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
New Zealand: The 10 Numbers You Should Know
Besides rugby and proximity to Australia, Americans don’t know a ton about New Zealand. These 10 numbers will make you
The National Women’s Hall of Fame: It’s a Place
Upstate New York is no tourist magnet. Unless, of course, the tourist and magnet are of the same pole, but
The Women’s World Cup in 10 Numbers
These 10 numbers will help you make sense of the Women’s World Cup. (That’s soccer by the way.) 1991
Speed Reading: An Ultra-Quick Primer
Reading is so passé. But speed reading—actually, it became a thing in the 1950s. So passé as well. But as
The Reading List for Geeky People
If the yellow T-shirt with E=mc2 wasn’t a dead giveaway, I’ll be even more overt—I fit the description in the
Marijuana: 10 Facts To Clear Up the Smoke
I don’t smoke (or eat) marijuana. But a lot of people do. And with the changing legal landscape, everyone is
The New Yorker
The New Yorker stopped pining for Dhaka years ago. Those days are long gone. The ones with youth. Options. Optimism.
New York City: 10 Numbers That’ll Wow You
Living in Upstate New York, it’s easy to have an inferiority complex. Why? Because Downstate is home to the city.
Julieta Venegas: 10 Songs You Should Know
Julieta Venegas has been perfectly situated to dabble in the sounds of North America. Born in Long Beach, California, and
The Mexican States Explained (For Americans)
The US is obsessed with its states. As evidence, each one gets an entire star on the national flag. Not