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: October 14, 2009
October 14, 2009 · 54 Comments

Hi Sars,
My boyfriend and I just moved to New York, and since I arrived two weeks ago, I’m plagued by a near-constant fear of being attacked. (I figured I might as well jump right in.) …

Contest: A quick update
October 14, 2009 · 9 Comments
Contest: A quick update

1. Congratulations on 60K! Keep going; our next match is 5K at $75,000, which isn’t far away at all, plus I’ve got all these prizes to give away.
2. The 3K-at-60K match will go into effect …

Contest: Who’s a good little bear? You are! You are!
October 14, 2009 · 50 Comments
Contest: Who’s a good little bear? You are! You are!

The awesome: $57,269. Ahead of the pace of last year’s contest, too, which is very exciting — plus we’ve helped more than 18,000 students, and nearly 600 of you have donated, many of you several …

Contest: Tomatoooooes iiiiin spaaaaaaace
October 13, 2009 · 6 Comments
Contest: Tomatoooooes iiiiin spaaaaaaace

$56,028. So close to our next match!   Watch this space for information, and an introduction to The Great And Powerful Asirda, Matcher Of Myth And Legend.   (Asirda: “Lady, bring it down a notch.”)
Mini-prize …

Contest: Drink and be merry
October 12, 2009 · 6 Comments

As of this writing: $53,868. Way to keep going while I took a day off!
It’s not long until we hit 60K; I know it’s a holiday Monday, but let’s continue to apply the pressure.   …

Contest: Really mini mini-prizes
October 10, 2009 · 3 Comments

$49,621 — it’s a holiday weekend, but I’d love us to crack 50K today.   It’s not far away.
And today, by donating to any project you’d like, you could win a micro-prize: a small container …

The Vine: October 9, 2009
October 9, 2009 · 49 Comments

Hi, Sars (and readers!),
This is actually my second Vine-y missive, but this is a much more practical concern. Well, sort of. The thing is, there’s this painting that I’m trying to find. I first …

Contest: 52 pick-up
October 9, 2009 · 5 Comments

$47,876 — pat yourselves on the back.   You’ve got another chance at the Roomba today, so keep reading.
Thanks again to Jenn and Wiley for ushering in match fever at 45K.   When’s our next …

Like Mike
October 9, 2009 · 16 Comments
Like Mike

Earlier in the week, my friend Michael Griesdorf passed away unexpectedly.I hadn’t seen Dorf in some time, but he’s one of those people I could meet up with after years had passed and get right …

TV Question Qorner: Character by numbers
October 8, 2009 · 28 Comments
TV Question Qorner: Character by numbers

Law & Order: SVU. Really?   A cockroach?   Just going to rip Papillon and Brazil off, but without the insight?
Meloni’s “the walls, they breeeeeeathe” acting choices looked a lot like the ones he made …