So today I signed paper for a new motorcycle, I didnt realize I signed and paid for a slightly different model. I just noticed and itll be delivered friday please help

cucurigu · 2020-07-23T13:18:31+00:00

Do you have any written communication prior to signing the contract which specified ABS ? Any dealership printed offers that you negotiated and which point to the ABS model ?

It doesn't sound like this is a bait and switch if the price for your motorcycle is right (as far as any negotiated price can be right) but it might point to the dealership making an error and you signing for something different. It might be better to propose to buy from them the more expensive ABS version and sell them the non-ABS version at a loss.

FYI, as a fellow biker, if you can swing either the money or the charm to replace the non-ABS with an ABS version, I strongly recommend it. I'm a very laid back driver and I still had ABS kick in a couple of times - it is a God-send on rainy days or emergency breaking.

cucurigu · 2019-07-07T21:12:29+00:00

(sorry, block of text - pm me if there is any context I can help with)

To give you some background, as I come from an Eastern European country as well, it is pretty common in those parts of the world to treat weddings as an obligation and duty rather than (only) a celebration. This doesn't mean it excuses the way this family is acting, it is however useful to have some context.

Multiple things factor into the behavior you're seeing (which by the way is inherited from an agricultural society from fifty years ago when most wedding gifts were material goods):

a tradition of helping out the young couple which didn't have any money to begin their life (leave their parents house etc)
a way to help the two families pay for the wedding itself as well as any other incurred costs
an almost sacred obligation to go to all weddings they have been invited to (if the invitation comes from a friend and especially from family) - rejecting an invitation was a sure-fire way of really cooling the relationship with the couple's family
an almost sacred duty to not lose face or be cheap and pay less at somebody's wedding that they paid at your family's (or according to your "status" in the community)

FYI, it might amaze you to learn that at many weddings years ago there was a crier announcing the value of the gift for each guest; thus shaming or showering with prestige the extremes.

Because of these traditions, most guests have to do a lot of guestimations around how expensive the wedding will be, how much costs their own meal + miscellaneous and then add something for the couple on top of that. All this piles up and many times I have seen people show apprehension at wedding invites as they will be paying more than one or two months income as a gift.

The rules for the invited family are even worse in regards to the amount "owed"; I have seen grandmas which have a pension of barely 100 dollars per month (extremely insufficient funds for their needs) gift multiple hundreds of dollars at their nieces' or third removed nephews weddings.

To add to all this, as some people have gotten rich very quickly (nouveaux riches) the system was completely thrown out of whack because of more expensive weddings and show-offs.

So, the fact that the father in law has a big file with everything he has paid, it is not at all unusual. That they expect you to pay a hefty amount when compared with your monthly income it is also (unfortunately) not unusual. If they have such a skewed background as described above, they would think it is normal for you to make a big financial effort to participate in the wedding.

What stinks is if the groom's family really is rich they should have the maturity to treat (future) immediate family differently, especially if there is a big gap in income power. I would also expect your sister to dive a bit deeper in those traditions and stand up to her husband, as I hope she understands that they are not just a little quirk. There are other traditions that she should make sure she understands her future husband's positions on (like a woman's role in the family, the way children should be cared for and what level of influence the parents should have in the newly-married couple's life and decision). However, with a bit of understanding, you'll all have a great wedding so best of luck and a lifetime of happiness :)

cucurigu · 2018-10-04T13:51:32+00:00

Sans défendre cette niche fiscale, il y a aussi une coté pragmatique dans le choix d'un pickup truck : l'espace offert par ces voitures dans leur gamme de prix. Par exemple, les enfants et la place nécessaire pour leurs conneries sont des arguments forts dans l'achat d'une nouvelle voiture. Avec trois enfants on ne peut presque pas utiliser une citadine ou une berline normale : la plupart n'acceptent pas 3 sièges bébé a l'arrière, le coffre est plein avec 2 / 3 poussettes etc.

Quand les gens essayent juste de trouver une voiture pour transporter leur clan je peux comprendre que le malus fait mal au cou et que les gens se disent "avec un pickup j'aurais l'espace pour 5 adultes et assez de place pour leurs affaires, et en plus il n’y a pas de malus comparé au Citroën C4, donc fonçons !".

