The First Four Days

This post is being published on Friday morning. Donald Trump has been president for all of four days. 96 hours. That’s all. Seriously. A lot has happened over that time, so I’m going to share some thoughts and opinions on the first few days of the Trump administration.

I’m not going to comment on the pardoning of nearly all of the January 6th rioters, even those found guilty of assaulting officers. This is a big win for Antifa who I heard was behind the whole thing. I’m also not going to comment on the executive order to ban birthright citizenship. The 14th amendment wasn't even one of the Bill of Rights, and the only part of the constitutional amendments that are important are the first ten.

Instead, let’s look at some other actions that may not have received adequate attention.

Trump signed an executive order requiring the United States to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America. This is clearly going to bring down the cost of groceries. And sure, media companies might need to start calling this body of water the Gulf of America, but that's like telling Pittsburghers to call Heinz Field the current name of Acrisure Stadium. My question is why stop there? Change the name of the state of New Mexico too! Pittsburgh’s Mexican War Streets should now be the American War Streets. Quarterback Michael Vick had an alias of Ron Mexico. It’s Ron America now! 

The Department of Defense is sending 1,500 troops to the southern border. Not widely publicized is that Trump is also ordering troops to the North Carolina border. Anyone who visits the rest stop/tourist trap South of the Border in South Carolina is not welcome in North Carolina, regardless of immigration and citizenship status.

Trump is ordering all federal employees to return to the office. While this impacts federal employees across the country, this is a bigger deal in places like Washington DC. Sure, it will take some people 2+ hours each day to commute (when they could use even half of that time to work from home), but the real reason behind this action is a little-known fact that Trump is a huge proponent of public transportation. Trump took the subway everyday when he lived in New York. Ridership has been down on the Washington-areas buses and trains significantly since COVID, and he wants to Make Metro Great Again!

Finally, just before inauguration, Donald and Melania Trump released the cryptocurrencies $TRUMP and $MELANIA also known as Trumpcoin and Melaniacoin. This is clearly a fundraising idea to help pay for the devastating destruction caused by Hurricane Helene in North Carolina and Tennessee and the wildfires in southern California. Or maybe to help offset some of the proposed tax cuts. Seems like selling cryptocurrencies is much more effective than a bake sale. I applaud the president and first lady for creating these coins to help the country as I'm sure that they wouldn't use the office of the presidency for their own financial gain. 

Photos by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images and Saul Loeb/AP

You're Welcome, Lee Greenwood

Lee Greenwood is scheduled to perform at the inauguration this Monday. Greenwood is probably tired of singing the same patriotic songs over and over and over again. I mean, he has to sing "God Bless The USA," but maybe he wants to show his versatility and vocal range and abilities. Back in 2017, we provided some ideas for songs he could perform during the inauguration activities. Apparently, he didn't listen, which is somewhat understandable. Performing at an inauguration or one of the events around the ceremony is a big deal. Maybe he didn't want to mix things up. 8 years later, Greenwood should be comfortable with his resume. Perhaps he really wants to do something big to cement his legacy. Therefore, I asked people on my social media sites for suggestions about what Greenwood should perform. Here are the results though some of these may not be suitable for work:

Sabrina Carpenter - Espresso

This is arguably the biggest song of 2024, and you know Greenwood is working late, 'cause he's a singer. 

2 Live Crew - Me So Horny

An obvious choice to honor President Trump's south Florida ties.

Shania Twain - Man! I Feel Like A Woman!

Good song to get the crowd dancing!

The Weather Girls - It's Raining Men

The Pussycat Dolls - Don't Cha featuring Busta Rhymes

Greenwood could perform vocals by both The Pussycat Dolls and Busta.

Divinyls - I Touch Myself

Nine Inch Nails - Closer

This one is a little heavier on the instrumentals. Maybe a good song to showcase his fellow musicians.

James Brown - Say It Loud - I'm Black & I'm Proud

Jimmy Buffett - Why Don't We Get Drunk

Guarantee that there are a lot of Buffet fans in the crowd.

Cardi B featuring Megan Thee Stallion - WAP 

Disturbed - Down With The Sickness

Diana Ross - I'm Coming Out

Christina Aguilera - Candyman

In honor of Trump winning Pennsylvania, Greenwood should support a Pittsburgher.

Mtume - Juicy Fruit

And staying on the snack/candy theme.

Lee Greenwood - God Bless You Canada 

To close the show, Greenwood should perform his song to honor America's soon to be 51st state!

Sean's Ramblings New Writer

I feel like I have started at least a dozen posts in the last few years complaining about how I don't have as much time as I'd like to write. Therefore, I decided to do something about it. I quit my job and am now completely ignoring my kids. Okay, I didn't do that. Instead, after hearing so much about AI writing, I went to ChatGPT and asked this question:

Can you create a blog post about the history of Sean's Ramblings?  

