He was on the money: There is no guarantee that these forces will be with him next year when the bailout cash is due to run out.

WSJ: Good Omens But No Guarantees for Portugal

Entrants to the consumer-finance business are soon expected to gain access to valuable data when Terranet, a new industry-run credit bureau, is set up next month (assuming blocking efforts by Takefuji, the industry leader, which claims that it might be illegal to disclose some data, fail).

ECONOMIST: Japanese consumer finance

For Mr Renato, the biggest difficulty for any family-run business is handing over power to the next generation when the current head of the family retires.

BBC: Brazilian family firms reveal tips for success

Mr. WALTER GRIFFIN (Gulfport Police): Once we run through all of this, we don't know when the next supply is going to come in.

NPR: Gulfport Takes Stock of Disaster

The prevailing sentiment had been that the Writers Guild of America would wait to stage a strike until next summer, when the contracts of the actors and directors guild run out, but a November walkout is looking increasingly likely.

FORBES: Write Off Network TV