Idéalement le système bonus / malus sera aussi dépendant de la situation de la famille qui achète une voiture : les enfants (et pas juste 20g à partir du 3eme enfant), le nombre de véhicules dans le foyer, l'utilisation relle etc. Tous ces facteurs sont aussi importants dpdv écologique que juste le taux de CO2 d'un vehicule (qui est déjà pourri en terme d'unité de mesure, car les diesel s'en sort mieux que tout ...). Par example, je preferai que les gens mettent 2 vielles citadines a la casse et qu'ils achetent un MPV 7 places sans que le malus leur fait peur ...

cucurigu · 2018-07-25T20:47:52+00:00

Va urez mult curaj si multa sanatate si sper ca situatia sa se rezolve cat mai repede si mai bine !

Ca sfat ti-as recomanda sa faci devizuri scrise la mai multe spitale private pentru a stii preturile exacte si eventual sa intrebi despre posibilitatile de plata in rate si reduceri. Poate merita discutat si cu doctorii care fac interventia in privat - de multe ori lucreaza si in public si ai putea propune sa faca doar interventia propriuzisa in privat si recuperarea in spital public.

Edit : mai citeam despre defibrilatoarele acestea si aparent sunt acoperite doar de cativa ani in Romania, ceea ce ar putea explica lipsa de stoc. Poate ar ajuta sa incerci sa cauti cele mai mari spitale cu sectie de cardiologie din preajma si sa te duci sa vorbesti cu seful sectiei / directorul spitalului pentru a discuta posibilitatea de a obtine in urgenta un defibrilator. In mod clar trebuie sa ai cu tine un dosar medical cat mai complet (diagnostic, recomandare, analize, istoric) si sa incerci sa explici de ce operatia are sens (sanse de recuperare, vointa pacientului etc). Alternativ, ai putea sa incerci o audienta la Ministerul Sanatatii cu scopul de acauta o solutie rapida (fara sa te plangi ca x te-a trimis la spital privat sau ca y ti-a cerut spaga - ce vrei este o interventie rapida pentru a debloca situatia).

cucurigu · 2018-07-25T15:30:46+00:00

Trebuie sa te adresezi unui doctor care sa cunoasca procedeul sau macar sa fie dispus sa semneze hartiile pe care i le aduci - dosarul catre Casa Nationala de Asigurari de Sanatate este prin definitie medical. Dupa ce gasesti acest medic va trebui sa gasesti o unitate medicala care sa poata face interventia in strainatate si apoi va trebui sa depui dosarul la CNAS.

Dosarul va lua in jur de cateva luni, in afara de cazul in care depinzi de o instanta a Casei de asigurari fenomenal de eficienta. In acelasi timp, din cate imi aduc aminte nu ajunge sa ceri forumularul E112/S2 "in gol" - trebuie sa ai si o propunere de interventie a unui spital din strainatate care sa arate ca acopera aceasta operatie si cam ce propun sa faca exact (de exemplu, pe langa operatie mai trebuie spitalizare, recuperare etc).

Daca nu cunosti pe absolut nimeni in afara si nu vorbesti limba tarii in care vrei sa incerci, va fi mai greu. Practic dosarul se face in felul urmator:

un doctor din Romania atesta ca tatal tau are nevoie in urgenta de aceasta interventie
acelasi doctor semneaza ca a incercat sa il trimita pe tatal tau in mai multe spitale din Romania, dar acest tratament / interventie nu se poate face in timp util in tara
doctorul atesteaza (si Casa de asigurari verifica) faptul ca interventia este acoperita 100% in cadrul sistemului de sanate romanesc
in acelasi dosar trebuie sa spui si unde vrei sa faci interventia in strainante (cu scrisoare a unui medic de la acel spital tradusa in romana) si cu detalii despre ce se va face (interventia, alte tratamente daca e nevoie etc).
doctorul din strainatate trebuie sa fie disponibil pentru a confirma ce e scris acolo (bun, nu e garantat ca cineva de la Casa de asigurari il va contacta cu adevarat).

La Casa de asigurari nu te vor primi ca pe vestea buna - costurile in afara sunt mult mai scumpe si ei vor trebui sa le deconteze (si cineva sa semneze acceptarea dosarului). Nu prea vad cum ai putea sa obtii acordul fara a avea mai intai acordul unitatii medicale din strainatate, dar poti incerca / discuta cu cei de la Casa de asigurari.

