“China undoubtedly is concerned that cutting North Korea adrift could hasten a chaotic regime collapse and an ensuing flood of refugees across the Tumen River,” Professor Cook said.

“A functioning North Korea that is friendly towards China also is more reassuring than a unified Korea under southern rule with good strategic relations with the United States and improving ones with Japan,” he said.

The premature ascension of Kim Jong-un immediately intensified concerns both about North Korea’s internal stability and Pyongyang’s proclivity towards military provocations.

“Some see that Kim Jong-un himself may instigate such military provocations to solidify his rule and to rally the population around his new leadership.

“It is widely believed that the two North Korean attacks on South Korea in 2010 were part of the early succession process from Kim Jong-il to Kim Jong-un as a means to gain military support for the succession.

“The role of the military may even be stronger under Kim Jong-un if North Korea, as reported by Reuters, moves to a collective leadership model with Kim Jong-un, his uncle Jang Song Thaek and senior military leaders working together.”

Professor Cook said that beyond the heightened threat of more military provocations from North Korea and the great pressure this places particularly on South Korea to respond in kind, it is highly unlikely that General Kim Jong-un will deviate from his father’s most recent policies.

“Kim Jong-un’s weaker position means that he will have less or no room for compromise on key policy positions especially as to do so early in his term would be seen as disrespectful to his father,” he said.

“This is likely to be particularly true when it comes to North Korea’s nuclear weapons and nuclear weapons program. This lack of room for compromise would be even greater if North Korea does adopt the collective leadership model.”

If the lack of movement on the nuclear issues turns out to be true then China will be the only regional power that will have a good chance to increase its influence over Pyongyang.

China has reacted quickly and comprehensively to the death of Kim Jong-il and has followed all of the proper protocol. President Hu Jintao, accompanied by his heir apparent Xi Jinping, and Premier Wen Jiabao have visited the North Korean embassy in Beijing to pass on their condolences. Beijing has also invited Kim Jong-un to visit China as the leader of North Korea.

“If Kim Jong-un accepts this invitation after a suitable period of mourning then it could be a sign that China will have more influence over North Korea than before. How the alliance relationship between North Korea and China progresses under the third generation of Kim leadership and the fifth generation of Chinese Communist Party leadership respectively will be one of the most important strategic issues in East Asia from 2012 onwards,” Professor Cook said.

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Full video name: Geoff Mulgan: A short intro to the Studio School

I totally agree with this one. Studio Schools was developed by the same people who gave us the Open University concept. They asked a simple question what would make teenagers fight to get into a school, rather than fight to get out?

Its fairly close to the apprenticeship model. Ive always felt its a shame that model disappeared.

The Studio School is not perfect, of course but Im not sure that any school system is perfect for everyone. The concept is certainly worth investigating, since it involves students in potentially more meaningful learning experiences than what happens in many conventional schools.

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As you know, I think Ayn Rand is brilliant, that her philosophy is largely correct, and that she has a tremendous amount to teach entrepreneurs.  Her novel Atlas Shrugged is the greatest business book ever.  And the greatest politics book, and the greatest book on human philosophy.  As an aside, the Atlas Shrugged movie is finally available on DVD, .

In the book, the producers of America go on strike.  Lead by John Galt, the men and women that drive society forward and create jobs stop.  Facing the endless bureaucracy of government and increasing government control of all aspects of business, many leaders simply choose to quit.  I have blogged about the comparisons between the book and real life events before.  See here.

Today, Victor Davis Hanson wrote a piece called The Great Sit-Down Strike where he lists all the things government is doing to scare us business owners.  Things like,  the radical growth in the size of the federal government and its regulatory zeal, ObamaCare, the Boeing plant closure threat, the green jobs sweet-heart deals and Van Jones-like “Millions of Green Jobs” nonsense, the vast expansion in food stamps and unemployment pay-outs, the reversal of the Chrysler creditors, politically driven interference in the car industry, the failed efforts to get card check and cap and trade, the moratoria on new drilling in the Gulf, the general antipathy to new fossil fuel exploitation coupled with new finds of vast new reserves, the new financial regulations, an aggressive EPA oblivious to the effects of its advocacy on jobs, the threatened close-down of energy plants, the support for idling thousands of acres of irrigated farmland due to environmental regulations, the constant talk of higher taxes, (and) the needlessly provocative rhetoric.

Of course we are on strike.  I would never hire anyone now.  I teach and advise ways to structure businesses that eliminate hiring.  Offer equity and options all day long, but never hire anyone!  I am the problem.  I am on strike and all wise business owners joined me long ago.

I got in a fight about a month ago with a self-considered genius entrepreneur professor.  He told me off in public, in front of a 100 people, for not hiring more.  This professor, who has never written a paycheck in his life, told me the economy is my fault.  Well, I will hire people when you remove the dead weight of academics and government bureaucrats!

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Lawrence University recently received a $200,000 rebate from Wisconsin Focus on Energy and Wisconsin Public Service for a 120-foot tall, 50-kilowatt turbine installed at Björklunden, the college’s 425-acre “northern campus” outside Baileys Harbor. Lawrence’s first investment in wind energy, the $400,000 turbine is expected to generate enough electricity to cover nearly one-half of the electrical needs of the 37,000-square-foot lodge on the estate.

An independent study project undertaken by Steve Schnorr ’10 was the impetus for the turbine, which became operational in  early December.

“This project was only possible thanks to a massive collaborative effort by students, faculty, alumni, staff, the development office and facility services,” said Jason Brozek, assistant professor of government and Stephen Edward Scarff professor of International Affairs and current chair of the campus’ Green Roots initiative. “Its a fantastic symbol of our long-term commitment to environmental sustainability.”

Founded in 1847, Lawrence University uniquely integrates a college of liberal arts and sciences with a world-class conservatory of music, both devoted exclusively to undergraduate education. Ranked among America’s best colleges, it was selected for inclusion in the book “Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About College.” Individualized learning, the development of multiple interests and community engagement are central to the Lawrence experience. Lawrence draws its 1,445 students from 44 states and 35 countries.

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A survey last year by the Indiana Department of Education indicated 40 percent of school districts are exploring ways to provide a one-to-one digital educational environment for students. One-to-one refers to the ratio between students and computers or other digital devices. John Keller, assistant state superintendent for technology, said more and more learning opportunities are offered digitally. We are in a place where, not just in Indiana but nationally, you are going to see fewer textbooks going home with students and accessing digital content and school materials through laptop

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