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
Top 10 Hints You Watch Too Much Football
When you give up 22 Sundays (and a few Thursdays, Saturdays, and Mondays) a year to watch a sport, you
How the NFL Robs You (and Me)
I love the NFL. Even though it robs me. It robs me of my time. And it robs me of
EV Terminology: 17 Tidbits You Should Know
Change can be difficult, as in the switch to electric vehicles (EVs). Fortunately, once you learn a few vocabulary words,
Formula One: A Guide for the American
Football. Baseball. NASCAR. The US always has to be a little different. But cultural phenomena have an uncanny way of
Ottawa: To Love or Tolerate?
I’ll just go ahead and get it out of the way—Ottawa is no Washington, DC. By population, the metropolitan region
Where Is Quebec in Canada? It Depends
As I’ve mentioned before, some of my awkward titles are designed solely to please the search engines, not to exhibit
What Is the Amish Religion? (For Beginners)
What is the Amish religion? Let’s just say it’s Christianity—with a twist. Here’s the story. Brief History Europe of
What Is Mormonism? A Timeline
It’s not often that historians get the opportunity to document the birth of a religion in play-by-play format. But given
Buffalo Wings: 11 Things You Need to Know
Honestly, despite what the title says, you don’t need to know any of this—particularly if you’re vegetarian or have made
What Does IPA Mean With Beer? Beer!
Unless you’ve been living a retro lifestyle, you’ve undoubtedly noticed a proliferation of craft beer over the past couple decades.