William Adams asked:


to put everyone on high alert to ensure they never underestimate the damage late payment of bills can cause. Young people in particular who have a “who cares” attitude to their financial responsibilities are an endangered species. Do not take offence at what I am telling you, I am very much on your side.

Every one of us has had times when you cannot meet an account by due payment date. My advice, if heeded, will have a dramatic effect on future dealings, in fact, for the rest of your life. There’s a way to head off black marks on your credit rating file. These black marks are akin to cancer in the health area, they are deadly when it comes to future borrowings. I have highlighted the problem, now for the answer.

I want you to avoid a bad credit rating like the plaque. You know when your payments are due, and when you realise your inability to make this payment, pick up the phone. You will usually be surprised that if your story appears reasonably genuine, you will get more time to pay. Now when this day arrives, meet it or else. Or else means you have probably had your name referred to a credit rating agency, by far the worst day of your life.

It is all about communication, a good early life lesson that, when learnt, will stand you in good stead forever. In other words, be upfront and honest, it pays huge dividends. Remember it is no disgrace to be short of cash when a bill becomes due, but ignoring it is thwart with danger that you could avoid. Because of the tough times we are experiencing, the shopkeepers are doing it hard, their fuse string is burning faster than normal. Your non payment on time has put them in a hot spot to meet their commitments, you have made them angry. But, if you had been in touch with the reasons and remedy for your late payment, then he can tell his creditor that relief is expected by whatever your arrangements were.

Most young people live for today and can become lax in keeping within due date deadlines. Just fast track a few more years, you and your soon-to-be bride or live-in approach your bankers to buy say a house. Your wages are tops, hers are very nice thank you, you are looking good. The application process is a pain in the butt, but must be done. Everyone is getting excited; you are going to be told in a few days how you fared. Bingo, all is well, except you have a black mark for a bill you ignored after several reminders, and guess what, you were dobbed in. Declined, now try to rub that black mark off your records. It isn’t easy; in fact you are doomed for years.

I’m rescued, you say, there’s an advertisement in the local paper to say you don’t need a perfect credit rating to get a loan from us. True too, but be warned. These good Samaritans do not come cheaply, you get nothing for nothing in today’s world, and rightly so. They are taking more risk lending to a defaulter, so they naturally charge more, like a bull. It is bad business to get in bed with these crews.

Okay, I am snookered, where to now? The sad truth is that you have to get on the straight and narrow from this day on. There are a few choices as the way to go, and I will tell you the number one. You and yours make regular deposits into a bank account, and do not miss a beat. After two years of regular savings, a further approach for a loan will have considerable more chance of gaining approval. They will check your credit records, and if there’s no deterioration since last time, your banker may smile upon you.

You’re earlier in life financial choices have set you back two years, but if you have matured in the responsibility stakes you are a better person for the experience. Okay, this advice has cost you nothing, but with it comes a later in life commitment that I want you to honour. When your children leave school, make sure you tell them your story, its maddening effect it had on you, and how you overcame the problem. You will be doing your child a great favour, you are now cleansed.

Another tip before you become totally bored. Always remember, your banker is your best friend, or worst enemy, depending on how you treat him or her. A friend in need is a friend indeed. Better come totally clean before I sign off, I was a bank manager for many years. Take heed of this article, you can then call me a friend too.

Good luck with your loan application. Finally, always keep your credit rating as clean as your motor vehicle. It pays big dividends.

Bill Adams, author.

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Miguel Poza asked:


A fantastic place to find cool broadband quality sports video and audio clips to view online for free is the BBC sports website which you can find at news.bbc.co.uk/sport They also have lots of great sports content for you to enjoy including the latest sports news, the latest sports results, photo galleries, scores & fixtures information and lots more besides. The BBC sports website also has dedicated sections on their website for football, cricket, tennis, golf, rugby union, rugby league, motorsport, boxing, athletics, cycling, snooker and horse racing.