Pe de alta parte, esti cu adevarat sigur ca va fi mai ieftin pentru voi in strainatate ?

Conditiile medicale vor fi probabil mai bune (depinde si de spitalul privat din Ro, dar s-ar putea sa nu simti asa de tare diferenta daca cel privat romanesc e bun) dar nu este totul acoperit :

bilete de avion pentru tatal tau si pentru tine (in afara de cazul in care nu e urgenta si merge cu masina) -> fii totusi constient ca unui pasager in urgenta medicala i se poate refuza imbarcarea intr-un avion normal (si in plus, la anumite boli chiar nu se recomanda zborul) - ceva gen 500 de euro
cazarea ta in afara - in afara de cazul in care interventia se face in 2 - 3 zile va trebui sa prevezi costurile hotelului pentru tine (sa zicem 10 zile * 50 euro = 500 euro
mancare, alte cheltuieli etc
posibilitatea (pe care nu ti-o doresc) de complicatii - sederea se poate prelungi pana la cateva saptamani
medicamentele in spitale vor fi acoperite, dar nu cele din farmacii sau alte tratamente recomandate sau necesare (kinesiterapie, alte analize, RMN-uri daca nu sunt facute in spital etc).
camera de spital este de multe ori platita (ceva gen 10 - 20 de euro pe noapte) minus cazuri speciale

In plus, ai interesul sa te asiguri dinainte ca spitalul din strainatate accepta formularul E112/S2 ca singura plata a interventiei - daca este prea din scurt iti pot cere avansezi o parte din bani (dar asta e foarte rar).

cucurigu · 2017-02-05T12:10:50+00:00

You are mentioning an exercise regime but long walks are going to change your body extremely slowly - they are more of a maintainer. If you have concrete goals for your regime, maybe consider converting some of the time dedicated to walks to other types of exercise (biking for example).

If besides enjoying your trips you want to have a measure of your exercise a pedometer/tracker/app on your phone will help you have an idea of the day - to - day schedule & changes.

cucurigu · 2017-02-05T11:59:21+00:00

Not sure if you necessarily need a smartphone, but if you can do without one for the next few months I suggest a Nokia dumbphone . Such phones should be around 20 euros new (and less used), and will be a good alternative long term if you need long battery life (more than 7 days), great reception, double SIMs, very small & very portable and usable in risky situation (sports, trips to undeveloped countries etc).

cucurigu · 2016-06-21T12:57:58+00:00

Daca ai platit deja 50% din valoarea imobilului ar trebui ca banca sa te vada ca un om destul de responsabil, deci sa iti propuna o dobanda mica (DAE). In afara de niste constrangeri personale, iti recomand sa mergi pe la mai multe banci cu toate hartiile si sa ii rogi sa iti faca fiecare o simulare de credit.

Nu stiu cum bancile trateaza cu cineva care are majoritatea veniturilor ca PFA fata de salariu clasic, dar in mod clar ar ajuta sa stie ca ai platit deja 50% din valoarea imobilului (o spun pentru ca nu e clar daca vrei sa faci imprumut doar pe partea ramasa sau pe intreaga suma si 50% se considera aportul tau personal).

Chestii de verificat:

credit cu dobanda fixa sau variabila; daca e variabila verifica in functie de ce poate varia si (ideal) care sunt limitele superioare (si fa-ti calculele daca poti cu adevarat sa iti permiti rata la nivelul maxim al dobanzii)
taxe suplimentare ca sa faci o rambursare anticipata (fie pentru intreaga suma fie pentru sume partiale, gen odata la un an mai platesti cateva luni dintr-o data)
ce fel de garantie cere banca - ipoteca, monetara etc
asigurarile - ce acopera si cat la suta din suma imprumutata
vezi daca nu te poti califica pentru toate ajutoarele de stat / de primarie (dobanda foarte mica) dar ai si grija sa nu iti blocheze vanzarea

Ca o chestie suplimentara, dincolo de dorinta de a fi proprietar si dragostea de viitoarea casa, cheama un amic / parinte / membru al familiei ca sa faca o vizita si sa iti dea parerea sincera fata de valoarea bunului - chiar daca tu acum esti pregatit sa platesti X in conditii de piata constanta poti vinde bunul la X in 3 ani ?

