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!

TN Fall Contest: Looks Like Jersey Private-School Math Programs Could Use Some Help Too
October 7, 2007 · 4 Comments

…Heh. The remaining projects in The Final Awesome didn’t add up correctly, so I’ve added a few more to bring us up even with the 25K goal. The 79 percent figure is still accurate, though. …

I don’t care about the young folks either
October 6, 2007 · 18 Comments

I don’t actually have a problem with the ubiquity of “Young Folks” — the fact that, in the last week, it’s turned up in episodes of Dirty Sexy Money, Gossip Girl, AND Journeyman would seem …

TN Fall Contest: Friends, Romans, Awesomes
October 5, 2007 · 34 Comments

Lend me your…eyes? I don’t know. Anyway: 62 percent right now. I’ve spent four of my five grand and will probably drop the rest over the weekend. And now, to answer a few questions:
“How come …

The Vine: October 5, 2007
October 5, 2007 · 83 Comments

Hi Sars,
I am getting married in about a month and am having a hell of a time coming up with gifts for my bridesmaids. There are five of them. If I didn’t have to take …

TN Fall Contest: The Awesome Frontier
October 4, 2007 · 23 Comments

1. I’m told that La Danes has already spent her money on The Final Awesome — including the My So-Called Digital Life project. Generous and prompt? Awesome!
2. I’ve done some spending of my own — …

Dear Readers: Please Spend My Money
October 4, 2007 · 48 Comments

So, you know, you’ve got $5,000 of my money to spend on Donors Choose now. Please discuss.
Also, Claire Danes’s 5K will be applied to projects in the latest round today, so look out for that. …

TN Fall Contest: The Final Awesome
October 4, 2007 · 26 Comments

You’ll need to sing the words “The Final Awesome” to the tune of Europe’s “The Final Countdown.” You’ll also need to sing the synthesizer parts.
“‘Europe’? You’re old.” Noooo kidding.
Anyhoodle: Final Awesome Round is now open. …

TN Fall Contest: No, You’re Expired
October 4, 2007 · 23 Comments

Morning, guys. See below re: the “expired” notation on the bonus round — I’m pretty sure that means it’s fully funded, but I’ll check in with Zach (if he hasn’t run away from home by …

TN Fall Contest: Good Evening, Mr. And Mrs. Awesome
October 3, 2007 · 24 Comments

And all the ships at sea!
95 percent as of this writing. Won’t be long now.
1. If you haven’t gotten a receipt: a) I’m never more than a few hours behind on those, unless it’s overnight, …

TN Fall Contest: Behold The Continuing Awesome
October 3, 2007 · 36 Comments

Yes, ladies and germs: 75 percent. I’ve had a holiday feeling all day, like the last day of school before Christmas break — yeah, you’re in class, but everyone’s crunching candy canes and not concentrating, …