Novel looks at the Rust Belt, composed by an American doctor
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10 Songs About War You Have to Know
A world run by artists would be a great world. Granted, we might all still be living in huts, but

How the Price of Oil Is Determined
Keep in mind that I used a passbook savings account well into my twenties. So to say that I’m an

Who Was Claude Monet? The 10-Number Answer
As I mentioned in my post about Shakespeare, I’ve spent countless hours watching football and downing cheap lagers. That said,

Los Angeles: The 15 Numbers You Need to Know
I received a note from the State Department that I was writing too much about China. (Play along—no one actually

Who Are the Uyghurs? A Quick Introduction
It’s not often that a nondescript region in Asia with a population density of 40 per square mile makes the

Chinese Demographics in 10 Numbers
As a standard American who goes to work, comes home, sleeps, and repeats, I’ve been told that China should be

The Rules of Curling: A Spectator’s Guide
Every four years during the Winter Olympics, you look up the rules of curling, only to promptly forget them. Here

10 Quick Facts About Beijing
After writing about Detroit and Rochester, NY, I figured it was time to up my game. And I opted to

What Is Black History Month?
Underneath the shine of every country’s polished exterior lies a dark and not-so-proud history, often defined by inequity. One way

The Winter Olympics in 10 Numbers
C’est un grand plaisir d’écrire sur les Jeux olympiques d’hiver. I didn’t want to run afoul of the International Olympic

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


