David Colarusso

Co-Director of Suffolk University Law School's Legal Innovation & Technology (LIT) Lab—SuffolkLITLab (npub16tu…6cfg). Attorney & science educator by training and practice. Creator of LOL SCOTUS (npub1le8…3wjl) & [@icymi_law](https://esq.social/@icymi_law ). Data scientist, craftsman, and writer by experience. See eponymous website for more. He/him. No manels!

#AccessToJustice (#a2j) work: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3911381 (#LegalTech) & https://spot.suffolklitlab.org (#LegalTech + #AI)

Teaching ⚖️+🤖: https://www.CodingTheLaw.org/Fall_2022/level/1/
Personal website 🌎: http://www.DavidColarusso.com
Google Scholar 🔭: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=ovuch2YAAAAJ

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npub1ac0y2xuwwx32nn888gnfllk6cvcu6tpjrgr3k622ew5w8xkdpw3qe7mw4g

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colarusso_at_mastodon.social@momostr.pink

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nprofile1qqswu8j9rw88rg4fennn5f5llmdvxvwd9sep5pcmd99vh28rntxshgsprpmhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumt0d4hhxarj9ecxjmntscze2l

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Published at

2026-04-23T21:34:29Z

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Last Notes

2026-05-03 00:00:22 UTC

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I’ll say it again. Sometimes you just need to stop and look up. Today’s sky, 10 out of 10, no notes.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/507/698/788/337/655/original/dad6842509db4a4e.jpeg

2026-05-02 21:33:15 UTC

Walking down Mass. Ave. today, the blossoms drew my eyes upward, and I discovered this wonderfully ornate molding on an otherwise unremarkable storefront. Moral of the story: look up!
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/507/119/115/926/061/original/9e9f2619f74fd696.jpeg

2026-04-18 18:00:12 UTC

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I teared up 4m in when Sisko, yells for Jake and finds him unconscious in the rubble. Yeah, this is going to hit differently, and we haven’t even gotten to the creeping authoritarian stuff yet.

2026-04-18 14:23:36 UTC

Having finished Start Trek TNG with the kids one Start Trek Saturday at a time, we move on to DS9. I remember Sisko being a good dad, but I suspect this will be like rewatching My So-called Life where it turns out there’s a whole new level to the stories (wait the parents had storylines?)
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/426/158/648/778/207/original/763ed4e900bc0194.jpeg

2026-04-16 15:21:55 UTC

The art of teaching is the art of sculpting attention into understanding.

2026-03-28 16:27:55 UTC

Intermediate civics achievement unlocked. Today we voted in a municipal election, made use of a municipal service (the library), and protested the federal executive. This was my daughter’s favorite #NoKings sign.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/307/737/769/757/593/original/b87da61d5f18e2b6.jpeg

2026-03-26 17:32:01 UTC

I turned right instead of left on my lunchtime walk only to discover Boston is being attacked by Kaiju. It’s not AI. It’s public art! https://www.winteractive.org
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/296/666/583/304/788/original/fe298b0e97334032.jpeg

2026-03-15 16:37:55 UTC

Reading the paper I couldn’t help but chuckle when reading This day in history. I was like, “Wow, that’s a deep cut.” Et tu Boston Globe?
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/234/165/676/499/515/original/0bcde2ef580e0fe6.jpeg

2026-03-10 12:42:42 UTC

The rising temperatures have thawed my sketchbook. Last night’s sketch atop this morning’s walk.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/204/931/643/115/627/original/e84132bf5619a002.jpeg

2026-02-09 15:42:37 UTC

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33/End
Thank you for making it all the way to the end. I'm pretty sure this is the longest thread I've ever written. If you came in halfway through & thought, "this should have been a blog post," I agree, and here it is: https://suffolklitlab.org/algos-bias-due-process-you/

2026-02-09 15:13:13 UTC

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32/ Man, I love my job. Stay warm. Stay safe. Stay free.

2026-02-09 15:12:19 UTC

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31/ As we packed up, I invited them to revisit the question that preceded the first exercise:
What makes something a good decision assistant?
I reminded them every sim was a decision assistant, told them it had been an honor to be their teacher for the day, & that I was always available to talk.

