In September 2006 I started writing A Foolish Consistency to record thoughts, ideas, news, and whatever else captured my attention. I was teaching law courses in the undergraduate program at Boston University Questrom School of Business, and many posts related to topics arising from the Internet, copyright, constitutional, and criminal law, and social media. I posted often about law school—whether to attend, how to prepare—and careers in law. I posted about teaching, popular culture, politics . . . and rarely about myself. It was not a confessional. Most of my readers were current or former students. I maintained some professional distance, tempered by my fundamental informality and irreverence for academia.
I posted regularly until early 2013, averaging one post about every two days. Posting became a chore. My posts dwindled, then stopped, without regrets. I continued to use trudalane.net in my teaching, primarily in connection with the Questrom Honors Program, of which I was Faculty director from 2012-2017. When I stepped down I put trudalane.net and A Foolish Consistency aside.
I retired from Boston University in December 2018.
How’s retirement?
I don’t know how I ever found time to work.
Recently my interest in this site rekindled. I don’t know what’s next, except that I’m not constrained by professional distance. An audience of one will do that.
My high school junior year English teacher, Dave Monahan, often quoted Ralph Waldo Emerson—
“A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines. With consistency a great soul has simply nothing to do.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance, Essays First Series
In 2006 I thought the title A Foolish Consistency would capture the blog’s shotgun focus. Looking back, I was right.
Here are recent posts from my Instagram (darandall).
Bay scenes, early-morning Grove
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#coconutgrove #biscaynebay #marinas #miami #earlymornings #Ig_great_pics #ig_myshot #pictureoftheday #moodygrams #weekly_feature #primeshots #photowall #localcaptures #gameoftones #ig_captures #ig_color #ig_myshot #ig_shutterbugs #theamericancollective #nature #naturelovers #earthlandscape #beautiful #outdoors
No no no. Don’t even think about it.
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#coconutgrove #privateproperty #waterfront #Ig_great_pics #ig_myshot #pictureoftheday #moodygrams #weekly_feature #primeshots #photowall #localcaptures #gameoftones #ig_captures #ig_color #ig_myshot #ig_shutterbugs #theamericancollective
It’s complicated #coconutgrove
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#Ig_great_pics #ig_myshot #pictureoftheday #moodygrams #weekly_feature #primeshots #photowall #localcaptures #gameoftones #ig_captures #ig_color #ig_myshot #ig_shutterbugs #theamericancollective #nature #naturelovers #earthlandscape #beautiful #outdoors
What happens when buildings are left too long in Miami sun. Like ice cream cakes.
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#Ig_great_pics #ig_myshot #pictureoftheday #moodygrams #weekly_feature #primeshots #photowall #localcaptures #gameoftones #ig_captures #ig_color #ig_myshot #ig_shutterbugs #theamericancollective #miami #architecture #coconutgrove
Lake, early morning
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#Exploremaine #maine #thewaylifeshouldbe #newengland #ignewengland #igersnewengland #maineoutdoors #igersmaine #igmaine #Ig_great_pics #ig_myshot #pictureoftheday #moodygrams #weekly_feature #primeshots #photowall #localcaptures #gameoftones #ig_captures #ig_color #ig_myshot #ig_shutterbugs #theamericancollective #plppa #lake #otisfield
Dock installation 2021. Video, 💪🏿, and camaraderie courtesy of @natejrandall who took a red eye from SFO to help. Pollen courtesy of a thousand trees and the southwest wind.
The Cruz Building, Coconut Grove
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#cruzbuilding #coconutgrove ##Ig_great_pics #ig_myshot #pictureoftheday #moodygrams #weekly_feature #primeshots #photowall #localcaptures #gameoftones #ig_captures #ig_color #ig_myshot #ig_shutterbugs #theamericancollective
Not Massachusetts. Traveling again is wonderful.
