David Colarusso
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davidcolarusso.com
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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davidcolarusso.com
I was really bummed out when the NYTimes put their mini behind a paywall. So, I'm making my own. You can find the first of my Monday Minis over at The Finite Scroll.

thefinitescroll.org?crossword=20...

Need a hint? Ask @suffolklitlab.org 😉
A screenshot of a digital crossword puzzle mini. A few shaded squares in the grid mark the start of the first Across. The clue for **1A** is shown at the top left and reads “🔥🔥🔥🔥 (slang),” with the first square shaded darker to indicate the starting point. On the right side, the Across and Down clue lists are visible. **Across clues**: 1) “🔥🔥🔥🔥 (slang),” 3) “Experiments’ home,” 5) “Scholarly domain,” 6) “To shape under heat and pressure,” and 8) “Coherent monochromatic light.” **Down clues**: 2) “Online summaries,” 4) “Daughter of Aleus,” 5) “Entry of Appearance,” 6) “27th State,” and 7) “Ambulance destination.” A timer runs at the top, and menu options such as Clues, Reveal, Check, and More appear in the header.
November 17, 2025 at 1:32 PM
davidcolarusso.com
Today’s walk: What a difference two weeks makes—very different vibes, much colder, beautiful clouds, and a biting wind.
A bright autumn landscape featuring a wide, reflective lake under a vivid blue sky filled with large, sun-lit clouds. The sun shines near the top center of the image, creating a soft lens flare and casting shimmering highlights across the water’s surface. In the foreground, dry golden grasses and reeds frame the lower edge of the scene, with a few bare branches reaching inward from the sides. Along the far shoreline, a line of trees in late-fall colors—brown, gold, and muted green—stretches across the horizon. The overall mood is crisp and serene, capturing the quiet beauty of a cool, sunny day by the water.
November 17, 2025 at 1:21 AM
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
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
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
The moon was super spooky tonight.
A photograph of the moon partially obscured by thick, swirling clouds in a darkening sky. The moon appears pale and luminous, shining through a small break in the cloud cover, with its light softly diffused by the misty, layered textures around it. Shades of gray, blue, and faint white blend together, giving the image a moody, ethereal feel.
November 1, 2025 at 2:23 AM
davidcolarusso.com
Happy Halloween! Fun was had by all. Now the 11yo is taking inventory and making a physical bar graph along with a paper counterpart. 📊 🎃
Two carved pumpkins are displayed outdoors on a leaf-covered pavement against the backdrop of a white wooden wall. The pumpkin on the left is yellow and carved to resemble a Minion, featuring a single circular eye framed by a black goggle strap and a smiling mouth. The pumpkin on the right is orange with a classic jack-o’-lantern face—two triangular eyes and a wide, open, toothy grin—and has small horns or pointed ears carved from its top. Both pumpkins are lit from within by battery-operated candles, casting a warm yellow glow through their carved features. Fallen autumn leaves surround them, enhancing the festive Halloween atmosphere. A close-up of a tabletop covered with an assortment of Halloween candies arranged neatly in rows. Visible treats include multiple bars of Hershey’s milk chocolate, several packs of Sour Patch Kids in bright yellow packaging, red Kit Kat bars, purple Welch’s fruit snacks, and brown packs of M&M’s. The candies are lined up in organized columns across a wooden surface, with part of a yellow Lay’s chip bag and a dried autumn leaf visible in the upper left corner. The colorful wrappers contrast with the warm wood tone, giving the image a festive, post–trick-or-treating feel.
November 1, 2025 at 12:22 AM
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
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
We ate the donuts and carved some pumpkins.
This photo shows a yellow pumpkin in the middle of being carved into a playful minion jack-o’-lantern. Its design features a large circular eye with a smaller round piece of pumpkin suspended in the center, giving it a “googly eye” effect, and a curved smiling mouth below. Pumpkin scraps and tools are scattered across the blue tablecloth, alongside an orange bowl decorated with Halloween skeletons and stars. Two uncarved orange pumpkins sit in the background, catching soft daylight from a nearby window — a cozy, creative scene of Halloween pumpkin carving in progress.
October 25, 2025 at 11:28 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
A selection has been made, and so far we’re very happy — compelling short chapters that get us to the breakfast table but end with plenty of time to get out the door.
The image shows the cover of The Search for WondLa, written and illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi. The artwork features the book’s protagonist, Eva Nine, surrounded by several fantastical companions, including alien creatures and a small robot, all set against a starry, cosmic background. A quote from author Rick Riordan at the top calls it “An irresistible adventure.” The image shows the table of contents for Parts III and IV of The Search for WondLa by Tony DiTerlizzi. Part III (Chapters 22–33) and Part IV (Chapters 34–42) continue the story’s journey through the richly imagined world of Orbona, with chapter titles such as “Artifacts,” “Hope,” “Reunion,” “Darkness,” and “WondLa.” The chapters are each roughly ten pages long, giving the story a steady, episodic rhythm that keeps the narrative moving while allowing space for vivid worldbuilding and reflection. Illustrations decorate the spread—on the left, a group of birdlike creatures perched on rocks, and on the right, two winged beings flying beneath a crumbling stone arch covered in moss and fungi.
October 20, 2025 at 12:03 PM
davidcolarusso.com
And here’s No Kings II. Frontpage, A11, and the cover of the Metro section.
A copy of the Boston Sunday Globe, dated October 19, 2025, rests on a table. The front page covers several major national and local stories. The lead headline reads “‘Clown show’ shutdown puts workers in limbo,” reporting on the financial struggles of federal employees amid a government shutdown. Another prominent story, “‘No Kings’ protesters march across the nation,” features large photos of demonstrators holding signs and waving flags. Other headlines include “A strong mayor faces some strong criticism” and “Partisan battle lines drawn on America’s 250th,” reflecting ongoing political tensions leading up to the nation’s semiquincentennial. A look at the Metro section of the Boston Sunday Globe from October 19, 2025, highlights local and political developments. The lead story, “Trump cuts squeeze Boston food pantries,” reports on reduced SNAP eligibility and the growing strain on food aid programs. Another front-page piece, “‘No Kings’ demonstration draws big crowd but little trouble,” covers a large protest on Boston Common, where demonstrators rallied against the administration. A photo shows participants waving U.S. flags and holding signs during the event. A third headline, “State to supervise Lawrence elections,” notes that Massachusetts officials will oversee the city’s vote following concerns about absentee ballot procedures.
October 19, 2025 at 12:29 PM
davidcolarusso.com
Happy to see @joshualenon.bsky.social’s Bluesky handle on his presentation slide. #ClioCon.
October 16, 2025 at 7:07 PM
davidcolarusso.com
Raise your hand if you’re also at #ClioCon, and I’ll add you to this list of folks “in the room.” bsky.app/profile/did:...
The photo captures Jack Newton, CEO and co-founder of Clio, delivering his keynote address at ClioCon 2025. He stands on stage before a massive green screen that reads “Welcome to ClioCon”, framed by colorful vertical light panels. The audience watches attentively from the dimly lit conference hall as Newton opens the annual legal technology conference, setting the tone for the discussions ahead on innovation in law practice.
October 16, 2025 at 1:27 PM
davidcolarusso.com
Holy podcast whiplash Batman. My morning commute was an interview with the authors of “The AI Con: How to Fight Big Tech’s Hype and Create the Future We Want” followed by another with one of the authors of “If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies: Why Superhuman AI Would Kill Us All.”
A screenshot from a podcast app showing two episodes queued for listening, both focused on artificial intelligence. The first, from KQED’s Close All Tabs, is titled “Beyond the AI Hype Machine” and has 32 minutes remaining. The second, from The Ezra Klein Show, is titled “How Afraid of the A.I. Apocalypse Should We Be?” and runs for just over an hour. Both were released on October 15, 2025, reflecting the ongoing public conversation about AI’s promises and potential risks.
October 15, 2025 at 1:06 PM
davidcolarusso.com
Supplies acquired. In addition to a new pocket-sized book, I decided to get something a little larger.
A new set of watercolor supplies arranged on a wooden surface: a sealed black Moleskine watercolor notebook rests atop a larger pad of Fluid 100 watercolor paper (9x12 in). The pad’s cover highlights its 100% cotton, 140 lb (300 gsm) cold-press sheets.
October 12, 2025 at 7:45 PM
davidcolarusso.com
Working on it.
A well-stocked art supply store aisle filled with watercolor brushes and sketchbooks. Rows of brushes in various shapes and sizes stand upright in displays labeled Aqua Elite, Velvetouch, and Watercolor, while stacks of watercolor pads, sketchbooks, and mixed media paper line the shelves below.
October 12, 2025 at 7:06 PM
davidcolarusso.com
Wait, this is the last page in my sketchbook. 😱

