Novel looks at the Rust Belt, composed by an American doctor
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Ottawa: To Love or Tolerate?
I’ll just go ahead and get it out of the way—Ottawa is no Washington, DC. By population, the metropolitan region

Where Is Quebec in Canada? It Depends
As I’ve mentioned before, some of my awkward titles are designed solely to please the search engines, not to exhibit

What Is the Amish Religion? (For Beginners)
What is the Amish religion? Let’s just say it’s Christianity—with a twist. Here’s the story. Brief History Europe of

What Is Mormonism? A Timeline
It’s not often that historians get the opportunity to document the birth of a religion in play-by-play format. But given

Buffalo Wings: 11 Things You Need to Know
Honestly, despite what the title says, you don’t need to know any of this—particularly if you’re vegetarian or have made

What Does IPA Mean With Beer? Beer!
Unless you’ve been living a retro lifestyle, you’ve undoubtedly noticed a proliferation of craft beer over the past couple decades.

Where Is Toronto? In Canada!
As I’ve mentioned previously, Canada always gets the shaft. Take Toronto, for instance. It’s Canada’s largest city and the fourth

10 Facts About the James Webb Space Telescope
It’s amazing what humans can accomplish when they stop blunting their intelligence with politics. And this one is truly remarkable—as

Monkeypox: What Is It?!
On occasion, I write about medicine. Why not more often? Because let’s be honest—writing about music and fantasy football is

Where Is Pittsburgh? In the Rust Belt!
A few months ago in my weekly newsletter, I promised to keep things topical. But here I am again, writing

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


