Unit1Education:ATransformationoftheSoul1Onmyfirstdayofhighschool,myteachershowedtheclassaPowerPointpresentationentitledTheValueofEducation.Thefirstslidereadsimplythis:“Education=$”.Ifeltuncomfortable,notknowingexactlywhy.2Education,throughoutmyhighschoolexperience,continuedtobedescribedtomelikethis:collegemeansadiploma.Adiplomameansabetterjob.Abetterjobmeansmoremoney.Moremoneymeansagoodlife.ButIwonderedwhohaddecidedthecriteriafora“better”jobanda“good”life.Itallseemedsomathematical.Educationwaspresentedtomeasanequationequalinga3Iwentontocollege,ofcourse,aseveryonetoldmetodo.Collegeishowyoubecomeanearner,theytoldme.MymajorthatfirstsemesterwasInternationalRelations.IlikedthewomanIenvisionedmyselfasinthisfield–adiplomat,asavvycitizenoftheworld.ButgraduallyIbegantorealizethatthispersonwasnotsomeoneIboreanyresemblanceto.Shewas,rather,acloneofthewell-educated,well-moneyedidealmyteacherhadpresentedtomeyearsago.Thiswomanhadearningpotential;shewassmartandworldly.ButshewasnotsomeoneIwouldbecome.ShehadnothingIreallywanted.4Mymomentofclaritysooncame.Iwaswatchingafilmwithmyfamilyandlaughingatallthehistoricalerrorsinit,butIsuddenlyrealizedthattherewassomethingIdidlove,somethingIhadbrushedasideinmymindforyearsbecauseitdidnotfitwiththemarketable,diploma-holdingjobapplicantIhadalwaysassumedIshouldbecome.5Iam,asitsohappens,thedaughterofpassionatehistorybuffs.Myfamilynevertookvacations;wetookfieldtrips.IhadnotyetlearnedtowalkwhenIfirstvisitedAbrahamLincoln’shouseinSpringfield,Illinois.SincethenIhaveseenthehomesofcountlessdeadpresidents.IhavewanderedthroughmoremuseumsthanIcanremember.6Thesememoriesarepricelesstome;nomatterhowmuchIteasedmyparentsaboutthefactthatweneverwenttoDisneyWorld,Iwouldnothavechangedourtripsforanythingintheworld.Iknewwhateducationwas,inmychildhood,beforesomeonedamageditwithimagesofdollarsigns.EducationwashowIhad.Educationwasmyfamily’sescape.17ThetruthisIloveAmericanhistory.GeorgeWashingtonisnotalegendaryherotomebutabravewarveteranuponwhosesimpletombIsawmygrandfather,anotherwarveteran,layawreath.ThomasJefferson’sMonticelloisnotformeanameinatextbook;itisabeautifulretreat,nestleddeepintheVirginiamountains.8“WhyamInotahistorymajor?”Iaskedthatnightwhilethemoviewasoncommercialbreak.29“Um,becauseyoucan’tmakeanymoneythatway?”respondedmysister.10ItransferredintoanAmericanhistoryclassthatnextsemester.Iwasneverabsent.Itwasliketakingachildhoodfieldtrip.The‘A’marksIgotoneverypaperandeverytestweremoretomethananygoodgradeIhadevergottenbefore–here,finally,wassomethingmeaningful.Iwasthrilledbymyincreasingunderstandingoffascinatinghistoryconcepts,andbythefactthatIwasbecomingsomeoneIwantedtobe.11IalsotookanEnglishhistorycourse.Theprofessorwasafascinatingspeakerandthoroughlyknowledgeableonhissubject.HetoldanecdotesaboutCharlesII;hecouldquotetheunemploymentratesofVictorianLondonliketheywerehisownchildren’sbirthdays.Thisprofessor,Irealized,possessedmorethanapileofdiplomas.Andwhathewashelpingmetoachievewassomuchmorethanadegree.Hehad–andIwasacquiring–amindexercisedbymanyyears’studiousdedication.Andthat–unlikemoneyorajob–issomethingwhichcannotbelost.312MydreamistoworkataplacelikeMonticelloandgiveotherchildrentheexperienceIhad–theexperienceofhistorycomingtolife.IhavenoideaofthesortofmoneyIcanexpectfromthispursuit.Isimplydonotcare.Iwanttobelikethatprofessor,someonewhohasspentyearsfillinghersoulwithwhatshelovedtruly.Iwanttolivemyeducation.13IknownowwhyIfeltsooutofplacethatfirstdayofhighschool.Itisnothinglessthanacurse.Thatexpression–“Education=$”isaproverbofthemostoffensivesort,andIpityanyonewhoactuallybelievesit.TheywillneverknowtheempowermentIhavefoundbypursuingmysoul.414EducationmeansafutureenrichedbyknowledgeknowledgeIhave,workedfor,andattained.Ithasbeen,forme,ineverywayatransformativeexperience.AsateenagerIwassuffocatedbyalackofinterest,steeredbyexpectations.NowIknowthefreedomthatcomesfromhavingapurposeinlife.Educationwillneverbe,forme,alineonaresume.Ithasbeen,rather,atransformationofthesoul.5Unit2MasdarCity:TheWorld'sGreenestCity?1Thedoorsswishshutandwiththepressofabutton,thePersonalRapidTransit(PRT)carisoff,glidingthroughthetunnelsunderAbuDhabi'snewMasdarCity.Thefour-passengervehiclerunsonanelectricmotor,makingitcleanandcarbon-free.Therearenotracks—thecarisautonomous,drivenbyacomputer.PRTismeanttobethefutureofmasstransitwithincities,withtheenvironmentalbenefitsofbusesandtrainsbutthefreedomofaprivatevehicle.ButIcan'thelpthinkingthere'ssomethingslightlysillyaboutallthis.Forallthetechnology—whichisn'tcheap—thePRThastakenmetoitsoneandonlystop,maybehalfamilefromthestartingpoint.Fornotmuchmoretime,Icouldhaveusedamucholderformoftransport:mylegs.6892Inanutshell,thatiswhat'sgoodandbadaboutMasdar.Backin2007,thegovernmentofAbuDhabiannouncedthatitwouldbuild"theworld'sfirstzero-carboncity"calledMasdar.Itwouldrelyentirelyonrenewableenergyandwouldproducezerowaste.ItwouldbehometotheMasdarInstituteofScienceandTechnology,auniversitydedicatedtothestudyofsustainability.There7wouldbenotraditionalcarsinsidethecityanditwouldusehalftheenergyofasettlementofthesamesize.TheurbanlayoutwouldcombineclassicArabdesignwith21stcenturytechnology.Masdarwouldbealivinglabforagreener,cleanerfuture.3Afterthreeyearstheplanshavechanged.MasdarCitywasoriginallyscheduledtobecompletedby2015,butthefinancialcrashthathittheUnitedArabEmirateshardpushedbackthedate.Atrulyzero-carboncityprovedtooambitious,sonowtheaimisforlowcarbon.TransportwithinthecitywillnolongersolelyrelyonthePRTs—instead,electricbusesandothermasstransitwillbeincluded.Thoughthefirstphaseoftheproject—theInstitute—wascompletedin2010andopenedtostudents,it'sstilleasytowonderwhetherthesustainablecitywilleverbeabletosustainitself.84WhileMasdarmayinspiredisbelief,itwouldbeamistaketodismissthewholeprojectasgreenfolly.ThiswasclearwhenItouredtheMasdarInstituteinmid-January.Thestreetsarenarrowandshelteredbywallsthatblockthedesertsunlight,whileopeningsinthewallschannelarefreshingwindthatmakesthecityfeelasmuchascoolerthanitssurroundings.5Thatdesignhelpsencourageenergyconservation—thecoolerthecityis,thelessneedforelectricity-consumingair-conditioning.Butthebuildingsthemselvestakeadvantageofgreenmaterials,fromthesustainableDouglasfirtothesuperstrongplastics,deflectingsunlightandinsulatingthe.Windowshaveshadesangledtoavoiddirectsunlight,providinglightwithoutheat.There'sevena147-feet-tallwindtowerthatcanchannelevenmorebreezestothestreet.ThetowerhasglowingLEDlightsthatletMasdarmanagersknowhowmuchenergythecityisconsuming.Bluemeansitiswithinitsgoalofusing50%lessenergythanacomparablesettlement.Redmeansit'stimetoturnoffthelights.9106That'sthetheory,butinpractice,thosegoalsaren'talwayseasyforMasdartomeet.MostAbuDhabicitizensareusedtokeepingtheirair-conditioningaslowas60°F,butinMasdar,ACneedstobesetcloserto77°Ftomeetitsefficiencytargets.Masdarmanagershavetomonitorexactlyhowmuchelectricityeveryroominthecityisusingandkeepcitizensinline.ThisdemonstratesthateventhebestgreenbuildingswiththebesttechnologyworklesswellwhentheXfactorofactualresidentsisincluded.Somebehavioralregulationsarenecessary.Theweathercanbeashardtopredictasthepeople:thesolar-photovoltaicfieldjustoutsideMasdar,whichsuppliesmuchofthecity'spower,worksalotlesswellwhenoccasionalsandstormsaffectthesolarcells,reducingtheirefficiency.7WillMasdarCityeverbecomearealcity?It'sdifficulttoimagine.ThebehavioralregulationsandcontrolleddesignthatkeepMasdargreenmightalsolimitthequalitiesthatmarkalivingcity—nottomentionpotentialresidentswhomightnotwanttofollowsuchstrictrules.YetevenifMasdarCityfailstobecomeeverythingitsplannersdreamed,theprojectwillstillhaveenormousvalueasalivinglabforgreenideasoffuturecities.8SomeofMasdar'stechnology—likethoseslightlysillyPRTcars—maynothaveafuture.Butotherideas—likethewindtowerorthosesunlight-deflectingwindows—willhaverealvalueatatimewhenmorethanhalftheworld'spopulationlivesincities.Nooneknowstheanswertotheenergyandclimatechallengestheplanetfaces,whichiswhyexperimentsmatter—eventheonesinthedesert.11Unit3JamesCameron’sAmbition1In1977,a22-year-oldtruckdrivernamedJamesCameronwenttoseeStarWarswithapal.Hisfriendenjoyedthemovie;Cameronwalkedoutofthetheaterreadytopunchsomething.Hewasacollegedropoutbutinhisfreetimehewrotestoriessetingalaxiesfar,faraway.HehadbeendaydreamingaboutthekindofworldthatGeorgeLucashadjustbroughttolife.StarWarswasthefilmheshouldhavemade.2BackhomeheboughtsomecheapmovieequipmentandstartedtryingtofigureouthowLucashaddoneit.Hesetupblindinglybrightlightsinthelivingroomandrolledacameraalongatracktopracticeshots.Hespentdaysreadingeverythinghecouldaboutspecialeffects.Hebecamecompletelyobsessed.123Hequicklyrealizedthathewasgoingtoneedsomemoney,sohepersuadedsomelocaldentiststoinvest$20,000inhisversionofStarWarHeusedthemoneytoshoota12-minuteclipthatfeaturedafightscenebetweenanalienrobotandawoman.4Hisplanwastousethecliptogetastudiotobackafull-lengthfeaturefilm.AfterpeddlingitaroundHollywoodformonths,hiseffortdidyieldsomethingworthwhile:ajobwithdirectorRogerCorman.HiredtobuildminiaturespaceshipsforaCormanfilm,Cameronworkedhiswayuptobecomeavisualeffectsspecialist.In1981,hemadeittothedirector’schair,overseeingahopicture.135Onenight,afteraneditingsession,