Seconds later, I got this result (I added the pictures myself)

The History of Sean’s Ramblings: A Journey Through Personal Stories and Reflections

Introduction: In the vast world of personal blogs, some stand out for their unique blend of humor, insight, and genuine reflection. "Sean’s Ramblings" is one such blog that has captured the attention of its readers through its honest storytelling and eclectic range of topics. From personal anecdotes to musings on pop culture, sports, and everyday life, Sean's Ramblings has carved a niche for itself in the blogosphere.

But how did this blog come to be? Let’s take a look at the history of "Sean’s Ramblings" and trace its evolution over the years.

The Early Days: Beginnings and Inspiration The journey of Sean’s Ramblings started in the mid-2000s when Sean, a self-proclaimed lover of writing and sharing his thoughts, decided to start a personal blog. At the time, blogs were becoming increasingly popular as a means of self-expression, and Sean was eager to join the ranks of amateur writers who were using this new medium to connect with others.

What set Sean’s Ramblings apart from many early blogs was its focus on personal stories. Sean didn’t just want to write about trending topics or news items—he wanted to create a space where he could reflect on his experiences, opinions, and the little moments that make life interesting. The blog was designed to be a place for his “ramblings”—thoughts that didn’t always fit into traditional categories but felt worth sharing anyway.

A Diverse Range of Topics Over the years, "Sean’s Ramblings" has covered a wide variety of topics, from sports to movies, travel to food, and everything in between. Some posts are deeply personal, offering a glimpse into Sean’s life and his thoughts on everything from relationships to career challenges. Others are more lighthearted, like commentary on current events or pop culture trends.

One of the defining features of Sean’s Ramblings has been its versatility. The blog has evolved as Sean’s interests have evolved, allowing it to stay fresh and relevant for both longtime followers and new readers. This diversity has also helped Sean connect with a wide audience, from sports fans to fellow travel enthusiasts to movie buffs and beyond.

The Impact of Social Media As social media platforms grew in popularity, Sean’s Ramblings expanded its reach by sharing blog posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. These platforms allowed Sean to engage with readers on a more personal level, responding to comments, sharing thoughts in real-time, and connecting with fellow bloggers.

In particular, Twitter became a key tool for Sean to interact with readers, and the micro-blogging format fit well with his rambling, off-the-cuff style. It wasn’t unusual for him to post quick thoughts, jokes, or links to blog posts throughout the day, further cultivating a loyal and interactive audience.

The Blog’s Identity: Humor, Reflection, and Community What makes "Sean’s Ramblings" special is its combination of humor, self-reflection, and a sense of community. Sean’s writing has always had a conversational tone, inviting readers to feel as though they’re part of an ongoing dialogue. The blog never takes itself too seriously, yet it offers genuine insights into the life of its creator, all wrapped in a tone of humor and humility.

Over time, Sean’s Ramblings has developed a loyal following—many readers have commented on how they feel like they know Sean personally through his posts. This connection, along with the relatability of his writing, has helped the blog thrive even in an age when blogging has seen a decline in favor of more visual or fast-paced content like YouTube and TikTok.

Challenges and Growth Like many personal blogs, Sean’s Ramblings hasn’t always been consistent. There have been periods where Sean posted less frequently, whether due to life changes, work commitments, or simply needing a break. But despite these challenges, the blog has continued to grow, thanks to its loyal audience and Sean’s genuine passion for writing.

Moreover, Sean has always embraced the evolving nature of the digital world. As blogging platforms changed and social media grew more complex, he adapted, experimenting with new formats, sharing more personal updates, and engaging with readers in creative ways.

The Legacy of Sean’s Ramblings Today, Sean’s Ramblings is a testament to the power of personal storytelling in the digital age. It’s a place where anyone can go to find a thoughtful post about sports, a funny take on the latest pop culture trend, or a reflective essay about life’s challenges.

Whether you’re a long-time reader or just discovering the blog, one thing is clear: Sean’s Ramblings continues to be a cherished part of the blogging world. And as long as there’s something on his mind, we can expect many more ramblings to come.

Conclusion: The history of Sean’s Ramblings is one of passion, humor, and the enduring power of personal storytelling. From its humble beginnings to its evolution into a beloved blog with a dedicated community, it’s a reminder that sometimes the best way to connect with others is through sharing your own unique perspective.

As the blog continues to evolve, one thing is certain: Sean’s Ramblings will always be a space where reflection, humor, and insight come together, creating a welcoming place for readers to laugh, think, and reflect alongside the writer.

Look, I see the appeal of AI writing. This took seconds while many of my posts take significantly longer to write. There's nothing necessarily wrong with the history of Sean's Ramblings above. It's just boring. Hopefully the random pictures help. Guess you'll just have to deal with more of my ramblings.

Baby elephant photo from the Reid Park Zoo.

My 2025 Resolutions

I'm generally not a resolutions person, but I thought I would make an exception for this year.

1. Get in Better Shape

Yeah, yeah, this is your standard resolution. At my annual physical last month, I was up a few pounds heavier than the previous year and weigh more than I have in 20 years. Need to do better in 2025.

