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With only about 1,000 pandas left in the world, China is desperately trying to clone the animal and ...
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Thepandaisoneoftheanimalsmost41danger.There42about
Highinthickbambooforestsinthemisty71rainmountainso
OnMarch252013twopandaswereshippedfromChinatoCanadA
WemustpandasinChinabecausethereareonlyoverl000lef
Suppose假定everypersononEarthateonlyonekindoffooD.An
Ioftengotothezooonweekends.ThereIcanseemyfavoritea
Let'ssavepandas!Thereonlyabout2000pandaslivinginth
Thegiantpandalovesbamboo.Anadultpandarequires12.5k
阅读下面短文根据短文内容回答下面问题1Thepandaisoneoftheanimalsmostin
Shouldwesavepandas?Eventhoughthenumberofgiantpanda
从方框中选出适当的单词或短语填空使短文意思完整通顺每个选项只能使用一次每框有一项剩余第一框供1—5小
阅读短文然后从方框中选出可以填入文中空白处的单词nothingweakplaylovelyworse
OnMarch252013twopandaswereshippedfromChinatoCanadA
Thepandaisoneoftheanimalsmostindanger.Thereareabou
OnMarch252013twopandaswereshippedfromChinatoCanadA
Pandasarelovelyanimals.Mostofthemliveinthedeepfore
Giantpandaseatvegetableseventhoughtheirbodiesarebe
Whydopeoplelovepandassomuch?Perhapsitisbecausethey
Pandasare_____tothemountainsofcentralChinaandonlya
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Thegiantpandalovesbamboo.Anadultpandarequires12.5k
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Concreteisprobablyusedmorewidelythananyothersubstanceexceptwateryetitremainslargelyunappreciated.Somepeopleviewthe20thcenturyastheatomicagethespaceagethecomputerage—butanargumentcanbemadethatitwastheconcreteagesayscementspecialistHendrikVanOss.It’samiraclematerial.IndeedmorethanatonofconcreteisproducedeachyearforeverymanwomanandchildonEarth.Yetconcreteisgenerallyignoredoutsidetheengineeringworldavictimofitsownubiquityandtheindustry’sconservativepaceofdevelopment.Nowthankstoenvironmentalpressuresandentrepreneurialinnovationanewgenerationofconcretesisemerging.Thishigh-techassortmentofconcreteconfectionspromisestobestrongerlighterandmoreenvironmentallyfriendlythaneverbefore.Concreteisalsoaclimate-changevillain.Itismadebymixingwaterwithanaggregatesuchassandorgravelandcement.Cementisusuallymadebyheatinglimestoneandclaytoover2500degreesF.Theresultingchemicalreactionalongwithfuelburnedtoheatthekilnproducesbetween7%and10%ofglobalcarbon-dioxideemissions.Whenwehavetorepeatedlyregeneratethesematerialsbecausethey’renotdurablewereleasemoreemissionssaysVictorLiwhohascreatedaconcretesuffusedbysyntheticfibersthatmakeitstrongermoredurableandabletobendlikeametal.Li’screationdoesnotrequirereinforcementapropertysharedbyotherconcretesthatusechemicaladditives.UsinglesswatermakesconcretestrongerbutuntilthedevelopmentofplasticizersitalsomadeconcretestickydryandhardtohandlesaysChristianMeyeracivilengineeringprofessoratColumbiaUniversity.MakingstrongerconcretessaysLiallowslesstobeusedreducingwasteandgivingarchitectsmorefreedom.Youcanhavesuchfuturisticdesignsifyoudon’thavetoputrebarinthereorstructuralbeamssaysVanOss.Amoredirectlygreenc6neretehasbeendevelopedbytheAustraliancompanyTecEeo.Theyaddmagnesiumtotheircementformingaporousconcretethatactuallyscrubscarbondioxidefromtheair.Whileexpertsagreethatthesenewconcretewillsomedaybewidelyusedthetimetableisuncertain.Concretecompaniesareresponsivetoenvironmentalconcernsandarealwayslookingtostretchtheutilityoftheirproductbuttheconstructionindustryisslowtochange.WhenyoustartmonkeyingaroundwithmaterialsthegoverningbodiesthebuildingdepartmentsareverycautiousbeforetheyletyouuseanunprovenmaterialMeyersays.InthenextfewdecadessaysVanOssbuildingcodeswillchangeopeningthewayforinnovativematerials.Butwhilenewconcretesmaybestrongerandmoredurabletheyarealsomoreexpensive—andwhetherthetendencyofdevelopersandthepublictofocusonshort-termratherthanlong-termcostswillalsochangeisanothermatter.BysayingitwastheconcreteageLine3Para.1VanOssmeansthat
[A]RefuseGimmicks [B]BeWaryofPriceLevels [C]SayNotoUselessThings [D]NeverPayListPrice [E]StanduptoTemptations [F]Switch—orThreatento [G]Don’tBuyonImpulse InrecentyearsthebasicmarketprinciplesofcompetitionandchoicehaveexpandedintonewaspectsofAmericanlife.Consumersnowfaceabewilderingarrayofoptionsforairtravelphoneservicemedicalcareevenpostalservice.CarbuyerscanshopontheInternetforthebestpriceatanydealershipintheirarea.Insomepartsofthecountryhomeownerscanpurchaseelectricityfromamenuofcompanies.Allthischoicetranslatesintounprecedentedconsumerpower. Oneofthepersistentmythsofcapitalistcultureisthatbusinesspeoplelovecompetition.Theydon’t.Theyspendtheirwakinghoursplottingwaystoavoiditandkeeppriceshigh.Thesedaystheyuseinformationtechnologiesthatgivethemintricatedataonindividualshoppersandthenpresentmultiplepricestogeteachconsumertocoughupthemaximumheiswillingtopay.Theairlineshavemasteredthisgameofferingmanylevelsoffares. SohowcanyoumakethemostofyournewpowerasaconsumerHerearerulestohelpyoufindyourway. 41.______ IntheNewEconomycompetitionissostrongthatfewerstoresandservicesareimmunetopricepressuresosharpenyourbargainingskills.Askretailerstomatchpricesyou’veseenontheInternet.Askatthecheckoutcounterifthereareanycouponsordiscountsyoucanuse.Askhotelclerksiftherearebetterratesavailable.You’llbesurprisedhowoftentheanswerisyes. 42.______ Ascompetitionheatsupandpushespricesdownbusinessesscrambletoboosttheirprofitsbyheapingonextras:rustproofingyourcarservicecontractsonyourapplianceprepaidgasolineforyourrentalcar.Thesestuntsaredevisedtomakeyoupaymoreatthelastminuteandprobablyaren’tagooddeal. 43.______ Theinformationhighwayisatwo-waystreet.Asaconsumeryoucangetmoredata.ButwhileyouareroamingtheWebbusinessesarestudyingyourhabitsandvulnerabilities. HaveaweaknessforchocolatesDon’tbesurprisedifAmazon.Comofferstosellyouaboxwhileyou’rebrowsingforbooks.They’reusingawrinkleonthelast-minutemarketingpitchperfectedbyMcDonald’s:“Wouldyoulikefrieswiththat”Theployworksremarkablywell. 44.______ Versioningisatacticusedbybusinessestoseparatestatus-consciousconsumersfromthebargain-hungryones—sincetheformermeanbiggerprofitmargins.“Deluxe”and“platinum”arecodewordsusedtoenticestatusseekerstoopentheirwallets. Addathirdpricelevelandthepursesofevenbargain-hungryshopperscanbepriedopen.Researchshowsthatmanyconsumerswhomightpickthelower-pricedoptionwhengivenjusttwochoiceswillchoosethemedium-pricedalternativeifgiventhree.“Consumerstrytoavoidextremeoptions”writeCarlShapiroandHalR.VarianintheirbookInformationRules. Consumersin.theNewEconomyfacemoredemandsontheirtimeandattentionthaneverbeforesothey’reinclinedtomakethemostfamiliarchoice.Considerthis:ithadbeenadecadeandahalfsincethebreakupofAT＆Tyetitisstillbyfarthelargestlong-distanceprovider—evenwhileotherphonecompaniesoffer$50worthoffreeserviceforswitching.Morethaneveritpaystochangeservicesandbrands. Ifyoudon’twantthehasslesofswitchingrememberthatbusinessesareeagertohangontoconsumers.Thenexttimeyougetatemptingofferfromacredit-cardissueroraphonecompanycallyourcurrentproviderandaskthemtomatchthedeal.You’llbepleasedtofindhowoftenthey’llagree. 45
