Economists and geopolitical commentators and writers in the Economist frequently use the abbreviation "LDC". It stands for "Less Developed Country". I often get asked what that means and tend to use examples to explain. Here's one:

www.theville.com/newsletters/drunk.html

Te fine proposd incidentally for a first time offence would be the equivalent of about GBP 12!
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I have had a minor scrape on my car (reversed into post!!).
If I do not go through the insurance company to get it repaired but go to crash repairers direct, (my excess is huge)will it ever show up on a HPI check as being damaged?

Thanks

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Hi all,

I left my T-reg Ford Ka3 in for its 3 year service yesterday morning to my local Ford dealer (where I bought the car). It only has 6,100 miles up and has been running perfectly.

I called them around 3pm yesterday to check that it would be ready and the girl who answered at service reception said that there had been a problem-one of the spark plugs had snapped off and they were currently trying to 'dig it out' and that therefore it may not be ready by the end of the day.

She left a message on my voicemail just after 5pm to say that the car wouldn't be ready, because during the MOT (which I'd booked), the car had sounded 'rough' and they were having to look into it.

I phoned this morning, and she said that the cylinder head had to be replaced and would cost an additional £210. I don't know anything about cars, but politely and firmly suggested that the car had been running perfectly when I'd left it in, had low mileage, and that this problem had surely occured as a result of the spark plug snapping off during the servicing. She said she'd call me back.

She phoned back about hald an hour later, saying she's been on to head office and that they had said that they would foot 75% of the cost, and that I would therefore only have to pay £35. To avoid further hassle, I said I'd accept this offer, ( I will be driving to Holyhead this Saturday to attend my sister's wedding in Dublin next week, so need the car asap).

I phoned back around 5.30pm this evening, and she said that they had dismantled the engine, were still diagnosing the fault, and would be putting it together tomorrow. I explained I needed it by tomorrow evening at the latest, and explained my circumstances, and she said she'd ask the engineers/mechanics to take this into account.

Sorry for the long post, but my questions are:

1) Am I fair in presuming that this problem is the result of an accident during the service (especially since Ford agreed quickly to pay for the bulk of the cost?
2)If the car isn't ready by tomorrow evening, what is my best course of action? Can I ask for/demand a courtesy car or the cost of hiring one?
3) If they try to up the costs or charge me labour, what is my best course of action?

I should point out that although this is frustrating (especially given the family circumstances), they've been unfailingly polite on the phone.

Many thanks in advance for your views Read more

Might be time to give the tories another chance, if they mean it...

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2306871.stm Read more

I've got a Peugeot 205 XLD 1989 and over the past couple of weeks it's been cutting out on me about 10 seconds or so after starting. Starts back up again after 15 seconds, revs like hell on it's own then runs fine until its had an hour and a half/2 hours cooling down, then it'll do it again. Taken it to the garage and bascially they're stumped. They've checked no air's getting into it and changed the fuel filter (which was brand new anyway), but have run out of ideas. Anyone got any clues? i'm desperate! Cheers. Read more