Novel looks at the Rust Belt, composed by an American doctor
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What Is Avocado Oil Used For?
Avocados are having their moment. Sure, you might have grown up putting butter on your toast, but that piece of

Tales From an Upstate New York Building
She never thought it would come to this. Pieces. Literally. Her life was in pieces. She knew things hadn’t been

Lionel Messi: 10 Essential Numbers
As mentioned previously, I can’t play soccer, nor do I understand the nuances of the game. I do, however, recognize

ComposeMD’s Humble Holiday Wish List
When you’re a blogger in Upstate New York, you don’t ask for much. Case in point—this humble holiday wish list.

What Is Nuclear Fusion? The Nanoscopic Answer
Remember, this is a general knowledge website. If you regularly hang out at a particle accelerator, you’re going to want

French Hip Hop: You Saved Us From French Music!
Dear France, I know you think very highly of yourself. And in many regards, as I’ll highlight below, that self-confidence

Argentina: 10 Numbers You Should Know
When a Rust Belt obsession gets out of control, the quest to find things with lost promise and unmet potential

Why Your Doctor Doesn’t Like Their Job
No one feels sorry for American doctors. They are some of the highest-paid in the world, spending their lives in

A Middle-Aged Man at a Football Game
It’s that time of week again. Time to hang with the boys. The parking lot’s still empty, but that’ll change

10 Facts About Iran for the Standard American Dude
When you’re American, your knowledge of this place tends to be limited: the Iran hostage crisis, the Iran-Contra affair, something

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