In1999thepriceofoilhoveredaround$16abarrel.By2008ithad1the$100abarrelmark.Thereasonsforthesurge2fromthedramaticgrowthoftheeconomiesofChinaandIndiatowidespread3inoil-producingregionsincludingIraqandNigeria’sdeltaregion.Triple-digitoilpriceshave4theeconomicandpoliticalmapoftheworld5someoldnotionsofpower.Oil-richnationsareenjoyinghistoricgainsandopportunities6majorimporters—includingChinaandIndiahometoathirdoftheworld’spopulation—7risingeconomicandsocialcosts. Managingthisneworderisfastbecomingacentral8ofglobalpolitics.Countriesthatneedoilareclawingateachotherto9scarcesuppliesandarewillingtodealwithanygovernment10howunpleasanttodoit. Inmanypoornationswithoiltheprofitsarebeinglosttocorruption11thesecountriesoftheirbesthopefordevelopment.Andoilisfuelingenormousinvestmentfundsrunbyforeigngovernments12someinthewestseeasanewthreat. CountrieslikeRussiaVenezuelaandIranarewellsuppliedwithrisingoil13achangereflectedinnewlyaggressiveforeignpolicies.Butsomeunexpectedcountriesarereapingbenefits14costsfromhigherprices.ConsiderGermany.15itimportsvirtuallyallitsoilithasprosperedfromextensivetradewithaboomingRussiaandtheMiddleEast.GermanexportstoRussia16128percentfrom2001to2006. IntheUnitedStatesasalreadyhighgaspricesrose17higherinthespringof2008theissuecroppedupinthepresidentialcampaignwithSenatorsMcCainandObama18forafederalgastaxholidayduringthepeaksummerdrivingmonths.Anddrivinghabitsbeganto19assalesofsmallcarsjumpedandmasstransportsystems20thecountryreportedasharpincreaseinriders. 9
InthelasttenyearstheInternethasopenedupincredibleamountsofinformationtoordinarycitizens.ButusingtheInternetcanhelikewalkingintoalibrarywherethebooksarealllyingonthefloorinpiles.WhiletoolslikeGoogleallowsomestructuredsearchmuchofthedatafromsuchsearchesisoutdatedorofquestionablevalue.SomewebenthusiastshavetakenupthetaskoforganizinginformationthroughademocraticmeansthatonlytheInternetallows:anencyclopediaofthepeoplebythepeopleandcompletelyfreetocopyanddistribute.This‘people’sencyclopedia’oftheWeb—afreesitecalledWikipedia—hasprovidedauniquesolutionbyinvitingindividualstoparticipateintheprocessofrationalizingandupdatingwebcontent.Attheheartofthismovementarewikiswebsitesthatallowuserstodirectlyeditanywebpagewithoneclickofthemouse.Wikipedia—thelargestexampleofthesecollaborativeefforts—isafunctioninguser-contributedonlineencyclopediathathasbecomeapopularandhighlyregardedreferenceinjustthreeyearsofexistence.ThegoalofWikipediawastocreateanencyclopediathatcouldhesharedandcopiedfreelywhileencouragingpeopletochangeandimprovethecontent.EachandeveryarticlehasanEditthispagebuttonallowinganyoneevenanonymouspassersbytoaddordeleteanycontentonthepage.Itseemslikearecipefordisasterandchaosbutithasproducedsurprisinglycrediblecontentthathasbeenevaluatedandrevisedbythethousandsofinternationalvisitorstothesite.FormanyitfinallyrealizestheoriginalconceptofWorldWideWebcreatorTimBerners-Lee—anonlineenvironmentwherepeoplenotonlybrowsecontentbutfreelyandactivelyexchangeinformation.TheWikipediaprojectwasstartedbyJimmyWalesheadofInternetstartupBomis.comafterhisoriginalprojectforavolunteerhutstrictlycontrolledfreeencyclopediaranoutofmoneyandresourcesaftertwoyears.EditorswithPhDdegreeswereatthehelmoftheprojectthenbutitproducedonlyafewhundredarticles.NotwantingthecontenttolanguishWalesplacedthepagesonawikiwebsiteinJanuary2001andinvitedanyInternetvisitorstoeditoraddtothecollection.Thesitebecamearunawaysuccessinthefirstyearandgainedaloyalfollowinggeneratingover20000articlesandspawningoveradozenlanguagetranslations.Aftertwoyearsithad100000articlesandinApril2004itexceeded250000articlesinEnglishand600000articlesin50otherlanguages.Over2000newarticlesareaddedeachdayacrossallthevariouslanguages.AndaccordingtowebsiterankingsatAlexa.comithasbecomemorepopularthantraditionalonlineencyclopediassuchasBritannica.comandisoneofthetop600mostheavilyvisitedwebsitesontheinternet.ThewordlanguishLine4Para.4isclosestinmeaningto
In1999thepriceofoilhoveredaround$16abarrel.By2008ithad1the$100abarrelmark.Thereasonsforthesurge2fromthedramaticgrowthoftheeconomiesofChinaandIndiatowidespread3inoil-producingregionsincludingIraqandNigeria’sdeltaregion.Triple-digitoilpriceshave4theeconomicandpoliticalmapoftheworld5someoldnotionsofpower.Oil-richnationsareenjoyinghistoricgainsandopportunities6majorimporters—includingChinaandIndiahometoathirdoftheworld’spopulation—7risingeconomicandsocialcosts. Managingthisneworderisfastbecomingacentral8ofglobalpolitics.Countriesthatneedoilareclawingateachotherto9scarcesuppliesandarewillingtodealwithanygovernment10howunpleasanttodoit. Inmanypoornationswithoiltheprofitsarebeinglosttocorruption11thesecountriesoftheirbesthopefordevelopment.Andoilisfuelingenormousinvestmentfundsrunbyforeigngovernments12someinthewestseeasanewthreat. CountrieslikeRussiaVenezuelaandIranarewellsuppliedwithrisingoil13achangereflectedinnewlyaggressiveforeignpolicies.Butsomeunexpectedcountriesarereapingbenefits14costsfromhigherprices.ConsiderGermany.15itimportsvirtuallyallitsoilithasprosperedfromextensivetradewithaboomingRussiaandtheMiddleEast.GermanexportstoRussia16128percentfrom2001to2006. IntheUnitedStatesasalreadyhighgaspricesrose17higherinthespringof2008theissuecroppedupinthepresidentialcampaignwithSenatorsMcCainandObama18forafederalgastaxholidayduringthepeaksummerdrivingmonths.Anddrivinghabitsbeganto19assalesofsmallcarsjumpedandmasstransportsystems20thecountryreportedasharpincreaseinriders. 19
In1999thepriceofoilhoveredaround$16abarrel.By2008ithad1the$100abarrelmark.Thereasonsforthesurge2fromthedramaticgrowthoftheeconomiesofChinaandIndiatowidespread3inoil-producingregionsincludingIraqandNigeria’sdeltaregion.Triple-digitoilpriceshave4theeconomicandpoliticalmapoftheworld5someoldnotionsofpower.Oil-richnationsareenjoyinghistoricgainsandopportunities6majorimporters—includingChinaandIndiahometoathirdoftheworld’spopulation—7risingeconomicandsocialcosts. Managingthisneworderisfastbecomingacentral8ofglobalpolitics.Countriesthatneedoilareclawingateachotherto9scarcesuppliesandarewillingtodealwithanygovernment10howunpleasanttodoit. Inmanypoornationswithoiltheprofitsarebeinglosttocorruption11thesecountriesoftheirbesthopefordevelopment.Andoilisfuelingenormousinvestmentfundsrunbyforeigngovernments12someinthewestseeasanewthreat. CountrieslikeRussiaVenezuelaandIranarewellsuppliedwithrisingoil13achangereflectedinnewlyaggressiveforeignpolicies.Butsomeunexpectedcountriesarereapingbenefits14costsfromhigherprices.ConsiderGermany.15itimportsvirtuallyallitsoilithasprosperedfromextensivetradewithaboomingRussiaandtheMiddleEast.GermanexportstoRussia16128percentfrom2001to2006. IntheUnitedStatesasalreadyhighgaspricesrose17higherinthespringof2008theissuecroppedupinthepresidentialcampaignwithSenatorsMcCainandObama18forafederalgastaxholidayduringthepeaksummerdrivingmonths.Anddrivinghabitsbeganto19assalesofsmallcarsjumpedandmasstransportsystems20thecountryreportedasharpincreaseinriders. 1
In1999thepriceofoilhoveredaround$16abarrel.By2008ithad1the$100abarrelmark.Thereasonsforthesurge2fromthedramaticgrowthoftheeconomiesofChinaandIndiatowidespread3inoil-producingregionsincludingIraqandNigeria’sdeltaregion.Triple-digitoilpriceshave4theeconomicandpoliticalmapoftheworld5someoldnotionsofpower.Oil-richnationsareenjoyinghistoricgainsandopportunities6majorimporters—includingChinaandIndiahometoathirdoftheworld’spopulation—7risingeconomicandsocialcosts. Managingthisneworderisfastbecomingacentral8ofglobalpolitics.Countriesthatneedoilareclawingateachotherto9scarcesuppliesandarewillingtodealwithanygovernment10howunpleasanttodoit. Inmanypoornationswithoiltheprofitsarebeinglosttocorruption11thesecountriesoftheirbesthopefordevelopment.Andoilisfuelingenormousinvestmentfundsrunbyforeigngovernments12someinthewestseeasanewthreat. CountrieslikeRussiaVenezuelaandIranarewellsuppliedwithrisingoil13achangereflectedinnewlyaggressiveforeignpolicies.Butsomeunexpectedcountriesarereapingbenefits14costsfromhigherprices.ConsiderGermany.15itimportsvirtuallyallitsoilithasprosperedfromextensivetradewithaboomingRussiaandtheMiddleEast.GermanexportstoRussia16128percentfrom2001to2006. IntheUnitedStatesasalreadyhighgaspricesrose17higherinthespringof2008theissuecroppedupinthepresidentialcampaignwithSenatorsMcCainandObama18forafederalgastaxholidayduringthepeaksummerdrivingmonths.Anddrivinghabitsbeganto19assalesofsmallcarsjumpedandmasstransportsystems20thecountryreportedasharpincreaseinriders. 11
