Human Nature

Martin McDonagh never wants you to get too comfortable. Frequently hilarious though it is, there is a lacerating and unpredictable edge to the playwright’s “The Cripple of Inishmaan,’’ which has arrived at the Paramount Mainstage for a too-brief run of a coproduction by the Galway-based Druid Theatre Company and the New York-based Atlantic Theater Company. So you laugh, you wince, you laugh again, you wince again. Mostly, you admire the playwright’s skill at populating the stage with nine characters who are indelibly rooted in the particularities of time (1934)

PHILADELPHIA - Celtics coach Doc Rivers was not taking a "mission accomplished" attitude about winning a game on the road in the Eastern Conference semifinals to take a 2-1 series lead over the 76ers into Friday night's game. "Who said we came to get one?" Rivers replied to a question during an interview at the team's hotel Thursday. "We never said that. You guys said it. We're taking it one at a time. "The key for us is keep our focus and energy high - not play like you've won one, so you can relax.

Upon meeting the vocal group Human Nature, Smokey Robinson felt like a prophecy was coming true. "When Berry Gordy started Motown, there were five of us in a room and he sat us down and said, ‘I'm going to start my own record label, and we're going to make quality music. Not just black music, but great music of the highest quality that will last,' " says Robinson recalling a conversation that took place ahead of Motown's 1960 launch. The record label (and sister imprint Tamla)

Upon meeting the vocal group Human Nature, Smokey Robinson felt like a prophecy was coming true. "When Berry Gordy started Motown, there were five of us in a room and he sat us down and said, ‘I'm going to start my own record label, and we're going to make quality music. Not just black music, but great music of the highest quality that will last,' " says Robinson recalling a conversation that took place ahead of Motown's 1960 launch. The record label (and sister imprint Tamla)

Colin Quinn, the comedy writer, performer, and "Saturday Night Live" alum, has built his career on a witty brand of contrarian bluster. "That's my story, and I'm sticking to it," he signed off each segment when he anchored "Weekend Update," the "SNL" news spoof, in the late 1990s. On Twitter, he delights in taking one side of an issue that's bound to raise hackles, then retweeting the responders who call him an idiot. There's a name for that trait, said Quinn, who is 52. "They call it oppositional defiant disorder.

PHILADELPHIA - Celtics coach Doc Rivers was not taking a "mission accomplished" attitude about winning a game on the road in the Eastern Conference semifinals to take a 2-1 series lead over the 76ers into Friday night's game. "Who said we came to get one?" Rivers replied to a question during an interview at the team's hotel Thursday. "We never said that. You guys said it. We're taking it one at a time. "The key for us is keep our focus and energy high - not play like you've won one, so you can relax.

Alain de Botton, popular philosopher and confessed atheist, delights in contrarianism. In "Religion for Atheists," he observes that religion exists in order to provide rules for living together in harmony, and explanations to help us cope with the vicissitudes of life and the certainty of death. All problems that are still relevant to us today. "[T]he problems of the modern soul" - selfishness, consumerism, despair - "can successfully be addressed by solutions put forward by religions," such as humility, contemplation, and forgiveness.

Wendy Mayer, 26 Nonprofit events coordinator Her interests: She's a medicine nerd, biology major, and is becoming a certified EMT. Her perfect day: Meet friends for ice-skating, candlepin bowling, or other mischief Drew Nager, 25 Biology grad student What makes him a catch: He's from the South and grew up taking manners classes. His interests: He's a scientist but has weak spots for architecture, art history, and law. 7 p.m. Bergamot, Somerville HUMAN NATURE WENDY I did a short run before getting cleaned up for dinner.

Most of us consume too much information and exercise too little imagination. Readers looking for a brisk imaginative workout will want to consider these two books: erudite and beautifully written accounts of how our human forebears, as far back as we have any evidence, imagined themselves in relation to one another, to the rest of this world, and to the next world. Cognitively, each evokes a salutary strangeness. As one of the authors notes, "The present becomes almost transparently thin as we reflect back through deep time.

ALTHOUGH JEFF Jacoby ("When ‘inconsequential' means ‘better'," Op-ed, Aug. 21) and I are at opposite ends of the political spectrum, there is one way are alike. We both still want to believe that politicians running for office actually mean what they say and are not really just saying what they think we want to hear. It happened for me with Barack Obama, but I swore that it would not happen again. I learned long ago in a community college history class that a politician has two jobs.