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##Ig_great_pics #ig_myshot #pictureoftheday #moodygrams #weekly_feature #primeshots #photowall #localcaptures #gameoftones #ig_captures #ig_color #ig_myshot #ig_shutterbugs #theamericancollective ##nature #naturelovers #earthlandscape #beautiful #outdoors #miami #coconutgrove
#Nature #naturelovers #earthlandscape #beautiful #outdoors #birds #birdsofinstagram
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#Ig_great_pics #ig_myshot #pictureoftheday #moodygrams #weekly_feature #primeshots #photowall #localcaptures #gameoftones #ig_captures #ig_color #ig_myshot #ig_shutterbugs #theamericancollective
#zakimbridge
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#Igboston #igersboston #igmassachusetts #igboston617 #igersmass #city_explore #followingboston #bostonworld #Ig_great_pics #ig_myshot #pictureoftheday #moodygrams #weekly_feature #primeshots #photowall #localcaptures #gameoftones #ig_captures #ig_color #ig_myshot #ig_shutterbugs #theamericancollective
Eternal
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#Ig_great_pics #ig_myshot #pictureoftheday #moodygrams #weekly_feature #primeshots #photowall #localcaptures #gameoftones #ig_captures #ig_color #ig_myshot #ig_shutterbugs #theamericancollective #exploremaine #maine #thewaylifeshouldbe #newengland #ignewengland #igersnewengland #maineoutdoors #igersmaine #igmaine #nature #naturelovers #earthlandscape #beautiful #outdoors
Met my spirit animal yesterday in Maine: a big adult #porcupine, ancient based on his stiff, uneven, arthritic gait. I surprised him in the side yard. He turned, shot a look that said “gimme five seconds to finish my business here,” finished his business, and lumbered painfully towards the deck. He looked like I feel when I get out of bed in the morning. He started to crawl under the deck but backed into this defensive stance when I came close. Head pulled in, quills erect, quiet. No hissing, no aggressive body language, just watching as I came within eight, then five, then three feet. “I just want a photo, Mr. Pine.” Satisfied with this shot I backed away. He squeezed his ample body into the space between the joist and the crushed stone, protected by his quills until he disappeared.
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#Nature #naturelovers #earthlandscape #beautiful #outdoors #exploremaine #maine #thewaylifeshouldbe #newengland #ignewengland #igersnewengland #maineoutdoors #igersmaine #igmaine #Ig_great_pics #ig_myshot #pictureoftheday #moodygrams #weekly_feature #primeshots #photowall #localcaptures #gameoftones #ig_captures #ig_color #ig_myshot #ig_shutterbugs #theamericancollective
#cascobay #exploremaine #maine #thewaylifeshouldbe #newengland #ignewengland #igersnewengland #maineoutdoors #igersmaine #igmaine
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#Ig_great_pics #ig_myshot #pictureoftheday #moodygrams #weekly_feature #primeshots #photowall #localcaptures #gameoftones #ig_captures #ig_color #ig_myshot #ig_shutterbugs #theamericancollective #newengland #ignewengland #igersnewengland #scenesofnewengland #newenglandphotography #instasparrow #newenglandnature #newenglandphotographer #newengland_photography #scenesofnewengland #mynewengland
Not last night—too much rain—but recent.
