What a cool night watching round 1 of the NFL Draft here in Pittsburgh. They say it was a record crowd of 350k. I believe it. I’ve never seen so many people.

We rode our bikes to avoid the traffic. It was a memorable, headlamp powered midnight ride home on the river trail.

I should have taken some before pics, but here is an after pic. Spent the morning and afternoon with the chainsaw cleaning up from the storm. We had two downed trees and my neighbor had a 60ft pine down in his yard. At least we both have some firewood for summer.

A person is relaxing outdoors on a blue chair, holding a can of beer, with legs crossed and a fire pit and picnic table in the background.

Our new favorite hangout is CoStar Brewing in Etna, PA, where they have Street Fighter on the NES, mountain biking on the tube and an amazing selection of beer on tap. Definitely our kind of place.

A person is playing a retro video game featuring a character named Zangief on a screen inside a relaxed café setting.

My father was a real one. He was the kind of guy that skied in jeans. A bourbon drinker. His love for archery hunting was second only to his love for my mom. He took me to see Neil Young at the age of eight and gave me my first electric guitar shortly after.

Dad always had great life advice at the ready, but he never pushed it on me and allowed me to make my own mistakes. And when I inevitably made mistakes, he was right there to help me course-correct. He taught me how to learn from the experience of making mistakes. I didn’t understand this at the time, but looking back I’m thankful for this approach.

We lost him too soon. I think often about how he would have absolutely loved watching his grandkids grow up. He would have relished in being a part of their lives. His memory now lives for them in the stories I tell and the mannerisms I’ve inherited.

Today is his birthday. He would have been 74 years old. Happy birthday, dad. Miss you.

We’ve been trying to expand the recipes in our family dinner rotation. I’ve always struggled to make Asian cuisine, but I think I finally nailed a dish with this Thai fried rice. Everyone loved it.

A bowl of fried rice with vegetables, garnished with cilantro and accompanied by two spring rolls and chopsticks, sits on a wooden surface.

The Pennsylvanian

Amtrak 42, also known as The Pennsylvanian, runs from Pittsburgh to New York City. When possible, we love traveling by train. It’s a slower pace than flying and allows for taking in the passing landscapes in a way traveling by car does not.

A black and white photo of an Amtrak train car with visible windows and detailing is shown on a railway track.A snowy railway track runs through a wintery landscape with leafless trees.A person gazes out a train window at a snowy landscape with distant hills.A view through a train door window shows railway tracks and a station platform outside.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care. Happy holidays to you and yours.

Two Christmas stockings hang on a fireplace: one red with a photo, and the other white and red with the name Jeff.

On Snow Days and Simple Joy

We got about four inches of snow overnight and the roads are awful so it’s a snow day – er, “flexible instruction” day – for my youngest. Instead of being outside sledding, building a snow man or working with the neighborhood kids to create an igloo, she will be tethered to her iPad taking Zoom calls with her classmates and teacher for the majority of the day.

Of course we’ll make some time to get outdoors and do a few of those things today, but I’m sad that this generation of kids will never wake up to the unexpected magic of a true snow day. That elation when you open your eyes in the morning and look out the window to see a white blanket covering everything and learning that school is closed. The whole day ahead with anything possible.

Simple joys like this are receding from childhood and I’m not sure the digital equivalent is comparable. As parents, we should work to keep simple joy in the lives of our children.

Congrats to Steel City FC’s U14 Metro team for bringing home the championship from the Hempfield Fall Classic tournament in Lancaster, PA. The girls played strong all weekend long! Addie struck a timely goal to help give Steel City the 2-0 edge over Eagle FC in the championship match.

Heartbreaker of a game, but what a wonderful fall day for football in Pennsylvania. #WeAre

A man and a woman are smiling and taking a selfie at a football stadium filled with people.Cheerleaders perform a routine with one holding up a THANK YOU sign at a crowded football stadium under a cloudy sky.A man in sunglasses and a beanie takes a selfie with two smiling girls, one giving the other a piggyback ride, on a grassy area with scattered leaves.Two people enjoy a tailgate with one sitting in an open car trunk wrapped in a blanket and holding a drink, while the other stands nearby smiling and gesturing peace signs.

Halloween vibes

A person dressed in dark, eerie clothing stands on a dimly lit street under a night sky with visible clouds and a bright moon.