IMAGINE YOU are at a dinner party. The conversation turns to medical ailments. Joe says his orthopedist ordered an MRI on his sore back and reassured him that nothing terrible was wrong. Fred says that he also has a sore back, but his doctor told him that he didn't need an MRI and recommended he take it easy. Fred says he will go see Joe's orthopedist. Last week's recommendations by nine medical organizations to rein in medical testing by "choosing wisely" would help bring down the costs of health care.

IF THE COMMON person wants to become a patron of the arts, the Internet has an answer. At Kickstarter, anyone can browse through the dreams of creative types — a documentary film, works of paint on plexiglass, a "trash truck ballet" — and help fund the ones that strike a chord. But what if the common person wants to be venture capitalist, investing a little bit here and there in businesses with tiny staffs but outsized potential? The Internet now has an answer for this too. It's a brilliant concept that could create jobs and improve communities.

Alain de Botton, popular philosopher and confessed atheist, delights in contrarianism. In "Religion for Atheists," he observes that religion exists in order to provide rules for living together in harmony, and explanations to help us cope with the vicissitudes of life and the certainty of death. All problems that are still relevant to us today. "[T]he problems of the modern soul" - selfishness, consumerism, despair - "can successfully be addressed by solutions put forward by religions," such as humility, contemplation, and forgiveness.

Aerial Wilson's strong start gave Virginia Tech an early lead. She just couldn't get help her team hold on to it. Wilson scored 15 of her 19 points in the first half of the Hokies' 67-45 loss at No. 5 Duke on Wednesday night. Wilson started the game 4 for 6 from the floor, including 3 for 3 on 3-pointers, but was 4 for 21 the rest of the way. She scored her team's first 11 points, helping the Hokies (7-19, 3-10 Atlantic Coast Conference) run out to a 13-9 lead less than six minutes into the game.

Mitt Romney, who has criticized Newt Gingrich for peddling influence in Washington, relies on his own array of politically connected lobbyists to help him raise money and advise his campaign on political strategy and policy. Romney raised $1.6 million from 14 lobbyists who gathered checks from their friends and associates in the last half of 2011. These "bundlers" include lobbyists for Goldman Sachs, Barclays, and Altria, the parent company of Philip Morris. Romney's political and policy advisers include lobbyists for Sallie Mae, the student lender; Alcoa,...

Colin Quinn, the comedy writer, performer, and "Saturday Night Live" alum, has built his career on a witty brand of contrarian bluster. "That's my story, and I'm sticking to it," he signed off each segment when he anchored "Weekend Update," the "SNL" news spoof, in the late 1990s. On Twitter, he delights in taking one side of an issue that's bound to raise hackles, then retweeting the responders who call him an idiot. There's a name for that trait, said Quinn, who is 52. "They call it oppositional defiant disorder.

Mitt Romney, who has criticized Newt Gingrich for peddling influence in Washington, relies on his own array of politically connected lobbyists to help him raise money and advise his campaign on political strategy and policy. Romney raised $1.6 million from 14 lobbyists who gathered checks from their friends and associates in the last half of 2011. These "bundlers" include lobbyists for Goldman Sachs, Barclays, and Altria, the parent company of Philip Morris. Romney's political and policy advisers include lobbyists for Sallie Mae, the student lender; Alcoa, the aluminum...

Here are some highlights from Tom Brady's weekly chat on WEEI this morning: Was it human nature that the Pats relaxed in the 4th quarter or is there something to be concerned with: I just think we didn't execute very well, offensively we didn't get first down in fourth quarter, so you can't do that. You're not going to do much in terms of helping the defense out either. No, we were up 31-3 and I think everyone was obviously happy with that but we'd like to close the game out a lot better than we did yesterday.

THE HIGH season of gifts is now upon us, and it is time to face a few uncomfortable truths: You do not know what most of the people on your list will actually enjoy. The majority of your gifts will be something of a failure. In fact, your whole concept of what makes a gift thoughtful — of what will be appreciated — is almost certainly wrong. There is, however, good news: You can do better, and it's not that hard. First, though, consider the evidence of our gifting flops.