itrarily modest: one's own future lifetime, perhaps, or tomorrow's
events or the events of the next minute, or the momentary or instantaneous
outcome of a scientific experiment that someone is performing or whose
performance is simply being contemplated.

<P>Becoming wiser about the future might mean nothing more than divesting
oneself of prejudicial ideas, attitudes, beliefs, or world views, becoming
friendlier--or more hostile--to innovation, reducing the irrational inertia
of institutions, or paying more