Novel looks at the Rust Belt, composed by an American doctor
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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

The Urban Roam: Without It, Your City’s Screwed
The other day, as I did the urban roam, I learned the obvious. First, I learned that I live near

How Erie (PA) Started To Torture Me
As Erie (PA) has shown me, it was much easier being a coastal elite. Back then, I could fly over

Dear Daughter: I Hope You Dance
Thousands of hours—and dollars—later, I never thought I’d say this, dear daughter, but I hope you dance. You see, despite

The 10 Best Songs From Belmont University
Belmont University—it’s the Rodney Dangerfield of schools. Say Belmont, and people think horse race. Ask anyone to name a school

Why I Choose To Delude Myself
I’ve opted, as you’ve probably noticed, to delude myself. Even worse, I’m trying to convert the delusions into income. How

How I Lost My Religion at Buc-ee’s
It’s complicated what happened to me at Buc-ee’s the other day. I would say I was losing my religion, even

How the Media Makes Me Dumb
I need the media. We all do. When a president attacks it, that’s scary. All of the above is true.

What Have We Done?
What have we done?! I asked myself. There’s something about maps that opens the mind, and I kept staring at

10 Hints Your Kid’s Going to College
Going to college is fun—when you’re the one going. When it’s your kid, it’s more—let me think—not fun. Here are

When My Son Moved Away, I Found the Silver Lining
When I first heard the news, I thought there would be no need to find a silver lining. The whole


