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: November 6, 2002
November 6, 2002 · No Comment

Dear Sars,
I graduated from college last year.In school I had this really tight-knit group of friends.We’re all really different people, but things just clicked with us.Since graduation in May, we’ve scattered all over the globe …

The Vine: November 5, 2002
November 5, 2002 · No Comment

Sars,
I hope you can help me sort something out before a
large conflict erupts in my family.
I have a two-year-old daughter.I love her dearly and
my husband and I provide her with everything she
needs. However, my Mom …

Courting Disasters
November 4, 2002 · No Comment

Late last night, tooling around TVGuide.com and hoping inspiration for the TWoP homepage poll would strike, I came across the following tidbit at the bottom of their “Entertainment News” section:
Fox is developing a reality show …

The Vine: November 1, 2002
November 1, 2002 · No Comment

Dear Sars,
This isn’t nearly as life-and-death as many of the problems you get, but I’m
curious about your opinion.The “Save Touched by an Angel from atheists
who are petitioning the FCC to remove all mention of God …

The Vine: October 31, 2002
October 31, 2002 · No Comment

Ms. Sars —
It’s not an original problem, but it is mine, and I hereby foist it on
you.Well, not really, but I do need help.
Issue one: I’m an extremely closeted 28-year-old possible lesbian, who
doesn’t really want …

The Vine: October 30, 2002
October 30, 2002 · No Comment

Dear Sars:
My best friend at work (we’ve shared an office for almost three years) is
getting married in a couple months in the Bahamas.They are inviting about
a hundred or so people, but aren’t expecting more than …

The Vine: October 29, 2002
October 29, 2002 · No Comment

After reading The Vine today I needed a cigarette real bad because Living on the Hellmouth’s problem and your response hit really close to home.
J’s problems are much like my own, except I’m on the …

Identity Crisis
October 28, 2002 · No Comment

Sarah: Mflt.
Couch Baron: Oh, uh…hello?
Sarah: Hpll nn jfft mr spcffft.
Couch Baron: I…think I might have the wrong number.
Sarah: NNMRRRFFFF!
Couch Baron: …Sarah?
Sarah: Mmm hmm.
Couch Baron: Uh…are you…okay?
Sarah: Mmm…hmm!
Couch Baron: Okay, so…the hell?
Sarah: Frrrk, sfff hrrk kfffrrpp …

The Vine: October 25, 2002
October 25, 2002 · No Comment

Sars,
I met a girl last July named Susan.A mutual friend of ours, Allison,
thought we would be good together and set us up.The first date was a
double-date with me and Sue, Allison, and her boyfriend.It went …

The Vine: October 24, 2002
October 24, 2002 · No Comment

Hi Sars,
As I read the letter from Frigid, I kept wondering if I’d somehow written
this letter myself in my sleep or something — I have the exact same problem.
Anyway, I thought I’d pass on that …