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
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
How Urban Realism Saved My Soul
Urban Realism reminded me that, one way or the other, suburbia will suck your soul. And the worst part is
How the Rust Belt Really Died
How the Rust Belt really died—it’s the type of question that used to keep an obsessive like me up at
Famous Companies From Rochester (NY)
Just prior to making this list of famous companies from Rochester (NY), I realized it was a stupid idea. After
A Playlist for Bills Fans
A playlist for Bills fans, by definition, cannot be happy. And as a middle-aged Gen X guy whose formative years
It’s Your Fault, Old Woman
The old woman looks around, squinting at the fleeting ray of sunshine. She hardly even notices the rubble anymore. She
Hey Chicago and Toronto: Cut the Sh*t
Listen, Chicago and Toronto. We get it. You think you’re really important. You have a lot of rich Indian people