Monday linkage: Paul Ryan, Zakaria, China-US war, Olympics and more

A global study of education systems finds three critical factors for success: exit exams, private school competition, and good teachers.
Republican VP nominee Paul Ryan had an early affection for the work of Ayn Rand.
James Fallows and The Economist each argue that the Ryan pick is good for the campaign: Ryan has shaped the GOP\'s economic vision, so the race is now a clear contest between rival prescriptions for the economy.
Fareed Zakaria cops to plagiarism. But did he even write the column?
Paul Ryan\'s agenda: \'...radically reforming the way the federal government provides public services, usually by privatizing or devolving those public services away from the federal government.\'
Free essay from the latest issue of Survival: \'China could become the most powerful adversary the United States has ever faced. How might a war with China begin, how might it proceed, how might it end, and how might it be prevented?\'
How Olympic track cycling is like banking.