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“I wrote 63 songs this year. They’re all about Jeter.” Just kidding. The game we love, the players we hate, and more.

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From Norman Mailer to Wendy Pepper — everything on film, TV, books, music, and snacks (shut up, raisins), plus the Girls’ Bike Club.

Donors Choose and Contests

Helping public schools, winning prizes, sending a crazy lady in a tomato costume out in public.

Stories, True and Otherwise

Monologues, travelogues, fiction, and fart humor. And hens. Don’t forget the hens.

The Vine

The Tomato Nation advice column addresses your questions on etiquette, grammar, romance, and pet misbehavior. Ask The Readers about books or fashion today!

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Articles in Culture and Criticism

Dirty Harry
December 13, 2007 – 12:25 PM | 12 Comments
<I>Dirty Harry</I>

Motivational Techniques In Holiday-Shopping Completion: A Seminar By H. Callahan
I wonder how many people actually sit down to watch Dirty Harry anymore — it seems like one of those movies people don’t bother seeing, because …

The Maltese Falcon
December 10, 2007 – 5:14 PM | 19 Comments
<I>The Maltese Falcon</I>

“That’ll teach me to leave a broad alone with a bottle of scotch and a Topsy Tail. Never again, Mac.”
I finally made it through this one last week, despite Humphrey Bogart’s well-documented Ambien-esque effect …

Some questions, answered
December 7, 2007 – 9:40 AM | 14 Comments

“I still haven’t heard from you about the prize I won/donated in the contest!”
I’m so sorry about that; I know it’s taking a long time. The system I’m using to distribute the prizes is designed …

J Words
December 5, 2007 – 10:03 AM | 182 Comments

1. Something that is built haphazardly/slapped together/makeshift is:

a) jury-rigged; b) jerry-rigged

Both appear in the 11c; “jury-rigged” is the older construction. Which do you use?
2. Something that is built hastily/built poorly/looks cheap is:

a) …

This American Hen
November 30, 2007 – 10:04 AM | 28 Comments
This American Hen

When it hens, it pours: reader Ken R. hepped me to the This American Life episode from a week ago called “Poultry Slam,” and I haven’t listened to it yet, but I can’t wait to …

Wanted: Berol Mirado No. 1 Pencils
November 28, 2007 – 1:48 PM | 18 Comments

I need to buy them online. No. 1 pencils, not No. 2s or any other grade. I’d like a U.S. retailer; anyone who can suggest an identical/similar style or brand that’s available here, please do …

Guyz Nite Hits Road, Shelves
November 24, 2007 – 1:39 PM | 3 Comments

Finally I see one of the ads for Live Free Or Die Hard, and…it’s the one without music. Boo! But the DVD is out now. Word to the wise, though: Gunz “Mick” Bones tipped me …

Thanksgiving Weekend News & Notes
November 24, 2007 – 1:29 PM | 19 Comments

First of all, thanks to Tomato Casual.com for the incoming link. The site is “everything tomato for people who love tomatoes,” so if you’d care to make a lycopene hat trick in your bookmarks with …

All Things Considomared
November 18, 2007 – 11:16 AM | 7 Comments

All y’all Omar G fans, keep an ear out for the man himself on All Things Considered tomorrow on NPR, doing a segment on OS X Leopard.And don’t believe what he says; Om has superpowers …

Today’s designated time-killers
November 13, 2007 – 3:20 PM | 60 Comments
Today’s designated time-killers

“It’s a stupid name!”   “So’s your face!”
The UN free-rice vocab game, guaranteed time-suck for word-nerd know-it-alls like me (thanks to reader Smash for the tip).
The new TWoP blogs, with daily picks and random bitching …