Mystery guest. First i want to get headlines from a radio cohost. Striking back at activist carl icahn for his role in ebays scale of sky. Sale of skype. Carl icahn says that Andreessen Biddeford and the deal at the expense of ebay, and his shareholders. Kroger approached safeway about buying part of its operations. Kroger and safeway are the largest u. S. Supermarket chains. 12 years a slave took home best picture. Thank you. The confrontation in ukraine shows sign of worsening today. Peter cook joins us now with the latest from washington. Peter . There is a lot of backandforth today, but the worst standoff since the cold war so was no signs of easing. Settling in for an extended stay. There were reports that were mobilizing more of their forces on the russian side of the ukrainian border. Again, every indication that the the russians are trying to increase their grip and crimea. This is all in response to the ouster of the russian backed president in ukraine. They say they are simply protecting russian citizens in the ukraine, but again, the European Union and the United States responding, condemning the action so far. The president is urging Vladimir Putin to back down and not face prospect of isolation. If they continue on the current projectory they are on, we are examining a whole series of steps, economic, diplomatic, that will isolate russia. And we will have a negative impact on russias economy, and status of the world. Already, negative impact on the russian economy today, the drop in the ruble. The next move by the United States, kerry will be heading to kiev tonight. They are showing support for a larger package being headed up by the imf eric wedge of russian groups on the one side will about leverage on the u. S. Side . Is there any leverage that they have . Theres not a whole lot of leverage other than the isolation that the president talked about, and the threat of economic sanctions. Military force, the military action not even on the table. The president believes and smart able to the, and sanctions. The suspending of the g8 summit canceling trade and marshall talks, those are off our table. There could be an effort to toss russia out of the g8 altogether, and then kicking them out of the wto, freezing assets to u. S. Banks and european banks, and severing commercial ties. We are a long way from that, a lot of road ahead in terms of trying to reach a diplomatic solution there. Tensions seem to be going up instead of down. Thank you very much. For more on ukraine, and the potential sanctions that could be imposed on russia we have robert kahn, the former Senior Adviser at the world bank. Great to have you with us. I wanted to get your perspective of what you know about the situation in crimea, ukraine, and russia. And how you think things are going to play out. In terms of the economy on the ground in russia, we have the makings of a very severe crisis. There are economy was already doing poorly, the government is using reserves at a rapid pace. Even the basic functioning of the government is proving difficult. The economy is falling quite sharply, so from an Economic Perspective there are some needs that he should be addressed if were going to sustain this coalition during this very difficult time. In terms of what is going on in russia, as was earlier noted, we have had some significant moves in the russian financial markets. In 2008, when there was geopolitical tension, we saw very similar moves in russia. We do believe that they are vulnerable to a pullback in risktaking, assets leaving russia, and the possibility of sanctions. That could all weigh on russian market, and have an effect. They have large reserves to address it, but it is some place where we feel we can bring pressure. Talk about Vladimir Putin has perspective, based on what you know of his strategy and his experience in the past. We debate that, the basic answer is that we do not know. It is very hard to predict, were all somewhat surprised by the aggression of the recent news. Russia has important restaurants interest in the crimea, but that does not explain the kind of are those interest really being threatened by the revolution that is taking place in kiev . I do not think so. I think the threats that are used to justify these actions are really fabricated moves. That said, the turn towards russia that yanukovych had contemplated, that was through with his departure, we see them wanting to move more toward the west. I do not see that as a material threat to russia, it certainly does not need to be. In that sense, the sake statement by secretary kerry that there are Many Solutions are, i believe that. Crimea is a semiautonomous region. What does that mean, and how does that impact the future of these events . There are strong russian interests in terms of military bases, and there are many people who speak russian or have russian associations they are. To the extent that those peoples where fire welfare would have been obvious concern to russia , but i think fundamentally, there must be some broader belief in terms of russian influence, which is hard to me to explain or understand. What does this send as a message to other countries that in the future may try to go their own way and defied the will of Vladimir Putin . I look at this in the terms of economic disruption and the cost, and i do think it is an extraordinarily painful time for ukraine. It is a challenge for the west to come with a significant financial package and it needs to be done in two stages. They need to have some upfront cash, and that a longterm Adjustment Program with the imf. If you have that i did on the table you can see that the ukraine comes out of this stronger with a western orientation. Ultimately, that is something that could be a positive statement for countries in terms of adopting a more marketable economy and sustainable resources. Tell us about the ukraine economy. It is not only a transit point for natural gas and energy