Novel looks at the Rust Belt, composed by an American doctor
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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
I Survived Rural America!
On May 31, 2025, danger notwithstanding, I turned off CNN and took the risk of a lifetime: I went to
The Best Polish Restaurant in Buffalo
What should we expect from the books we read anyway? The Best Polish Restaurant in Buffalo had me asking that
Are These Your Places of Tourism?
You’ve worked hard. Now, politics and tariffs aside, it’s time to make your list of places of tourism. First, you
Rebranding Rochester
After years of writing about this place, I’ve realized that there’s only one way of successfully rebranding Rochester (the one
WNBA Cities by Population
In Connecticut, where I grew up, watching women’s basketball is a way of life. Thanks to Caitlin Clark, the rest
Lisbon: Just Not the One You’re Thinking About
I just went to Lisbon, the one you are thinking about. I walked the narrow streets, climbed the endless hills,
The Most Confusing Weekend of My Life
I’m still thinking about that confusing weekend because, well, how could I not be? It all started with a short
What Is a Primate City?
I stand firmly against the primate city. The good news, as you’ll see, is that I don’t live with one.
What Is a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)?
In the US, cities are nothing without metropolitan areas, and metropolitan areas are defined by their anchor cities. In other
What the Heck Is the Third Chapter?!
The best part of being a writer is that you can make stuff up, even when it’s real. That’s why