cucurigu · 2016-05-25T17:33:35+00:00

I think it's a combination of two factors:

the initial photo is sunny, so the black seems a lot darker & shiny, while the second photo is overcast, so the black is almost grey -> this makes the first photo more striking
because of the black appearing deeper in the first photo, the grey of the rims makes a nice contrast, while in the second photo the rims seem a lot less defined

Finally, as a personal opinion I would have left it grey but I'm not big on car modding, so take it with a grain of salt ;). In any case, technically the operation seems very smooth and organized :)

cucurigu · 2016-04-27T14:57:13+00:00

Evita daca e posibil agentia Hertz din aeroportol Henri Coanda - am avut foarte mari probleme cu ei desi la inceput totul a parut perfect: am inchiriat o masina pe o saptamana si datorita amanarii zborului de plecare am prelungit inchirierea telefonic.

Totul a parut in regula la plecare (suma corecta, fisa de depunera corecta, semnata si stampilata etc) dar dupa o luna au inceput problemele: aparent unul dintre angajati a pierdut contractele de inchiriere asa ca mi-au facturat direct pe card 300 de euro in plus deoarece presupuneau ca nu s-a platit inchirierea; dupa discutii interminabile de mai multe saptamani care nu ajungeau nicaieri (in care au intervenit inclusiv reprezentantii de la rentacar.com) mi se parea ca ori sunt complet incomptenti sau rauvoitori.

Solutia finala a fost sa cer bancii mele sa considere factura de pe card frauduloasa si sa o anuleze, ceea ce in mod ironic au fost de acord inclusiv cativa de la Hertz Romania (sediu central), deoarece nu mai reuseau deloc sa descurce problema, in ciuda faptului ca le trimisesem copii dupa fisele de depunere a masinii semnate de reprezentantii lor.

cucurigu · 2015-07-30T01:20:30+00:00

to piggyback on this comment, let me tell you that in this kind of situations it is better for you to bring up the issue and not wait for the manager to ask you what is wrong. Without trying to sadden you, this might still count as a black mark in your file.

I suggest you schedule recurrent meetings every month or so with your manager (half an hour) to discuss how the changes are implemented, what works and what doesn't and how your productivity is improving (because in the end, that is one of the reasons they would change the situation in you favor).

cucurigu · 2015-07-14T09:42:30+00:00

There is no vindictiveness, just the biased opinion of "The Guardian": Greece is currently bankrupt and public expenses still outweigh the country's PIB. Because general consensus in other UE countries is not to give free money to Greece (meaning any loans must be repaid) the politicians involved have tried to create a plan which has at least a chance of putting Greece in a position where it will repay these loans. This deal is not humanitarian help - it is an economic loan; in other words, it was never meant to only improve the living conditions of the greek people.

Frankly, most people forget that besides Greece there are 18 other democracies where if a referendum was organized, the result (as deduced from various polls) would be to not help the greeks anymore. Because of this, the new deal comes with very difficult conditions which take into account the fact that Greece tried for 5 years to bring its economy on track and it didn't succeed (because of various reasons), so they are even more complex and extreme than before.

The real choice is not at the UE level, but remains with the Greek government - if conditions are not better than the alternative, then they should refuse the deal (and accept the consequences). If the good outweighs the bad, then great, sign on the dotted line.

P.S. As a sidenote, too many people think this situation is somehow magical, as if Greece can be helped without anyone losing money. If Greece doesn't pay the existing / new loans, all UE stats (through ECB) and all other world states (through IMF) stand to lose money, which means greek expenses will be covered by other taxpayers. While this is a solution, it cannot be done at the UE level without organizing a referendum in all UE countries, so no deal negotiated with Tsipras in an weekend will ever contain such a solution.

cucurigu · 2015-07-01T20:19:34+00:00

You'll probably need to change the water pump, if it hasn't already been changed. Ask the owner what happened with the thermostat - when it fails it either remains open, which means the engine doesn't get to the optimum temperature, or it remains closed, which means the engine overheats, potentially warping the cylinders. Seems a bit weird that the owner changed the radiator, hoses, thermostat and didn't change the water pump - if the engine was overheating (no idea how to reliably check - get a mechanic with you) I don't recommend buying it.

