Conventional Wisdom

Just a few years ago, back when every other show on television was about house flipping, the conventional wisdom was that renovations were better than money in the bank; they might cost a lot, but they’d pay several times over when it came time to sell. But those days look to be over, especially, it seems, when it comes to pricier projects. According to Remodeling magazine’s 2010-11 Cost vs. Value Report, a Boston-area homeowner could expect to spend $28,000 on a new roof, yet recoup less than $16,000.

Tim Tebow Week spread to Thursday's GOP debate in Iowa thanks to Texas Gov. Rick Perry . Tebow has merged sports, religion and politics at various times. For the moment, it hasn't seem to hurt his popularity no matter how polarizing he is. There were 7,848 "Tim Tebow" items for sale on eBay as of midnight Thursday. Nor has it affected his performance on the field. The Denver Broncos quarterback is 7-1 this season heading into Sunday's game against the New England Patriots.

In the new Sunday Ideas section, Leon Neyfakh writes about Steven Pinker's new book, The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined . Conventional wisdom holds that the world today is more violent than it ever has been; that's certainly the impression you'd get from thinking about the twentieth century. Pinker used to wince at the carnage like everybody else, and wonder how the human race had managed to lose its way so horribly. Then, in 1989, he stumbled upon something remarkable: a graph in a history book, compiled by a political scientist named...

In the new Sunday Ideas section, Leon Neyfakh writes about Steven Pinker's new book, The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined . Conventional wisdom holds that the world today is more violent than it ever has been; that's certainly the impression you'd get from thinking about the twentieth century. Pinker used to wince at the carnage like everybody else, and wonder how the human race had managed to lose its way so horribly. Then, in 1989, he stumbled upon something remarkable: a graph in a history book, compiled by a political scientist named...

Apparently, the conventional wisdom among those who are undoubtedly conventional, if very rarely wise, is that the Baseball All Star Game is Not What It Used To Be. This, of course, installs it on a long list of sports things that are Not What They Used To Be that includes the Cleveland Cavaliers, Roger Goodell, and J. D. Drew. (Which brings to mind this moment from Tootsie : Dorothy Michaels : Were you ever famous? John Van Horn : No. Dorothy : Then how can you be a has-been?

The football team trudges on, one cleat in front of another, one opponent after the next. Yesterday is of no consequence, and tomorrow is irrelevant. It is today, here and now, that matters. So goes the mantra of the New England Patriots. But wait. Hold on just a minute. It may be in coach Bill Belichick's best interest to move on, but those of us who are not under his authoritative thumb have the luxury of lingering a little longer alongside the highlight reel. Let's not dismiss what transpired last Sunday in St. Louis so quickly.

Conventional wisdom has it that Tennessee Williams wrote nine or 10 great plays between 1944 and 1961, and you can pretty much disregard everything else. That wisdom has been put to the test in recent years by productions of his lesser-known works at Hartford Stage and elsewhere. And now SpeakEasy Stage Company gets into the act with a soul-stirring, beautifully realized production of "Five by Tenn" -- five Williams one-acts from before and after his "golden age," plus the second scene of "Vieux Carré," a 1977 play.

Tim Tebow Week spread to Thursday's GOP debate in Iowa thanks to Texas Gov. Rick Perry . Tebow has merged sports, religion and politics at various times. For the moment, it hasn't seem to hurt his popularity no matter how polarizing he is. There were 7,848 "Tim Tebow" items for sale on eBay as of midnight Thursday. Nor has it affected his performance on the field. The Denver Broncos quarterback is 7-1 this season heading into Sunday's game against the New England Patriots.

You wonder why he can't get his arms around it -- the fame, the fortune, the free fall that inevitably accompanies both if you do not anticipate the warning signs that are always there, lurking in the shadows. Alex Rodriguez never sees it coming. He is an immensely gifted, intelligent, diligent, and (as he has pointed out himself) handsome athlete who is a lightning rod for a franchise that once was steeped in the tradition of winning, but hasn't won a championship since he came aboard.

