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: April 16, 2010
April 16, 2010 · 129 Comments
The Vine: April 16, 2010

Hi Sars,
So, I have a question for you and your readers. Here’s the background:
Last year, during a period of unemployment, I moved back home with my parents.Luckily, I’m employed again and have saved up enough …

N Candy AA: Sweet Sixteen
April 15, 2010 · 30 Comments
N Candy AA: Sweet Sixteen

Updated bracket is here. Confused? Click here.
1 Butterfinger vs. 5 Cadbury Crème Eggs. I think Butterfinger prevails here, now that Easter is over and the CCE isn’t so much of a retail presence, but then, …

The Crushed Film Festival presents: Point Break
April 14, 2010 · 29 Comments
The Crushed Film Festival presents: <I>Point Break</I>

The Movie: Point Break
The Crush Object: Keanu Reeves
The Story: Newly minted Special Agent Johnny Utah (Reeves) goes undercover with a group of L.A. surfers whose Zentificating ringleader, Bodhi (Patrick Swayze), is also the mastermind behind …

The Vine: April 14, 2010
April 14, 2010 · 53 Comments
The Vine: April 14, 2010

Sars, knower of things,
This is a workplace sort of thing, and it’s a wee bit tangle-y.
About eight months ago, there was a managerial shake-up at my store (which is a small cog in a …

Welcome Back, Reader
April 13, 2010 · 64 Comments
Welcome Back, Reader

Oh, hello. How’s it going? …Oh, you know. Two trips to the vet in one day, which I could have done without, but everyone’s more or less fine, and Little Joe lost a pound and …

The Vine: April 9, 2010
April 9, 2010 · 27 Comments
The Vine: April 9, 2010

Hi, Sars! Hi, Nation!
Got an Ask-The-Readers twofer. Both of the things I seek are incredibly nerdy.
The first is a standup comedian I remember seeing on a 1990s cable comedy hour — Caroline’s, or Evening at …

A few scheduling notes
April 9, 2010 · 9 Comments
A few scheduling notes

Hello, friends. I’ve returned to Brooklyn airspace; it’s time to let you know about some upcoming content and scheduling.
The Vine. Another fest will appear later today. I’ve been heavy on Ask The Readers entries of …

N Candy AA: Round of 32, Flight 2
April 7, 2010 · 38 Comments
N Candy AA: Round of 32, Flight 2

Today’s write-ups by Sarah D. Bunting. Updated bracket is here. Confused? Click here.
1 Skor vs. 8 Caramello/Caramilk. Skor is a great candy bar, one I used to hoard my allowance to buy, but some folks …

The Vine: April 7, 2010
April 7, 2010 · 23 Comments
The Vine: April 7, 2010

Dear Sars,
Here’s another mystery for you and the Nation. I’m racking my brain trying to remember the title of a play that I read maybe ten or so years ago. I don’t remember the playwright’s …

Big Country Little Car Tour, Day 12
April 6, 2010 · 26 Comments
Big Country Little Car Tour, Day 12

Leaving KC, I spotted another Smart. It took some maneuvering to get alongside it, not to mention steering in weekend traffic while taking Compulsive Waving Family to deranged new levels, but I managed it. The …