You don't always pick your passions. Sometimes they pick you.

In my case, as they say, the writing was on the wall.

With a life resume that includes Milwaukee, St. Louis, Detroit, West Virginia, and Western New York, I am the Rust Belt.

It’s the country’s most misunderstood region, and coastal media outlets only make the problem worse. Isn’t it about time for people who live here to take back the narrative?

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What gives me the right to do this?

The internet, of course.

After training in internal medicine at Cornell and nephrology at Yale, I practiced medicine full time in Rochester, New York, for 11 years. Then I discovered Wi-Fi—now I work part time and call myself an influencer.

But don't worry—it's not all that heavy.

The point is to use blog posts, top 10 lists, unorthodox poems, and really short books to look at the Rust Belt in unconventional and amusing ways.

You'll note my take on things is very Gen X.

That’s what happens with a birth year of 1977. Mostly, however, you’ll note why you still live here and why those who don’t—well, they’re just missing out.

Transparency

Have you ever wondered how a site like this makes any money? Same here! Here’s a quick breakdown:

The majority of the content is free, because I couldn’t run a site like this without free knowledge.

The content from this site is syndicated on Medium, where I get paid by the read.

I sell my books, which I think are good. You may or may not agree.

I live off my wife.
That was a joke.

Over time, I may add or subtract revenue sources (aside from
the wife one). Check back occasionally for updates.