Novel looks at the Rust Belt, composed by an American doctor
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The Essence of Buffalo, New York
The Essence of Buffalo, New York, in a roundabout way, was inspired by Malcolm Gladwell, and not because his life—like
Lake Ontario: It Will Crush You! (Musically)
Always trust a friend who once invited you to a whiskey tasting, even when he’s not inviting you to something
The Day I Affirmed My Manhood
In an evenly split household, affirming one’s manhood and standard parenting are one and the same. But I’m still damn
The Day I Hit Rock Bottom
The other day, I hit rock bottom. Call it the bottom of a rabbit hole, if you must. I, on
The Middle of Nowhere Is Somewhere
Growing up on the East Coast, my idea of somewhere, based on the concept of the middle of nowhere, involved
The 10 Best Songs From Syracuse
Syracuse, in the minds of many, is that place where farmers dress up in Orange to watch kids play basketball.
The 10 Best Songs From Buffalo
Buffalo, according to the national media, is that place where blue-collar folk sit around watching snow fall, rust form, and
I Don’t Belong Here
What the hell am I doing here? I don’t belong here. Even though it was an 80s cover band, I
What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?
What to the slave is the fourth of July? I asked myself this question, and I felt a pang of
How I Pissed Off Coastal Elites
I hadn’t set out to piss off coastal elites. To be honest, it was just another day in the life
Why Lebron James Chose Syracuse
Lebron James, by text, is a very candid man. The following thread has been abridged for the sake of brevity.*
What Parenting Taught Me About the Rust Belt
I’m no parenting guru. In fact, about a decade from now, I’ll find out how I f****d it up royally.
I Hate You IKEA—but Thank You
Nostalgia, they say, comes with rose-colored glasses. But in the case of IKEA, it can also come with nausea—and not
How The Odyssey Saved Rochester, NY
You know The Odyssey—that Christopher Nolan film with Matt Damon and Anne Hathaway. And you know Rochester, NY—that rusty town
Why Spain Is Actually Playing Italy
Don’t fall for the hype about Spain playing Argentina. (Or, if you’re reading this after July 19, 2026, I hope
Confessions of a Rust Belt Addict
The Rust Belt addict, mercifully, is not always found with a needle in his arm. The addicted, I’ve learned, get
How Being a Writer Ruined the World Cup
Being a writer, as you must know by now, is a dream. By that, I mean it’s a nightmare, something
Thank You, European, for Being So Damn Smart
Dear European, I know you’re smarter than me. How do I know? Because you tell me. Anyway, I’ve come across
These World Cup Population Numbers Will Blow Your Mind
World Cup population numbers are for the worldly—and the weirdly obsessive. Without formally committing to either category, I’ve created this
I’m Officially an Idiot
On June 26, 2026, it became official—I’m an idiot. I’d like to thank my fellow human beings—without you, I would