An Open Letter to Shaler Area School District

The following is an open letter to Shaler Area School District superintendent Bryan O’Black and the district’s board of directors regarding the closure and eventual sale of Shaler Area Elementary School. It was delivered via email on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, but I am posting here for transparency and in case anyone else from the community wants to send a similar note. Feel free to use this as a template for your own communication.

TO: oblackb@shalerarea.org, tunstallj@shalerarea.org, phillipse@shalerarea.org, dunne@shalerarea.org, burnj@shalerarea.org, kresse@shalerarea.org, machajewskij@shalerarea.org, petrancostad@shalerarea.org, kwiatkowskia@shalerarea.org, saullet@shalerarea.org, tresslerj@shalerarea.org
FROM: jeffrey@inscho.org
RE: Community Forum Follow-Up

Dr. O’Black and SASD Board Directors —

[Redacted first paragraph with personal identifiable information]

Thank you for sharing the information about the transition to a K-5 elementary education model at last evening’s Community Forum. I appreciate the transparency and vulnerability as you addressed questions from a naturally emotional audience.

I personally support this educational recommendation for the students of the district.

My wife and I are concerned, however, about the future of the SAES property. My home is one of approximately 30 residences that abut the SAES grounds, and one of more than one hundred within a quarter mile radius of the school.

As you know, the 22 acres upon which the school stands provides a lot of benefit for neighbors and the surrounding community. People gather, practice athletics, exercise, socialize and grow relationships with their neighbors on those grounds every day. I want to ensure some aspect of that remains when SAES is gone, while also generating much needed funds for the district to reinvest in our children’s future.

My intent with this note is not to add to the emotional responses, but recommend the board take a measured and thoughtful approach when considering the sale of the property. This may include:

  • Adding a work stream for the responsible sale of SAES property. I think the work stream approach for the transition is smart and I’ve seen this be effective in private sector change management. Unless I missed it in the presentation last evening, there is not currently a work stream identified for the sale of the property. I recommend that one be created, noting the impact to hundreds of families in close proximity to SAES.
  • Engaging neighbors for feedback and vetting of potential buyers. The sale of the Jeffery Elementary property several years ago set a precedent for the district’s active collaboration with community to facilitate a real estate transaction. I recommend a steering committee of neighbors be engaged to help identify viable & appropriate buyers for the land under shared goals of creating a lucrative sale for the district and a community-based plan for the property’s future.

I am willing, able and interested to volunteer or partner in any capacity to help make this a win/win for the district and the Scott Avenue community the district serves. Thanks again for the openness.

Respectfully,
Jeffrey Inscho

I asked Chuck Todd a question & he answered it on this week’s podcast:

Chuck! Jeff from Pittsburgh here. I just dropped my oldest son off for his first year at university. He has a great interest in journalism (particularly sports & politics), but my fear as a parent is naturally the dying of legacy outlets. I’ve heard you mention in passing on the podcast about how local sports coverage may have potential to transform other local coverage, or remake the media landscape. Could you elaborate on this?

Very cool to hear such a prominent voice in media give Elliott career advice!

We timed it perfectly and dodged the raindrops to bike into the city for lunch and a visit to the Museum of Illusions. It’s not really a museum, but a photo-op on steroids. Cool nonetheless!

Two people are riding bicycles on a tree-lined path, with one person taking a selfie and the other waving.A person is striking a playful pose in a room designed with geometric patterns and optical illusions, giving the appearance of being upside down.A young woman appears larger than a man due to an optical illusion involving a giant red chair at the Museum of Illusions Pittsburgh.Two people are posing in a perspective illusion room with blue geometric patterns on the walls at the Museum of Illusions in Pittsburgh.A person stands confidently with arms crossed against a backdrop of intricate, symmetrical blue and white patterns resembling digital art.A person wearing a floral shirt and a hat stands in front of a vibrant, blue geometric patterned background.A group of four people stands posing for a selfie in front of a mirrored wall with a vibrant, colorful ceiling reflecting above them.A man in a floral shirt and sunglasses takes a selfie while a woman rides a bicycle on a path behind him.

Today we celebrate twenty one years of wedded bliss. Together for twenty eight. To honor the occasion of our marriage being old enough to drink, here is the first photo I ever posted of us on this site – from Halloween 2004.

She got me then, she gets me now. I do not deserve her.

A dimly lit setting features two people posing closely together, one wearing a hat and sunglasses, with illuminated signs in the background.

