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: July 15, 2011
July 15, 2011 · 13 Comments
The Vine: July 15, 2011

I’m hoping you and/or the Nation can help me out here. Last year I lost a ton of weight, met a great man and so a few weeks ago for the first time in my …

The Crushed Film Festival presents: Rounders
July 14, 2011 · 15 Comments
The Crushed Film Festival presents: <I>Rounders</I>

The Movie: Rounders
The Crush Object: Goran Visnjic
The Story: Law student Mike (Matt Damon) is also a savant poker player torn between his natural ability at — and affinity for — the card-playing life and a …

Trade-Baited Breath
July 13, 2011 · 8 Comments
Trade-Baited Breath

A few, hopefully quick, thoughts on the Mets and the trade deadline hereā€¦
As Bean aptly put it in a text last night about the K-Rod trade, “Alderson is ninja.” I didn’t have any opinions about …

The Vine: July 13, 2011
July 13, 2011 · 38 Comments
The Vine: July 13, 2011

I am a big DVD collector. I probably own over 400 DVDs, and that is a conservative estimate. (Honestly, I am afraid to count at this point, lest I realize the depth of my obsession.) …

Support Local Biz: July 12, 2011
July 12, 2011 · 5 Comments
Support Local Biz: July 12, 2011

Just a reminder that you can read about icky food on my Tumblr, Revolting Snacks of North America. Pictured above is today’s specimen, the Utz Cheeze Ball.
And on another note entirely, from reader Kristen F. …

The Vine: July 8, 2011
July 8, 2011 · 21 Comments
The Vine: July 8, 2011

So the good news first: the boyfriend and I are moving in together! YAY! Now, the bad news: he has a dog, I have a cat.
This is not that bad of news, as my cat …

Greenberg: Pain, no gain
July 7, 2011 · 8 Comments
<I>Greenberg</I>: Pain, no gain

A shrink told me once that I have trouble living in the present, so I live in the past, because I never really lived it in the first place — you know?
I love that line, …

The Vine: July 6, 2011
July 6, 2011 · 38 Comments
The Vine: July 6, 2011

Long-time reader, first-time et cetera.
A couple of weeks ago, the husband of a woman that I know tangentially just didn’t come home. After leaving her freaking out for a few days and calling the police, …

The NC Double Shot: Last Call
July 6, 2011 · 14 Comments
The NC Double Shot: Last Call

Updated bracket is here. Confused? Click here. And now, our finale: 1 Gin and Tonic vs. 10 Margarita.
Bunting: The final NC Double Shot matchup is an interesting contrast: a drink I associate with summer, with …

21 Jump Street: “Low and Away”
July 2, 2011 · 13 Comments
<I>21 Jump Street</I>: “Low and Away”

“Shut Up, Hanson” count: 7
 
Generic high-school name du jour: Lincoln
The Plaintive Piano of Our National Pastime As Symbol of Sundered Innocence plinks as high-school pitcher Johnny Hartmann (Patrick Breen, a Hey, It’s That Guy! who …