Cameronwenttosleepanddreamedthathesawarobotclawingtowardafrightenedwoman.Cameronsoonuseditasthebasisforascriptaboutarobotassassinsentbacktokillthemotherofafuturerebelleader.Whenitwasreleasedin1984,TheTerminatorsuddenlyestablishedJamesCameronasaleadingdirector.146Overthenext10years,Camerondirectedaseriesofdaringfilms,includingAliens,TheAbyss,Terminator2:JudgmentDay,andTrueLies.TheirworldwidesuccessgaveCamerontheprestigetorealizehisdreamofoutdoingLucas.Soin1995,hewrotean82outlineaboutaparalyzedsoldier’svirtualquestonafarawayplanetafterEarthbecomesawasteland.ThealienworldcalledPandoraispopulatedbytheNa’vi,10-foot-tallbluehumanoidswithcatlikefacesandlizard-liketails.Pandora’satmosphereissotoxictohumansthatscientistsgrowgeneticallyengineeredversionsoftheNa’vi-theso-calledavatarsthatcanbelinkedtoahuman’sconsciousness,allowingremotecontrolofthe’sbody.Cameronthoughtthatthisproject—titledAvatar—couldbehisnextblockbusterafter–thelittleadventure-romancethatwon11Oscars.Sowhatdidhedo?157Hedisappearedfor12years.HewouldnotreleaseAvataruntilDecember18,2009.WhydidittakeoneofthemostpowerfulmeninHollywoodsolongtocomeoutwithasinglefilm?8Inpart,theansweristhatit’snoteasytooutdoGeorgeLucas.Cameronneededtoinventasuiteofmoviemakingtechnologies,pushtheatersnationwidetoretool,andimagineeverydetailofanalienworld.Andthere’smuchmorethanthat.9CamerononcepresentedhisconceptforAvataratameetingwithhisvisualeffectsteam.Heexplainedthatthemaincharacterswere10-foot-tallbluealienswithnarrowwaistsandpowerfullegs.Theyhadtolookutterlyreal,andwouldhavetobecomputer-generated.Buthisteamtoldhimthatwasimpossible.“Itcan’tbedone.Thetechnologydoesn’texist.”1611Duringascubadivingtripinthesummerof2000,heaskedVincentPace,anunderwatercameraspecialistaquestion:Whatwouldittaketobuildahigh-definitionrigthatcoulddeliverfeature-filmqualityinboth2-Dand3-D?Pacewasn’tsure—heknewaboutthecheapred-and-bluepaperglassesofconventional3-Dfilmmaking.Theywerenotoriouslyuncomfortable,andtheimagescouldcauseheadaches.Cameronbelievedtheremustbeawaytodoitbetter:withtheinventionofthenextgenerationofcamerasthatwouldbeeasytohandle,digital,high-resolution,3-D.12Twomonthslater,CameronandPaceweresittinginfrontoftheengineersatSony’shi-def-cameradivision.Sonyagreedtoestablishanewlineofcameras,andafterthreemonths,theyhadfittedthelensesintoarigthatallowedanoperatortopreciselycontrolthe3-Dimaging.13Thenewcameraperformedwell,deliveringaccurateDimagesthatwouldn’tcauseheadachesoverwatchingalongmovie.14However,unfortunately,theaterswerenotadoptingthetechnology.Itwouldcostapproximately$100,000pertheater.Cameronneededsomehigh-profile3-Dfilmsthatcouldgenerateenoughrevenuetoconvincethemthatitwouldpayoff.1715SohedecidedtoletthedirectorofSpyKids3-Dtesthissystemusingthenewcamera.Releasedinthesummerof2003,thefilmmade$200millionworldwide,buttheatersremainedreluctanttoinvestinthetechnology.16Camerondecidedtotalktotheaterownersdirectly.Hetoldthemthattheworldwas“enteringanewageofcinema”andthatthosewhodidn’tswitchwouldregretit.Bytheendoftheyearonly79theatersintheUScouldshowd