The Brian Lamb Experience

For as long as I can remember Sunday nights have been about CSPAN Founder Brain Lamb's interviews. If you are looking for unique insights into Americans and American History just tune to CSPAN at 8:00 PM EST any Sunday.

From 1989 until 2004 Brian recorded over 800, one hour interviews for his unique Booknotes series. These interviews, encapsulated in four micro-chapter books, offer incredible insights from the great writers and historians of the 20th century and many up and comers with interest in overlooked or under appreciated facets of American History. Look for repeats on Book TV or watch some wide-lapel videos on the Booknotes website or on iTunes.

Brian's new interview show, Q&A, includes an incredible array of guests from all walks of life. While the interviews still have a heavy leading towards politics, you never know who will be on the simple, two chair set for an intimate one-hour exchange.

What makes both of these programs so interesting is Brian's ego-free, no holds bar interview style. This is a man who has never uttered his own name aloud on the air in 30 years on TV.

So join for me the best show on TV or, as I often do now, catch the programs a week or so after release as free podcasts.

Need more than an hour's entertainment on a Sunday night? Check out Prime Minster's Questions after Q&A every week Parliament is in session.

China’s Stimulus Plan

A crisis is an opportunity riding the dangerous wind (危机是乘坐危险风的机会). This Chinese proverb has penetrated American business parlance to the point of abuse, but seems very appropriate in considering the efforts underway by the PRC government to make the most of the world financial crisis.

As highlighted in an excellent article in yesterday’s New York Times, the tone of the recently concluded National People's Congress hints that government efforts initiated last November will continue to focus on infrastructure development, technical training for unskilled labors, and increased R&D investments. All of these efforts offer the parallel benefit of internal investment and placating, if even to a small degree, populations that failed to benefit from China's surge to the position as the world's third largest economy.

What about the collapse of the Chinese manufacturing-for-export sector? There are a few silver lining here too. Indigenous, professional business managers, a rare commodity over the years, are now more plentiful as best-in-class leaders from closed factories reenter the work force. Transportation costs are way down, wage inflation of the past two years has all but disappeared, and external M&A activity will reported face fewer regulatory issues than in the past.

Conventional wisdom has for years dictated that China must slow down its growth and create engines for domestic consumption to develop a real, sustainable economy. China seems well positioned to ride a forced slowdown via the global economic challenges to a new era of strength.

But you know I am a China bull! If you are with me pop over to my friends at Matthews Funds and put your money where your mouth is. If you are short on cash visit anyway to get the most consistent and comprehensive insights into Greater Asia investing available in the US.

Tough Look at Global Manufacturing

(click for easier to read image)

My homeboy Martin, who spends twenty plus weeks a year selling and sourcing in Western and Eastern Europe, recently gave me the low down on the production crash in the Old Country. Factories have customers that aren’t buying, inventory that can move and, in many cases, employees they can’t fire and factories they can’t shutter.

The above image from BusinessWeek is telling.