A photo dump of some of my favorites from last week in Wildwood Crest, New Jersey.

A brightly lit Ferris wheel displays colorful lights against a dark night sky.A tranquil sunset over a marina with boats docked on either side.A family is enjoying slices of pizza while sitting on a blue bench by the beach.A boat labeled "CREST" is displayed on a bed of colorful flowers by a concrete walkway under a partly cloudy sky.

Ebb + Flow

I’m sitting here at my laptop for what feels like the first time in weeks, and it feels good. Really good. Like returning home after being away for too long.

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind. Elliott graduated high school. One chapter closing, another opening. We threw him a graduation party that seemed to take over our entire lives for a month. Planning for 100 people at our house, coordinating catering, setting up tents, worrying about weather. The setup was exhausting, the teardown even more so.

But when it was happening? Pure magic. Watching Elliott surrounded by friends and family, seeing the pride on everyone’s faces, feeling that collective celebration of this milestone – it was everything we hoped it would be and more.

Between the party planning, family travel, and an unusually demanding stretch at work, writing this site took a temporary backseat. This site sat here, patient and waiting, while life demanded my full attention elsewhere. And you know what? That’s exactly how it should be.

There’s something extremely natural about the ebb and flow of creative practice. Some seasons are for output, when thoughts are flowing and the words come easily. Other seasons are for input – for living, experiencing, gathering the raw material that eventually becomes the next wave of posts.

I used to feel guilty about the quiet periods. Like I was failing some invisible obligation to feed the algorithm, to maintain momentum, to stay visible in the endless scroll. But that’s the beauty of owning your own corner of the web. It doesn’t demand daily feeding. It doesn’t punish you for taking time away. It simply exists, ready for whenever you return.

This space has become something I didn’t expect when I started writing here: a refuge. A place where I can think out loud, process experiences, and document the moments that matter. It’s here when I need to work through something complex, celebrate something meaningful, or simply reconnect with the practice of writing.

Tonight, sitting here after being fully present for graduation ceremonies and family celebrations and work deadlines, I’m grateful for this patient digital home. I’m grateful for the rhythm that allows for both busy seasons and reflective ones. And I’m grateful that some things in our hyperdigital world still move at human speed.

We had a relaxing and restful family vacation last week in Southwest Florida. I managed to go the whole week without checking in on work or social feeds. As I reenter the real world this morning, I feel refreshed, rejuvenated and ready for a few intense work weeks coming down the pike.

A beach scene at sunset features a dramatic sky with dark clouds and a calm sea.

Forty-Seven Things

I begin my 48th trip around the sun today, so here is a non-exhaustive list of 47 things I’ve learned during those 47 orbits.

  1. Static made old radio.
  2. Be here now. This moment is the only one you can truly inhabit.
  3. Put the phone down. The best conversations happen face-to-face.
  4. Quality over quantity, always. Fewer, better things make life richer.
  5. Your body knows more than any smartwatch can. Listen to it.
  6. Progress isn’t always about moving faster or going farther.
  7. Sometimes the best way to move forward is to leave things behind.
  8. Eat as low to the ground as you can.
  9. Pizza and bagels are just better in New York.
  10. Never drink so much at night that you ruin the whole next day.
  11. People matter more than protocols, and protocols matter more than platforms.
  12. Relationships require effort.
  13. If the music is too loud, you’re too old.
  14. You should not enjoy the music your kids listen to.
  15. Seek out conversations with the elderly. Their perspective will educate you.
  16. Seek out conversations with children. Their perspective will energize you.
  17. Read books. Real ones. Feel the pages. Breathe in the binding.
  18. Depth almost always beats breadth.
  19. Chaos is constant. Exploit it.
  20. Living well is about progression, not perfection.
  21. Everything fades.
  22. Grief doesn’t last forever. It dulls over time.
  23. There is a difference between pain and discomfort. Learn to deal with each uniquely.
  24. Pain caves are mental constructs. You can choose to leave them.
  25. Small, consistent choices add up to big changes over time.
  26. Running can be meditation in motion.
  27. It’s OK to be bored. Let your mind wander. It may lead to something creative.
  28. Spend at least one hour a day outside.
  29. There is no such thing as bad weather.
  30. Get sunlight into your eyes as quick as you can in the morning.
  31. Avoid productivity as performance.
  32. Take notes, but don’t document everything.
  33. Take photos, but not selfies.
  34. Use the appropriate tool for the job.
  35. Outcomes over outputs.
  36. Don’t just do a thing. Do the right thing.
  37. Technical debates often obscure the more important human questions.
  38. Own your content. Put it on your own domain. Leave a digital legacy.
  39. A good leader doesn’t create followers. A good leader creates more leaders.
  40. Embrace both/and thinking instead of either/or battles.
  41. You are not your profession. Work is a means to an end, not an identity.
  42. Rise early. Get an edge.
  43. Check in on the news once, maybe twice, per day. Any more than that is not helpful.
  44. Attention is your most valuable currency.
  45. Tip well.
  46. Listening is vastly more important than speaking.
  47. Learn to be comfortable in silence and solitude.

