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!

Pete Rose has a MySpace page
December 22, 2008 · 21 Comments

And it’s freakin’ hideous.
I don’t know why Pete ROSE of all goddamn people lives in Las Vegas, the gambling capital of North America, but if he’s going to live there, and he’s going to sign …

Dear Zachary: A Letter To A Son About His Father
December 21, 2008 · 45 Comments
<I>Dear Zachary: A Letter To A Son About His Father</I>

I don’t really know what to say about Kurt Kuenne’s documentary, because to describe it in a way that won’t discourage you from seeing it will in turn spoil you. The official website of the film …

The Vine: December 19, 2008
December 19, 2008 · 23 Comments

Hi Sars,
I’m hoping you and your readers will be able help me and my colleagues out. A treasured co-worker is leaving us to return home after working here in America for the last three years. …

Odds; ends
December 18, 2008 · 20 Comments

A comprehensive piece by Omar G on Twittiquette/Twitter annoyances.
My new favorite site, via Glark: Sexy People.
My latest Dirty Sexy Money write-up for SOAPnet.   (SHUT UP, LISA.)

The Vine: December 17, 2008
December 17, 2008 · 39 Comments

Dear Sars,
I don’t ever seem to have great luck with my living situations. I had finally shaken off the curse of the terrible roommates by getting a one-bedroom (and a cat! yay!) and felt like …

DVR Break-Up: Life on Mars
December 17, 2008 · 36 Comments
DVR Break-Up: <I>Life on Mars</I>

This is what happens when you add a show to the season-pass list almost solely because you think Michael Imperioli is incredibly foxy with the long hair and the mustache (and about the long hair: …

Support Local Business: December 16, 2008
December 16, 2008 · 38 Comments
Support Local Business: December 16, 2008

Just a few notes and comments to take our minds off evil little troll moles that THINK they can step up to Dr. Robinson, AND WILL REGRET IT FOREVER…
Reader Shonda, who’s based in Philly, has …

Dr. Robinson 2, moles 0
December 16, 2008 · 134 Comments
Dr. Robinson 2, moles 0

Tuesday December 2, I visit the dermatologist for a routine skin check, which I do every six months.Dr. Robinson biopsies two moles from my back.
Wednesday December 3, Dr. Robinson calls to inform me that one …

Spicy meatballs
December 15, 2008 · 32 Comments

My latest piece for NPR’s Monkey See blog, this one on the perils of extended exposure to audio book narration.

The Vine: December 12, 2008 (Bookfest)
December 12, 2008 · 28 Comments

Hey Sars,
I’m hoping the TN readership can help me find a book I read years ago. I read it in 1998 when I was an exchange student in Germany for my English class. I would …