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!

A Spy In The House Of Cards
November 28, 2005 · No Comment

“So, this is the four round?”
“No, it’s the three round.”
“So it’s not the four round.”
“No. It’s the three round.”
“The three round.”
“Yes. The three round.”
“Not the four.”
“No.”
“We did four already.”
“Yes.”
“So this is the –”
“Oy, just DEAL …

The Vine: November 23, 2005
November 23, 2005 · No Comment

Speaking as a pre-op transman, I’d say just ask her how she would prefer to
be addressed.The conversation could go a little like this: “Hey, I’m not
sure how you want to be addressed and I want …

The Vine: November 22, 2005
November 22, 2005 · No Comment

Since you have lived in New York City, I’m sure you have some perspective on this problem.How do I treat the homeless/poor people I encounter with dignity without giving them money?I do not want to …

Night Of The Living Bed
November 21, 2005 · One Comment

I love the weather right now. Fall is absolutely my favorite season — all the fuzzy-sweater-wearing, tights-with-boots-matching fun of winter, none of the chapped skin on my chin and the foregoing wearing necklaces because they …

The Vine: November 18, 2005
November 18, 2005 · 4 Comments

Sarah,
Your advice sucks! He loves me and I really love him.
We got engaged in September; are getting married in May 2007.
Because we were engaged, Joe called his cousin and asked if I could
come, and he …

The Vine: November 17, 2005
November 17, 2005 · No Comment

Dear Sars,
My problem is my mother. We seem to have a love/hate relationship. We have never been close, as she had me when she was 15 and spent my childhood trying to pretend she didn’t …

The Vine: November 16, 2005
November 16, 2005 · No Comment

Note: The answer to yesterday’s “you/your visiting” grammar-nundrum is found under “fused participles” in the Garner.I never would have looked there in a billion years.Thanks, AB Chao!

Sars,
I met Joe through a personal ad six weeks …

The Vine: November 15, 2005
November 15, 2005 · No Comment

Sars! Queen of grammar!
Which is correct:
“On December 12, 1964, I was…”
or
“On December 12, 1964 I was…”
Please give references to prove the truth to the doubters.
Thanks!
Confused by Commas

Dear Get In Line,
I’ll cite sources in a sec, …

The Stephen King Movie Problem
November 14, 2005 · 13 Comments

[Warning: May contain various horror movie/Stephen King book spoilers. If you’re sensitive to those, turn back now.]
My Netflix list is so crazy long right now that the software won’t let me add any more titles …

The Vine: November 11, 2005
November 11, 2005 · No Comment

Hi Sars,
I need to know if I’m wrong or just being picky.
There seems to be a trend where the word “female” is being used in place of the word “woman,” as in: “I saw the …