Novel looks at the Rust Belt, composed by an American doctor
Get my free weekly newsletter, The Friday Mix
Latest Articles

The History of Cinco de Mayo in 5 Margaritas
I learned from my piece on St. Patrick’s Day that no one really cares why they’re partying. Does it really

The 15 Greatest Canadian Songs (According to Americans)
As mentioned previously, Americans don’t know much about Canada (or, as the stereotype goes, anything). To make amends, I’ve compiled

The American Revolution in 10 Numbers
All wars are important, but the American Revolution has to be up there in terms of impact on global history.

How Electric Vehicles Work (For the Gas User)
You can throw this topic in with things like 5G, Bitcoin, and NFTs—the stuff you should probably know more about

When’s Earth Day? Every Day!
Okay, that was cheesy. And I know if you searched for when’s Earth Day, you just want the date. So

What Is Easter About? 10 Things You Didn’t Know
I’ll start by saying a couple things. First, my knowledge of Easter was, until recently, limited to hard-boiled eggs and

What Is UFC? It Ain’t for the Faint of Heart
What is UFC? It stands for Ultimate Fighting Championship, which is an organization that promotes a modern combat sport called

What Is Boston Known For? These 10 Things (And More)
Boston has a serious burden to shoulder. Six US states collectively known as New England—Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode

Music of India (With 10 Awesome Examples)
Writing about India is kind of stressful. Any time you try to summarize an ancient land with 1.4 billion residents—existing

World Cup Qualification Explained
There’s a World Cup in a lot of sports—cricket, rugby, women’s soccer, and so on. I’m referring, of course, to

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


