Novel looks at the Rust Belt, composed by an American doctor
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What Is March Madness? An American Tradition Explained
Only in America can someone look at a bunch of kids playing amateur basketball and figure out how to make

A History of the NBA in 10 Numbers
The US has an uncanny ability to follow sports that no one else cares about. American football is the most

10 Jobs Created by Technology That Might Confuse You
It’s pretty safe to say that technology has completely upended our lives. From having to pretend to understand artificial intelligence

What Is a Kilowatt Hour? The High-Energy Answer
The world of electricity can get a little confusing, especially for those of us who didn’t necessarily pay attention in

7 Quick Facts About China (There Are Probably More)
You’re probably wondering how we could possibly summarize the world’s most populated country, the third (or fourth) largest country by

What Is a Fossil Fuel? The Politics-Free Answer
We live in an era where almost everything has political connotations. Say the word table, and emotions will run inexplicably

The American Civil War – 10 Numbers You Should Know
In every country, people figure out reasons to temporarily or permanently hate each other. The United States is no exception.

What Is Progressive Rock? And Should You Care?
As a general rule of thumb, I prefer to focus on topics that have some relevance to our modern lives.

10 Moderately Interesting Facts About German
Prior to writing about a topic, I like to perform keyword research to make sure that the chosen topic isn’t

What Does Short Selling Mean? The Jargon-Free Answer
The recent meteoric rise (and fall) of GameStop stock captured the attention of the entire world. There was something mystical

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


