What's for sure, though, is that conversion stands, beginning this week, as a thoroughly reputable alternative to native 3-D.

WSJ: With 3-D, Cameron Raises His Titanic | Film Review by Joe Morgenstern

After 3-D, alternative content is the hottest growth area for National Amusements, says Bernstein.

FORBES: Screen Play

However, thousands complained that Mass Effect 3 only had three alternative endings, with no significant differences between them.

BBC: Mass Effect 3 row prompts change to add 'further closure'

Newspaper claims to have 2.7 million readers, up from 30, 000 when it was founded in 1985, partly to provide an alternative to that era's 3 government-owned papers.

FORBES: Magazine Article

What makes helium-3 so attractive as an alternative future fuel source is its environmentally friendly credentials, as it does not produce radioactive waste.

CNN: Mining the moon for a nuclear future

Fortunately there is a viable alternative that has already been passed in 3 states and will soon be considered in 25 additional states: American Laws for American Courts (ALAC).

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Rollback #7: American Laws for American Courts

An alternative route, favoured by many, would be a 3, 000km (2, 000-mile) pipeline to China.

ECONOMIST: Kazakhstan

With that money, we can provide an additional 3, 200 young people in Chicago a safe alternative to drugs, gangs and violence, one hoop at a time.

CNN: Saving kids, one hoop at a time

Meanwhile, alternative energy stocks were in rally mode, including a 2.3% gain for First Solar.

FORBES: Romney Stocks Rocked After Obama Win: Big Banks, Coal Miners Battered

As well as providing a greener alternative to fossil fuels, biodiesel could also utilize more than 1.3 billion tons of waste produced by the American agricultural industry each year and provide a new source of income for farmers.

CNN: Green breakthrough for 'biodiesel'

It's even getting American studios to sanction alternative versions of films specially tailored for Chinese audiences, like "Iron Man 3, " which debuts in theaters around the world later this week.

NPR: Hollywood Yielding To China's Growing Film Clout

As Asiaweek went to press on Dec. 3, no ma-jor party in Par-liament had cobbled together an alternative coalition, and fresh general elections were looking increasingly likely.

CNN: Rule of Politics

So another 3, 000-4, 000 trucks each day and 15, 000 other vehicles are looking for alternative routes.

ECONOMIST: Transalpine tunnels