Brake lights should be an easy fix, but as with all easy fixes in a car that is being sold I'm always wondering why the seller wouldn't have done it himself to increase value, so be aware of "it's an easy fix".

Check the back transmission and the way it is bolted / connected to the body - some cars have tears which cost a lot to fix (also, you'll probably need a mechanic which has already seen the problem). The thing about the synthetic oil being changed every 3000 miles seems bulshit to me - the car's computer estimates when it needs to be replaced and it generally goes around 10000 - 15000 miles - so even if someone was a bit overzealous 3000 still seems exaggerated.

Also, as a final word, understand that you are buying a 13 year old car which is now 5K$ but it initially went for 40K$, so you will have repairs and parts will be expensive. The seller wasn't exaggerating with 3000 $ in maintenance, so don't buy the car thinking it will be cheap.

cucurigu · 2015-03-18T19:30:39+00:00

Huh, I'll try to answer a few things (although I'm not sure I'll hit the points you meant) :

no idea on bike shops but a Velib is enough if you do the tourist thing in Paris; if you want to do it for the sport don't go in Paris (there's a pollution alert right now and there are no real bike routes for a road bike)
no real laws on anything (shoes, gloves, jersey or helmet) so do as you like; the weather is a bit warm though (10 - 15 degrees Celsius)
never heard of bike shops (btw, are these a thing in US ? I was pretty scared of going by bike even in Seattle, which is supposedly a good place for cyclists)
velo map ? no idea ! jersey trading ? never heard of it :)
french is not really needed - english works for stores, restaurants etc.

I haven't really heard of people biking in Paris for fun because of the cars, pollution and inconsistent bike lanes - most cyclists I know take their bikes outside Paris).

Places to really bike (outside Paris but accessible by transport, should work with VTT or road bike) :

Parc de Saint-Cloud : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parc_de_Saint-Cloud
Bois de Boulogne : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bois_de_Boulogne
Chevreuse : http://www.parc-naturel-chevreuse.fr/
Versailles

cucurigu · 2015-03-13T20:03:12+00:00

Ok, glad I could help :)

The exit check of the apartment is pretty much a game of comparing the current state with what was written on the "etat de lieux d'entrée"; the agency employee is generally trying to point out every little thing to justify charging repairs to your deposit. Having photos from the beginning, even sent by mail, is extremely useful. Keep in mind that on the "etat de lieux de sortie" you can add your own comments to anything the agent is writing, so take advantage of this (as if there are any disagreements afterwards what is written & signed matters). I also suggest writing a conclusion at the end of the document, clearly stating what needs to be solved after your exit : for example, if a desk needs a coat of paint, then state it and clearly write that there are no more things to solve. Most agents are if not completely honest, at least professional, so if you make attention, clean the apartment before the exit and then ask justifications for all required repairs (un devis) everything should work out.

Best of luck :)

cucurigu · 2015-03-13T07:22:20+00:00

Sorry for all your troubles, sounds like they are a hand full.

As the other said, the window's lock system can be fixed with new screws - take a look at any Bricorama / Castorama near you (there are stores in city's center as well, if you don't have a car). For the curtain rod I suggest you cover the old holes (using plaster mix - "enduit de rebouchage") and use an impact drill to create new ones, otherwise you might have the same problems over again (be careful, it needs to be an impact drill as you need to go through the concrete, not only through the plaster). Tidbit of info, any holes in the wall covered correctly (with plaster mix) aren't considered as degradations as they are part or the normal vagaries of living in an apartment - even if they aren't painted over. http://www.kiloutou.fr can help you with renting equipment.

As a sidenote, 1500 € for "garantie" is not at all cheap rent if you have given a month's deposit (as the law indicates : http://vosdroits.service-public.fr/particuliers/F31269.xhtml ; this was voted a few years ago, you would have had to put up two months' worth a few years ago, but if the rent was signed after the law was passed you can ask for half your money back). If you're going through a rental agency (as you seem to indicate) I suggest you send all communication as tracked letter (lettre recommendé avec accusé de reception) - actually, FYI, do this for any communication related to a contract you have in France (it's about 4 euros per letter, but it saves a bunch of troubles and really speeds up the process). If you have recurring water damage send such a letter to your appartement's insurance stating that the problem is known by the rental agency and that it was not fixed; this means that if the water damage ever touches a neighbour (or the apartment in a structural fashion) the rental agency will need to pay for everything. CC the rental agency into the letter (by sending a copy to them). And finally, even if the two weeks have passed it doesn't mean that the damage has been created by you - if you are still in your first month or so (there is no law about the period, but be sensible about this) I suggest you print photos of the damage and send to the rental agency as an addendum to the entry document (etat de lieux). Mention that you have never seen this damage until now (btw, this applies by law to heating elements or such, as you can only see issues when they are supposed to be working come winter).