The Pistons are here. Isn't this what everyone wanted? Think back to December, when people around here were saying, "Whoa, these guys really are pretty good. " Were people honestly thinking championship? Some giddy people, sure. But everyone else was saying, "All I want is a crack at the Pistons in the Eastern Conference finals. " And here we are. But the Celtics did not get here in a conventional manner, at least not in the manner of a team that won 66 regular-season games and had a league-best 31-10 record away from home.

Apparently, the conventional wisdom among those who are undoubtedly conventional, if very rarely wise, is that the Baseball All Star Game is Not What It Used To Be. This, of course, installs it on a long list of sports things that are Not What They Used To Be that includes the Cleveland Cavaliers, Roger Goodell, and J. D. Drew. (Which brings to mind this moment from Tootsie : Dorothy Michaels : Were you ever famous? John Van Horn : No. Dorothy : Then how can you be a has-been?

Just a few years ago, back when every other show on television was about house flipping, the conventional wisdom was that renovations were better than money in the bank; they might cost a lot, but they’d pay several times over when it came time to sell. But those days look to be over, especially, it seems, when it comes to pricier projects. According to Remodeling magazine’s 2010-11 Cost vs. Value Report, a Boston-area homeowner could expect to spend $28,000 on a new roof, yet recoup less than $16,000.

The Pistons are here. Isn't this what everyone wanted? Think back to December, when people around here were saying, "Whoa, these guys really are pretty good. " Were people honestly thinking championship? Some giddy people, sure. But everyone else was saying, "All I want is a crack at the Pistons in the Eastern Conference finals. " And here we are. But the Celtics did not get here in a conventional manner, at least not in the manner of a team that won 66 regular-season games and had a league-best 31-10 record away from home.

You wonder why he can't get his arms around it -- the fame, the fortune, the free fall that inevitably accompanies both if you do not anticipate the warning signs that are always there, lurking in the shadows. Alex Rodriguez never sees it coming. He is an immensely gifted, intelligent, diligent, and (as he has pointed out himself) handsome athlete who is a lightning rod for a franchise that once was steeped in the tradition of winning, but hasn't won a championship since he came aboard.

Conventional wisdom has it that Tennessee Williams wrote nine or 10 great plays between 1944 and 1961, and you can pretty much disregard everything else. That wisdom has been put to the test in recent years by productions of his lesser-known works at Hartford Stage and elsewhere. And now SpeakEasy Stage Company gets into the act with a soul-stirring, beautifully realized production of "Five by Tenn" -- five Williams one-acts from before and after his "golden age," plus the second scene of "Vieux Carré," a 1977 play.

The football team trudges on, one cleat in front of another, one opponent after the next. Yesterday is of no consequence, and tomorrow is irrelevant. It is today, here and now, that matters. So goes the mantra of the New England Patriots. But wait. Hold on just a minute. It may be in coach Bill Belichick's best interest to move on, but those of us who are not under his authoritative thumb have the luxury of lingering a little longer alongside the highlight reel. Let's not dismiss what transpired last Sunday in St. Louis so quickly.

So the Patriots and Wes Welker are about on the same wavelength with a contract as Chad Ochocinco was with the playbook last season. They're not close. Welker took his frustrations over the state of negotiations - which have only regressed since the Patriots offered two years at $16 million guaranteed before last season - public in comments to the Boston Herald last week. The Patriots did not react kindly to having their affairs aired that way. Big bulletin there.

Reports of the novel's death have been greatly exaggerated. That's one of the many important lessons to be gleaned from "The Storytelling Animal," by Jonathan Gottschall, an English professor at Washington and Jefferson College. In his first book for nonacademics, the author transitions easily to a mainstream audience with this insightful yet breezily accessible exploration of the power of storytelling and its ability to shape our lives. To demonstrate the scope and influence of narrative, Gottschall examines children's make-believe, dreams and daydreaming,...