Novel looks at the Rust Belt, composed by an American doctor
Get my free weekly newsletter, The Friday Mix
Latest Articles

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

Midterm Elections: 10 Numbers You Should Know
Political discourse in the 21st century has come to be guided by a brand of overly-emotional, scientifically-challenged, and tribal dimwits,

The 10 Best Tool Songs of All Time
Good news—you don’t have to hang out with the silver-haired crowd at the orchestra to hear good music. A few

10 Fun Facts About Australia (For Americans)
In a world of 7.8 billion, 26 million might seem trivial. That’s less than Canada. And California. Even Texas. Yet

What’s T20 Cricket? A Guide for Americans
Sports are perplexing. Take cricket for example—watching grown men hit a ball with a bat should not be interesting. But

An Indian in America
The man looks up from his meal, nervously glancing at the small group of students that has just stepped inside.

World Series Ratings: A Deep Dive
It’s time to get a little esoteric. We’ll call it a statistical deep dive. While much has been made about
Top 10 Hints That Your Blog Ain’t Going Well
A blog, in theory, can be quite lucrative. But for most bloggers, it’s a time-consuming labor of love that leaves

Particleist: The New Word Everyone Should Know
Language, as you know, is a living and breathing thing. Yes, throughout history, humans have had to deal with various

Is Baseball Dying? Not So Fast
It’s a narrative you’ve heard repeatedly. In fact, you might even push the narrative yourself. But is baseball really dying?

Top 10 Hints You’ve Put On Weight
After a couple years of intensive social media training, I’ve learned that intellectual stuff is overrated. Far more important is