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#exploremaine #maine #thewaylifeshouldbe #newengland #ignewengland #igersnewengland #maineoutdoors #igersmaine #igmaine #Ig_great_pics #ig_myshot #pictureoftheday #moodygrams #weekly_feature #primeshots #photowall #localcaptures #gameoftones #ig_captures #ig_color #ig_myshot #ig_shutterbugs #theamericancollective #sunset
11-Sep-20
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#sunset #Ig_great_pics #ig_myshot #pictureoftheday #moodygrams #weekly_feature #primeshots #photowall #localcaptures #gameoftones #ig_captures #ig_color #ig_myshot #ig_shutterbugs #theamericancollective #exploremaine #maine #thewaylifeshouldbe #newengland #ignewengland #igersnewengland #maineoutdoors #igersmaine #igmaine #nature #naturelovers #earthlandscape #beautiful #outdoors
Revolving door. The feeder has six ports but they are too competitive to share. #hummingbirds #rubythroatedhummingbird
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#Exploremaine #maine #thewaylifeshouldbe #newengland #ignewengland #igersnewengland #maineoutdoors #igersmaine #igmaine #nature #naturelovers #earthlandscape #beautiful #outdoors #Ig_great_pics #ig_myshot #pictureoftheday #moodygrams #weekly_feature #primeshots #photowall #localcaptures #gameoftones #ig_captures #ig_color #ig_myshot #ig_shutterbugs #theamericancollective
Sun setting and sun set
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#Exploremaine #maine #thewaylifeshouldbe #newengland #ignewengland #igersnewengland #maineoutdoors #igersmaine #igmaine #Ig_great_pics #ig_myshot #pictureoftheday #moodygrams #weekly_feature #primeshots #photowall #localcaptures #gameoftones #ig_captures #ig_color #ig_myshot #ig_shutterbugs #theamericancollective #nature #naturelovers #earthlandscape #beautiful #outdoors
#twilight
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#Exploremaine #maine #thewaylifeshouldbe #newengland #ignewengland #igersnewengland #maineoutdoors #igersmaine #igmaine #Ig_great_pics #ig_myshot #pictureoftheday #moodygrams #weekly_feature #primeshots #photowall #localcaptures #gameoftones #ig_captures #ig_color #ig_myshot #ig_shutterbugs #theamericancollective #newengland #ignewengland #igersnewengland #scenesofnewengland #newenglandphotography #instasparrow #newenglandnature #newenglandphotographer #newengland_photography #scenesofnewengland #mynewengland
Replaced five 22-year old boards. Maintaining our cedar deck is like painting the Golden Gate Bridge. When all the original boards are replaced I’ll need to start again. #redcedar #decks #carpentry
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#exploremaine #maine #thewaylifeshouldbe #newengland #ignewengland #igersnewengland #maineoutdoors #igersmaine #igmaine #Ig_great_pics #ig_myshot #pictureoftheday #moodygrams #weekly_feature #primeshots #photowall #localcaptures #gameoftones #ig_captures #ig_color #ig_myshot #ig_shutterbugs #theamericancollective
I like #birds that feed all-in
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#Ig_great_pics #ig_myshot #pictureoftheday #moodygrams #weekly_feature #primeshots #photowall #localcaptures #gameoftones #ig_captures #ig_color #ig_myshot #ig_shutterbugs #theamericancollective #exploremaine #maine #thewaylifeshouldbe #newengland #ignewengland #igersnewengland #maineoutdoors #igersmaine #igmaine
Brilliant
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#Ig_great_pics #ig_myshot #pictureoftheday #moodygrams #weekly_feature #primeshots #photowall #localcaptures #gameoftones #ig_captures #ig_color #ig_myshot #ig_shutterbugs #theamericancollective #nature #naturelovers #earthlandscape #beautiful #outdoors
Morning fog. Nature's vignette filter.
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#exploremaine #maine #thewaylifeshouldbe #newengland #ignewengland #igersnewengland #maineoutdoors #igersmaine #igmaine #newengland #ignewengland #igersnewengland #scenesofnewengland #newenglandphotography #instasparrow #newenglandnature #newenglandphotographer #newengland_photography #scenesofnewengland #mynewengland #nature #naturelovers #earthlandscape #beautiful #outdoors #Ig_great_pics #ig_myshot #moodygrams #primeshots #photowall #localcaptures #gameoftones #ig_captures #ig_color #ig_myshot
This old Alumacraft with a 9.9 hp Merc looks more like Maine than my fancy former inboard/outboard
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#Exploremaine #maine #thewaylifeshouldbe #newengland #ignewengland #igersnewengland #maineoutdoors #igersmaine #igmaine #Ig_great_pics #ig_myshot #pictureoftheday #moodygrams #weekly_feature #primeshots #photowall #localcaptures #gameoftones #ig_captures #ig_color #ig_myshot #ig_shutterbugs #theamericancollective #nature #naturelovers #earthlandscape #beautiful #outdoors
Did not see it crawl up from the lake—I arrived after it exited its larval skin—but I saw the rest of its emergence. Its body swelled, its wings expanded and extended, it dried in the sun, and it flew off. Wonderful sight.