2. Drink More

This seems to go completely against item #1 and warnings from the surgeon general. I'm a social drinker and primarily have a beer when playing trivia or at a poker night. I may also have a glass of wine or cocktail at a restaurant. Basically, I need to get out more socially in 2025 and that means more alcohol.

3. Go On The Ya Jagoff! Podcast

In honor of my blog's 20th anniversary, I want to celebrate by appearing on their podcast. I was on this podcast early in COVID, but it would be fun to join the crew in person. Hi John and Rachael!

4. Read More Books

Pre-COVID, I used to take the bus and Metro to work every day. Now, I almost always drive to the office. The good news is that I listen to podcasts more, but it's at the expense of reading. I only finished 5 books in 2024. I really should take about 15-20 minutes a day before I go to sleep to read. 

5. Donate Blood

I generally donate blood about once every two years when there is a blood drive in my community. Doing this once or twice this year should be realistic.

6. Exercise More

This goes along with #1 and is your standard resolution. I'm being really specific though. When I write exercise, this really means playing pickleball more and working more games as a soccer referee.

7. Finish the Winnipeg-North Dakota Blog Post

I wrote about eating in Winnipeg and attending a Jets-Penguins hockey game, but I still haven't shared my experiences crossing the border and exploring Winnipeg.

8. Win My Fantasy Baseball and Football Leagues

Not sure this counts as a resolution since I only have limited control over the results, but I'd like it to happen!

9. Watch a Pittsburgh Team Win a Title

Same as #8 except I have absolutely no control over this.

10. Buy a New Pair of Tennis Shoes

You got me. I wanted to have a list of 10 items and couldn't think of anything else. I mean, I could have written "volunteer more" or "spend more time with my family," but I already have get in better shape and exercise more above, and those are your standard resolutions. I really need a new pair of tennis shoes and this one seems attainable!

Sean's Ramblings at 20

I started this blog 20 years ago tomorrow without any clue about what I was doing. (Yes, you can still say this today.) My first post didn't include a title. My second post misquoted the start of Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock's It Takes Two. Over the next few weeks and months, I wrote mostly short posts which would today be considered tweets or Facebook updates about a wide variety of topics though mostly about Pittsburgh sports. I was recently married and several years away from any kids. We didn't even have a cat yet!

20 years later, I have now spent over 40% of my life writing a blog. This is my 3,383rd post. From what I can find, Sean's Ramblings is the oldest, continuously-operating personal blog. There are other blogs that are subject specific (such as about individual sports teams) that are older, but many of them have had various writers during their existence. So why do I still write a blog? I'm not sure that I have a good answer. I really have no idea how many people still read this. I don't know much about SEO (search engine optimization), and I've never figured out how to build an audience. The best answer is that this is a journal for me. Yes, it's a public journal visible in theory to the entire world, but I write for me. And a little bit for my kids in case they ever want to read through this one day (even if they have no idea who Kevin Pittsnogle is though they may have heard of Flavor Flav).

I wrote fewer posts in 2024 than I have in any other year of this blog's existence. Part of the reason is that my posts are longer. You can read my random/quick thoughts and pictures on Facebook, Bluesky, Twitter, and Instagram. I consider many of my posts here to be "articles" or at least longer or more substantial than your typical tweet. So will I write more in 2025? Maybe. An average of a post a week seems reasonable, though I'd like to increase this some.

My main goal for this blog in 2025 is for me to branch out by attending events as a blogger/media member. I submitted an application to cover the Grammys virtually, and I plan on trying to participate in a few other things. (If anyone knows of events in the DC area, please let me know!) I think I bring a different perspective than many influencers that would be fun to read.

Thanks to all of you for reading this post and any of my other posts over the years. While I wrote that I write this for me, I do enjoy having an audience! Thank you!

Best and Worst of 2024

While I've written this before, I dislike best and worst posts that come out in November or early December. What happens if you see something great in late December? Does it qualify for the next year or is it just forgotten? Now that 2024 is complete, here's my annual best and worst list. Please note that the items in this post represent what I watched or saw in 2024 even if they came out before this year. For example, The Sound of Music was released about 60 years ago, but I saw it for the first time over the summer as part of a live outdoor screening/sing-a-long (which was a lot of fun). 

Best TV Show: A Man on the Inside and Primo

There's two things in common with these shows: They are comedies with a lot of heart, and Michael Schur is a producer on both. Primo, which aired on Freevee in 2023, featured a teenage boy in San Antonio raised by his single mom and five uncles. While it's a coming of age story about the teenager, the dynamics between the five uncles (as well as with their sister and nephew) made the show. I'm writing this in past tense since it's unfortunate and disappointing that the show was cancelled after one season. Still, I highly encourage you to check it out.

