Novel looks at the Rust Belt, composed by an American doctor
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Rochester, NY, Captured in 10 Numbers
When you have a general knowledge website, you reserve the right to occasionally go a little esoteric. And that’s what

What Is Diwali Celebrating? It Depends
Diwali is a pretty big deal. Think Christmas (gift giving), the Fourth of July (fireworks), Halloween (a lot of sugar),

The Meaning of Halloween? Snickers and Twix!
Let’s start by saying this—Snickers, Twix, Kit Kat, and Whatchamacallit are undoubtedly the best. If you want to throw in

Brief Chinese History (Like Really Brief)
We felt kind of guilty when, several months ago, we only devoted seven facts to China. As such, we plan

Is Asia a Continent? C’mon People!
The world of search engine optimization is an interesting (disturbing) place. The goal is to align your content with what

Who Is Christopher Columbus? The 10 Key Numbers
You probably hear about this guy, at least on that one day every October when the post office is closed.

What Is Indie Rock? It’s Good!
Warning. I picked this topic because I knew I could make a Rochester, New York, reference. Feel free to duck

What Is Motown? Your Answer in 10 Numbers
It’s been about two months since I’ve mentioned the Rust Belt, and, quite frankly, I’m experiencing withdrawal. But I didn’t

What Is Classical Music? The Pop Music Fan’s Guide
Let’s start with a couple disclaimers. First, we’re talking about Western classical music. So even though Asia and Africa account

What Makes Up Latin America? It’s Complicated
Americans have a reputation for being kind of…dumb. Just because we’ve allowed deluded residents to have a stronger voice than

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