In1999thepriceofoilhoveredaround$16abarrel.By2008ithad1the$100abarrelmark.Thereasonsforthesurge2fromthedramaticgrowthoftheeconomiesofChinaandIndiatowidespread3inoil-producingregionsincludingIraqandNigeria’sdeltaregion.Triple-digitoilpriceshave4theeconomicandpoliticalmapoftheworld5someoldnotionsofpower.Oil-richnationsareenjoyinghistoricgainsandopportunities6majorimporters—includingChinaandIndiahometoathirdoftheworld’spopulation—7risingeconomicandsocialcosts. Managingthisneworderisfastbecomingacentral8ofglobalpolitics.Countriesthatneedoilareclawingateachotherto9scarcesuppliesandarewillingtodealwithanygovernment10howunpleasanttodoit. Inmanypoornationswithoiltheprofitsarebeinglosttocorruption11thesecountriesoftheirbesthopefordevelopment.Andoilisfuelingenormousinvestmentfundsrunbyforeigngovernments12someinthewestseeasanewthreat. CountrieslikeRussiaVenezuelaandIranarewellsuppliedwithrisingoil13achangereflectedinnewlyaggressiveforeignpolicies.Butsomeunexpectedcountriesarereapingbenefits14costsfromhigherprices.ConsiderGermany.15itimportsvirtuallyallitsoilithasprosperedfromextensivetradewithaboomingRussiaandtheMiddleEast.GermanexportstoRussia16128percentfrom2001to2006. IntheUnitedStatesasalreadyhighgaspricesrose17higherinthespringof2008theissuecroppedupinthepresidentialcampaignwithSenatorsMcCainandObama18forafederalgastaxholidayduringthepeaksummerdrivingmonths.Anddrivinghabitsbeganto19assalesofsmallcarsjumpedandmasstransportsystems20thecountryreportedasharpincreaseinriders. 15
CharlesDarwinwedhiscousinEmmaandspawned10childrenincludingfourbrilliantscientists.AlbertEinstein’ssecondwifeElsawashisfirstcousin.QueenVictoriasaidIdotohers.Sohavemillionsworldwide.InpartsofSaudiArabia39%ofallmarriagesarebetweenfirstcousins.IntheU.S.thoughthepracticebearsastigmaofinbreedingjustthissideofincest.Thetabooisnotonlysocialhutlegislative;24statesbanthemarriageoffirstcousins:fiveothersallowitonlyifthecoupleisunabletobearchildren.Amajorreasonforthisbanisthebeliefthatkidsoffirstcousinsaretragicallysusceptibletoseriouscongenitalillnesses.Thatviewmayhavetochange.AcomprehensivestudypublishedrecentlyintheJournalofGeneticCounselingindicatessuchchildrenrunanonlyslightlyhigherriskofsignificantgeneticdisorderslikecongenitalheartdefects—abouttwopercentagepointsabovetheaverage3%to4%.Saysthestudy’sleadauthorRobinBennettpresident-electoftheNationalSocietyofGeneticCounselorswhichfundedthestudy:Asidefromathoroughmedicalfamilyhistorythereisnoneedtoofferanygenetictestingonthebasisofconsanguinityalone.Publicationofthestudywilldomorethantweakpublicawareness;itwillenlightendoctorswhohaveurgedcousincouplesnottohavechildren.JustthisweeksaysBennettIsawa23-year-oldwomanwhohadhadatuballigationbecauseherparentswerecousinsandherdoctortoldhersheshouldn’thavechildren.TheAmericanproscriptionagainstcousinmarriagesgrewinthe19thcenturyaswildernesssettlerstriedtodistinguishthemselvesfromthesavageIndianssaysMartinauthorofthebookForbiddenRelatives:TheAmericanMythofCousinMarriage.ThetruthisthatEuropeansweremarryingtheircousinsandNativeAmericanswerenot.Anddoesn’tGodhavesternwordsonthesubjectChristieSmith37aNevadawritersaysshefeltguiltywhenshefellinlovewithherfirstcousin’ssonMark.IwastryingsohardtoconvincemyselfnottohavethesefeelingssherecallsthatIwenttotheBiblelookingforconfirmationthatitwaswrong.AndwhatIfoundwastheexactopposite:supportforcousinmarriages.ThepatriarchJacobmarriedtwoofhisfirstcousinsRachelandLeah.SmithmarriedMarkin1999.Themedicalbanislifted;thesocialstainmaytakelongertodisappear.WhichofthefollowingistrueofthestudypublishedintheJournalofGeneticCounseling
Thequestionofwhereinsightscomefromhasbecomeahottopicinneurosciencedespitethefactthattheyarenoteasytoinduceexperimentallyinalaboratory.Dr.BhattacharyaandDr.Shethhavetakenacreativeapproach.Theyhaveselectedsomebrain-teasingbutpracticalproblemsinthehopethatthesewouldgetclosertomimickingrealinsight:Toqualifyapuzzlehadtobesimplenottoowidelyknownandwithoutamethodicalsolution.Theresearchersthenasked18youngadultstotrytosolvetheseproblemswhiletheirbrainwavesweremonitoredusinganelectroencephalographEEG.Atypicalbrain-teaserwentlikethis.Therearethreelightswitchesontheground-floorwallofathree-storeyhouse.Twooftheswitchesdonothingbutoneofthemcontrolsabulbonthesecondfloor.Whenyoubeginthebulbisoff.Youcanonlymakeonevisittothesecondfloor.HowdoyouworkoutwhichswitchistheonethatcontrolsthelightThisproblemoroneequivalenttoitwaspresentedonacomputerscreentoavolunteerwhenthatvolunteerpressedabutton.Theelectricalactivityofthevolunteer’sbrainhisbrainwavepatternwasrecordedbytheEEGfromthebutton’spress.Eachvolunteerwasgiven30secondstoreadthepuzzleandanother60to90secondstosolveit.Somepeopleworkeditout;othersdidnot.ThesignificantpointthoughwasthattheEEGpredictedwhowouldfallwhere.Thosevolunteerswhowentontohaveaninsightinthiscasethatontheironeandonlyvisittothesecondfloortheycouldusenotjustthelighthuttheheatproducedbyabulbasevidenceofanactiveswitchhadhaddifferentbrainwaveactivityfromthosewhonevergotit.Intherightfrontalcortexapartofthebrainassociatedwithshiftingmentalstatestherewasanincreaseinhigh-frequencygammawavesthosewith47-48cyclesasecond.Moreoverthedifferencewasnoticeableuptoeightsecondsbeforethevolunteerrealisedhehadfoundthesolution.Dr.Sheththinksthismayhecapturingthetransformationalthoughtinactionbeforethebrain’sownerisconsciouslyawareofit.Thisfindingposesfascinatingquestionsabouthowthebrainreallyworks.Consciousthoughtitseemsdoesnotsolveproblems.Insteadunconsciousprocessinghappensinthebackgroundandonlydeliverstheanswertoconsciousnessonceithasbeenarrivedat.Foodforfurtherthoughtindeed.Throughwhichcharacterofthebraindidthescientistsstudythebrain
In1999thepriceofoilhoveredaround$16abarrel.By2008ithad1the$100abarrelmark.Thereasonsforthesurge2fromthedramaticgrowthoftheeconomiesofChinaandIndiatowidespread3inoil-producingregionsincludingIraqandNigeria’sdeltaregion.Triple-digitoilpriceshave4theeconomicandpoliticalmapoftheworld5someoldnotionsofpower.Oil-richnationsareenjoyinghistoricgainsandopportunities6majorimporters—includingChinaandIndiahometoathirdoftheworld’spopulation—7risingeconomicandsocialcosts. Managingthisneworderisfastbecomingacentral8ofglobalpolitics.Countriesthatneedoilareclawingateachotherto9scarcesuppliesandarewillingtodealwithanygovernment10howunpleasanttodoit. Inmanypoornationswithoiltheprofitsarebeinglosttocorruption11thesecountriesoftheirbesthopefordevelopment.Andoilisfuelingenormousinvestmentfundsrunbyforeigngovernments12someinthewestseeasanewthreat. CountrieslikeRussiaVenezuelaandIranarewellsuppliedwithrisingoil13achangereflectedinnewlyaggressiveforeignpolicies.Butsomeunexpectedcountriesarereapingbenefits14costsfromhigherprices.ConsiderGermany.15itimportsvirtuallyallitsoilithasprosperedfromextensivetradewithaboomingRussiaandtheMiddleEast.GermanexportstoRussia16128percentfrom2001to2006. IntheUnitedStatesasalreadyhighgaspricesrose17higherinthespringof2008theissuecroppedupinthepresidentialcampaignwithSenatorsMcCainandObama18forafederalgastaxholidayduringthepeaksummerdrivingmonths.Anddrivinghabitsbeganto19assalesofsmallcarsjumpedandmasstransportsystems20thecountryreportedasharpincreaseinriders. 3