A Man on the Inside follows Ted Danson, a widower hired to live in a retirement community by a private detective to try to solve a case of a stolen necklace. This one seemed to hit close to home between older residents and Mary Elizabeth Ellis (maybe best known as The Waitress on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) and her husband raising three boys. Any scene with the three kids seemed to mirror many parts of my life. While there are certainly funny moments, I think the show is much more of a drama than a comedy.

Right before I published this post, I changed my mind. My favorite TV show that I watched in 2024 was Only Murders In The Building. Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez are fantastic. The show has so many good lines and scenes and amazing guest stars. The "minor" characters are all awesome too. The only negative is that I haven't watched the last two episodes of season four since my free Hulu subscription ended. I need to see how the last season ended!

Worst TV Show: Yellowstone

I watched the first three seasons last year, so this only represents season 4 and season 5, and really it's just the last 6 episodes which aired in November and December 2024. The show returned after a nearly 2-year break by killing off a major character but not having that character appear on screen thanks to a contract dispute. Even though there wasn't much time to wrap things up, there was still time to show Yellowstone's creator and writer Taylor Sheridan play poker several times and have Rip tell a story about meeting Sheridan's character at a bar fight. Oh, and there's always time for 2-3 minute clips of horses stopping quickly in the dirt for the 713th time. I really hope that there's not a 6th season though I would watch a spin-off featuring Mo and Teeter.

Other TV shows I watched in 2024:

Night Court

The Bear (season 2)

Archer (final episode)

Not Dead Yet

Abbott Elementary

Quantum Leap

Atlanta

Shogun

Modern Family (I had the last few seasons from several years ago saved on my DVR)

Welcome to Wrexham (latest season)

The Big Door Prize

The Amazing Race

Fargo (season 5) 

High Potential

The Other Two (season 3)

Girls5eva

Succession (last half of last season)

Hard Knocks: In Season with the AFC North

Hacks (season 3)

Beast Games

Best Song: APT by Rose and Bruno Mars

While I wrote about my favorite songs of 2024 a few weeks ago, APT by Rose (from the South Korean group BlackPink) and Bruno Mars is my favorite. It's pure pop and really, really catchy. To me, the bridge makes the song. 

Don't you want me like I want you, baby

Don't you need me like I need you now

Sleep tomorrow but tonight go crazy

All you gotta do is just meet me at the

So good. Plus, if you want to be silly, you can replace the chorus with a-pa-chocolate chip. It works. (Credit to The Moose for this change.)

Worst Song: Lonely Road by MGK and Jelly Roll

Look, if you're going to use the tune from John Denver's Take Me Home, Country Roads, just do a cover. 

Lonely road, take me home

To the place that we went wrong

Where'd you go now?

It's been a ghost town

And I'm still here all alone.

No. No. No. No. No. Now, if you insert West Virginia after where'd you go now, that might redeem the song a little. That might be funny.

Best Movie: The Holdovers

I'll admit that this was the toughest pick for me. Oppenheimer and Barbie both deserved all the acclaim they received. Poor Things and Emelia Perez are both very weird (especially Poor Things), but I appreciate that the films went for a big swing. They are both so much different than anything I've seen. With all of that, The Holdovers is a safe pick. Paul Giamatti, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, and Dominic Sessa are all excellent. A feel good story and ending too.

Worst Movie: Maestro

I give credit to Bradley Cooper for acting and directing this movie about Leonard Bernstein. I just found that I didn't really care about Bernstein's personal life. 

Other Movies I Watched in 2024 not mentioned above:

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (the 1971 version)

Dumb Money

Mississippi Burning

Lincoln

Ex Machina

A Star Is Born

The Sound of Music
Everything Everywhere All at Once

Top Gun: Maverick

Knives Out: Glass Onion

If

Wicked (part 1)

Best Book: Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Vera Wong runs a tea shop with barely any customers and finds a dead body in her shop one morning. From there, she decides to solve the case. It's a really fun read. 

Other Books I Read in 2024:

Rickey by Howard Bryant

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

60 Songs That Explain The 90s by Rob Harvilla

Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto 

People Love Dead Jews by Dara Horn (only a few chapters in)

Best Pittsburgh Sports Moment:

The real answer should be anything related to Paul Skenes, but this picture (as shown below) after Pitt's men's basketball team defeated Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium in January is still awesome. Pitt really should have made the tournament, but a few pre-conference losses sealed their fate. 

Worst Pittsburgh Sports Moment:

Everything else! The Penguins didn't make the playoffs. The Steelers lost in the first round of the playoffs in snowy Buffalo and seem headed to that again next week. The Pirates are the Pirates, Pitt's football team lost 6 straight, and Pitt's women's volleyball team had an incredible year but lost in the final four. Duquesne's men's basketball team winning an NCAA tournament game was fun though.  

Best Sports Moment I Saw Live: Maryland Women's Basketball

Yes, this is definitely recent bias, but the pass starting around the 3:40 mark of this video was awesome.

Most Meaningful Blog Posts:

The high and low of 2024 came just a few weeks apart. The Moose celebrated his Bar Mitzvah in early April, and then, my mom passed away at the end of the month. I'm grateful that she was able to watch the ceremony online and congratulate him on an amazing job. 