from russia to western europe, but it also has a large wheat growing area, and an agricultural center, and in the east it has coal. It has a very strong cultural advantage. It has heavy industry that is really a legacy from the soviet union, and from the integrated Production Networks that existed at that time. Unlike hungary, poland, you do not see the reorientation of that infrastructure toward the west. There are more integrated, and more reliant on russian trade than many other countries in the region. That of course is part of the vulnerability we are seeing in terms of the threats russia is making to break down that trade. Thank you. Robert kahn is a senior fellow of counsel that foreign relations. We go from the sublime to even more sublime, or mr. Best our mystery guest is in the building. This is taking stock on bloomberg. General motors exceeded analyst estimates for the february sales. Well they did drop one percent, that was better than the forecast of an eight percent decline. The automaker is now led by a new chief executive, and her challenge is to improve an industry that was in decline since 2007. Professor torfeh, thank you for being with us. Can you give us a background in the history of kettering . It was founded in 1990 as a trade school for gm credit that eventually got changed to university. It was founded by charles kettering, and also the idea was to provide training for the technician and people who were working at gm at the time. For some time they provided more intensive training and became a institute. In 1998, the name got changed to Kettering University after the boss, the founder of the university. We offer cooperative education, and that means that all of the students who participate, they change what is in the study, and also work. Is that something that the chief executive of gm did . That is exactly what she went through. She came to school for 3 months, and then went to work for two months. All of the students are all required to do this. When theyre done, they are practically professionals. That is the main advantage. Mary is an example of that. Not just learning the science but what is this for, what you can do with it, and more important, why we are studying what we are studying. It is a big avenue to do practice what you learn. That is what the university is doing. Mary was here from 19801985, and then had the same education. I was here in 1984, 1985 with in class. What can you recall of her time in the university . Particularly in the lab that i had her, she was very bright, a very bright student. I also remember vividly that she was always focusing on the assignment after i was done talking about the assignment, she was a ready to attack it and solve the problem. Very bright, and hardworking. The other thing that i remember is that she had a tremendous spirit of collaboration. A lot of the work that we did was teamwork, and she always tried to participate and make everybody all of the individuals participate and make them to be a part of the team. You can see that characteristic that she was the leader at that time because she was the one who was taking charge, making sure that different parts of the assignment were done, and done properly. The other thing that i remember from her is that she has tremendous communication skills. Some of these assignments, they had to present the results of their work. You could see that the way that she was articulating, even at that time, 30 years ago, the way she conveyed the message, you could see that she had the personality and the connectivity. Not only discussing what she wants to do, but also to make sure that realize that people realized we were all together in this. It is amazing to see the transformation from what she learned in school, and then when she applied it to, and then what she got. She is a model for all the people who think it is difficult to reach high positions. She tried it, and is just amazing. It is a great pleasure i am only going to give you 10 seconds for my next question. Are you surprised that mary barra is the first female chief executive of a major u. S. Automobile maker . I will tell you what, i can pick some of the ones that have reached there, and she was one of them. It was pretty much maledominated management, and for gm to recognize that she could do it it is astonishing. Im very pleased to see that she got to this point. She is talented, deserves it, and has all the ellen and skill to do the job. I am pleasantly surprised that she was able to do it, and that gm recognized all of the guild and the talent she has. Thank you so much. Professor mohammad torfeh from Kettering University. Where do all of the students go . We will give you details next. Admissions applications are down that many colleges. Not just because higher tuition costs, the number of High School Graduates from the midwest is falling. Weve been looking at the trends, and joining us from our Chicago Bureau is the dean of admissions and Financial Aid at Large University in appleton, wisconsin. Welcome to taking stock. There are fewer kids from the midwest that are graduating from high school, and were starting to see this come up in College Application numbers. Harvard had a decline of about two percent in their application, and that was led by a six percent decline from applicant in the midwest. Can you come up on this . Why is this happening, and how is this affecting Lawrence University . We have no this is coming for quite some time. The western interstate committing for Higher Education said this was going to happen starting about 2009 with a decline in the midwest and the northeast. Lawrence university has remained fairly even this year, and the good news for us as we are up in illinois and wisconsin. We are bucking the trend. If this trend continues what will this mean for Higher Education in the midwest . I think is going to be an increasingly in additive market place competitive marketplace. Competitive from