Ms. McCloskey insists that alternative explanations for the Industrial Revolution fail, for a variety of reasons.

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Perhaps there are also alternative explanations for the other distressing statistics listed above.

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Ms Jolls dismisses alternative explanations for the association between options and buybacks.

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It says the scientists found no signs of the carp in Chicago locations where they should have been abundant, such as sewer outfalls, if the alternative explanations were accurate.

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Similarly the claim that IAP is superior to , or even as reliable , as mtDNA PCR in vivo is not supported by the data cited as alternative explanations for the findings are readily available.

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Dr Alessandro Lugli, who carried out the study which appeared in the American Review of Human Pathology, told the BBC News website he thought theories about alternative explanations for Napoleon's death would continue to be put forward.

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Even if those of us who believe that the carry trade is responsible for the yen's weakness are wrong, and alternative explanations, such as that of Morgan Stanley's Stephen Jen, are right, the mispriced yen is a very clear sign that something has gone seriously awry with the way global financial markets are working in relation to global imbalances.

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Give yourself a solid 10 minutes to come up with as many possible explanations for what is going on and alternative outcomes.

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