Worst Blog Post: A Hawk Tua Post

This was a dumb idea about hawks that lived on my street and the Miami Dolphins quarterback.

Best Concert: Pearl Jam and Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

I saw these concerts about a week apart, and that's quite the twin bill. What I appreciate about both is that they have deep catalogs and play such a wide variety of their songs. I was awestruck by the Bruce concert, and as I was leaving Nats Park, I started going through his hits that they didn't play. I wasn't upset. Bruce and company could play a 7-hour concert and still not play everything!

Hanukkah 2024 Videos

It's time for my annual trip around YouTube to find some of the best videos about and celebrating Hanukkah. White the videos below are fun and/or entertaining, none of them mention the new-ish tradition of pickles during the holiday. I don't have any musical talent, so maybe next year someone will mention pickles in one of their songs.

A long-running subplot of this blog is that there must be some type of rivalry between the a cappella groups Six13 and The Maccabeats. They're like the sharks and the jets. Or Coca-Cola and Pepsi. This year, both groups took this rivalry to a whole new level by both having songs related to Wicked. 

 

There's a new (at least to me) a cappella group on the scene, Y-Studs. It's almost like they're the channel 2 news team in Anchorman. 

Since I visited Winnipeg earlier this fall, let's hear about the Hanukkah celebration in Manitoba.

How about some historical context about the holiday courtesy of Epcot.

A big deal is being made about Christmas and Hanukkah falling on the same day. This is from CBS:

Back to music. Kosha Dillz has a new Hanukkah song.

A land called Sufganiyot? Yes please!

Finally, this is just a clip of Spidey and The Thing saving Hanukkah by getting latkes back. I really want to see how this started (and if there are pickles involved). 

Happy Hanukkah to those who are celebrating. And Merry Christmas to those who are celebrating too.

Favorite Songs of 2024

My friend Josh does a series of best of the year posts which I highly recommend checking out. Josh is also smart in that he does several posts on specific topics (such as favorite song, podcast, etc.) rather than one long post like I do each year. While I still plan on writing my one "best of" and "worst of" post in the next week or two, I feel like sharing my favorite songs of the year. A few notes. Many of the videos below are live performances because the actual official videos have a word or two that is not suitable to be viewed at work or with kids. In one case, I actively dislike the official video, so I used the live version. I also admit that most of the new music I hear is pop music, so that takes up pretty much the entire list. Even the two country songs I included received massive pop airplay. Enjoy.

Shaboozey: A Bar Song (Tipsy)

Pretty sure this is the biggest song of the year. I really enjoy the callback to J-Kwon's Tipsy from, gulp, 20 years ago.

Hozier: Too Sweet

Nothing like hearing your kids sing "I take my whisky neat."

Madison Beer: Make You Mine

I don't go to clubs, but if I did, this seems like a fun song to dance to. 

Dasha: Austin (Boots Stop Workin')

I just like this one.

ROSÉ & Bruno Mars - APT.

Spoiler. This song will appear in a future blog post.

Gracie Abrams: Risk

Pretty sure that I'm the last person in America who learned that Gracie Abrams is the daughter of J.J. Abrams.

Charli xcx: 360

Tough call between this song and her other song, Apple. Going with the keyboards.

Chappell Roan - HOT TO GO

I accidentally left this off the post originally. Catchiest song of the year. Plus, as I wrote recently, spelling words in songs equals a hit!

Finance Park

When I was a sophomore in high school, I participated in Junior Achievement. Once a week in the evening, I would carpool with two friends and join about 20-30 other students from the Eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. I don’t remember much of what we did other than make hangars and sell them. While I appreciated the mission and purpose of JA, I really haven’t thought about the organization in years.

Fast forward to a few months ago at The Moose’s back-to-school night where his Civics teacher mentioned a field trip and the need for volunteers. All Fairfax County 8th graders visit Junior Achievement’s Finance Park. There are several in the DC area and probably many more across the country. According to their website, Finance Park is an experiential education designed to engage middle school students for life and work in the real world. It combines classroom curriculum taught by teachers with a high-impact situation. While this sounded great, I had no idea what this meant.

On the field trip day, I arrived at Finance Park and got a tour of the facility and received a brief training which left me with more questions than answers. We were then ushered into the auditorium with about 150 8th graders. Each student had already been assigned a group, and when the individual group was announced, each volunteer escorted the students to the particular room. Once in the room, I introduced myself to my group of 8 students, they introduced themselves to me, and I distributed tablets to each of them. The tablet showed each student a specific occupation, salary (including how much was taken out for taxes), and indicated whether the students had a spouse and/or children. After a few minutes making sure everyone was set with their tablets, each group went to one of about 15-20 rooms. The purpose was for the students to make a budget from their monthly salaries. This was my room:

I was assigned health, life, and disability insurance, which is definitely a fan favorite among 8th graders. A group would come into the room, and I asked them if they knew what health insurance, life insurance, and disability insurance is. While they did okay with health insurance, no one got disability insurance correct. At least 3 groups joked that life insurance is when you die, and they were shocked that this was actually correct. Then, the students would set a budget in their tablets before going to the next room. There was only about 2-3 minutes per group, so there really wasn’t time to explain how health, life, and disability insurance are often tied to employment. I enjoyed seeing each group including many of The Moose’s friends and The Moose himself. More about him momentarily.

