Novel looks at the Rust Belt, composed by an American doctor
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How the Media Makes Me Dumb
I need the media. We all do. When a president attacks it, that’s scary. All of the above is true.
What Have We Done?
What have we done?! I asked myself. There’s something about maps that opens the mind, and I kept staring at
10 Hints Your Kid’s Going to College
Going to college is fun—when you’re the one going. When it’s your kid, it’s more—let me think—not fun. Here are
When My Son Moved Away, I Found the Silver Lining
When I first heard the news, I thought there would be no need to find a silver lining. The whole
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.
How Being a Nephrologist Jaded Me
Being a nephrologist, I reminded myself, was my choice. It’s just that, as I looked into her eyes, I couldn’t
The 2026 Great Lakes NFL Preview
Who would come to a random blog by a part-time doctor about the Rust Belt for an NFL preview? No
The Other Guy Who Hates Free Trade Agreements
Where others see an apocalypse, I prefer to look for logic. And that which drives Trump 2.0, as chaotic as
My Favorite Song From Rochester (NY)
Some nepo babies get a real estate empire or worldwide fame. Others get a blog post about a favorite song
Indian Man Found Wandering Along Lake America
In a shocking turn of events, on August 30, 2026, authorities in Rochester, New York, reported having seen what looked
When Dolly Parton Held My Hand
Dolly Parton, the legend, was there for everybody. That includes me, the wannabe coastal elite with the superiority complex. It
I’m a Hipster in Dad Shorts
Sometime around 2012, the hipster thing reared its ugly head. Two years earlier, I had moved with the family to
How New York’s Data Center Ban Kills Upstate (Again)
Yeah, yeah—I know it’s not really a data center ban. It’s a moratorium barring state approvals of hyperscale data centers
How New York State Is Digging Its Own Grave
The beauty of New York State, if one sticks around long enough, generally results in anger. In Upstate New York, it’s
Dear Tennessee: Who Are You Anyway?
Dear Tennessee: I know what it’s like to be misunderstood. I am from the Rust Belt, after all. But