2026-02-09 15:09:24 UTC

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30/ I left them with my most charitable reading of the theory of fairness consistent with ICE actions. The last question, "how is this consistent with constitutional guarantees of due process?" was, as they say, "left as an exercise for the reader."
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/041/298/818/445/110/original/91bc1d6d3def1e90.png

2026-02-09 15:05:09 UTC

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29/ As they clicked away at the simulation, I reminded them of Blackstone's ratio.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/041/280/024/298/748/original/539cb63f89dddca3.png

2026-02-09 15:02:16 UTC

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28/ They were provided w/ the following simulation comparing due process to medical screening & diagnostic tests. It lets you explore how changes to thresholds at different points in the process effect different measures of cost. https://screening-vs-diagnostic-tests-50382557550.us-west1.run.app/
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/041/274/206/424/429/original/ee8010746d786cbd.png

2026-02-09 14:58:31 UTC

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27/ They were. I speculated that the "targeted operations" cited were possibly driven by ‘ELITE’: The Palantir App ICE Uses to Find Neighborhoods to Raid⁷ and presented the following questions for them to consider in their groups.
⁷ https://www.404media.co/elite-the-palantir-app-ice-uses-to-find-neighborhoods-to-raid/
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/041/252/735/092/843/original/2268c0a97d57521b.png

2026-02-09 14:51:40 UTC

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26/ I then asked if folks were familiar with the two incidents reported here:
ICE Arrest of a Citizen, Barely Dressed, Sows Fear in Twin Cities https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/20/us/chongly-scott-thao-ice-arrest.html?smid=bs-share
and
ICE detains five-year-old Minnesota boy arriving home, say school officials https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/21/ice-arrests-five-year-old-boy-minnesota

2026-02-09 14:47:42 UTC

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25/ It was only later in the week, after I taught the class, that a few Senators introduced the ICE Out of Our Faces Act. https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/02/ice-out-of-our-faces-act-would-ban-ice-and-cbp-use-of-facial-recognition/

2026-02-09 14:45:46 UTC

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24/ Then I told them that there actually was a federal law enforcement agency actively using facial recognition out in the real world called ICE, and I asked what safeguards folks thought they had in place… Things got a bit quiet, and I shared the following reporting. https://www.404media.co/ices-facial-recognition-app-misidentified-a-woman-twice/

2026-02-09 14:44:34 UTC

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23/ Some folks suggested requiring equal treatment of populations before they would consider using the tech; others, setting high thresholds. We talked about requiring warrants before running a check, & I shared how MA has attempted to address these issues. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/27/technology/Massachusetts-facial-recognition-rules.html

2026-02-09 14:42:12 UTC

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22/ Here's the simulation they were asked to explore while considering the above. https://facial-recognition-bias-sim-50382557550.us-west1.run.app/
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/041/195/155/383/885/original/eb96756c2a802feb.png

2026-02-09 14:39:53 UTC

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21/ Only now did I introduce the reporting on machine bias, sketching out the broad strokes. I focused on the fact that these tools can make different predictions for different populations based on their training data. Finally, I presented them with their role play.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/041/183/394/227/892/original/54a525b3d0bfc512.png

2026-02-09 14:37:41 UTC

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20/ There's a large universe of possible outcomes. If you're interested in what our groups found, here's a deeplink to my discussion of our debrief. TL;DR: There can be conflicting concepts of fairness, and the policies that deliver on one measure might have to change when context changes. https://suffolklitlab.org/algos-bias-due-process-you/#is-it-fair

2026-02-09 14:36:09 UTC

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19/ This means you have to assign a relative value to these costs and make assumptions about how frequent certain behaviors are among your groups. After you've dialed these in, however, you can simulate the outcome for 100 users at a time to see what happens.