After each group went to the 15+ rooms where they budgeted for many areas including transportation, housing, childcare, and utilities, the groups returned to their original room. Once back, they got to spend their money. It was fun seeing how many kids wanted a sports car or if they were able to sell off their kids or get a divorce. They quickly discovered that childcare can be expensive. And while you might want a sportscar, your spouse is going to have to find a way to get around too. My group was, um, interesting. One kid literally put his head on the table and didn’t really do the spending part. It’s a field trip! Pretend to be interested! Another kid discovered how to access YouTube on the tablet and played Travis Scott videos. Perspective is nice. You could really see several of the kids trying to be cool by not taking the activity seriously because another kid didn’t. At the end of the day, The Moose told me that the kids in my group were annoying. 

The best part of the day was seeing The Moose and him being happy to see me. He smiled and waved every time he passed the room. He will not want to see me in social settings at some point in the near future, but that hasn’t happened yet. I'll take that as a win.

As for Finance Park, I wish I had this in 8th grade. It really shows how many expenses adults have. I’m also willing to volunteer again though it won’t be until my other boys reach 8th grade!

(The first picture is from the Junior Achievement of Greater Washington. The rest are by me.)

Spelling Words in Songs

I recently submitted an application for virtual media access to the 67th annual Grammy Awards in February 2025. Unfortunately, the Sean's Ramblings budget does not allow me to travel to and attend the red carpet and ceremony in Los Angeles (assuming that I get accepted), but I think it would be fun to cover the Grammy Awards remotely and provide interesting and informative information to you. To demonstrate my music credentials to the Recording Academy, I am writing this blog post to show a trend in music history maybe not known to many. And my finding/theory is this: 

Spelling a word in a song = H-I-T

Seems simple, right? Like A-B-C (though ABC isn't an actual word), easy as 1-2-3!

While I acknowledge that this is not an exhaustive review of every song with words spelled out, I think this is a pretty thorough list. The idea of this post/theory stemmed from the current Chappell Roan song, HOT TO GO! where the artist spells out H-O-T-T-O-G-O 14 times. It's a really catchy song and Target agreed by featuring it in a commercial. HOT TO GO reached #15 on the Billboard HOT 100 chart, but would easily have reached #1 if Billboard had a HOT TO GO 100 chart. Let's take a look at other songs that help make my argument.

Respect by Aretha Franklin

This is simply one of the greatest songs of all time. Not much more to write except that it went to #1 in 1967.

Saturday Night by Bay City Rollers

BCR (did anyone ever call them BCR?) just comes right out with a spelling lesson. It’s right there at the start of the song. S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y Night! Saturday Night hit the top spot in 1976.

Jump Jump by Kris Kross 

Two different words spelled in the same song. First, you have the D-A-double D-Y-M-A-C. (Yeah, you know me!) Later, either the Mack Daddy or the Daddy Mack spells out J-U-M-P. Next, wear your clothes backwards, and you get a 1992 #1 song.

Hollaback Girl by Gwen Stefani

You never realized how much fun it was/is to spell bananas until Gwen Stefani told us. This song was #1 in 2005, or nearly 20 years ago which is B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

U.N.I.T.Y by Queen Latifah

Although this song didn't reach the top 20 like the others above (#23 in 1995), this is Queen Latifah's biggest song and won a Grammy for best rap solo performance.

Gloria - Them

Until I started writing this post, I thought this was a Van Morrison song. Turns out, the song was released by Morrison's band Them in 1964. This is the rare song in this post that didn't chart very highly. Sort of. While Them's original Gloria only peaked at #75, a cover version released around the same time by The Shadows of Knight  reached #10. Patti Smith and The Doors both had their own versions of the song. This song received a Grammy Hall of Fame Award and made multiple greatest songs and rock songs of all time lists. While I can't prove it, I don't think this happens without Morrison spelling out G-L-O-R-I-A. (The audience shots in the video below are fantastic.) Thanks to Wikipedia for all of this information.

P.I.M.P. by 50 Cent

Let's go back to 2003. 50 Cent was the biggest artist in the country. His Get Rich or Die Tryin' album sold over 9 million copies. Although P.I.M.P. didn't reach the top spot like 50's first two singles from this album, it made it to #3. Not too shabby.

Safety Dance by Men Without Hats

After being told that you can dance if you want to, this song went to #3 in 1983. I also danced to this song with friends at an 80s dance party in college.

