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
How Buffalo Made Presidential History
I’ve always embraced my role as father, particularly the part about boring the hell out of the kids. Presidential history,
The Best Hot Dog Ever
I’m not certain what’s in the best hot dog ever. And to be honest, it doesn’t matter. I mean, no
How Kendrick Lamar Proved I’m Biased
They say we’re all biased. In my case, Kendrick Lamar proved it. But don’t judge me yet—you can do that
Who Is Chappell Roan Anyway?!
As I downed the Molson Canadian—not my first—I looked around in disbelief. Who is Chappell Roan anyway?! I asked myself.
I Must Be Old and White
It turns out you don’t actually have to be old and white to be old and white. Growing up in
Bills-Chiefs: Rivalry or Abuse?
It’s one thing to be the plucky underdog. It’s something else altogether to be in an abusive relationship. The Bills-Chiefs
The Best (Worst) Road Trip Ever
A rabbit hole can be a very dangerous place. And when that rabbit hole makes you plan a 1,815-mile road
What Hoosiers Taught Me About Life
Once, in 1998, I was exposed to actual Hoosiers. That’s the demonym for people who live in Indiana, and the
How the Government Segregated America
It was 1995, and I honestly had no idea how the government segregated America. I was just 17, more concerned
Can Generation X Be Saved?
I’m part of the lost generation. Or is it invisible? Forgotten? Nah—literally and figuratively, Generation X is just lost. That’s