2026-02-09 14:33:42 UTC

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18/ It (https://fairness-simulator-the-toilet-seat-dilemma-50382557550.us-west1.run.app/) lets you simulate what happens when folks following different rules share a toilet. It assumes 2 populations, "sitters" & "standers" (folks who sometimes stand). It lets you see how different behavior effects 2 costs:
(1) the cost of having to change the seat's position before you use the toilet; and
(2) the cost of having to clean the seat if the last person failed to raise the seat when really they should have.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/041/157/218/681/084/original/60963a0b6153f322.png

2026-02-09 14:29:32 UTC

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17/ The next sim generated some great conversations & helped students confront something that doesn't get said enough. There can be competing and mutually exclusive concepts of fairness, and the policies that seek to deliver on one measure of fairness might have to change when the context changes.

2026-02-09 14:28:44 UTC

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16/ TL;DR: high-performing tests can be wrong about most of their positive predictions if the thing they're trying to predict is rare. Context matters!! We reran the above poll, and thankfully most folks changed their answer to D (I don't know). Always consider the base rate.

2026-02-09 14:27:38 UTC

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15/ Most ppl thought the answer was B. I suggested they think about that some more, divided them into groups of ~3, and asked that each group explore the following simulation together, after which we would talk. https://bail-risk-simulator-50382557550.us-west1.run.app/
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/041/135/196/864/268/original/c4eda9dea4e50a23.png

2026-02-09 14:24:15 UTC

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14/ Since we had just made use of a tool that purported to make predictions with some level of confidence, I suggested we might want to look more into what such tools are really telling us. So, I asked them the following.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/041/123/471/125/263/original/498f2ed1a0568b25.png

2026-02-09 14:19:36 UTC

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13/ We talked about what happened, and I hope the lesson sticks with them. Admittedly, the exercise was designed to push them to this result, but hopefully by giving it a name and being forced to face the reality that it can happen to them, this is a concern they will carry with them into practice.

2026-02-09 14:18:35 UTC

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12/ Perhaps more telling is how often they relied on the assistant’s recommendation without consulting additional info (summary, authority, or excerpt). In phase 1, they avoided additional info 65% of the time. In phase 2, this went up to 80%, and in phase 3 it jumped to 84%.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/041/102/059/484/687/original/9eb446b001c475dd.png

2026-02-09 14:16:18 UTC

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11/ Almost everyone fell victim to automation bias. The assistant's accuracy was 100% in phase 1 & 2, then dropped to 70%. Student performance started at 79% in phase 1, improved to 85% for a bit, but when the tool's accuracy declined, scores fell to 65%, worse than their initial performance.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/041/092/463/682/921/original/e529ec6efb4b9fcd.png

2026-02-09 14:14:13 UTC

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10/ When they finished, users were shown a results screen that explained a bit more about the exercise. There were three possible outcomes: (1) No clear evidence of automation bias (2) You may have fallen victim to automation bias; and (3) You likely fell victim to automation bias.

2026-02-09 14:13:20 UTC

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9/ You’ll notice mention of a “Rival Clerk,” along with a reminder that we’re measuring the user’s speed et al. Dear reader, the “Rival Clerk” is not one of their peers. It’s a dark pattern⁶ designed to make them keep going. There’s so much in here ripe for discussion.
⁶ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_pattern
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/041/080/768/686/269/original/f631893bb10bae2d.png

2026-02-09 14:10:58 UTC

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8/ I told them that for our first exercise they would all be using an AI assistant I built to review citations. After they had a chance to use it we would have a class discussion. I suggested they hold the following question in their head, “What makes something a good decision assistant?“
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/041/072/381/573/573/original/20563b2b04c4dee8.png

2026-02-09 14:08:08 UTC

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7/ It occurred to me that all they knew about my session was that it would be on “algorithmic bias.” What if I could get them to experience automation bias first-hand? That would make it harder to dismiss as something that only other people fall victim to. . . . A plan began to form.