In1999thepriceofoilhoveredaround$16abarrel.By2008ithad1the$100abarrelmark.Thereasonsforthesurge2fromthedramaticgrowthoftheeconomiesofChinaandIndiatowidespread3inoil-producingregionsincludingIraqandNigeria’sdeltaregion.Triple-digitoilpriceshave4theeconomicandpoliticalmapoftheworld5someoldnotionsofpower.Oil-richnationsareenjoyinghistoricgainsandopportunities6majorimporters—includingChinaandIndiahometoathirdoftheworld’spopulation—7risingeconomicandsocialcosts. Managingthisneworderisfastbecomingacentral8ofglobalpolitics.Countriesthatneedoilareclawingateachotherto9scarcesuppliesandarewillingtodealwithanygovernment10howunpleasanttodoit. Inmanypoornationswithoiltheprofitsarebeinglosttocorruption11thesecountriesoftheirbesthopefordevelopment.Andoilisfuelingenormousinvestmentfundsrunbyforeigngovernments12someinthewestseeasanewthreat. CountrieslikeRussiaVenezuelaandIranarewellsuppliedwithrisingoil13achangereflectedinnewlyaggressiveforeignpolicies.Butsomeunexpectedcountriesarereapingbenefits14costsfromhigherprices.ConsiderGermany.15itimportsvirtuallyallitsoilithasprosperedfromextensivetradewithaboomingRussiaandtheMiddleEast.GermanexportstoRussia16128percentfrom2001to2006. IntheUnitedStatesasalreadyhighgaspricesrose17higherinthespringof2008theissuecroppedupinthepresidentialcampaignwithSenatorsMcCainandObama18forafederalgastaxholidayduringthepeaksummerdrivingmonths.Anddrivinghabitsbeganto19assalesofsmallcarsjumpedandmasstransportsystems20thecountryreportedasharpincreaseinriders. 7
In1999thepriceofoilhoveredaround$16abarrel.By2008ithad1the$100abarrelmark.Thereasonsforthesurge2fromthedramaticgrowthoftheeconomiesofChinaandIndiatowidespread3inoil-producingregionsincludingIraqandNigeria’sdeltaregion.Triple-digitoilpriceshave4theeconomicandpoliticalmapoftheworld5someoldnotionsofpower.Oil-richnationsareenjoyinghistoricgainsandopportunities6majorimporters—includingChinaandIndiahometoathirdoftheworld’spopulation—7risingeconomicandsocialcosts. Managingthisneworderisfastbecomingacentral8ofglobalpolitics.Countriesthatneedoilareclawingateachotherto9scarcesuppliesandarewillingtodealwithanygovernment10howunpleasanttodoit. Inmanypoornationswithoiltheprofitsarebeinglosttocorruption11thesecountriesoftheirbesthopefordevelopment.Andoilisfuelingenormousinvestmentfundsrunbyforeigngovernments12someinthewestseeasanewthreat. CountrieslikeRussiaVenezuelaandIranarewellsuppliedwithrisingoil13achangereflectedinnewlyaggressiveforeignpolicies.Butsomeunexpectedcountriesarereapingbenefits14costsfromhigherprices.ConsiderGermany.15itimportsvirtuallyallitsoilithasprosperedfromextensivetradewithaboomingRussiaandtheMiddleEast.GermanexportstoRussia16128percentfrom2001to2006. IntheUnitedStatesasalreadyhighgaspricesrose17higherinthespringof2008theissuecroppedupinthepresidentialcampaignwithSenatorsMcCainandObama18forafederalgastaxholidayduringthepeaksummerdrivingmonths.Anddrivinghabitsbeganto19assalesofsmallcarsjumpedandmasstransportsystems20thecountryreportedasharpincreaseinriders. 5
ThatLouiseNevelsonisbelievedbymanycriticstobethegreatesttwentieth-centurysculptorisallthemoreremarkablebecausethegreatestresistancetowomenartistshasbeenuntilrecentlyinthefieldofsculpture.SinceNeolithictimessculpturehasbeenconsideredtheprerogativeofmenpartlyperhapsforpurelyphysicalreasons:itwaserroneouslyassumedthatwomenwerenotsuitedforthehardmanuallaborrequiredinsculptingstonecarvingwoodorworkinginmetal.IthasbeenonlyduringthetwentiethcenturythatwomensculptorshavebeenrecognizedasmajorartistsandithasbeenintheUnitedStatesespeciallysincethedecadesofthefiftiesandsixtiesthatwomensculptorshaveshownthegreatestoriginalityandcreativepower.TheirrisetoprominenceparallelsthedevelopmentofsculptureitselfintheUnitedStates:whiletherehadbeenafewtalentedsculptorsintheUnitedStatesbeforethe1940’sitwasonlyafter1945—whenNewYorkwasrapidlybecomingtheartcapitaloftheworld—thatmajorsculpturewasproducedintheUnitedStates.Someofthebestwastheworkofwomen.ByfarthemostoutstandingofthesewomenisLouiseNevelsonwhointheeyesofmanycriticsisthemostoriginalfemaleartistalivetoday.OnefamousandinfluentialcriticHiltonKramersaidofherworkFormyselfIthinkMs.Nevelsonsucceedswherethepaintersoftenfail.HerworkshavebeencomparedtotheCubistconstructionsofPicassotheSurrealisticobjectsofMiroandtheMerzbauofSchwitters.NevelsonwouldbethefirsttoadmitthatshehasbeeninfluencedbyalloftheseaswellasbyAfricansculptureandbyNativeAmericanandpre-Columbianartbutshehasabsorbedalltheseinfluencesandstillcreatedadistinctiveartthatexpressestheurbanlandscapeandtheaestheticsensibilityofthetwentiethcentury.NevelsonsaysIhavealwayswantedtoshowtheworldthatartiseverywhereexceptthatithastopassthroughacreativemind.Usingmostlydiscardedwoodenobjectslikepackingcratesbrokenpiecesoffurnitureandabandonedarchitecturalornamentsallofwhichshehashoardedforyearssheassemblesarchitecturalconstructionsofgreatbeautyandpower.Creatingveryfreelywithnosketchesshegluesandnailsobjectstogetherpaintsthemblackormorerarelywhiteorgoldandplacestheminboxes.Theseassemblageswallsevenentireenvironmentscreateamysteriousalmostawe-inspiringatmosphere.Althoughshehasdeniedanysymbolicorreligiousintentinherworkstheirthree-dimensionalgrandeurandeventheirtitlessuchasSkyCathedralandNightCathedralsuggestsuchconnotations.InsomewayshermostambitiousworksareclosertoarchitecturethantotraditionalsculpturebutthenneitherLouiseNevelsonnorherartfitsintoanyneatcategory.Thewriterimpliesinthefirstparagraphthat
[A]RefuseGimmicks [B]BeWaryofPriceLevels [C]SayNotoUselessThings [D]NeverPayListPrice [E]StanduptoTemptations [F]Switch—orThreatento [G]Don’tBuyonImpulse InrecentyearsthebasicmarketprinciplesofcompetitionandchoicehaveexpandedintonewaspectsofAmericanlife.Consumersnowfaceabewilderingarrayofoptionsforairtravelphoneservicemedicalcareevenpostalservice.CarbuyerscanshopontheInternetforthebestpriceatanydealershipintheirarea.Insomepartsofthecountryhomeownerscanpurchaseelectricityfromamenuofcompanies.Allthischoicetranslatesintounprecedentedconsumerpower. Oneofthepersistentmythsofcapitalistcultureisthatbusinesspeoplelovecompetition.Theydon’t.Theyspendtheirwakinghoursplottingwaystoavoiditandkeeppriceshigh.Thesedaystheyuseinformationtechnologiesthatgivethemintricatedataonindividualshoppersandthenpresentmultiplepricestogeteachconsumertocoughupthemaximumheiswillingtopay.Theairlineshavemasteredthisgameofferingmanylevelsoffares. SohowcanyoumakethemostofyournewpowerasaconsumerHerearerulestohelpyoufindyourway. 41.______ IntheNewEconomycompetitionissostrongthatfewerstoresandservicesareimmunetopricepressuresosharpenyourbargainingskills.Askretailerstomatchpricesyou’veseenontheInternet.Askatthecheckoutcounterifthereareanycouponsordiscountsyoucanuse.Askhotelclerksiftherearebetterratesavailable.You’llbesurprisedhowoftentheanswerisyes. 42.______ Ascompetitionheatsupandpushespricesdownbusinessesscrambletoboosttheirprofitsbyheapingonextras:rustproofingyourcarservicecontractsonyourapplianceprepaidgasolineforyourrentalcar.Thesestuntsaredevisedtomakeyoupaymoreatthelastminuteandprobablyaren’tagooddeal. 43.______ Theinformationhighwayisatwo-waystreet.Asaconsumeryoucangetmoredata.ButwhileyouareroamingtheWebbusinessesarestudyingyourhabitsandvulnerabilities. HaveaweaknessforchocolatesDon’tbesurprisedifAmazon.Comofferstosellyouaboxwhileyou’rebrowsingforbooks.They’reusingawrinkleonthelast-minutemarketingpitchperfectedbyMcDonald’s:“Wouldyoulikefrieswiththat”Theployworksremarkablywell. 