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

How Cleveland Made Me Stop Listening to People
Cleveland, even when it was the cold, grimy, and depressing Cleveland of perception, was my type of place. I had

The Electoral College: A Sweet Table!
The US Constitution is revered, but let’s not pretend it’s perfect. Remember, this is the document that called a slave

Is San Diego Nice? It’s the Rust Belt!
Is San Diego nice? After visiting the sun-soaked paradise for a conference, I thought I had the question answered. Then,

Baseball Is Back! 5 Numbers That Prove It
No one likes to hear that a childhood obsession was foolish, even if the forced realization comes with truth. For

Beware the Hypocrisy of the North
In the US, it’s a big deal to move from the North to the South. It’s an even bigger deal

How the Oakland A’s Broke My Heart
I had never been to Oakland, nor could I name a single player on the Oakland A’s. But on September

What the Grand Ole Opry Taught Me About Life
It’s never fun to be a foreigner in your birth country, I’ve learned. But it wasn’t until I saw the
When You Try Your Best, but You Don’t Succeed
When you try your best, but you don’t succeed. What do these words mean to you? Maybe they evoke a

My Imaginary Trip to Asia
In 1982, my kindergarten teacher called my parents with great concern. While recounting a trip to India, I had apparently

The American Board of Internal Medicine Is a Joke
The other day, a gang of doctors robbed me. They call themselves the American Board of Internal Medicine, and something


