Novel looks at the Rust Belt, composed by an American doctor
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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

How I Finally Chose My Premier League Team
I must have a problem. Just ask my wife—she’ll offer more than one. But this obsession with smoke stacks, abandoned

The Great American Manufacturing Myth
The great American manufacturing myth became known to me through a series of facts—I prefer to call it reality. The

The 10 Best Rust Belt Songs of All Time
Grime and hardship, coupled with a few musical instruments, make for great works of art. We call them Rust Belt

Why the East Coast Is Dead Wrong About Ohio
These people think we’re going back to the 1950s, says the East Coast. The reference, of course, is to anyone

You’re Welcome for This Olympic Medal
The Snow Belt, it must be pointed out, does more than accumulate snow. In the northern reaches of the US,

These Two Economists Knew What Was Happening All Along
October 3, 2001. Two economists. The first was Dean Baker, who received a PhD in economics from the University of

5 Myths About the Sun Belt
Myths about the Sun Belt—they’re all kind of happy. You know, people staring at the sun, talking about low taxes,

5 Myths About the Rust Belt
Myths about the Rust Belt—where do I even start? They usually center on anti-intellectualism, racism, and blind nostalgia. In other

What Do Rochester (NY) and Bad Bunny Have in Common?
What do Rochester (NY) and Bad Bunny have in common? The mere occurrence of this question within my cerebral wiring

Why the Edmund Fitzgerald Still Makes Me Cry
It was just casual conversation, to be honest, that made me look away. My happy hour mate, after all, had