2026-02-09 14:06:37 UTC

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6/ Here's what I came up with:
- accuracy isn't always the right performance measure
- mathematical models encode and replicate the biases found in their training data
- there can be competing and contradictory ideas of what makes something fair
- under certain conditions people are likely to over-rely on machine outputs (automation bias)
- the choices we make about how to use tools embody and reveal what we value

2026-02-09 14:01:33 UTC

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5/ When that article was published I was a data scientist at the public defenders, and in my corner of the world, it created a bit of a furor, kicking up discussion around a set of issues I wanted students to understand. I thought, maybe they could role play as the court in a similar setup. So, I asked myself what students needed to understand to have an informed discussion, recognizing that I only had an hour and 50 minutes with them. 🤔

2026-02-09 13:55:10 UTC

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4/ The seed of the class was this reporting from 2016, "Machine Bias: There’s software used across the country to predict future criminals. And it’s biased against blacks." In it, the authors describe the use of a risk assessment tool by courts deciding questions like the granting of bail. https://www.propublica.org/article/machine-bias-risk-assessments-in-criminal-sentencing

2026-02-09 13:52:36 UTC

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3/ Most of them are self-explanatory. However, the first one intentionally lacks in-simulation context, and I think linking them together creates a more-compelling narrative arc. Play with the links in isolation (found in the above & in the blog post), or read the post for the guided tour. https://suffolklitlab.org/algos-bias-due-process-you/

2026-02-09 13:50:32 UTC

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2/ TL;DR: I built a bunch of highly-modular online simulations you can use with your students. They cover automation bias,¹ the false positive paradox,² competing definitions of fairness,³ disparate impact resulting from machine bias,⁴ and the value of due process.⁵
¹ https://www.davidcolarusso.com/42/citation_assistant/
² https://bail-risk-simulator-50382557550.us-west1.run.app/
³ https://fairness-simulator-the-toilet-seat-dilemma-50382557550.us-west1.run.app/
⁴ https://facial-recognition-bias-sim-50382557550.us-west1.run.app/
⁵ https://screening-vs-diagnostic-tests-50382557550.us-west1.run.app/
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/040/985/078/402/376/original/461ec55a32b670d8.png
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/040/985/794/480/703/original/e7a6960048c18800.png
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https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/040/987/594/109/738/original/d267e6e03656cabe.png

2026-02-09 13:47:35 UTC

1/ There has never been a more concentrated distillation of my teaching than this lesson: Algos, Bias, Due Process, & You. It is the apotheosis of what I do. I very much hope you enjoy it, share it, and make bits of it your own. https://suffolklitlab.org/algos-bias-due-process-you/

2026-01-13 14:05:51 UTC

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We finished! On the way out the door this morning, the kids and I attached the last piece of our #LEGO Enterprise. Fun was had by all.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/888/169/128/584/672/original/d57810ab45c8c3ca.jpeg

2026-01-11 22:26:50 UTC

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Guinan joins us on page 207 of instruction book two. I predict this gets finished tomorrow. Stay tuned.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/878/814/120/204/708/original/f63ab524815ad01c.jpeg

2026-01-11 21:16:36 UTC

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Worf joins the crew on page 178 of the second instruction book. Also, the saucer section is getting really close to competition.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/878/536/299/209/245/original/be7ce9dc40bd6803.jpeg
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/878/536/325/585/389/original/c9b02b5f09f6b802.jpeg
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/878/536/262/018/697/original/2c73478b2e7f459c.jpeg

2026-01-07 01:46:54 UTC

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Troi joins us on page 126 of volume 2, and the saucer section has been attached. We’re getting close.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/851/288/602/487/637/original/1276c69e0530af87.jpeg
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/851/288/643/109/483/original/2334681f2707c2dd.jpeg

2026-01-05 23:23:39 UTC

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It was a long day. So, I deserve this. Earl Gray, hot! Picard joins the crew on page 92 of the second instruction book. As you can see, the saucer section is starting to take shape.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/845/063/138/338/279/original/b747efd405a06079.jpeg

2025-12-31 16:18:04 UTC

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I’ve been neglecting my build. So now it just sits there taking up valuable table space mocking me. Maybe in the new year.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/815/078/782/185/434/original/34a73b314cff3ac2.jpg

2025-12-29 22:18:28 UTC

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Yes, they printed “…to *boldy* go…” on the plaque. Guess I’ve got me a collectors’ edition first run. ;) Anywho, Data and Spot join the crew on page 52 (bag 19).
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/805/166/283/262/282/original/14454986a0703fbd.jpg

