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 21, 2005
October 21, 2005 · No Comment

Dear Sars,
I have recently moved to a brand new town, a brand new
apartment, and a brand new set of roommates. It
sounded ideal when I was signing the third year lease
on my last apartment, and for …

The Vine: October 20, 2005
October 20, 2005 · No Comment

Dear Sars,
My problem?I feel like, and possibly am, a COLOSSAL ASS.The story?On an otherwise normal Sunday evening, one in which the fiancé was out of town, I settled in with a couple of glasses of …

The Vine: October 18, 2005
October 18, 2005 · No Comment

After arguing with my word processor’s dictionary for a while, I called
a time-out and came to you.
“Toward” or “towards,” Sars? “Backward” or “backwards”? “Inward” or “inwards”? I’m
guessing “toward” and “backward,” because ‘”he moved forwards” sounds
stupid. …

Office Space
October 17, 2005 · One Comment

So, I’ve got an office job now. Well, in the sense that it’s a job for which I go to an office. It’s not an IBM cube-farm situation where I have to wear pantyhose and …

The Vine: October 14, 2005
October 14, 2005 · No Comment

I’ve seen several letters to several advice columnists (I’m addicted to them all, and welcome links to others not on my daily read list) regarding inappropriate questioning.For example, you recently ran a couple of letters …

The Vine: October 13, 2005
October 13, 2005 · No Comment
The Vine: October 13, 2005

Sars: I love your site and have been an avid reader for quite some time.I feel I must add a recommendation to the list of true crime books.For a seven-year period during the late ’80s …

The Vine: October 12, 2005
October 12, 2005 · No Comment
The Vine: October 12, 2005

Hi Sars,
I’m so enthralled by TV shows like 48 Hours Mystery and Cold Case Files, but I often feel like they’re leaving out too many details or telling them in the wrong order or something.I …

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

A few months ago I met a wonderfully amazing boy. In all of my 25 years, I
never met anyone like him. We clicked instantly and fell in love quite
quickly.
But. Law school starts soon and he …

“That’s Good Stuff! His Kung-Fu’s Good!”
October 10, 2005 · No Comment

What I know about kung-fu movies wouldn’t fill a thimble, including whether I should call them “kung-fu movies” in the first place. The correct term is probably “martial-arts feeeeelms,” and no doubt I will receive …

The Vine: October 7, 2005
October 7, 2005 · No Comment

Dear Sars:
I have a serious problem.I have the strong urge to throw the nearest heavy
object through my television when, trying to be an informed citizen, I turn
on CNN, MSNBC, or any other news channel with …