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
Hindi vs Urdu: Who Cares?
It’s not often that when two things are labeled as equally wonderful, everyone gets pissed. Here’s one such example. It’s
Kim Thayil: The Indian Who Skipped Med School
Twenty percent of American doctors are of Asian origin. Kim Thayil is not one of them. Born in Seattle in
Led Zeppelin Had a Secret Weapon
Led Zeppelin was the greatest rock band of all time. The soaring vocals of Robert Plant. The blistering guitar riffs
10 Things Americans Say About Europe
Residents of the good ol’ US of A have a reputation for being a bit loud, a trait that comes
What Is Eurovision? A Guide for Americans
I write for a largely American audience, which means the most common response to What is Eurovision? might be Who
AI Vocabulary for the Technophobe
This AI stuff is moving quickly—perhaps too quickly. But now’s not the time to pine for the rotary phone. Here’s
Even ChatGPT Won’t Do Nephrology
In case you don’t know, nephrology is the branch of medicine that deals with the kidneys. And in the US,
Sudan, According to AI
If you peripherally follow Western news outlets—in between watching the NFL draft—you know a tiny bit about Sudan. Something about
A Downstater’s Guide to Ithaca
She had never been to Ithaca before. But there was no way she could turn down this opportunity. Cornell. The
The 10 Best Songs From Upstate New York
New York City. The city that never sleeps. The financial heartbeat of a nation. An irreplaceable force in the American