Clayton M. Christensen Interview
The author of 'The Innovator's Dilemma' has some interesting things to say in this Strategy & Business article.

CHRISTENSEN: When management waits until the data is clear, the game is over. But that means management has to take action on a theory rather than evidence.

Unfortunately, the word theory gets a bum rap at the Harvard Business School and in business in general because it’s associated with the term theoretical, which connotes impractical.

But actually theory is very practical. Gravity is a theory, for example. It allows you to predict that if you step off a cliff you will fall; you don’t have to collect data on that.

... In many ways a good theory is more accurate than data. It allows you to see into the future more clearly.

UK to relax policing of cannabis

Cannabis is to be reclassified as a softer drug under new British government proposals. The changes, which are almost certain to go through, should lead to far fewer arrests of ordinary users. The main motive - apart from the fact the present policy has done nothing to reduce drug consumption, seems to be to free up police time.

'In 1999, nearly 70 per cent of people arrested for drugs offences in Britain were charged with possession of cannabis', according to the New Scientist. 'Processing each offender can take a police officer up to three hours.'

Though the change is being presented as an opportunity to concentrate more resources against crack and heroin suppliers, it's hard not to see the knock-on effects of the war on terrorism in the timing. In the present climate chasing harmless potheads hardly seems an urgent priority.

An ICM poll carried out for the Guardian newspaper indicated strong public backing for the relaxation proposals, with all but the oldest age group (65 plus) in favour.

Winter Olympics story - security scenarios