, about to discover the dangers of natural language programing.
This image shows Geordi La Forge from the *Star Trek: The Next Generation* episode "Elementary, Dear Data." He is dressed in a Victorian-era suit and bowler hat as part of a holodeck simulation based on Sherlock Holmes stories. Geordi is facing a wall-mounted control panel with illuminated orange buttons, issuing a command. He wears his iconic VISOR, which allows him to see despite being blind. The subtitle reads, “Create an adversary capable of defeating Data,” marking a pivotal moment in the episode when Geordi inadvertently triggers the creation of a self-aware holodeck character, leading to unexpected consequences.
October 24, 2025 at 8:19 PM