Novel looks at the Rust Belt, composed by an American doctor
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What the Grand Ole Opry Taught Me About Life
It’s never fun to be a foreigner in your birth country, I’ve learned. But it wasn’t until I saw the
When You Try Your Best, but You Don’t Succeed
When you try your best, but you don’t succeed. What do these words mean to you? Maybe they evoke a
My Imaginary Trip to Asia
In 1982, my kindergarten teacher called my parents with great concern. While recounting a trip to India, I had apparently
The American Board of Internal Medicine Is a Joke
The other day, a gang of doctors robbed me. They call themselves the American Board of Internal Medicine, and something
10 Social Media Posts in Iambic Pentameter
William Shakespeare uplifted the English language with iambic pentameter. A few centuries later, we Americans have ruined everything. And if
10 Hints You’re Middle-Aged
You could look at your birth certificate. Or you could look in the mirror. But if you’re still not sure,
What Are the Finger Lakes? A Poem
What are the Finger Lakes? It’s time for one man’s take I’ve spent some time around those parts And I
What Is a Fringe Festival? It’s SO Rochester!
I’ve learned that there are benefits to living off the beaten path. Because when the path is finally beaten, the
What Is Identity Anyway?
Immigration has its rewards, not that I would know. That said, as an innocent bystander, I have learned a couple
The Great Gatsby: A Poem
The Great Gatsby—where do I start? Perhaps with author F. Scott Fitzgerald He died at age 44, attack of the
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