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

4 Energy Concepts To Help You Process the World
Energy concepts are flung around on the regular, but many people—myself included—have trouble processing the data. This quick primer should

The Tragically Hip: 5 Songs for Americans
Border towns have their benefits, even if they are damn cold. Sure, Rochester’s border with its northern neighbor is aquatic

Vaclav Smil: This Dude Is Awesome!
Believe it or not, there are people who tell the truth. Like Vaclav Smil. All he sells are the facts.

The Red, White, and Blue Flag in Upstate NY: A Ranking
Upstate New York never ceases to fascinate. Combine the intellectual elitism of New England with the tobacco-assisted toothlessness of West

The Buffalo Bills: 1 Equation Captures All the Pain
You know the NFL—the world’s most lucrative sports league, based in the city with Earth’s second-largest GDP, and a point

10 Hints You Should Listen to New Music
In keeping with a recent cutting-edge post about Olivia Rodrigo, here are 10 hints that it might be time for

What the Heck Is the NBA Cup?!
I’ve established repeatedly that watching sports is a waste of time. Yet I willingly continue to make the same mistake.

Olivia Rodrigo: An Intro for Grumpy People
Olivia Rodrigo. The Disney kid who’s hit it big. It’s not the first time. And it won’t be the last.

2023 Cricket World Cup, Geography Style!
Here’s everything—or at least a few geographical things—you should know about the 2023 Cricket World Cup. The Basics Before

Baseball: A Love Poem
Dear baseball, when did I first meet you? I have a vague recollection of 1982 The clash between St. Louis