Time to go shopping.
A watercolor and ink sketch of the Boston skyline at sunset, shown here on a workspace alongside a watercolor palette, pens, and a water brush. The vivid scene captures Boston’s distinctive architecture—the John Hancock Tower, the Prudential Tower, and surrounding buildings—rising above the greenery of Boston Common. The sky is filled with layered purples, oranges, and yellows, echoing the glow of evening light.
October 12, 2025 at 5:46 PM
davidcolarusso.com
Lazy Sundays are the best. I got some time to paint. 🎨 😀
A watercolor and ink sketch depicting the Boston skyline at sunset, viewed from Boston Common. Prominent buildings—including the glassy John Hancock Tower and the Prudential Tower—rise above a dense green tree line. The sky glows dramatically with swirling purples, oranges, and yellows, echoing the rich light of dusk. A single streetlamp in the lower right corner adds a warm, grounding touch to the vivid cityscape. The sketch is held outdoors, blending the painted scene with the greenery behind it.
October 12, 2025 at 5:19 PM
davidcolarusso.com
If you complete the maze without taking any shortcuts, they give you sticker. Apparently, it’s the largest hedge maze in North America. Who knew?
A hand holds a colorful sticker from the Big Green Monster Maze at Honey Pot Hill Orchards. The sticker shows a cartoon bear in a red shirt peeking out from between tall green hedges, accompanied by the punny caption: “I couldn’t BEAR it, so I got out.” The bottom text reads “Largest hedgemaze in North America – Honey Pot Hill Orchards.” The sticker’s design uses bold green and white lettering on a dark background, playfully celebrating the experience of navigating — and escaping — the giant hedge maze.
October 11, 2025 at 9:53 PM
davidcolarusso.com
We’re heading in.
A panoramic view of a large hedge maze surrounded by autumn trees under an overcast sky. The neatly trimmed green hedges twist and wind in complex patterns, their tops lightly dusted with fallen pine needles. In the foreground, a few people can be seen navigating the narrow paths, while in the distance others stand on a raised wooden platform overlooking the labyrinth. The surrounding forest shows early fall color—reds, oranges, and yellows just beginning to emerge among the greens.
October 11, 2025 at 7:08 PM