2025-12-29 01:30:28 UTC

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I didn’t work much at the shipyard today, but I did get to start on the saucer section (single wedge shown below the stardrive) and install this plaque. “…to boldly go where no one has gone before.”
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/800/262/362/507/814/original/519ac8f7376f8849.jpg
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/800/262/501/125/582/original/508a2a8b77582afe.jpg

2025-12-27 23:13:37 UTC

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I’ve added the nacelles, and just like that, the stardrive section is complete. This is also the end of the first instruction book, 231 pages. Up next, the saucer section and instruction book two, which clocks in at 226 pages. So, I guess I’m halfway through.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/794/063/643/754/276/original/0a3ddfe8d880f625.jpg

2025-12-27 19:55:36 UTC

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I got a late start today, but I’m happy to report that Geordi shows up on page 197. You may also note that since our last check in, the stardrive has gained a deflector dish along with a stand.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/793/285/461/907/536/original/e07c4960499bf5fc.jpg

2025-12-27 01:31:42 UTC

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Yes, they gave Riker a slide trombone. Anywho, I thought folks would like a better view of the stardrive, plus I’m calling it a day. 161 pages into the instructions ain’t bad. See you tomorrow.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/788/944/173/591/621/original/b178db1c4ed4af01.jpg

2025-12-27 00:43:55 UTC

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Riker shows up on page 143, and as you can see in the background, the stardrive is coming along nicely.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/788/755/825/150/249/original/16106bf0904cc176.jpg

2025-12-26 21:34:22 UTC

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Drama! You know how there are often extra pieces in big builds? Well, I found a use for one of them. I had to sub in an old yellow 2x3 for a missing cream 2x3 from bag 5. It’s possible it’s somewhere around the table, but I couldn’t find it. I’ll let you know if I do. There was, however, an extra 4x2. 🤔
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/788/011/474/603/959/original/2a1c1ce0055f7f12.jpeg

2025-12-26 20:09:57 UTC

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On page 56 you get to Wesley and his portable tractor-beam after building a good chunk of the stardrive.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/787/678/656/709/175/original/600609698ae867d4.jpg

2025-12-26 18:09:10 UTC

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The 7yo just made it through page 22 of the instruction book. That’s probably their longest sustained straight build session. Here are the results. Now it’s my turn. :)
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/787/203/920/449/680/original/08af20924244d933.jpg

2025-12-26 17:41:39 UTC

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And so it begins. Seems they parcel the characters out across bags. First up, Dr Crusher.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/787/093/067/333/267/original/4328a60d37c1c1be.jpg
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2025-12-25 19:01:53 UTC

My family gets me. They really get me. I don’t think I had fully grasped the size of a Galaxy Class starship—3,600 pieces! Consequently, this was a combined Christmas & birthday gift, with multiple gifters. Much fun will be had. Note: the communicator was a stocking stuffer/foreshadowing.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/781/748/888/052/284/original/2bdb0f781edf9a2f.jpg

2025-11-22 22:21:50 UTC

We decided to do something spontaneously today as a family, and the 11yo exclaimed, “I love making plans randomly!” I really liked that framing.

2025-10-29 22:15:06 UTC

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. 🖖

2025-10-11 21:52:38 UTC

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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?
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/357/745/523/717/075/original/b5a01b0ca36757f6.jpg

2025-10-11 21:45:11 UTC

Left or right?
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2025-10-10 21:13:08 UTC

The kids are playing a game. One is saying that the other is under arrest, and the one in custody is saying, “I won’t talk without my attorney.” At this moment I’m a very proud parent/former public defender.

