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

Guess the City…
As I entered city limits, I glanced up briefly. Cloudy and dank. Perfect. I bisected the Olmsted park, knowing full

10 Art Terms That Confuse the Heck out of Me
I’m obviously cool with art—music, paintings, books, and so on—being a defining feature of the human experience. It’s the terminology

Why I’m Happy the Bills Lost
Disclaimer: I’m not actually happy the Bills lost on January 21, 2024. In fact, I’m devastated. There is, however, a

Dopamine: How To Get Unhooked
We’ve always been enamored with dopamine. And now, we’re enamored with talking about it. Thankfully, I encountered the voice of

What Happened to You, Canada?
Qu’est-ce qui s’est passé avec toi, Canada? Je pensais que tu étais parfait Où les immigrants prospèrent Où les tulipes

Calgary: Is It Actually Cool?!
A guilty pleasure. For some, it’s ice cream. For others, it’s Netflix. Then, of course, there’s beer, something I can

How Rage Against the Machine Rescued Me
When do late bloomers come of age? How old is too old to rage against the machine? Can middle age

5 Reasons Why I’m a Generalist
If everyone’s brain worked like mine, we’d still be living in tents, ruminating all day and accomplishing nothing. That said,

10 Hints It’s Going To Be a Good Year
Sure, it’s a new year. But here are 10 signs it’s going to be a good year. 10 You’ve

The Day I Knew I Wasn’t a Doctor Anymore
What am I doing here? I asked myself as I looked around the mostly desolate parking lot. Empty storefront. McDonald’s.


