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!

Sober House: Discuss.
February 25, 2009 · 15 Comments

I’ve got a Vine and a Crushed Film Festival entry in progress, but while you wait for those, you can discuss the latest Sober House-nanigans here. Linda and I have had a brief IM -versation …

The Vine: February 20, 2009
February 20, 2009 · 92 Comments

Hi Sars,
I’m after advice on a beauty issue that I hope the readers might be able to help me with, although it isn’t as fun as suggesting a new nail polish.

The Vine: February 18, 2009
February 18, 2009 · 106 Comments

Hi Sars,
This is somewhere between a language and a societal question, so I figure you’re the perfect person to answer it.
What’s up with straight women referring to their female friends as “girlfriend”?This is hardly a …

The Crushed Film Festival presents: Kuffs
February 17, 2009 · 46 Comments
The Crushed Film Festival presents: <I>Kuffs</I>

by Sarah D. Bunting
The Movie: Kuffs
The Crush Object(s): Christian Slater; Tony Goldwyn
The Story: Charming commitphobe George Kuffs (Slater) is forced to grow up in a hurry when gangsters kill his brother Brad (Bruce Boxleitner) and …

The Crushed Film Festival presents: Suspect
February 15, 2009 · 38 Comments
The Crushed Film Festival presents: <I>Suspect</I>

by Sarah D. Bunting
The Movie: Suspect
The Crush Object: Dennis Quaid
The Story: Public defender Kathleen Riley (Cher) gets saddled with what looks like an unwinnable case — her homeless client, Carl Wayne Anderson (Liam Neeson), has …

The Crushed Film Festival presents: The 24th Day
February 15, 2009 · 17 Comments
The Crushed Film Festival presents: <I>The 24th Day</I>

by John “the Couch Baron” Ramos
The Movie: The 24th Day
The Crush Object: Scott Speedman
The Story: Dan (James Marsden) is out at a bar with his hag friend (Sofia Vergara), whom he puts in a cab …

The Crushed Film Festival presents: Side Out
February 15, 2009 · 3 Comments
The Crushed Film Festival presents: <I>Side Out</I>

by Sarah D. Bunting
The Movie: Side Out
The Crush Object(s): Peter Horton
The Story: Aspiring lawyer and college basketball star Monroe Clark (Howell) comes to L.A. to make his fortune in his rich uncle’s foreclosure business…but winds …

The Crushed Film Festival presents: Ready to Rumble and Boiler Room
February 14, 2009 · 10 Comments
The Crushed Film Festival presents: <I>Ready to Rumble</I> and <I>Boiler Room</I>

by Joe Reid
The Movie(s): Ready to Rumble and Boiler Room
The Crush Object: Scott Caan
The Story: Rumble: Two glorified retards (Caan and David Arquette) set out to help their favorite pro wrestler (Oliver Platt) win his …

The Crushed Film Festival presents: The Rules of Attraction
February 14, 2009 · 9 Comments
The Crushed Film Festival presents: <I>The Rules of Attraction</I>

by John “the Couch Baron” Ramos
The Movie: The Rules Of Attraction
The Crush Object: Ian Somerhalder
The Story: Even calling it “a story” is being generous, but basically, it’s about several self-absorbed college students who drink and …

The Crushed Film Festival presents: Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil
February 13, 2009 · 24 Comments
The Crushed Film Festival presents: <I>Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil</I>

by Mark Blankenship
The Movie: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
The Crush Object: Jude Law
The Story: Reporter John Kelso (John Cusack) thinks he’s got a simple assignment in Savannah, Georgia: cover a rich eccentric’s …