44.______ Versioningisatacticusedbybusinessestoseparatestatus-consciousconsumersfromthebargain-hungryones—sincetheformermeanbiggerprofitmargins.“Deluxe”and“platinum”arecodewordsusedtoenticestatusseekerstoopentheirwallets. Addathirdpricelevelandthepursesofevenbargain-hungryshopperscanbepriedopen.Researchshowsthatmanyconsumerswhomightpickthelower-pricedoptionwhengivenjusttwochoiceswillchoosethemedium-pricedalternativeifgiventhree.“Consumerstrytoavoidextremeoptions”writeCarlShapiroandHalR.VarianintheirbookInformationRules. Consumersin.theNewEconomyfacemoredemandsontheirtimeandattentionthaneverbeforesothey’reinclinedtomakethemostfamiliarchoice.Considerthis:ithadbeenadecadeandahalfsincethebreakupofAT＆Tyetitisstillbyfarthelargestlong-distanceprovider—evenwhileotherphonecompaniesoffer$50worthoffreeserviceforswitching.Morethaneveritpaystochangeservicesandbrands. Ifyoudon’twantthehasslesofswitchingrememberthatbusinessesareeagertohangontoconsumers.Thenexttimeyougetatemptingofferfromacredit-cardissueroraphonecompanycallyourcurrentproviderandaskthemtomatchthedeal.You’llbepleasedtofindhowoftenthey’llagree. 41
In1999thepriceofoilhoveredaround$16abarrel.By2008ithad1the$100abarrelmark.Thereasonsforthesurge2fromthedramaticgrowthoftheeconomiesofChinaandIndiatowidespread3inoil-producingregionsincludingIraqandNigeria’sdeltaregion.Triple-digitoilpriceshave4theeconomicandpoliticalmapoftheworld5someoldnotionsofpower.Oil-richnationsareenjoyinghistoricgainsandopportunities6majorimporters—includingChinaandIndiahometoathirdoftheworld’spopulation—7risingeconomicandsocialcosts. Managingthisneworderisfastbecomingacentral8ofglobalpolitics.Countriesthatneedoilareclawingateachotherto9scarcesuppliesandarewillingtodealwithanygovernment10howunpleasanttodoit. Inmanypoornationswithoiltheprofitsarebeinglosttocorruption11thesecountriesoftheirbesthopefordevelopment.Andoilisfuelingenormousinvestmentfundsrunbyforeigngovernments12someinthewestseeasanewthreat. CountrieslikeRussiaVenezuelaandIranarewellsuppliedwithrisingoil13achangereflectedinnewlyaggressiveforeignpolicies.Butsomeunexpectedcountriesarereapingbenefits14costsfromhigherprices.ConsiderGermany.15itimportsvirtuallyallitsoilithasprosperedfromextensivetradewithaboomingRussiaandtheMiddleEast.GermanexportstoRussia16128percentfrom2001to2006. IntheUnitedStatesasalreadyhighgaspricesrose17higherinthespringof2008theissuecroppedupinthepresidentialcampaignwithSenatorsMcCainandObama18forafederalgastaxholidayduringthepeaksummerdrivingmonths.Anddrivinghabitsbeganto19assalesofsmallcarsjumpedandmasstransportsystems20thecountryreportedasharpincreaseinriders. 17
InthelasttenyearstheInternethasopenedupincredibleamountsofinformationtoordinarycitizens.ButusingtheInternetcanhelikewalkingintoalibrarywherethebooksarealllyingonthefloorinpiles.WhiletoolslikeGoogleallowsomestructuredsearchmuchofthedatafromsuchsearchesisoutdatedorofquestionablevalue.SomewebenthusiastshavetakenupthetaskoforganizinginformationthroughademocraticmeansthatonlytheInternetallows:anencyclopediaofthepeoplebythepeopleandcompletelyfreetocopyanddistribute.This‘people’sencyclopedia’oftheWeb—afreesitecalledWikipedia—hasprovidedauniquesolutionbyinvitingindividualstoparticipateintheprocessofrationalizingandupdatingwebcontent.Attheheartofthismovementarewikiswebsitesthatallowuserstodirectlyeditanywebpagewithoneclickofthemouse.Wikipedia—thelargestexampleofthesecollaborativeefforts—isafunctioninguser-contributedonlineencyclopediathathasbecomeapopularandhighlyregardedreferenceinjustthreeyearsofexistence.ThegoalofWikipediawastocreateanencyclopediathatcouldhesharedandcopiedfreelywhileencouragingpeopletochangeandimprovethecontent.EachandeveryarticlehasanEditthispagebuttonallowinganyoneevenanonymouspassersbytoaddordeleteanycontentonthepage.Itseemslikearecipefordisasterandchaosbutithasproducedsurprisinglycrediblecontentthathasbeenevaluatedandrevisedbythethousandsofinternationalvisitorstothesite.FormanyitfinallyrealizestheoriginalconceptofWorldWideWebcreatorTimBerners-Lee—anonlineenvironmentwherepeoplenotonlybrowsecontentbutfreelyandactivelyexchangeinformation.TheWikipediaprojectwasstartedbyJimmyWalesheadofInternetstartupBomis.comafterhisoriginalprojectforavolunteerhutstrictlycontrolledfreeencyclopediaranoutofmoneyandresourcesaftertwoyears.EditorswithPhDdegreeswereatthehelmoftheprojectthenbutitproducedonlyafewhundredarticles.NotwantingthecontenttolanguishWalesplacedthepagesonawikiwebsiteinJanuary2001andinvitedanyInternetvisitorstoeditoraddtothecollection.Thesitebecamearunawaysuccessinthefirstyearandgainedaloyalfollowinggeneratingover20000articlesandspawningoveradozenlanguagetranslations.Aftertwoyearsithad100000articlesandinApril2004itexceeded250000articlesinEnglishand600000articlesin50otherlanguages.Over2000newarticlesareaddedeachdayacrossallthevariouslanguages.AndaccordingtowebsiterankingsatAlexa.comithasbecomemorepopularthantraditionalonlineencyclopediassuchasBritannica.comandisoneofthetop600mostheavilyvisitedwebsitesontheinternet.TheauthorcalledWikipedia‘people’sencyclopedia’because
Thenewspapermustprovideforthereaderthefactsunalloyedunslantedobjectivelyselectedfacts.Butinthesedaysofcomplexnewsitmustprovidemore;itmustsupplyinterpretationthemeaningofthefacts.ThisisthemostimportantassignmentConfrontingAmericanjournalism—tomakecleartothereadertheproblemsofthedaytomakeinternationalnewsasunderstandableascommunitynewstorecognizethatthereisnolongeranysuchthingwiththepossibleexceptionofsuchscribblingassocietyandclubnewsas“local”newsbecauseanyeventintheinternationalareahasalocalreactioninmanpowerdraftineconomicstrainintermsindeedofourverywayoflife. 46Thereisinjournalismawidespreadviewthatwhenyouembarkoninterpretationyouareenteringchoppyanddangerouswaterstheswirlingtidesofopinion.Thisisnonsense. Theopponentsofinterpretationinsistthatthewriterandtheeditorshallconfinehimselftothe“facts”.Thisinsistenceraisestwoquestions:WhatarethefactsAnd:Arethebarefactsenough Astothefirstqueryconsiderhowaso-called“factual”storycomesabout.Thereportercollectssayfiftyfacts;outofthesefiftyhisspaceallotmentbeingnecessarilyrestrictedheselectsthetenwhichheconsidersmostimportant.ThisisJudgmentNumberOne.ThenheorhiseditordecideswhichofthesetenfactsshallconstitutetheleadofthepieceThisisimportantdecisionbecausemanyreadersdonotproceedbeyondthefirstparagraph.ThisisJudgmentNumberTwo.47Thenthenighteditordetermineswhetherthearticleshallbepresentedonpageonewhereithasalargeimpactoronpagetwenty-fourwhereithaslittle.JudgmentNumberThree. Thusinthepresentationofaso-called“factual”or“objective”storyatleastthreejudgmentsareinvolved.48Andtheyarejudgmentsnotatallunlikethoseinvolvedininterpretationinwhichreporterandeditorcallingupontheirresearchresourcestheirgeneralbackgroundandtheir“newsneutralism”arriveataconclusionastothesignificanceofthenews. 49Thetwoareasofjudgmentpresentationofthenewsanditsinterpretationarebothobjectiveratherthansubjectiveprocesses—asobjectivethatisasanyhumanbeingcanbe.Noteinpassing:eventhoughcompleteobjectivitycanneverbeachievedneverthelesstheidealmustalwaysbethebeacononthemurkynewschannels.50Ifaneditorisintentonslantingthenewshecandoitinotherwaysandmoreeffectivelythanbyinterpretationandhecandoitbytheselectionofthosefactsthatpropuphisparticularplea.Orhecandoitbythepayhegivesastory—promotingittopageoneordemotingittopagethirty. Thenthenighteditordetermineswhetherthearticleshallbepresentedonpageonewhereithasalargeimpactoronpagetwenty-fourwhereithaslittle.
