Novel looks at the Rust Belt, composed by an American doctor
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The World Baseball Classic Explained
Baseball, among those who still pay attention, takes some heat for labeling the pinnacle of its sport as the World

11 Inspiring Quotes About Writing
The world is full of inspiration. Which got me thinking—why can’t I contribute to the ever-expanding sea of motivational reflections?

US Megaregions: Which One Are You In?
If you love staring at maps, you’ll absolutely love learning about US megaregions. Just beware that no one exactly knows

Indian States and Territories for Beginners
From the outside looking in, India might seem like a monolithic entity. But don’t be fooled—everyone kind of hates each

25 Random Facts About Texas (2025 Version)
It’s huge. Unapologetic. Contradictory. And growing rapidly. Here are 25 random facts about Texas, with the disclaimer that as the

San Antonio: The Overlooked One
After a recent post on Philadelphia, I was greeted on social media with some helpful feedback. This is written childishly

Stop Comparing the US to Tiny Countries
Comparing the US to other countries is everyone’s favorite pastime. And I get it. The country has problems. Gun violence.

10 Spotify Stats for the Wannabe Music Geek
By this point, music streaming—also known as accessing a massive digital music library somewhere in the cloud—is second nature. Several

The 10 Best Rihanna Songs
Robyn Rihanna Fenty. No introduction needed. So let’s jump right in to the 10 best Rihanna songs to date. Actually,

The Best Grammy Acceptance Speech Ever
I honestly never thought I’d be giving a Grammy acceptance speech. And I’m pretty sure no one who’s known me

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


