Novel looks at the Rust Belt, composed by an American doctor
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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
Alcohol and Cancer: The Truth You Should Know
Just because you want something to be good for you, that doesn’t mean it is. Although low to moderate doses
Es el fútbol realmente tan popular?
El fútbol, podemos decir, es una pasión. En gran parte del mundo, es el deporte más popular, y lo que
London, Ontario: The London No One Cares About
Tons of North American cities were named after their British counterparts. Often, the shadow doesn’t loom so large. Birmingham, Alabama,
Be Thankful for These Certainties in Life
When the holidays roll around each year, it’s worth pausing and doing what the occasions were designed for you to
What Is the World Cup? 10 Key Numbers
Soccer is big. And this tournament is huge. But what exactly is the World Cup? Know these numbers, and you’ll
Qatar Is Where? Somewhere
Reminder—I try to please the search engines, explaining the odd Qatar is where? title. The bottom line is that you
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