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: April 2, 2004
April 2, 2004 · No Comment

Dear Sars, grammar maven from on high,
Glad to see this touched on in The Vine, but I’d like to know what you think
of the prevalence of “women” or “woman” used as an adjective in place …

The Vine: April 1, 2004
April 1, 2004 · No Comment

Dear Sars,
So a few months after breaking up with my boyfriend, I decided to try the
whole online dating scene. I recently moved to a new city, it seemed like a
low-pressure way to meet nice guys, …

The Vine: March 31, 2004
March 31, 2004 · No Comment

Hi Sars,
Thanks for doing what you do and keeping me laughing at work. I have a
particular pet peeve about the word “entitled.” My dad pointed it out to
me years and years ago, and it’s bugged …

The Vine: March 30, 2004
March 30, 2004 · No Comment

Hello, Sars.
I was wondering if you would mind giving an insight on the problem I’m facing.
In short words, the problem’s between my mom, college and I. In longer words, it’s an issue of common sense, …

The Famous Ghost Monologues, No. 1d: Mary Therese Ventura
March 29, 2004 · No Comment

Oh my God is it boring. It is so boring! Everything about it? Boring. Boring, boring, boring, starting with my outfit, which I never get to change. Same dress, same shoes, same road, same same …

The Vine: March 26, 2004
March 26, 2004 · No Comment

Dear Sars,
I have a problem, of course. It’s a big one, and you might not know how to
handle it, but I don’t know where else to turn.
I have lots of friends that have been sexually …

The Vine: March 25, 2004
March 25, 2004 · No Comment

Dear Sars:
I have a cat psychology problem. The problem is a
little boring, but I really want this cat to get
better so I hope you’ll have some suggestions.
I volunteer with an animal shelter and recently agreed
to …

The Vine: March 24, 2004
March 24, 2004 · No Comment

Dear Sars,
I desperately need some sane advice on a problem I’ve
had for awhile now. Basically: I don’t like people.
I’m okay in crowds, and I do enjoy talking to the rare
person I consider to be a …

Funny Business
March 23, 2004 · No Comment

Before I get to the entry proper, I should warn you that it’s 1) a stream-of-consciousness thing and not terribly polished, and 2) one of those writing-about-writing-type things, and I try not to subject y’all …

The Vine: March 19, 2004
March 19, 2004 · No Comment

Dear Sars,
I know that you have handled some interesting cat experiences in the past, as well as handled some puzzling questions from your other readers, so I was wondering if you could give me a …