Novel looks at the Rust Belt, composed by an American doctor
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I Must Be Old and White
It turns out you don’t actually have to be old and white to be old and white. Growing up in
Bills-Chiefs: Rivalry or Abuse?
It’s one thing to be the plucky underdog. It’s something else altogether to be in an abusive relationship. The Bills-Chiefs
The Best (Worst) Road Trip Ever
A rabbit hole can be a very dangerous place. And when that rabbit hole makes you plan a 1,815-mile road
What Hoosiers Taught Me About Life
Once, in 1998, I was exposed to actual Hoosiers. That’s the demonym for people who live in Indiana, and the
How the Government Segregated America
It was 1995, and I honestly had no idea how the government segregated America. I was just 17, more concerned
Can Generation X Be Saved?
I’m part of the lost generation. Or is it invisible? Forgotten? Nah—literally and figuratively, Generation X is just lost. That’s
My Favorite Book As of 2025
My favorite book is not the Bible. Nor is it Gone with the Wind, which I’ve heard is popular as
The One Thing Jimmy Carter Taught Me
If Jimmy Carter hadn’t lived a hundred years, I would have missed the obvious. When he started his presidency, I
My Wife’s Spanglish Sucks
The Western Hemisphere is where languages go to die—and get reborn as something that irritates Europeans. Take Spanglish for example.
How I Ended Up Near a Ditch—Again
It’s not very glorious living near a ditch. And when the ditch is filled with brown water, having no use
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