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
Ragweed Allergy: It’s Nothing to Sneeze At
You’ve probably heard of the term hay fever or the fancy medical synonym allergic rhinitis. In fact, you may have
The History of Amazon in 10 Numbers
We’re not really businesspeople, but we’ve heard that this company is pretty big. You can buy stuff from it by
15 Things Seattle Is Known For (Besides Rain)
I felt a little guilty about making Detroit the first city—in the entire world—that I featured. Not everyone gets the
10 Facts on Haiti (Hint: the GDP Is Low)
You may be wondering why we used the phrase facts on Haiti instead of facts about Haiti. It turns out
Overview of Afghanistan: 15 Numbers That’ll Help You Out
No offense to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, or Pakistan. But as far as America goes, it’s all about Afghanistan.
What Are NFTs? Something Else to Confuse You
A while back, we wrote a bit about the whole cryptocurrency thing. At the time, we felt kind of good
What Is Kombucha? Your Quick Overview
A key part of the modern urban experience involves obsessing about beverages—overanalyzing them, overpaying for them, and then discussing how
The Japanese Language: 10 Tidbits You Should Know
Few things are more intimidating in the sphere of language than unfamiliar scripts. For those used to working with the
10 Facts About Japan to Get You Rolling
Everyone knows something about Japan. Sushi. Sumo wrestling. Origami. Samurai. Manga. Anime. Cars. World War II. As far as Asian
10 Facts About Detroit: The Optimistic Kind
Collapse. Bankruptcy. Crime. Poverty. That’s Detroit. Take a moment to feel sorry for the city. Then grab your stuff and