Fergalicious by Fergie featuring will.i.am

Glamorous by Fergie featuring Ludacris

While Fergie may not be a pioneer in spelling words in songs, if you had a spelling contest, she would be the bee champion. Fergie released these songs back-to-back with Fergalicious reaching #2 in January 2007 and Glamorous going to #1 in March of the same year. The former somewhat indirectly spells multiple words like the D-A- double D-Y-M-A-C did 15 years earlier. First, you have "T to the A, to the S-T-E-Y girl, you tasty" followed by D to the E, to the L-I-C-I-O-U-S. Glamorous has none of the "to the" in the middle of a word. That's probably why the latter went all the way to the top of the chart! 

First Class by Jack Harlow

Harlow sampled Glamorous in 2022 and kept the spelling of Fergie's title in his version. The result was another #1 song. 

Lola by The Kinks

Spelling out C-O-L-A and L-O-L-A is just brilliant. This song reached the top 10 by going to #9 in 1970.

R.O.C.K In the U.S.A. by John Mellencamp

#2 in 1986. Maybe this would have gone to #1 if Mellancamp went by John Cougar Mellencamp at the time.

Steal My Sunshine by Len

Although it’s not prominent, Len sneaks in the spelling of L-A-T-E-R early in the second verse. Steal My Sunshine went to #9 in the US in 1999 and is Len's only charting song.

Can’t Hold Us by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Ray Dalton

The winner of the longest spelled word goes to Macklemore for I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T.  No record label is going to sign him. He's not going to sell out! Can't Hold Us went to #1 in 2013 and was the most streamed song on Spotify that year.

O.P.P. by Naughty by Nature

Y.M.C.A. by Village People

Technically, these are abbreviations and not words. O is for other, P is for people. The last P , hmm, stands for property. This song reached #6 in 1991 and was played at every single homecoming dance in America that fall.

Not much to write about Y.M.C.A. Amazingly, it never reached #1 in the US, peaking at #2, though it went #1 in 15 other countries. If someone finds this blog in 100 years and looks through the songs in this post, this is the one that will still be known.

Finally, I'll give an honorable mention to Taylor Swift for her song Me with Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco where she says "Spelling is fun." I agree with Taylor (though apparently there was some controversy with this line), and spelling words in songs is a key to success!

Pirates Predictions Review

Now that we're through Thanksgiving, it's the perfect time to, um, revisit Pittsburgh Pirates predictions made back before the season started. While the full post is here, let's see how we did.

1. What do you expect from Paul Skenes this year?

Skenes exceeded all expectations. He finished the season with a record of 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 170 strikeouts in 133 innings pitched. Skenes won the National League rookie of the year, finished 3rd in the NL Cy Young voting, and started the All-Star game. Josh predicted Skenes would have 10-12 wins and finish top 3 in rookie of the year. Point for Josh! 

2. What do you think Oneil Cruz's state line will be for 2024?

Cruz had an uneven year. 21 home runs, 76 RBIs, .259 batting average, and 22 stolen bases. He also had 181 strikeouts and moved from shortstop to center field. Overall, a positive step forward, and Pirates fans hope that he builds off this season and becomes more comfortable as an outfielder for 2025. Josh was the closest again predicting 24 HR / 66 RBIs / 20 SBs / .252 average.

3. Who will lead the Pirates in home runs?

The answer was Bryan Reynolds with 24. Is this turning into Josh's Ramblings? He is the only one who predicted Reynolds. Jim, The Moose, and I all made the terrible call of Jack Suwinski. We chose poorly.

4. When will Livvy Dunne make her debut at PNC Park?

The answer was May 11th for Skenes' first start. While I hoped that people would give an actual date, the question was somewhat vague, so Brian and Amanda both said she would be there for Skenes' debut. Technically, they were right. Points for them.

5. Will Rowdy Tellez be more successful as a Pirate than Daniel Vogelbach?

If we answered this question on June 1st, this would be a definite no. Turns out he was pretty good the last few months of the season before being unceremoniously released during the last week of the season. His overall stat line was 13 home runs, 56 RBIs, a .299 OBP, 1 stolen base, and a -0.4 WAR. He also made three pitching appearances. In 2022 with the Pirates, Vogelbach had 12 home runs, 34 RBIs, a .338 OBP, and a 0.6 WAR. As fun as Rowdy was over the summer, I think the answer is no. Jim predicted no and Brian leaned that way. Points for them.

6. Will the Pirates be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline?

Overall, the Pirates were buyers getting Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Bryan De La Cruz, and reliever Jalen Beeks but the team also traded Martin Perez to the Padres. Brian, Gary, Josh, and Jim all get credit for their answers.

7. Overall Pirates record and place in the division

The Pirates finished 76-86 with the exact same record as 2023. However, the team finished last in the NL Central. No one thought the Pirates would finish below 3rd place in the division. We were also an optimistic group. Josh's prediction of 79-83 was the closest.

Congrats on Josh on doing the best in predicting. Let's try this again in 2025. 