#dragonfly #moulting #ecdysis /
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#Exploremaine #maine #thewaylifeshouldbe #newengland #ignewengland #igersnewengland #maineoutdoors #igersmaine #igmaine #nature #naturelovers #earthlandscape #beautiful #outdoors #Ig_great_pics #ig_myshot #pictureoftheday #moodygrams #weekly_feature #primeshots #photowall #localcaptures #gameoftones #ig_captures #ig_color #ig_myshot #ig_shutterbugs #theamericancollective
Sugar-water! I love sugar-water! #rubythroatedhummingbird /
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#Nature #naturelovers #earthlandscape #beautiful #outdoors #exploremaine #maine #thewaylifeshouldbe #newengland #ignewengland #igersnewengland #maineoutdoors #igersmaine #igmaine #Ig_great_pics #ig_myshot #pictureoftheday #moodygrams #weekly_feature #primeshots #photowall #localcaptures #gameoftones #ig_captures #ig_color #ig_myshot #ig_shutterbugs #theamericancollective
That time of year /
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#Exploremaine #maine #thewaylifeshouldbe #newengland #ignewengland #igersnewengland #maineoutdoors #igersmaine #igmaine #Ig_great_pics #ig_myshot #pictureoftheday #moodygrams #weekly_feature #primeshots #photowall #localcaptures #gameoftones #ig_captures #ig_color #ig_myshot #ig_shutterbugs #theamericancollective #sunset #lake #plppa
Nesting peahen, the second in this exact spot recently. Soon there will be pea chicks (cuter than chick peas but not as good in hummus). #coconutgrove #peacock /
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#Nature #naturelovers #earthlandscape #beautiful #outdoors #Ig_great_pics #ig_myshot #pictureoftheday #moodygrams #weekly_feature #primeshots #photowall #localcaptures #gameoftones #ig_captures #ig_color #ig_myshot #ig_shutterbugs #theamericancollective
I’m impressed #peacock #coconutgrove /
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#Ig_great_pics #ig_myshot #pictureoftheday #moodygrams #weekly_feature #primeshots #photowall #localcaptures #gameoftones #ig_captures #ig_color #ig_myshot #ig_shutterbugs #theamericancollective #nature #naturelovers #earthlandscape #beautiful #outdoors #birds
Field of lupines. Transient beauty.
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#Exploremaine #maine #thewaylifeshouldbe #newengland #ignewengland #igersnewengland #maineoutdoors #igersmaine #igmaine #nature #naturelovers #earthlandscape #beautiful #outdoors #Ig_great_pics #ig_myshot #pictureoftheday #moodygrams #weekly_feature #primeshots #photowall #localcaptures #gameoftones #ig_captures #ig_color #ig_myshot #ig_shutterbugs #theamericancollective
Saturday morning 6-Jun. Post-biking swim. Calm, sunny, hot. Water 68 degrees. Procrastinating I watched a dragonfly struggling in the water, flapping its wings ineffectively. It drifted slowly towards the dock. I placed my hand under it when it reached arms' length. It grabbed my index finger and climbed aboard. I carried it to an Adirondack chair, intending to place it on the arm to dry its wings and compose itself. It would not let go of my hand. I rotated my fingers, encouraging it to step on to wooden arm. In crawled up my wrist. I sat in the Adirondack. The dragonfly crawled onto my cycling shorts. It’s left hindwing was crumpled. A molting mishap? I’ve seen evidence of incomplete metamorphoses, adult dragonflies partially trapped in their larval skin or emerged but damaged as they extend their wings.
We danced, the dragonfly never leaving me. I transferred it to my left hand, grabbed my camera, and started shooting, not wearing glasses, hoping at least part of it was in focus. This went on for a while. Then it took off, flying erratically but inexorably down until it splashed again in the lake. Its dragonfly compadres flitted nimbly near the surface. I rolled my eyes. “Okay, one more time.” I fished it out of the lake and carried it to the edge of the woods, 30 feet from shore, convincing it to crawl off my hand onto a broom’s bristles. This time, at least, it would have to work to fulfill its destiny to become bass bait.