Novel looks at the Rust Belt, composed by an American doctor
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Happy Birthday, Jesus
There’s no birth certificate, but the Roman Empire decided in the fourth century that on December 25, I should say

The Shrikhande Family Holiday Card
As an environmentalist, one who occasionally throws cans in the trash to avoid emptying the recycle bin, I’ve opted to

Yes, I AM Privileged
Be honest—when you look at me, you see the privileged. You might even call it brown privilege. It started with

Happy 50th Birthday, Wife
It’s strange, this 50th birthday thing. Because I still remember that time when I was 17, the first time I

How AI Helped Me Finally Lose Weight
It’s December 2025, and there’s no running from AI. In my case, there’s no running—period. And that’s the point. Embracing

The Fateful Day I Finally Saw Hamilton
Life on Lake Ontario, unless you’re in Toronto, comes with an inferiority complex. That’s why I’m obligated to tell you

The Dream Cruise Everyone Has To Take
You’re thinking about your dream cruise all wrong.* Screw the Caribbean. And Alaska. Europe, too. In fact, screw wherever you’ve

You’re Right—the Great Lakes Are Garbage
You know who you are, you who calls the Great Lakes garbage. You may be one of those East Coast

Please—Just Bury Me in a Pringles Can
It wasn’t my idea, this whole Pringles can burial. I stole it from the man who started the trend in

How The Wizard of Oz Ruined My Life
Back in 1997, during my junior year of college, I thought I was done with The Wizard of Oz. I

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

