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
Muscle Shoals: The Alabama That Gives Me Hope
The story of Muscle Shoals, as far as I can tell, is one of hope. No, I wasn’t there. But
Southern Food for Fat Northerners
Am I allowed to talk about Southern food? Because in Connecticut, where I grew up, the South is a different
The 10 Biggest Lies I’ve Told
The biggest lies I’ve told are a pretty big deal. Sure, you may think that lying about an election, inciting
How the US Government Works in 1 Song
Musicians—at least the good ones—can teach you a lot. Back in 2018, one of them even taught me how the
US Election Analysis: The Only Number That Matters
There’s a lot of noise after an election—we’ll call it hot air. Because despite what political pundits might tell you,
My Picks for Trump’s Cabinet and Staff
Given my complete lack of political experience, I’m perfectly suited to chime in regarding President Trump’s cabinet and staff. As
Wherever Life Takes You, Dive In
It’s November 12, 2024, and I’m not in the mood for the wherever life takes you nonsense. When your team
Country Roads, Germany, and Me
As they say, the middle of nowhere is in fact somewhere—most people just don’t know where. And by they, I
What Would Susan B. Anthony Say Now?
On November 8, 2016, I vandalized a gravesite. The act was, of course, perfectly legal, a state-sanctioned salute to Susan
Trumpism: An Acronym
You’ve been raised to think in twos—conservatism and progressivism. Now go ahead and throw that out the window. To understand