MosttownsuptoElizabethantimesweresmallerthanamodernvillageandeachofthemwasbuiltarounditsweeklymarketwherelocalproducewasbroughtforsaleandthetownfolkssoldtheirworktothepeoplefromthecountrysideandprovidedthemwithrefreshmentfortheday.Tradewasvirtuallyconfinedtothatonedayeveninatownofathousandorsopeople.Onmarketdayscraftsmenputuptheirstallsintheopenairwhilstononeortwootherdaysduringtheweekthetownsmanwouldpackuphisloavesornailsorclothandsetoutearlytodoaday’stradeinthemarketofanadjoiningtownwherehoweverhewouldbechargedaheavytollfortheprivilegeandgetalessfavourablespotforhisstandthanthelocalcraftsmen.AnotherchanceforhimtomakeasalewastothecongregationgatheredforSundaymorningworship.Althoughnotradewasallowedanywhereduringthehoursoftheserviceexceptatannualfairtimesafterchurchtherewouldbesometradeatthechurchdoorwithdepartingcountryfolk.Thetradeofmarketswasalmostwhollyconcernedwithexchangingtheproductsofthenearbycountrysideandthegoodssoldinthemarketbutparticularlyinfoodretaildealingwasdistrustedasakindofprofiteering.Evenwhentherewasenoughtradebeingdonetoaffordalivelihoodtoanenterprisingmanreadytobuywholesaleandsellretailtownauthoritieswerereluctanttoallowit.Yettherewereplainlypeoplewhoweretemptedtoforestallthemarketbybuyinggoodsoutsideitandtoregratethemthatistoresellthematahigherprice.Theconstantlyrepeatedrulesagainstthesepracticesandtheendlesslyrecurringprosecutionsmentionedintherecordsofallthelargertownsprovethatsomewell-informedandsharp-wittedpeopledidthesethings.Everytownmadeitsownlawsandifitwasbigenoughtohavecraftguildstheseassociationswouldregulatethebusinessoftheirmembersandtriedtoenforceastrictmonopolyoftheirowntrades.Yetwhiletheguildleadersascraftsmenfollowedfiercelyprotectionistpoliciesatthesametimeasleadingtownsmentheywantedtoseeabigbusymarketyieldingahandsomerevenueinvariousduesandtolls.Conflictsofinterestledtoendlessminuteregulationschangeableofteninconsistentfrequentlyabsurd.TherewasatimeinthefourteenthcenturyforexamplewhenLondonfishmongerswerenotallowedtohandleanyfishthathadnotalreadybeenexposedforsaleforthreedaysbythemenwhocaughtit.Itissuggestedinthelastparagraphthatcraftguilds
CharlesDarwinwedhiscousinEmmaandspawned10childrenincludingfourbrilliantscientists.AlbertEinstein’ssecondwifeElsawashisfirstcousin.QueenVictoriasaidIdotohers.Sohavemillionsworldwide.InpartsofSaudiArabia39%ofallmarriagesarebetweenfirstcousins.IntheU.S.thoughthepracticebearsastigmaofinbreedingjustthissideofincest.Thetabooisnotonlysocialhutlegislative;24statesbanthemarriageoffirstcousins:fiveothersallowitonlyifthecoupleisunabletobearchildren.Amajorreasonforthisbanisthebeliefthatkidsoffirstcousinsaretragicallysusceptibletoseriouscongenitalillnesses.Thatviewmayhavetochange.AcomprehensivestudypublishedrecentlyintheJournalofGeneticCounselingindicatessuchchildrenrunanonlyslightlyhigherriskofsignificantgeneticdisorderslikecongenitalheartdefects—abouttwopercentagepointsabovetheaverage3%to4%.Saysthestudy’sleadauthorRobinBennettpresident-electoftheNationalSocietyofGeneticCounselorswhichfundedthestudy:Asidefromathoroughmedicalfamilyhistorythereisnoneedtoofferanygenetictestingonthebasisofconsanguinityalone.Publicationofthestudywilldomorethantweakpublicawareness;itwillenlightendoctorswhohaveurgedcousincouplesnottohavechildren.JustthisweeksaysBennettIsawa23-year-oldwomanwhohadhadatuballigationbecauseherparentswerecousinsandherdoctortoldhersheshouldn’thavechildren.TheAmericanproscriptionagainstcousinmarriagesgrewinthe19thcenturyaswildernesssettlerstriedtodistinguishthemselvesfromthesavageIndianssaysMartinauthorofthebookForbiddenRelatives:TheAmericanMythofCousinMarriage.ThetruthisthatEuropeansweremarryingtheircousinsandNativeAmericanswerenot.Anddoesn’tGodhavesternwordsonthesubjectChristieSmith37aNevadawritersaysshefeltguiltywhenshefellinlovewithherfirstcousin’ssonMark.IwastryingsohardtoconvincemyselfnottohavethesefeelingssherecallsthatIwenttotheBiblelookingforconfirmationthatitwaswrong.AndwhatIfoundwastheexactopposite:supportforcousinmarriages.ThepatriarchJacobmarriedtwoofhisfirstcousinsRachelandLeah.SmithmarriedMarkin1999.Themedicalbanislifted;thesocialstainmaytakelongertodisappear.WhydidChristieSmithresorttotheBible
Thequestionofwhereinsightscomefromhasbecomeahottopicinneurosciencedespitethefactthattheyarenoteasytoinduceexperimentallyinalaboratory.Dr.BhattacharyaandDr.Shethhavetakenacreativeapproach.Theyhaveselectedsomebrain-teasingbutpracticalproblemsinthehopethatthesewouldgetclosertomimickingrealinsight:Toqualifyapuzzlehadtobesimplenottoowidelyknownandwithoutamethodicalsolution.Theresearchersthenasked18youngadultstotrytosolvetheseproblemswhiletheirbrainwavesweremonitoredusinganelectroencephalographEEG.Atypicalbrain-teaserwentlikethis.Therearethreelightswitchesontheground-floorwallofathree-storeyhouse.Twooftheswitchesdonothingbutoneofthemcontrolsabulbonthesecondfloor.Whenyoubeginthebulbisoff.Youcanonlymakeonevisittothesecondfloor.HowdoyouworkoutwhichswitchistheonethatcontrolsthelightThisproblemoroneequivalenttoitwaspresentedonacomputerscreentoavolunteerwhenthatvolunteerpressedabutton.Theelectricalactivityofthevolunteer’sbrainhisbrainwavepatternwasrecordedbytheEEGfromthebutton’spress.Eachvolunteerwasgiven30secondstoreadthepuzzleandanother60to90secondstosolveit.Somepeopleworkeditout;othersdidnot.ThesignificantpointthoughwasthattheEEGpredictedwhowouldfallwhere.Thosevolunteerswhowentontohaveaninsightinthiscasethatontheironeandonlyvisittothesecondfloortheycouldusenotjustthelighthuttheheatproducedbyabulbasevidenceofanactiveswitchhadhaddifferentbrainwaveactivityfromthosewhonevergotit.Intherightfrontalcortexapartofthebrainassociatedwithshiftingmentalstatestherewasanincreaseinhigh-frequencygammawavesthosewith47-48cyclesasecond.Moreoverthedifferencewasnoticeableuptoeightsecondsbeforethevolunteerrealisedhehadfoundthesolution.Dr.Sheththinksthismayhecapturingthetransformationalthoughtinactionbeforethebrain’sownerisconsciouslyawareofit.Thisfindingposesfascinatingquestionsabouthowthebrainreallyworks.Consciousthoughtitseemsdoesnotsolveproblems.Insteadunconsciousprocessinghappensinthebackgroundandonlydeliverstheanswertoconsciousnessonceithasbeenarrivedat.Foodforfurtherthoughtindeed.Howdobrainsworkaccordingtothepassage
With22yearsonthejobJackieBraceycouldbeconsideredacareeremployeeoftheInternalRevenueService.Butshedefiesanystereotypeofanover-eageragentrunningdownareluctanttaxpayer.Insteadshespendshertimedefendingpeoplewhoowethegovernmentmoney.Ms.BraceybasedinGreensboroN.C.isataxpayeradvocateacreatedbyCongressin1998aspartofthekindergentlerthemeadoptedbythetaxcollectionagency.Braceyandadvocatesat73Otherofficesnationwidebackedby2100fieldworkersandstaffgotobatfortaxpayerswhoareinfinancialstraitsbecauseofsomethingtheagencyhasdoneorisabouttodo.ThoughitmayseemcontrarytotheIRStheadvocateservicenotonlyhelpstaxpayersbutidentifiesproceduralproblems.ThemaingoalthoughisfortheombudsmantostepintoadisputeataxpayerishavingwiththeIRSwhenitappearsthatsomethingtheIRSisdoingorplanningwouldcreateanunduehardshiponthetaxpayer.ThiscanrangefromspeedingupresolutionofadisputethathasdraggedontoolongtodemandingthattheIRShaltacollectionactionthatthetaxpayercanshowheorsheissufferingorisabouttosufferasignificanthardship.Taxpayerombudsmenhavebeenaroundinoneformoranothersince1979saysNinaOlsonthenationaltaxpayeradvocate.Buttheyweregivenmuchmorepowerin1998whenCongressdecidedthattheworkerswouldnolongerreporttoregionaldirectorsbuttoheroffice.Whilethisgavethemagreatdealmoreauthorityoutsidewatchdogssaymorecanbedone.ThereisalongwaytogotogetanagencythatfeelsindependentandemboldenedtoworkfortaxpayerssaysJoeSeepavicepresidentoftheWashington-basedtax-advocacygroup.ThetaxpayersunionalsohascomplainedthatCongressandtheBushadministrationdon’tseemtobetakingtheadvocatesseriouslyenough.EachyeartheIRSgroupreportstoCongressonthetopproblemsthatadvocatessee.ManyofthesearesystemicproblemsthatcangumuptheworksforbothtaxpayerandcollectorsuchasaDecembernoticefromMs.OlsonthattheIRSshouldhavejustonedefinitionofadependentchildratherthanthethreedefinitionscurrentlyused.Whiletaxpayeradvocatescanhelpsmooththingsoutinmanycasestheycannotignorelaws.Iftaxpayershaven’tmadelegitimateclaimsforcreditsthere’snothingtheadvocatecandotoreversethatcourse.AndOlsonsaysthatwhiletaxpayersarefreetouseherservicetheyshouldkeepinmindthatitdoesnotreplacethenormalappealsprocessandshouldbethelastplaceacitizencallsuponforhelpnotthefirst.We’rereallytherefor.whentheprocessesfalldownshesays.Everystatehasatleastonetaxpayer-advocateserviceoffice.TheadvocateservicemayseemcontrarytotheIRSLine1Para.2because
