Novel looks at the Rust Belt, composed by an American doctor
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What Is Latinx? A Quick Xplanation
If you’re like me, you don’t know what to call anyone anymore. Chances are you’ll probably annoy someone, no matter
What Is Fantasy Football? The Best Pathetic Thing Ever
You know who you are. The person who follows a pretend team of football players as if your life depends
What Is the US Open? The Answer in 10 Numbers
Just so you know, this article is about tennis—because the same terminology also shows up in the world of golf.
What Causes the Leaves to Change Color?
When you don’t live in a tropical climate, one of your rationalizations—aside from not having a job in a tropical
Ragweed Allergy: It’s Nothing to Sneeze At
You’ve probably heard of the term hay fever or the fancy medical synonym allergic rhinitis. In fact, you may have
The History of Amazon in 10 Numbers
We’re not really businesspeople, but we’ve heard that this company is pretty big. You can buy stuff from it by
15 Things Seattle Is Known For (Besides Rain)
I felt a little guilty about making Detroit the first city—in the entire world—that I featured. Not everyone gets the
10 Facts on Haiti (Hint: the GDP Is Low)
You may be wondering why we used the phrase facts on Haiti instead of facts about Haiti. It turns out
Overview of Afghanistan: 15 Numbers That’ll Help You Out
No offense to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, or Pakistan. But as far as America goes, it’s all about Afghanistan.
What Are NFTs? Something Else to Confuse You
A while back, we wrote a bit about the whole cryptocurrency thing. At the time, we felt kind of good
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