Eurosport.com is another great place to find free sports clips to watch online and they have excellent sports news coverage of a range of sports including football, cycling, motorsports, basketball, athletics, golf, winter sports, boxing, baseball, cricket, field hockey, handball, NFL, Olympics, Rugby, Rowing, Sailing, Snooker and Swimming. One thing I really like about the Eurosport.com website is the “Live Score” feature which you will find on the homepage and shows you the live current scores on a range of different sports including football, tennis, cycling, motorsports, field hockey, basketball, rugby, athletics, snooker and winter sports. This site is very well designed, is constantly updated and is easy to navigate. It will definitely keep sports buffs busy for days!

SportsNews.com has a huge range of detailed and up to date sports news coverage from around the world. It is a very well laid out website which as well as having all the sports news you can handle, it also has extensive entertainment news, regional news, business news and science news.

A quality sports site which is especially good for American sports fans is Fox Sports which can be found at msn.foxsports.com It has detailed extensive sports news coverage of NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, golf, tennis, football, NCAA FB, Winter Olympics, Boxing, Horse Racing, F1, WNBA and beach volleyball.

Another good sports site which covers American sports is ESPN which you can find at espn.go.com They mainly cover MLB, NFL, College Football, NASCAR, NBA, Golf, Tennis, NHL, Soccer, Boxing, College Basketball and Women’s Basketball. They have all the scores, teams and standings for all these sports. I like the design of this site which is neat and clear.

Well that’s all the sites I think you sports fans will need to feed your hunger for more info on your favourite sports and teams, I hope you like them and have lots of fun on them!



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Meredith Booney asked:


General summary of city:

Bruges, Belgium, from the Norse word ‘Bryggja’ meaning “mooring place,” is one of the three regions and the capital of Flanders. Bruges has a population of over 100,000 and covers an area of approximately 138 km. This historic city, with its natural link to the sea, became a commercial center for European trade in early medieval times, as the harbor filled with ships carrying wool, grain, and wine. In a short while, the door opened for trade with countries on the Mediterranean Sea and the first fleet of ships arrived from Genoa, Italy. With the increase in international trade and the influx of capital, Bruges soon became an extremely wealthy city and a worldwide banking market. Over time, however, internal revolts between the prosperous tradesmen and the common people of Bruges led to the subsequent decline of the city as an important center for trade. As silt began to form and fill the waterway, Bruges was replaced as a major seaport by the more accessible city of Antwerp. After its separation from the Netherlands near the end of the medieval period, Bruges today is no longer known for its maritime prowess, but for its preservation as a provincial city with a wealth of culture and history.

Places of interest:

Bruges, often called the Venice of the North, is actually much further inland, amid different arms from the sea, waterways created by repeated flooding from the North Sea. After constant dredging, the Reie River was turned into a network of canals, the Water Halls of the Market. The Court of the Market (Grote Markt), the Castle, and the small towns of Damma and Suis are visited by tourists in Bruges on riverboats owned by five families. The Market has a belfry tower from which you have a spectacular view of the city and the Provincial Court, on the east side of the square where the original water halls existed, is a wonderful example of neo-Gothic architecture. The statues of Jan Breydel and Pieter de Coninck, national heroes, are located In the middle of the market square. Within the museum adjacent to the Castle, The Shrine of the Sacred Blood houses the vessel that is carried in a procession every year on Ascension Day. The southern area of modern reconstructed medieval houses still reflects the original architecture of Bruges. In addition, there are several wonderful museums in the city such as the archaeological museum, with historical exhibits from the Stone Age and beyond. Another place of interest is the Groeninge Museum, which houses a magnificent collection of fine art, containing works by Flemish masters such as Van Eyck, Hugo van der Goes, Jacob van Oost, and the more recent expressionist masterpieces.

