Novel looks at the Rust Belt, composed by an American doctor
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Can I Just Be American Again?
I was American once. Back in the 1980s. The memories. They don’t lie. Well, they can lie. But they don’t.
What Is Go-Go Music?
After a recent post on the scrawniness of the Washington, DC, music scene, the backlash was severe. And by that,
10 Hints It’s an Election Year
By election year, I’m talking about the American presidential election. And it’s the worst. Right wingers talk even louder than
The Music of Washington, DC: It Kind of Stinks
The music of Washington, DC. What can I say? Listen, the capital of the US has a ton going for
Why I Can’t Stand (and Love) Washington, DC
Washington, DC. 1 Are you a bastion of democracy? Do you deny your citizens representation in US Congress?
10 Hints You Should Lay Off the Weed
Marijuana, like alcohol, has been normalized. But let’s not pretend we’re talking about parsley. Here are a few clues that
Jamaican Patois: Celebrate It!
Here’s what you need to know about Jamaican Patois. The Ingredients Imagine an island inhabited by native peoples. The
The Questions Bob Marley Made Me Ask
Bob Marley. He’s been with me all along. But my questions have changed. August 1995 I was an idealist.
10 Hints Your Work-Life Balance Sucks
Work-life balance. When you hear this expression, the vision is that of a frazzled professional, hardly able to eke out
Jack White: Are You Famous or Not?
It was June 7, 2018. I had just parked the car, and I glanced back at my 10-year-old son. My wife
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