Novel looks at the Rust Belt, composed by an American doctor
Get my free weekly newsletter, The Friday Mix
Latest Articles
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
10 Hints You Stink at Technology
Not everyone is a technology guru. Here are 10 hints that you definitely aren’t. 10 You still brag about
2 Novels That Scare the Sh*t out of Me
These novels are scary AF. But to understand modern politics, you should be familiar with them. The Turner Diaries
10 Facts About Saudi Arabia That’ll Surprise You
Oil. Islam. Authoritarianism. Tenuous feminism. Sportswashing. That’s what Americans know about the largest country in the Middle East (by area).
Who Is Amol Shrikhande? The 5-Song Answer
Apparently, part of modern blogging is telling your own story. You know, something people can connect with, no matter how
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