We had an amazing night at Founder’s Field for Steel City FC vs. Pittsburgh Riveters. The state of women’s soccer here in Pittsburgh is strong! It was a great game — these ladies played with such intensity — and Adeline got the chance to see the action up close as a ball girl.

Two soccer players are competing for a header during a match, with a referee and other players visible in the background.A soccer player in a yellow uniform is about to head the ball during a game on a grassy field.Players are actively engaged in a soccer match, with one player kicking the ball.A soccer player in a dark uniform is sprinting towards the ball on a grassy field, with other players and a wooded area in the background.A person wearing a pink vest stands on a soccer field with one foot on a soccer ball, surrounded by lush greenery and a distant group of people.

Letting go is often harder than hanging on. It’s natural to grasp tightly to the people we love, but releasing the hold at times is also natural. It’s hard to understand that sometimes. Letting go requires trust & belief that the love we’ve given over time will endure across any distance.

One chapter closes, another one opens. Proud dad over here.

A graduate in a blue cap and gown stands next to a man in sunglasses and a jacket on a grass field.

How I Used AI Today

My son is having a birthday and graduating from high school in the span of five days, so Jilly and I thought we’d do something special and get him a joint gift to celebrate both occasions. He’s very much interested in photojournalism and will be entering university in the fall to study communications. We thought a nice DSLR camera would be a the perfect gift.

I don’t know much about cameras or lenses, so I asked Claude for some help. My initial prompt:

I want to buy my son a DSLR camera for his birthday/graduation. You are an expert in photography and photography equipment. Could you help me select the right camera, lenses and bag? I’d like to spend about $X total.

Claude and I then chatted about my son’s photographic interests, his current level of expertise, and several of my purchase preferences/requirements. The output of this conversation was a tight list of three potential camera bodies w/ corresponding lens pairings.

I then asked Claude to find the best deals for two of the options and it returned the top three online retailers for both based on price, service and customer reviews.

After validating some pricing details, I made the purchase. In total, I estimate this approach saved me several hours of research and analysis paralysis, which I am known for when making purchases like this.

The camera kit arrived two days later, we gave it to him on his birthday and he used it for the first time last night to cover his school’s WPIAL title baseball game.

Note: This post is part of an ongoing series called How I Used AI Today, inspired by friend and former colleague Beck Tench who does something similar over on LinkedIn. I’m starting to believe the thinking and narrative around generative AI is becoming too binary. The intent of this series is to keep me publicly honest and intellectually responsible with my use of this emerging technology.

We had a boutonniere issue that required a few moms to address, but they got it figured out and the couple looked sharp for Prom 2025.

A young couple is dressed formally, standing by a lake with a bouquet of flowers, surrounded by park scenery.A group of people is gathered in a sunny park, with a girl playfully posing with peace signs in the foreground.

Mother’s Day 2025

We had a wonderful day honoring and celebrating Jilly. First, we made our way to the South Side to check out the Neighborhood Flea. There were tons of vendors and people out and about, largely due to the splendid weather. I scored some artisanal Ginger Beer and the Jilly scored some prints from a local artist.

Next, we took a ride on The Gateway Clipper. We’ve been living in Pittsburgh for 25 years and have never done it. It was fun, and again, the weather was absolutely perfect. As we were deboarding, we even saw a beaver on the river bank. All the years I’ve been running through the woods, I have never crossed paths with a beaver. But the first time I take an urban cruise, there he is. Super cool.

We closed the day with a fabulous meal at Nicky’s Thai Kitchen. Pineapple Fried Rice for me, Pad See Ew for Jilly and Thai Fried Rice for the kids.

Happy Mother’s Day Jilly! We love you.