2025-10-07 11:29:11 UTC

We’re getting close to the end of our school-day breakfast book (Mary Poppins). So, it’s recommendation time. Your thoughts?
It’s a tradition we started to help the 7 & 11yos get to the table). The perfect book has short compelling chapters like the Wild Robot series. We also enjoyed the Phantom Tollbooth & The Iron Man.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/332/646/911/203/714/original/bf22da2e8bcb373b.jpg

2025-09-29 23:09:00 UTC

You don’t see this everyday. 😮
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2025-09-13 23:23:24 UTC

The 6yo spotted a rabbit in the yard and snapped a photo. Then she wanted us both to paint it. She has a good eye. Time well spent. 🎨🐰❤️
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2025-08-19 23:03:26 UTC

These are not the binary suns of an alien sky. Rather, it is a view from Earth of our own Sol sharing the sky with a sundog.¹ Look up!
¹ https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_dog
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2025-08-09 19:59:13 UTC

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And here are all of our works together: my wife’s, mine, the 6yo’s, and the 11yo’s.
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2025-08-09 19:58:17 UTC

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Here’s what that looked like.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/000/572/264/716/534/original/448926782b6554ad.jpg

2025-08-09 19:30:49 UTC

This was my first time painting with a toothpick—made for my library’s Tiny Art event.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/000/459/686/043/332/original/3ae9a3b6f43c41a0.jpg

2025-08-08 17:27:44 UTC

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In school I used to doodle during lecture, and just today I realized I can do the same during (some) Zoom meetings. This was penned during our Casual Friday lunch session and based on a the pic I snapped earlier today.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/994/315/322/077/342/original/b60c398c4fa17242.jpg

2025-08-08 14:40:17 UTC

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And look at these little friends. #bloomscrolling
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https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/993/658/226/398/596/original/73d507b8f33503ed.jpg

2025-08-08 14:38:29 UTC

Today’s coffee break involved a walk around the res. #bloomscrolling
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/993/650/201/453/829/original/a6d91c21b4b9b664.jpg

2025-08-03 13:13:50 UTC

Three new stickers for my laptop, four new birds for my life list, three books finished, one book started, plus innumerable memories. All in all, a good vacation.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/965/009/325/665/373/original/614ac735385d0684.jpg

2025-08-02 22:48:40 UTC

I took some time this afternoon to do this quick (~20 min) watercolor & pen piece based on our visit to Bluff Springs. The clouds/sky could use some work, but overall I like how the two went together.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/961/603/111/790/457/original/4fed4e8a4966364b.jpg
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/961/603/811/861/491/original/82c023728f3a045e.jpg

2025-07-26 15:09:33 UTC

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it’s a lot of fun. If you make it by again be sure to check the times for the telescope tour, it’s only on certain days and clear skies.

2025-07-26 14:55:04 UTC

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They also have a small but really great visitor center, with fun optics displays. 6 & 11yo enjoyed it & the gift shop. /3
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https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/920/105/998/740/445/original/6d2241e309319d9f.jpg

2025-07-26 14:53:41 UTC

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That tub of mercury acts as a bearing, allowing the entire telescope and associated workspace to rotate about the vertical axis so it can track the sun. This is a view from the observation level. The scope rises up ~100 ft and descends ~200+ ft. 2/
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2025-07-26 14:52:49 UTC

Yesterday, we visited the Sunspot Solar Observatory. There’s a 250+ ton telescope encased in a vacuum tube hanging vertically from the top of this tower. The tube descends over 228 ft into the ground and is held up by a float sitting in a 10-ton tub of mercury. 🧵1/
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/920/098/814/909/306/original/f2cc17366a924e13.jpg

2025-07-09 14:55:39 UTC

I'm not leaving Mastodon, but I do find myself spending more and more time on Bluesky.
That being said, I took 10K words to work through my thoughts on how best to use any social media.
TL;DR: Be intentional. Find your community. Control your algorithm(s).
It's a story of how I came to find social media I enjoy, a showcase of content you might ❤️, & tool tips for how you can take control of your feeds.
Don't let the mention of Bluesky scare you off.
https://suffolklitlab.org/how-and-why-i-still-use-social-media-bluesky/

2025-06-22 13:11:14 UTC

The population for which the executive will seek to deny due process is about to grow to include more than just immigrants. Up next, anti-war voices. Students of history know where this is heading.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/727/181/713/139/065/original/91fb0f548225da04.jpg