Photo of Skenes by Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images. Photo of Dunne by Charles LeClaire-USA Today. Charles is making the rounds!

Live From Winnipeg: Jets-Penguins Review

My friend Christian and I are attempting to attend a National Hockey League game in every city with a team. While our annual hockey road trips haven’t been as annual lately (thanks to kids and Covid), we’re closing in on our goal. This year, joined by our friend Jason, we visited Winnipeg along with North Dakota. I already wrote about our dining experience in Winnipeg and will write a separate post about being a tourist in Winnipeg, our time in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and how we confused both American and Canadian border agents. This post focuses on the Winnipeg Jets-Pittsburgh Penguins hockey game. Please note that there are plenty of non-hockey related items, so please continue reading even if you’re not a hockey fan.

Let’s start with scheduling this trip. Our initial idea was to attend a Jets game as well as a University of North Dakota hockey game. Unfortunately, the timing didn’t work out for a UND hockey game though we did incorporate a visit to a University of North Dakota football game instead. Because why wouldn't you go to a UND football game when you have the chance? Fortunately, the timing matched up with seeing the Jets face my hometown team, the Pittsburgh Penguins. I figured out that it's been over a decade since I attended my last Penguins game. In the pre and early Alexander Ovechkin era in Washington, it was really easy to get tickets to Pens-Caps games. That changed when the Caps started being good, and ticket prices got a lot more expensive. And while I go back to Pittsburgh at least once or twice a year, I haven't been to PPG Paints Arena, except to see the Harlem Globetrotters. This is a long way of writing that I was very excited to see Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin in person again.

Trying to be a gracious tourist, I didn't want to walk around Winnipeg and the arena wearing Penguins gear. However, I wanted to show that I am from Pittsburgh for people who might understand.

Even though there were a lot more people in Penguins gear than I expected (I forgot that Crosby is a national hero in Canada), exactly zero people commented on my shirt. 

Going with the Jets (and Top Gun) theme, I liked that the home team hits the ice to Danger Zone by Kenny Loggins.

That's Kenny Loggins!

For no apparent reason, the Jets have two mascots. The first is Benny, who served as the team's mascot in the 80s and 90s before the team moved to Arizona and is now the secondary mascot. Benny is named for the former team owner Ben Hatskin and for the song Bennie and the Jets because nothing represents Sir Elton John's longstanding ties to Winnipeg like a blue mascot with a giant red nose and mohawk.

The second mascot is Mick E. Moose, which may be one of the worst names in mascot history and seems like a Disney lawsuit waiting to happen. The silhouette of Mick E. visiting our section might give you nightmares!

When the Jets score a goal, the arena blasts Takin' Care Of Business by Bachman-Turner Overdrive (along with the goal horn). Fun fact: the band is from Winnipeg, so this song makes perfect sense. The mascot really should be called BTO rather than Benny. Anyway, after the initial playing of the song, the arena staff figure out who scored the goal, and each player has their own individual song. It's a very cool idea that I haven't seen before. While one player had your standard AC/DC goal celebration song and the others weren't very memorable, Adam Lowry's goal song is Espresso by Sabrina Carpenter which is certainly a choice. 

The Jets have a house band called Mach 10 that perform between periods. At one point during one of their sets, the lead singer announced that they were going to play a song that is a fan-favorite and represents Winnipeg. Was it a BTO song? Bennie and the Jets? If you guessed Bon Jovi's Livin' on a Prayer, you win!

I appreciate Winnipeg making me and others from Pittsburgh feel like home.

Mid-way through the second period, a chant of "Where is Rutger?" emerged throughout the entire arena. Rutger McGroarty was the Jets 1st round draft pick in 2022. While I don't know the entire story, it seems that Rutger never wanted to play in Winnipeg, so the team traded him to the Penguins over the summer. The one thing you can't do as a player is say that you don't want to be there. Fans hate that more than anything else, so even those wearing Penguins gear joined the chant. I tried to answer the question by explaining that Rutger is currently in Wilkes Barre-Scranton, home of the Penguins top minor league affiliate, but no one seemed to acknowledge my response.

Before the game, the team had a nice tribute to forward Bryan Little who had one last pregame skate with the team. I didn't realize that Little played his last game in 2019 but only formally retired recently. He is a fan favorite in Winnipeg.

This is the best jersey I saw at the Canada Life Centre:

If you really want to see highlights from a game that occurred a month ago, please check out the video below. The game recap is here too. You might notice that Pittsburgh center Lars Eller had two goals for the Pens. I think he is a solid veteran that the Penguins would want to help the team win. (Sean's note: The Penguins traded Eller to the Washington Capitals last week, so never mind.)

A month after this game, the Penguins are near the bottom of the Eastern conference standings and like this game in Winnipeg, regularly lose leads. Meanwhile, the Jets are 16-3 with the best record in the league. If the Penguins aren't going to win the Stanley Cup, I'm going to support the Jets especially since I can say that I attended one of their games during their championship season. And here are a few more pictures.