Novel looks at the Rust Belt, composed by an American doctor
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The North American Great Lakes in 10 Numbers
When you live in the Rust Belt, as I do, you get used to people feeling sorry for you when

Summer Olympics History in 15 Numbers
Everyone loves the Summer Olympics. Yes, whenever humans are involved, bad things can happen—lethal protests, hostage crises, bombings, doping scandals,

What Is Craft Beer You Ask? It’s Beer
Along with artisanal and small-batch, craft is an adjective that is clearly effective from a marketing standpoint, as it has

The Malay Language: A Quick Introduction in 10 Facts
We’re a bit nervous about this one, because people sometimes get upset when we call things that they want to

Facts About Indonesia: The Essential 10
Brazil. Nigeria. Russia. Mexico. Japan. These are some big names as far as countries go. But what if I told

What Happened with Kodak? It’s Not a Great Moment
This one really stings. As I’m based in Rochester, New York, having to file a blurb about Kodak under History

How Does Google Make Money? The 600-Word Answer
Wrapping your head around modern technology is no joke. And once you kind of understand how it works, the next

The Dutch Language: 7 Facts You’ll Need for Trivia Night
To use a basketball analogy, the British were definitely the Michael Jordan of colonizers. But on that same scale, while

What Is Pennsylvania Dutch? It Ain’t Dutch
To date, I’ve focused on some serious language powerhouses—the likes of English, Arabic, and Swahili, all languages that are spoken

What Are the Euros? An Explanation in 10 Numbers
What are the Euros? First off, I’m talking about soccer (or football), not the currency. If you’d rather read about

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