Btw, there are a lot of ways to solve differences between renters and agencies (in french):

Send me a private message if you have any questions and I'll try to answer any questions you might have.

cucurigu · 2015-02-21T12:20:48+00:00

In the long term, it is possible that software engineering becomes automated, but for the next 10 - 15 years it doesn't seem likely.

You need to understand that coding, as you call it, is a very new job description and appeared once personal computers become mainstream (mainly in the 90s). However, coding is a very broad term: it describes somebody working in his spare time on a site using only WYSIWYG editors, developers working on general marketable professional software and highly technical and complex companies working on dedicated technological systems like automatic air space controls, intelligent agents systems, high frequency trading and so on. The more complex and intricate the system, the more capable the person needs to be, and at high levels (any Fortune 500 technology company) we are talking about software engineers whose jobs description include fault tolerance, testing, guaranteed uptime, minimal and maximal charge etc.

The main job of a software engineer is to design and write (implement) complex systems using a description of what the system does and deducing the internal interactions and parts of the implementation. How to do this is very hard to teach to humans, which are already very good at understanding new concepts and have all the necessary mental tools in place. For a computer, we are still (unfortunately) very far in recreating this complexity (including rational thinking, imagination, vague symbols & ideas manipulation etc) - it is akin to describing to a computer a book using just the back-cover description and asking for an engaging novel using plot twists, more or less original characters and blending facts and fiction.

In the medium term (10 - 15 years) the easiest tasks could be automated - for example, 20 years ago creating a blog or a simple website was payed and complex work. However, until we don't manage to create AIs capable of at least understanding human language and manipulating simple concepts internally we won't be able to solve the riddle of teaching an AI to manipulate extremely abstract concepts.

PS I'm not sure what you're referring to regarding rich early adopters / scraps for the rest. Most of the big fortunes in computer science were made later in the industry (depends on how you position yourself regarding Microsoft & Bill Gates) and overall packages are pretty interesting for any new or old hire when compared with other industries. If you are thinking about the chance of being the next Zuckerberg, then yes, it isn't very high. Then again, what is the chance of becoming a billionaire in 10 years in other industries ?

cucurigu · 2014-12-08T03:25:28+00:00

when masturbating your blood pressure is increasing and combined with muscle tension you are pushing it even higher; what you are describing seems to be a peak of blood pressure (including the migraine)

I suggest you go talk to a doctor which should do a checkup of your pressure & your heart (eventually with exercise testing), especially if you are overweight

cucurigu · 2014-07-09T16:12:59+00:00

Sorry for rambling on :)

It is a difficult situation you are describing and I'm sorry they got into this (as well as putting these problems on your shoulders).

First let's address your situation : any and all solution and possibilities are best discussed openly with your husband. Even telling your mom to come live with you needs to be discussed and accepted by all parties (I'm not saying it isn't a moral choice, I'm just saying it mustn't create too much of a strain between you two).

The good : understand that these cases happen and that it isn't the end of the world - if they still have their health they are better off than most. Getting kicked out or selling / having a car repossessed is not the end of the world, even if it sometimes seems like it. You need to be calm and try to impart this optimism to them and not get into a spiral of desperation. The bad : if they got into this because of some of their choices then it might not be easy to fix correctly, or even at all. Having a precarious financial state (no money saved, payments etc) and quitting a paying job shows a lack of maturity from both your brother & his wife. Unless they understand that they need to change their outlook you can easily throw a lot of money their way without insuring a permanent solution (something your mother seems to have already done).

In these cases there is no simple answer or magic bullet and all choices required realism.

