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
Syracuse: Is There Actually Hope?!
First impressions, when suboptimal, can be the nail in the tourism coffin. Such was the fate of Syracuse when I,
7 Famous Musicians From St. Louis
Back in 1995, a series of rejections resulted in an unexpected opportunity—thirty years later, I would be able to write
Arts Vibrancy: Where Upstate NY Dominates
There’s nothing worse than having weak metrics jammed down your throat. Self-worth, after all, is often measured by house size,
The Best Jet Lag of All Time
A time difference of thirteen hours, I had a feeling, would make for the jet lag from hell. Flying into
10 Hints You’re the Dumptown Guy
It’s one thing to occasionally appreciate an undervalued city. It’s another thing altogether to force your family to vacation in
Sandusky: You Would Be Surprised!
Sandusky, I was pretty sure, would be my living hell. If the contrived world of Disney—in sunny Orlando—irritated me, I
Where Is Toledo? It’s in a Bad Spot
Where is Toledo? I asked myself as I fidgeted with Google Maps. A few zooms later, I had all the
Setting Sun: The Song That Makes Seattle Cry
The setting sun, as real as it may seem, is rising elsewhere. That is the reality I’ve been forced to
Why Smaller Cities Matter
Smaller cities—shall we say they’re my destiny? My life resume, after all, includes Milwaukee, New Haven, St. Louis, Hartford, and
10 Hints It’s Time for the Big Dance!
The Big Dance, as you know, isn’t really a dance. In 1977, when Al McGuire—the coach of Marquette—said he would