In1999thepriceofoilhoveredaround$16abarrel.By2008ithad1the$100abarrelmark.Thereasonsforthesurge2fromthedramaticgrowthoftheeconomiesofChinaandIndiatowidespread3inoil-producingregionsincludingIraqandNigeria’sdeltaregion.Triple-digitoilpriceshave4theeconomicandpoliticalmapoftheworld5someoldnotionsofpower.Oil-richnationsareenjoyinghistoricgainsandopportunities6majorimporters—includingChinaandIndiahometoathirdoftheworld’spopulation—7risingeconomicandsocialcosts. Managingthisneworderisfastbecomingacentral8ofglobalpolitics.Countriesthatneedoilareclawingateachotherto9scarcesuppliesandarewillingtodealwithanygovernment10howunpleasanttodoit. Inmanypoornationswithoiltheprofitsarebeinglosttocorruption11thesecountriesoftheirbesthopefordevelopment.Andoilisfuelingenormousinvestmentfundsrunbyforeigngovernments12someinthewestseeasanewthreat. CountrieslikeRussiaVenezuelaandIranarewellsuppliedwithrisingoil13achangereflectedinnewlyaggressiveforeignpolicies.Butsomeunexpectedcountriesarereapingbenefits14costsfromhigherprices.ConsiderGermany.15itimportsvirtuallyallitsoilithasprosperedfromextensivetradewithaboomingRussiaandtheMiddleEast.GermanexportstoRussia16128percentfrom2001to2006. IntheUnitedStatesasalreadyhighgaspricesrose17higherinthespringof2008theissuecroppedupinthepresidentialcampaignwithSenatorsMcCainandObama18forafederalgastaxholidayduringthepeaksummerdrivingmonths.Anddrivinghabitsbeganto19assalesofsmallcarsjumpedandmasstransportsystems20thecountryreportedasharpincreaseinriders. 13
Concreteisprobablyusedmorewidelythananyothersubstanceexceptwateryetitremainslargelyunappreciated.Somepeopleviewthe20thcenturyastheatomicagethespaceagethecomputerage—butanargumentcanbemadethatitwastheconcreteagesayscementspecialistHendrikVanOss.It’samiraclematerial.IndeedmorethanatonofconcreteisproducedeachyearforeverymanwomanandchildonEarth.Yetconcreteisgenerallyignoredoutsidetheengineeringworldavictimofitsownubiquityandtheindustry’sconservativepaceofdevelopment.Nowthankstoenvironmentalpressuresandentrepreneurialinnovationanewgenerationofconcretesisemerging.Thishigh-techassortmentofconcreteconfectionspromisestobestrongerlighterandmoreenvironmentallyfriendlythaneverbefore.Concreteisalsoaclimate-changevillain.Itismadebymixingwaterwithanaggregatesuchassandorgravelandcement.Cementisusuallymadebyheatinglimestoneandclaytoover2500degreesF.Theresultingchemicalreactionalongwithfuelburnedtoheatthekilnproducesbetween7%and10%ofglobalcarbon-dioxideemissions.Whenwehavetorepeatedlyregeneratethesematerialsbecausethey’renotdurablewereleasemoreemissionssaysVictorLiwhohascreatedaconcretesuffusedbysyntheticfibersthatmakeitstrongermoredurableandabletobendlikeametal.Li’screationdoesnotrequirereinforcementapropertysharedbyotherconcretesthatusechemicaladditives.UsinglesswatermakesconcretestrongerbutuntilthedevelopmentofplasticizersitalsomadeconcretestickydryandhardtohandlesaysChristianMeyeracivilengineeringprofessoratColumbiaUniversity.MakingstrongerconcretessaysLiallowslesstobeusedreducingwasteandgivingarchitectsmorefreedom.Youcanhavesuchfuturisticdesignsifyoudon’thavetoputrebarinthereorstructuralbeamssaysVanOss.Amoredirectlygreenc6neretehasbeendevelopedbytheAustraliancompanyTecEeo.Theyaddmagnesiumtotheircementformingaporousconcretethatactuallyscrubscarbondioxidefromtheair.Whileexpertsagreethatthesenewconcretewillsomedaybewidelyusedthetimetableisuncertain.Concretecompaniesareresponsivetoenvironmentalconcernsandarealwayslookingtostretchtheutilityoftheirproductbuttheconstructionindustryisslowtochange.WhenyoustartmonkeyingaroundwithmaterialsthegoverningbodiesthebuildingdepartmentsareverycautiousbeforetheyletyouuseanunprovenmaterialMeyersays.InthenextfewdecadessaysVanOssbuildingcodeswillchangeopeningthewayforinnovativematerials.Butwhilenewconcretesmaybestrongerandmoredurabletheyarealsomoreexpensive—andwhetherthetendencyofdevelopersandthepublictofocusonshort-termratherthanlong-termcostswillalsochangeisanothermatter.Accordingtothetextconcreteisalsoaclimate-changevillainmainlybecause
InthelasttenyearstheInternethasopenedupincredibleamountsofinformationtoordinarycitizens.ButusingtheInternetcanhelikewalkingintoalibrarywherethebooksarealllyingonthefloorinpiles.WhiletoolslikeGoogleallowsomestructuredsearchmuchofthedatafromsuchsearchesisoutdatedorofquestionablevalue.SomewebenthusiastshavetakenupthetaskoforganizinginformationthroughademocraticmeansthatonlytheInternetallows:anencyclopediaofthepeoplebythepeopleandcompletelyfreetocopyanddistribute.This‘people’sencyclopedia’oftheWeb—afreesitecalledWikipedia—hasprovidedauniquesolutionbyinvitingindividualstoparticipateintheprocessofrationalizingandupdatingwebcontent.Attheheartofthismovementarewikiswebsitesthatallowuserstodirectlyeditanywebpagewithoneclickofthemouse.Wikipedia—thelargestexampleofthesecollaborativeefforts—isafunctioninguser-contributedonlineencyclopediathathasbecomeapopularandhighlyregardedreferenceinjustthreeyearsofexistence.ThegoalofWikipediawastocreateanencyclopediathatcouldhesharedandcopiedfreelywhileencouragingpeopletochangeandimprovethecontent.EachandeveryarticlehasanEditthispagebuttonallowinganyoneevenanonymouspassersbytoaddordeleteanycontentonthepage.Itseemslikearecipefordisasterandchaosbutithasproducedsurprisinglycrediblecontentthathasbeenevaluatedandrevisedbythethousandsofinternationalvisitorstothesite.FormanyitfinallyrealizestheoriginalconceptofWorldWideWebcreatorTimBerners-Lee—anonlineenvironmentwherepeoplenotonlybrowsecontentbutfreelyandactivelyexchangeinformation.TheWikipediaprojectwasstartedbyJimmyWalesheadofInternetstartupBomis.comafterhisoriginalprojectforavolunteerhutstrictlycontrolledfreeencyclopediaranoutofmoneyandresourcesaftertwoyears.EditorswithPhDdegreeswereatthehelmoftheprojectthenbutitproducedonlyafewhundredarticles.NotwantingthecontenttolanguishWalesplacedthepagesonawikiwebsiteinJanuary2001andinvitedanyInternetvisitorstoeditoraddtothecollection.Thesitebecamearunawaysuccessinthefirstyearandgainedaloyalfollowinggeneratingover20000articlesandspawningoveradozenlanguagetranslations.Aftertwoyearsithad100000articlesandinApril2004itexceeded250000articlesinEnglishand600000articlesin50otherlanguages.Over2000newarticlesareaddedeachdayacrossallthevariouslanguages.AndaccordingtowebsiterankingsatAlexa.comithasbecomemorepopularthantraditionalonlineencyclopediassuchasBritannica.comandisoneofthetop600mostheavilyvisitedwebsitesontheinternet.WhichofthefollowingistrueaboutWikipedia
[A]RefuseGimmicks [B]BeWaryofPriceLevels [C]SayNotoUselessThings [D]NeverPayListPrice [E]StanduptoTemptations [F]Switch—orThreatento [G]Don’tBuyonImpulse InrecentyearsthebasicmarketprinciplesofcompetitionandchoicehaveexpandedintonewaspectsofAmericanlife.Consumersnowfaceabewilderingarrayofoptionsforairtravelphoneservicemedicalcareevenpostalservice.CarbuyerscanshopontheInternetforthebestpriceatanydealershipintheirarea.Insomepartsofthecountryhomeownerscanpurchaseelectricityfromamenuofcompanies.Allthischoicetranslatesintounprecedentedconsumerpower. Oneofthepersistentmythsofcapitalistcultureisthatbusinesspeoplelovecompetition.Theydon’t.Theyspendtheirwakinghoursplottingwaystoavoiditandkeeppriceshigh.Thesedaystheyuseinformationtechnologiesthatgivethemintricatedataonindividualshoppersandthenpresentmultiplepricestogeteachconsumertocoughupthemaximumheiswillingtopay.Theairlineshavemasteredthisgameofferingmanylevelsoffares. SohowcanyoumakethemostofyournewpowerasaconsumerHerearerulestohelpyoufindyourway. 41.______ IntheNewEconomycompetitionissostrongthatfewerstoresandservicesareimmunetopricepressuresosharpenyourbargainingskills.Askretailerstomatchpricesyou’veseenontheInternet.Askatthecheckoutcounterifthereareanycouponsordiscountsyoucanuse.Askhotelclerksiftherearebetterratesavailable.You’llbesurprisedhowoftentheanswerisyes. 42.______ Ascompetitionheatsupandpushespricesdownbusinessesscrambletoboosttheirprofitsbyheapingonextras:rustproofingyourcarservicecontractsonyourapplianceprepaidgasolineforyourrentalcar.Thesestuntsaredevisedtomakeyoupaymoreatthelastminuteandprobablyaren’tagooddeal. 43.______ Theinformationhighwayisatwo-waystreet.Asaconsumeryoucangetmoredata.ButwhileyouareroamingtheWebbusinessesarestudyingyourhabitsandvulnerabilities. HaveaweaknessforchocolatesDon’tbesurprisedifAmazon.Comofferstosellyouaboxwhileyou’rebrowsingforbooks.They’reusingawrinkleonthelast-minutemarketingpitchperfectedbyMcDonald’s:“Wouldyoulikefrieswiththat”Theployworksremarkablywell. 44.______ Versioningisatacticusedbybusinessestoseparatestatus-consciousconsumersfromthebargain-hungryones—sincetheformermeanbiggerprofitmargins.“Deluxe”and“platinum”arecodewordsusedtoenticestatusseekerstoopentheirwallets. Addathirdpricelevelandthepursesofevenbargain-hungryshopperscanbepriedopen.Researchshowsthatmanyconsumerswhomightpickthelower-pricedoptionwhengivenjusttwochoiceswillchoosethemedium-pricedalternativeifgiventhree.“Consumerstrytoavoidextremeoptions”writeCarlShapiroandHalR.VarianintheirbookInformationRules. Consumersin.theNewEconomyfacemoredemandsontheirtimeandattentionthaneverbeforesothey’reinclinedtomakethemostfamiliarchoice.Considerthis:ithadbeenadecadeandahalfsincethebreakupofAT＆Tyetitisstillbyfarthelargestlong-distanceprovider—evenwhileotherphonecompaniesoffer$50worthoffreeserviceforswitching.Morethaneveritpaystochangeservicesandbrands. Ifyoudon’twantthehasslesofswitchingrememberthatbusinessesareeagertohangontoconsumers.Thenexttimeyougetatemptingofferfromacredit-cardissueroraphonecompanycallyourcurrentproviderandaskthemtomatchthedeal.You’llbepleasedtofindhowoftenthey’llagree. 43
