Novel looks at the Rust Belt, composed by an American doctor
Get my free weekly newsletter, The Friday Mix
Latest Articles
ComposeMD’s 2026 Outlook
As you might have guessed, in 2025, ComposeMD shattered all prior annual revenue figures. Yes, those prior figures all rounded
Screw History and Culture
It wasn’t my idea to screw history and culture—Royal Caribbean said it was okay. And don’t blame them either—they were
Rust Belt Man Goes to the Bahamas
Rust Belt Man is tired. And he’s nervous. He’s tired, of course, of being called stupid. And nervous because he’s
10 Things I Learned in 2025
It’s been a year of enlightenment and ignorance. Oh, and progress and regression. Anyway, here are 10 things I learned
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
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