Baseball

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

Culture and Criticism

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!

The Vine: December 15, 2010
December 15, 2010 · 33 Comments
The Vine: December 15, 2010

Dear Sars:
My partner and I have been together three years now.We have a wonderful relationship and both feel very fortunate that both sets of parents are accepting of our relationship.Now, here comes the “but.”
My partner’s …

The NC Double Scrooge: Songbook Division
December 15, 2010 · 154 Comments
The NC Double Scrooge: Songbook Division

I’ve made my feelings about various Christmas songs clear elsewhere, so I won’t belabor the point, but today’s the day in the NC Double Scrooge on which we formally censure the holiday tunes we hate …

The NC Double Scrooge: Family/Social Division
December 14, 2010 · 64 Comments
The NC Double Scrooge: Family/Social Division

“I think it says ‘fragile,’ honey.”
It’s the interpersonal aspects of the holidays that cause the most stress — not because we hate everyone, either, although rage does occasionally play a role. It’s more about performance …

The NC Double Scrooge: Decor Division
December 13, 2010 · 106 Comments
The NC Double Scrooge: Decor Division

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree: how could such a lovely symbol cause so many problems? But it does — or perhaps it’s the futile quest for arboreal perfection that ties us in knots. Whatever …

The NC Double Scrooge: Entertainment Division
December 10, 2010 · 101 Comments
The NC Double Scrooge: Entertainment Division

“How many people do you think Keckler and Bunting offended with this poll? Show us with your hands.”
Today’s poll focuses on all manner of media disappointments: Christmas movies you’ve never really gotten, songs you can’t …

The Vine: December 10, 2010
December 10, 2010 · 38 Comments
The Vine: December 10, 2010

This one might be too obscure even for the awesome powers of the Nation, but I figure it can’t hurt to try. There’s this song that my dad always sang when we were going to …

The NC Double Scrooge: Shopping Division
December 9, 2010 · 92 Comments
The NC Double Scrooge: Shopping Division

“Shahhhhpping!”
We begin our roast of Christmas present in the retail ring. Have we left things out? Probably. That’s what the comment section is for. And therapy. And bourbon.

The NC Double Scrooge: An Introduction
December 9, 2010 · 43 Comments
The NC Double Scrooge: An Introduction

We should say right up front here that we don’t actually hate the holidays. Well, maybe Keckler does, but I don’t think so; I think she’s like me, in that she finds many things about …

The Vine: December 8, 2010
December 8, 2010 · 33 Comments
The Vine: December 8, 2010

Hi Sars!
With the holidays fast approaching, I have a grammar and gift-giving question for you.
I work in the editorial department of a national company, but my other editorial cohorts (three fabulous women!) work in …

Around the Audiosphere: “Boob-eyes!”
December 6, 2010 · 11 Comments
Around the Audiosphere: “Boob-eyes!”

I hope you will care to enjoy my rich baritone contributions to the Extra Hot Great podcast’s ninth episode, “C’est Magnifique,” in which we discussed a plethora of topics, including but not limited to the …