October 20, 2005

WHEN Janet Mavec married Wayne Nordberg 10 years ago, she also married a 100-acre farm with a mishmash of buildings, including an early 1800's farmhouse and two post-and-beam barns. These seemed timeless, unlike the 1940's Sears kit house, with its mildewed rooms that invited demolition. And the 6,000-square-foot contemporary -- built by Mr. Nordberg and his wife at the time, Olivia, who died before it was finished -- struck her as out of scale. ''I hate this house,'' Ms. Mavec said last month. ''But, well, what was I going to do?''

Article in series The Big Melt describes profound effect warmer climate will have on four million people living in Arctic region; most of their homes are on frozen ground known as permafrost; as it melts and thins, homes and infrastructure are at risk of serious damage; across Arctic, indigenous tribes with traditions shaped by centuries of living in extremes of cold and ice are noticing changes in weather and wildlife; are trying to adapt, but it can be confounding; Inuit have used Arctic Ocean ice as highway, building material and hunting platform; retreat of sea ice is making it hard to preserve their connections to tradition; most Arctic climate experts say warming trend is driven by heat-trapping emissions and is unlikely to reverse; many scientists and officials in Russia predict warming of last 30 years will give way to new period of cold; Norway and seven other Arctic nations are discussing ways to protect environment they share in forum called Arctic Council, but guidelines it issues come with no enforcement powers; photos; map; chart (L)

It may seem like a benevolent year-end gift, but fiscal analysts and watchdog groups from both ends of the political spectrum yesterday criticized as irresponsible the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's plan to give subway, bus and commuter-rail riders fare discounts during the holiday season. The discounts, which would be unprecedented in scope and cost an estimated $50 million this year in lost revenue, may secure some sorely needed good will for the authority, which is urging voters to approve a $2.9 billion state transportation bond act on Election Day.

Christie's, determined to be first Western auction house to capitalize on China's booming art market, signs agreement with newly formed Beijing auction house Forever to conduct auctions in Beijing; Christie's will license its name, provide experts and oversee entire auction process; first sale, of modern and contemporary Chinese art, scheduled for November 3 at Great Wall Sheraton Hotel, is expected to bring $10 million; photos (M)

Refco Inc's financial statements show that insiders at firm received more than $1 billion in cash in year before it sold shares to public and then promptly filed for bankruptcy protection; Robert Trosten received $45 million when he stepped down as chief financial officer in October 2004; money that insiders took out of firm is not surprising, given that Refco's executives sold big stake in company to Thomas H Lee Partners in August 2004; most of money insiders received--$1.057 billion--was paid upon completion of that deal; Refco insiders on receiving end of those payouts were former chief executive Phillip R Bennett and Tone Grant, Refco's longtime chief executive before Bennett; photo (M)