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: January 29, 2003
January 29, 2003 · No Comment

Dear Sars,
I’m an American living in a residence hall for international graduate
students at a university in England, and the situation with my flatmates is
rapidly degenerating. We now write snarky Post-It notes to each other. I
have …

The Vine: January 28, 2003
January 28, 2003 · No Comment

I just wanted to add something to your advice to C. I was in a very
similar situation six years ago — skipping classes, staying at home
depressed and shy, lying to my folks about my failing …

Fahrenheit 4.51
January 27, 2003 · No Comment

I’ve never really subscribed to the theory that bad-day karma clusters around Mondays. I mean, sure, irritating things tend to happen on Mondays, but irritating things tend to happen every day, and the fact that …

The Vine: January 23, 2003
January 23, 2003 · No Comment

Hey Sars,
Just quick recommendations from someone who has read these books, and oh, too many others:
Terry Eagleton’s Literary Theory: An Introduction is short and engaging. It provides a quick overview of many schools of thought …

The Vine: January 23, 2003
January 23, 2003 · No Comment

Hi Sars,
Regarding Spinny, if she is shaving her pubic hair,
it’s probably an ingrown hair or something like that,
nothing to worry about. She should get it checked out
anyway, and should go to her gynocologist every six
months, …

The Vine: January 22, 2003
January 22, 2003 · No Comment

Sars —
I am a copy editor, and I would like to weigh in on your advice to Magnets. You are correct; “an” is used to fill in a consonant between vowels when spoken (“an ess-oh-pee” …

The Vine: January 21, 2003
January 21, 2003 · No Comment

Hello, Sars.
I have written to you before, and maybe my woes weren’t significant enough to print before, but I can really use some advice today.
I moved across the country from big city to small city …

The Ministry Of Silly Cat Walks
January 20, 2003 · 3 Comments

Dear Reader/Housecat Survivor,
Welcome to the National Audubon Society’s Field Guide To Gaits Of The Domesticated Feline. Researched and written by the same authors who brought you the National Audubon Society’s Field Guide To Vomitus Of …

The Vine: January 17, 2003
January 17, 2003 · No Comment

Sars,
I am at the end of my creative abilities here, and I turn to you for help.
I’m a children’s librarian. We run a program that gives kids prizes for completing a certain amount of reading. …

The Vine: January 16, 2003
January 16, 2003 · No Comment

Hi Sars —
My husband and I both struggle with our weight. I’ve
been pretty successful at keeping the pounds from
creeping up too much. It’s hard work.
My husband is completely unwilling to do any of that
hard work. …