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
The Only Ruins I Actually Care About
I could book a flight, renew the passport, and buy a travel authorization if I wanted to see ruins. Or,
Upstate NY, You’re Wrong—It Ain’t the Weather
Mythology and reality have a way of becoming synonymous, and, no, I’m not talking about the Bible. I’m talking, as
Who the Heck Is Clyfford Still?!
It ain’t easy being important, as Clyfford Still taught me the other day. On that particular afternoon, I found myself
Where Am I?!
Where am I? I asked myself. Thanks to GPS—and a still-functioning brain—I knew the answer in a spatial sense. The
Sorry, but I Think You’re a Cityist
What the heck is a cityist? I’ll get there. First, we have to start with some -isms. Leading the way
Sorry, I Accidentally Wrote Another Book
Sh*t happens. In my case, it’s another book. The first apology, of course, goes to mom. J.D. Salinger, in The
Rust Belt Man’s Son Goes to London
Rust Belt Man’s son is embarrassed. His dad—well let’s just say he’s not the most refined guy around. And Rust
Rust Belt Man Goes to Paris
Rust Belt Man goes to Paris, mutters Rust Belt Man to himself. It’s part pep talk, part disbelief. He never
The Quirkiest Man in Upstate New York
Quirkiest, in the minds of some, has a cozy relationship with weirdest. But I’ll let you decide. After all, who
The Most Midwestern Game of All Time
Thursday, March 26, 2026. The most Midwestern game of all time. It’s only fitting, as the game was part of