We're trying to get things in shape to travel to the U.S. the first week of October. Before that, though, come three courses to give. Two of them are within a three-hour drive; the other a plane trip to Brasilia. (That reminds me: call travel agent.)

Then, a book to deliver to the printer. Somebody to speak for six weeks in SJCampos. Schedule to set up. Joel's passport to renew. etc. etc. etc.

That's why I hate travelling. But once I sit down in the airplane, I forget all those details and start enjoying the trip.

I bought new equipment a few weeks back. The sales people were nice until they saw the color of the bills. I got the machine, set it up and discovered that the sound didn't work, nor the USB ports, a different brand network board than promised, no microphone, etc., etc. Nor did they install two network boards as I ordered, but just one.

Now they've got their money, they're not interested in talking to me.

I figure they're machine sellers, not customer satisfiers. And I'm telling everybody I know.

You'd think businesses would learn.

There's nothing like the birth of a baby in the family to bring joy and new life to the house. That's true as well in a figurative or spiritual sense. In our Christian community, a young man made his intentions known and requested to be baptized. It's something that brings a lift to everyone and helps us renew our own determination to serve God.

I was sitting in a padaria eating a a couple of pieces of bread and reading an old issue of Brazil's main financial magazine, Exame. One of its staff writers said that, in a crisis, economists are useless and can't really tell you which way to turn.

Hrumph. Are economists good any time? If they can't help the country in a crisis, what use are they? And as much as they banter figures and numbers around as if it were a scientific field of study, why can't they agree?

My economic theory boils down to this:

1. Pay cash.
2. If you can't pay cash, do without.
3. If you can't do without, get a higher-paying job.
4. If you can't get a higher-paying job, pay through the nose on credit.
5. If you can't pay through the nose on credit, pay cash.

I thought, "What do I need to do today?" Then, from a reaction against the "You need to ..." syndrome, I thought, "What do I want to do today?"

From that, I moved quickly to, "What does my Lord want me to do today?"

I think I may get somewhere taking that line of thought.