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
This Census Data Will Make You Cry
By you, I mean me. Because it takes someone special to cry over Census data. And by special, I mean
New Orleans Has Me Dazed and Confused
New Orleans. Was it 1718? I mean the year you were founded by the French guy with the long name.
My Favorite Year in Music
Be honest—you thought my favorite year in music would be 1971 or 1991. But let me tell you something—aside from
Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
Oh, the Places You’ll Go! Was Dr. Seuss predicting my life? Thirty-six years after the master’s last book was published,
Everything I Learned on the Way to Erie, PA
I have technology to thank for everything I learned on the way to Erie, Pennsylvania. Specifically, I owe an incompetence
That’s How We Roll on an International Border!
Yes, I’ve waxed poetic about this international border before. But were you actually listening? Once more, I’ll remind you of
The Only Ruins I Actually Care About
I could book a flight, renew the passport, and buy a travel authorization if I wanted to see ruins. Or,
Upstate NY, You’re Wrong—It Ain’t the Weather
Mythology and reality have a way of becoming synonymous, and, no, I’m not talking about the Bible. I’m talking, as
Who the Heck Is Clyfford Still?!
It ain’t easy being important, as Clyfford Still taught me the other day. On that particular afternoon, I found myself
Where Am I?!
Where am I? I asked myself. Thanks to GPS—and a still-functioning brain—I knew the answer in a spatial sense. The