the perspective of students, or these universities that want the students to enroll . That is a very good questions. I think is going to be very competitive for the colleges. It is very good to be a High School Senior applying to colleges, because there are fewer of you out there. So this is a good time to do this, a student market. What leverage would a student have if they wanted to go to Lawrence University . What you mean . If you come from a particular area of the country, and youre looking for some geographical diversity, some universities in the east and west coast would look or people from the midwest. Whereas, if youre in wisconsin, perhaps you have a different story. Our population is an international population, so about 50 of our students come from illinois, wisconsin, and minnesota, but after that it is new york, and china as our next largest sources. Were trying to be everywhere it make sense for us to be. What about the competition to get midwestern students . They will become more appealing. We know that colleges are looking at other places instead of the midwest as well. The south, southwest, california and texas. The demography of the students, where these populations are increasing, they may not be the same students, the same caliber. They may need more remedial education, it will be very interesting to see. The colleges all want to fill their classes. Are universities and colleges in the midwest that are already seeing the lines declines . Yes, they are trying to shore up their students nearby, and being aggressive in regarding. Recruiting. Marquette have a second enrollment officer to talk to students, counselors, and parents. And then extra Financial Aid incentives to go . Perhaps. Retail. Ottest trends in this is taking stock on bloomberg. I am pimm fox. U. S. Manufacturing expense and at a faster pace than expected for the month of february. The data indicating the economy may be picking up from the harsh Winter Weather that slowed growth. Joseph a bank and mens wearhouse have entered into a nondisclosure agreement, indicating a possible merger. They have participated in previous failed attempts to merge. The bid will be expiring march 12. The harsh Winter Weather continues to cause a headache for flight travelers. 5. 3 billion in missed trips for passengers. Snowballing d. C. And philadelphia caused a conflation of 4500 flights today. Snow falling in d. C. And philadelphia caused a cancellation of 4500 flights today. All the earnings are in for major retailers. A conference bringing Small Business owners together, edens president and chief Investment Officer jodie mclean, and sid mashburn. Just described to me what is the conference . What is the intention . The intention of the conference is to bring together some of the very best minds in retail, doing unique things. Brickandmortar level, and integrating ecommerce and what they are doing. We have a specific point of view, and our role is to build community. Our whole perspective is to bring people together in a human analog format. Part of that is really bringing in these unique retailers. The consumer wants to spend their time and differentiate the different places. There isnt as many resources for the small retailers who do not have access because of restriction of capital. It might also be restriction of resources. We bring together 50 of the very best retailers, usually about 510 units in size, and we bring them together to Exchange Ideas and concepts with retailers run the country who are really pushing innovative ideas. Just imagine that edens has operations in places like washington, unit market development, operation in atlanta, miami, as well as boston. Sid, they selected you, youre going to tell them how to make it all happen . Youre doing well. Tell us about your business, and how you got to be on this gq list . Funny enough, it seems like it happened overnight. I have been doing this since i was about 15 years old. I came to new york in the early 1980s, and went to work for a nameless Catalog Company in new jersey that turned into one of the greatest opportunities. You always wanted to be in this . Always. I loved clothes, and i love people, network convergence, and that is what we are acting today in our shop because what jody alludes to is the blocking and tackling of retail that is missing today. What would be an example of Something Like that . Having the right sizes, colors, fashion, what . Fantastic point, being in stock, a huge point. We go to Great Lengths to be in stock. Also taking care of the customer that they are not used to. We have a saying inside of the shop, hug them with your eyes. We want to make sure that when a person comes in they feel like a million bucks, and they are the the focus. Exactly. You have developers in the retail you manage. How do you make sure that someone is going to come in with a great product, and if they open a store and they dont have customers, you cannot figure out why . And that ever happened . Never happened. We have shifted our paradigm instead of looking at driving sales to drive time. We want to win the time war. We really look at how do we inspire our community to come together, 3. 5 trips per week about five for our five hours a week. We focus on design of our places, and design of the it has to fit the design of him and his product or equipment has to be couple of mentoring. It has to be complementary. We do the demographic studies, the traffic studies, and we see where the traffic is, we dry the parking lot and see what kind of nameplates are in the cards. We are looking for places a little bit different than others, a cultural crossroads. It will be where will the hipsters from brooklyn, that the guys from the other Upper East Side will come as well. You cannot ignore the armani this is taking up all of this. Some people will take a picture, a look online about see if they can find it less expensive. How do you deal with this . We are going to win in the w