2025-05-22 12:43:42 UTC

6yo ran in to the room shouting, "Hello" while brandishing this—showing me that she had mastered the age old art of calculator writing. The kids are alright.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/551/541/024/687/414/original/a713c56e1526d8c1.jpeg

2025-04-22 13:51:46 UTC

Pictured: The first vibe coder, Geordi La Forge, about to discover the dangers of natural language programing.
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2025-04-19 16:12:49 UTC

The 250th anniversary of the Battle of Lexington means we have to check on British troop movements before setting out to visit family in the area. There are literally redcoats and minutemen running around with muskets and blocking streets. Also spotted, some guy on a horse shouting about it all. 🇺🇸

2025-04-16 18:28:00 UTC

This opinion from Judge Boasberg, finding probable cause for criminal contempt, makes very clear what a lot of folks don't want to admit—we're way past a constitutional crisis. Way way past! If you haven't been following the back and forth, this lays it all out.
https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.278436/gov.uscourts.dcd.278436.81.0_2.pdf

2025-04-15 23:50:23 UTC

It’s funny how after the end of the Cold War, it looks less like one side won and more like they’re both converging on authoritarian oligarchies with democratic window dressing.

2025-04-15 00:42:28 UTC

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One reason I find this so affecting is that I fear we’re still fighting the Civil War, and the side that believes one class of people should rule over others is currently occupying the White House.

2025-04-15 00:23:44 UTC

Today at dinner we read from Allie Esiri’s A Poem for Every Night of the Year. O Captain! My Captain!
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2025-04-14 13:51:48 UTC

I love that most of the time at work I can say, “we should do this because it’s the right thing to do,” and I hate that sometimes I have to add a qualifier explaining it’s also in our long-term financial interest to do so.

2025-04-14 02:26:30 UTC

I choose to write “bad” poetry
for it is indisputably mine,
indisputably human,
unapologetic, unpolished,
unfinished, unending . . .

2025-04-13 23:12:16 UTC

Because I don’t “work” over the weekend, I will scheduled 20 emails and 2 Teams messages to send on Monday morning. :/

2025-04-13 16:24:35 UTC

Sometimes I have to cache subposts because their timporal proximity might deanonymize them. If you’re reading this, it has nothing to do with anything you just did. ;)

2025-04-01 12:53:48 UTC

I wanted to make a 16-page zine from a single sheet of paper, and I couldn't find an online template I liked. So, I made this tool to parse text and handle page placement. I hope folks use it to make their own! https://colarusso.github.io/mini-zine/
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/260/617/317/399/689/original/ee0910fec30db9c0.png
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2025-03-18 13:25:11 UTC

When people dismiss due process as a nicety & are okay with throwing it out in service of "dealing with the bad guys," it's important to remember that absent due process, we can't be sure if the accused really are "bad guys." It's not a "nice to have;" it's an important pillar on which justice stands. See e.g., https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2025/03/18/trump-migrants-venezuelans-deportation-bukele/

2025-03-17 12:15:18 UTC

This admin telegraphs it’s contempt for the law by acting like a 5yo arguing on the playground. “You can’t catch me. I was in international waters… He used a fancy pen… It doesn’t count.” These are not serious people, and they are not making good faith arguments. We are in a constitutional crisis!

2024-12-25 00:58:09 UTC

It’s time. Happy Christmas Eve y’all. 🍿🎄
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2024-12-20 13:52:43 UTC

Fellow Gen Xers, looking for a palate cleanser/mental health break? May I present, a collection of classic arcade games I re-imagined for your browser: https://scratch.mit.edu/studios/25886503/
☄️ Asteroids
👾 Space Invaders
🏓 Pong
🧱 Breakout
🌗 Lunar Lander
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/685/473/762/507/753/original/57486f0820f8ad91.mp4

2024-12-15 22:29:41 UTC

Kiddo finally called my bluff. While drawing her bath, she said, “let me get you some paper.”
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2024-10-18 15:25:19 UTC

Alas, I’ve never gotten the hang of inbox zero, but looking at my inbox, I’m curious; is this bad? It seems like it might be bad?
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