Things to do:

Walking through and around the ramparts that enclose this delightful, small city is one of the best ways to discover its charm. Carriages can be hired and scooters can be rented for an hour or a day of sightseeing, as well. Day trips by buses (fares are extremely reasonable) can be arranged to Sint-Trudo Abbey Male, former castle of the Counts of Flanders, and the Boudewijnpark and Dolphinarium, a theme park and panoramic aquarena. Take time for a stop at the Lace Center to watch the local artisans at work and the Antique and Flea Market where arts and crafts are featured. Exploring a bit further in the area around Bruges, you’ll enjoy the beaches at Zeebruge, a small seaside resort, and the quaint village of Lissewege located between the city and the coast. Zeebruge lies within 8 miles from Bruges, connected by a canal, and boat trips and visits to the exhibitions of the sea are popular things to do. There is no end to great shopping in Bruges, largely between the Market square and the old city gates. A number of small specialty shops are situated in the center such as De Kaarsengieterij, the oldest and only candle shop in Bruges. Here, you can find garden and interior candles, candle holders, and t-lights, or if staying in the city a while, take the opportunity to order hand-painted candles for gifts and special occasions.

Food & Drink:

Bruges is known for excellent food and restaurants, featuring French and Flemish cuisine. Mussels, steamed in beer or wine, are a favorite of the people in Bruges and are often served with a side order of French fries with mayonnaise. Waterzooi is a type of soup with cream, vegetables, chicken, or fish, and paling in’t groen consists of eels with vegetables and herbs. Popular selections for dining out, as might be expected, are in the variety of seafood that is available, from fresh salted herring to North Sea shrimp. Chocolate is a must for dessert or for purchase in the many shops or patisseries that surround the city and the Cote d’Or, with an inexpensive selection of chocolate bars. Wine is served in most places; however, with over 100 breweries in Belgium and 400 varieties, beer is the national drink in Bruges. There are three types of beer, lager or dark, white, and the lambic homebrewed beer, often flavoured with fruit. Beer is relatively expensive, but much stronger than beer from other countries. There are a number of restaurants and pubs such as De Garre that have great atmosphere and serve over 100 different varieties of beer.

Hotels & Accommodation:

Hotel Prinsenhof

Sofitel Brugge

Portinari

Patritius

Best Western Premier Hotel Navarra

Small Luxury Hotel The Pand

Relais Oud Huis Amsterdam

Minotel Azalea

Hotel De Tuilerieen

Die Swaene

Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce

Crowne Plaza Hotel Brugge

Walburg Hotel ****Restaurant

Hotel de Orangerie

Hotel De Castillion

Brugsche Suites

Graaf Van Vlaanderen

Hotel Asiris

Hotel Ibis Brugge Centrum

Hotel Cordoeanier

Hotel Botaniek

Hotel Koffieboontje

Hotel Jacobs

Scandic Brugge

Novotel Brugge Zuid

Hotel Groeninghe

Hotel ‘t Voermanshuys

Hotel de Pauw

Hotel Goezeput

Campanile Brugge / Bruges

Hotel Malleberg

Hotel Gulden Vlies

De Tassche

Entertainment:

Bruges is a fun-filled city, if you’re looking for some friendly nightlife. The nightclubs are small, but filled with lively conversation, drinking, and dancing. The Grand Café du Theatre features music from the 60’s through the 90’s, a large selection of beer, and snacks from 6 to 8 p.m. nightly. If you enjoy sports, the Snooker Palace is equipped with nine snooker tables, three dart boards, and a pool table. Backpackers in Burges will enjoy the Snuffels Sleep-In Bar, where plenty of beer is available and free concerts are held every two weeks. Another favorite nightspot is Kant, a sophisticated club with a great dance floor, serving the best champagnes and a variety of local beer and wine. Bars and pubs are popular, as well, such as Celtic Ireland on Burg Square and De Versteende nacht, for Wednesday night jazz. Larger nightspots are nearby in Antwerp and Ghent. Evening strolls to the market square of beautifully illuminated historic buildings, the tranquil parks, or lovers’ lake, are enjoyable pastimes while in the delightful city of Bruges.



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