With22yearsonthejobJackieBraceycouldbeconsideredacareeremployeeoftheInternalRevenueService.Butshedefiesanystereotypeofanover-eageragentrunningdownareluctanttaxpayer.Insteadshespendshertimedefendingpeoplewhoowethegovernmentmoney.Ms.BraceybasedinGreensboroN.C.isataxpayeradvocateacreatedbyCongressin1998aspartofthekindergentlerthemeadoptedbythetaxcollectionagency.Braceyandadvocatesat73Otherofficesnationwidebackedby2100fieldworkersandstaffgotobatfortaxpayerswhoareinfinancialstraitsbecauseofsomethingtheagencyhasdoneorisabouttodo.ThoughitmayseemcontrarytotheIRStheadvocateservicenotonlyhelpstaxpayersbutidentifiesproceduralproblems.ThemaingoalthoughisfortheombudsmantostepintoadisputeataxpayerishavingwiththeIRSwhenitappearsthatsomethingtheIRSisdoingorplanningwouldcreateanunduehardshiponthetaxpayer.ThiscanrangefromspeedingupresolutionofadisputethathasdraggedontoolongtodemandingthattheIRShaltacollectionactionthatthetaxpayercanshowheorsheissufferingorisabouttosufferasignificanthardship.Taxpayerombudsmenhavebeenaroundinoneformoranothersince1979saysNinaOlsonthenationaltaxpayeradvocate.Buttheyweregivenmuchmorepowerin1998whenCongressdecidedthattheworkerswouldnolongerreporttoregionaldirectorsbuttoheroffice.Whilethisgavethemagreatdealmoreauthorityoutsidewatchdogssaymorecanbedone.ThereisalongwaytogotogetanagencythatfeelsindependentandemboldenedtoworkfortaxpayerssaysJoeSeepavicepresidentoftheWashington-basedtax-advocacygroup.ThetaxpayersunionalsohascomplainedthatCongressandtheBushadministrationdon’tseemtobetakingtheadvocatesseriouslyenough.EachyeartheIRSgroupreportstoCongressonthetopproblemsthatadvocatessee.ManyofthesearesystemicproblemsthatcangumuptheworksforbothtaxpayerandcollectorsuchasaDecembernoticefromMs.OlsonthattheIRSshouldhavejustonedefinitionofadependentchildratherthanthethreedefinitionscurrentlyused.Whiletaxpayeradvocatescanhelpsmooththingsoutinmanycasestheycannotignorelaws.Iftaxpayershaven’tmadelegitimateclaimsforcreditsthere’snothingtheadvocatecandotoreversethatcourse.AndOlsonsaysthatwhiletaxpayersarefreetouseherservicetheyshouldkeepinmindthatitdoesnotreplacethenormalappealsprocessandshouldbethelastplaceacitizencallsuponforhelpnotthefirst.We’rereallytherefor.whentheprocessesfalldownshesays.Everystatehasatleastonetaxpayer-advocateserviceoffice.ThephrasegumuptheworksLine3Para.4probablymean
Thenewspapermustprovideforthereaderthefactsunalloyedunslantedobjectivelyselectedfacts.Butinthesedaysofcomplexnewsitmustprovidemore;itmustsupplyinterpretationthemeaningofthefacts.ThisisthemostimportantassignmentConfrontingAmericanjournalism—tomakecleartothereadertheproblemsofthedaytomakeinternationalnewsasunderstandableascommunitynewstorecognizethatthereisnolongeranysuchthingwiththepossibleexceptionofsuchscribblingassocietyandclubnewsas“local”newsbecauseanyeventintheinternationalareahasalocalreactioninmanpowerdraftineconomicstrainintermsindeedofourverywayoflife. 46Thereisinjournalismawidespreadviewthatwhenyouembarkoninterpretationyouareenteringchoppyanddangerouswaterstheswirlingtidesofopinion.Thisisnonsense. Theopponentsofinterpretationinsistthatthewriterandtheeditorshallconfinehimselftothe“facts”.Thisinsistenceraisestwoquestions:WhatarethefactsAnd:Arethebarefactsenough Astothefirstqueryconsiderhowaso-called“factual”storycomesabout.Thereportercollectssayfiftyfacts;outofthesefiftyhisspaceallotmentbeingnecessarilyrestrictedheselectsthetenwhichheconsidersmostimportant.ThisisJudgmentNumberOne.ThenheorhiseditordecideswhichofthesetenfactsshallconstitutetheleadofthepieceThisisimportantdecisionbecausemanyreadersdonotproceedbeyondthefirstparagraph.ThisisJudgmentNumberTwo.47Thenthenighteditordetermineswhetherthearticleshallbepresentedonpageonewhereithasalargeimpactoronpagetwenty-fourwhereithaslittle.JudgmentNumberThree. Thusinthepresentationofaso-called“factual”or“objective”storyatleastthreejudgmentsareinvolved.48Andtheyarejudgmentsnotatallunlikethoseinvolvedininterpretationinwhichreporterandeditorcallingupontheirresearchresourcestheirgeneralbackgroundandtheir“newsneutralism”arriveataconclusionastothesignificanceofthenews. 49Thetwoareasofjudgmentpresentationofthenewsanditsinterpretationarebothobjectiveratherthansubjectiveprocesses—asobjectivethatisasanyhumanbeingcanbe.Noteinpassing:eventhoughcompleteobjectivitycanneverbeachievedneverthelesstheidealmustalwaysbethebeacononthemurkynewschannels.50Ifaneditorisintentonslantingthenewshecandoitinotherwaysandmoreeffectivelythanbyinterpretationandhecandoitbytheselectionofthosefactsthatpropuphisparticularplea.Orhecandoitbythepayhegivesastory—promotingittopageoneordemotingittopagethirty. Thetwoareasofjudgmentpresentationofthenewsanditsinterpretationarebothobjectiveratherthansubjectiveprocesses—asobjectivethatisasanyhumanbeingcanbe
Concreteisprobablyusedmorewidelythananyothersubstanceexceptwateryetitremainslargelyunappreciated.Somepeopleviewthe20thcenturyastheatomicagethespaceagethecomputerage—butanargumentcanbemadethatitwastheconcreteagesayscementspecialistHendrikVanOss.It’samiraclematerial.IndeedmorethanatonofconcreteisproducedeachyearforeverymanwomanandchildonEarth.Yetconcreteisgenerallyignoredoutsidetheengineeringworldavictimofitsownubiquityandtheindustry’sconservativepaceofdevelopment.Nowthankstoenvironmentalpressuresandentrepreneurialinnovationanewgenerationofconcretesisemerging.Thishigh-techassortmentofconcreteconfectionspromisestobestrongerlighterandmoreenvironmentallyfriendlythaneverbefore.Concreteisalsoaclimate-changevillain.Itismadebymixingwaterwithanaggregatesuchassandorgravelandcement.Cementisusuallymadebyheatinglimestoneandclaytoover2500degreesF.Theresultingchemicalreactionalongwithfuelburnedtoheatthekilnproducesbetween7%and10%ofglobalcarbon-dioxideemissions.Whenwehavetorepeatedlyregeneratethesematerialsbecausethey’renotdurablewereleasemoreemissionssaysVictorLiwhohascreatedaconcretesuffusedbysyntheticfibersthatmakeitstrongermoredurableandabletobendlikeametal.Li’screationdoesnotrequirereinforcementapropertysharedbyotherconcretesthatusechemicaladditives.UsinglesswatermakesconcretestrongerbutuntilthedevelopmentofplasticizersitalsomadeconcretestickydryandhardtohandlesaysChristianMeyeracivilengineeringprofessoratColumbiaUniversity.MakingstrongerconcretessaysLiallowslesstobeusedreducingwasteandgivingarchitectsmorefreedom.Youcanhavesuchfuturisticdesignsifyoudon’thavetoputrebarinthereorstructuralbeamssaysVanOss.Amoredirectlygreenc6neretehasbeendevelopedbytheAustraliancompanyTecEeo.Theyaddmagnesiumtotheircementformingaporousconcretethatactuallyscrubscarbondioxidefromtheair.Whileexpertsagreethatthesenewconcretewillsomedaybewidelyusedthetimetableisuncertain.Concretecompaniesareresponsivetoenvironmentalconcernsandarealwayslookingtostretchtheutilityoftheirproductbuttheconstructionindustryisslowtochange.WhenyoustartmonkeyingaroundwithmaterialsthegoverningbodiesthebuildingdepartmentsareverycautiousbeforetheyletyouuseanunprovenmaterialMeyersays.InthenextfewdecadessaysVanOssbuildingcodeswillchangeopeningthewayforinnovativematerials.Butwhilenewconcretesmaybestrongerandmoredurabletheyarealsomoreexpensive—andwhetherthetendencyofdevelopersandthepublictofocusonshort-termratherthanlong-termcostswillalsochangeisanothermatter.Thelastsentenceofthetextshowsthat
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