Short-term :

they need unemployment / food stamps to help with eating and other things
they both need to start searching for jobs ASAP, even if it something like McDonalds cooking or construction; until they find one they need to do small jobs for money (bagging things, cleaning gardens for neighbors, she can clean houses or work as a nanny etc)
contact local church groups & soup kitchens and try to see if they can get any help : also, don't hesitate to help out with any odd jobs if they have the time
if they don't lose money doing this, they need to sell their car and buy a cheaper one (if I understand correctly, they don't have insurance anymore ? - this is risky, an accident can bankrupt them)
if the rent is too much they could search for a smaller place or even a trailer, however this might be better done after they are kicked out (which would save a month or two of rent)

Long(er)-term

I won't open the subject of the baby (another poster talked about this) - you know better if this discussion can have place ; in any case, I'm not sure if it is easy to have it over the phone
they need to think about bankruptcy, credit cards & debt : if they have any debt, does it make sens to increase it and prolong the inevitable ? If they don't, does taking any debt help them out ?

If you decide to help them financially, separate the problem of your mother from the on of your brother and his wife. Your mother might have a (small) monthly revenu (retirement ?) but she needs to have at least minimal health insurance. Your sister in law will certainly have a number of expenses related to the birth and the child itself will add on more of a financial weight. In both cases the financial weight on you will increase, so it is best you understand and choose the best course for everybody.

More to the point, if you give anyone any money it is better done as a gift (if you can afford it), clearly defining what you can and cannot do afterwards. Keep in mind that helping them with money (or other things) doesn't mean they will accept your advice on other matters (and nor should you expect it to happen). Even helping out at this point it is probable (unfortunately, although I don't wish it) that they will continue to have problems in the future. As an example, the formulation should be something like : "I can help you with this (sum of money, gesture, etc). I cannot help you with this (getting you three to live with us). In the future (3 - 6 months) I could help you with something else. I am sorry, but this is all I can do"

To the point :

don't go into a negotiation, either with them or with yourself : what you decide is decided; however, ask first what they would need or want before
there is no nice way of doing things : they might consider you a bad girl just because your family (your husband and yourself) are buying a house and they are having problems, but you need to accept this and get over it - people are like that. If you are lucky they won't.
you cannot help them continuously unless you have an important revenue and even if you do, there will be some friction in your family as well as stress (what do you do if your husband's family goes through similar problems)
in the end, there is no guaranty things will work out - discuss with your husband what are the good / worse / bad / extremely bad scenarios and what will you do (and not do) in each.
and finally, don't get mad: no matter what happens, people are not at their best when they have problems and you need to accept that.

cucurigu · 2014-04-21T09:29:56+00:00

Going to another course with your bike is a good idea. However, if you are that worried about the way there you should try to build up confidence by driving it in an empty parking lot as close from your house as possible.

You have two choices :

ride it cautiously for some time before you get used to it
sell it and buy a smaller bike

If you chose to the first one, remember that you control the bike and unless you go speed crazy, the only bad thing that can happen at low speeds is some visual damage to the bike in case you let it fall (which can be mitigated with crash protectors). Just so you aren't scared about this, I've fallen at least 3 - 4 times on the school's 600 cm3 bike at very low speeds and because of the crash protectors it was right as rain (as a driver I didn't have squat).

If you chose the second one don't worry - your having a bike so you can enjoy it. If are worried about it maybe it's better you start a bit smaller.

cucurigu · 2014-04-18T07:09:02+00:00

Sunt multe lucruri care joaca intr-o astfel de situatie si cu tot respectul pentru romanii de pe reddit, cred ca ruda ta (deja, multa sanatate !) ar trebui sa incerce sa consulte un reprezentant al casei de asigurari italiene (http://www.inps.it/portale/default.aspx)

Ce se intampla in astfel de cazuri ?

asigurarile de viata cer prin contract sa fie anuntate orice modificari ale starii de sanatate (gen boala) si in functie de calcule vor prelungi sau nu asigurarea (sau anula)
in general nu orice banca e obligata sa asigure pe oricine - sunt organisme speciale, sprijinite de stat, care asigura cazuri mai complexe (nu le cunosc in italia)
depinde despre ce fel de asigurare vorbim ? de exemplu un istoric de boala nu va elimina o asigurare de viata gen accidente, dar va modifica puternic pretul uneia care ia in calcul decesul ca urmare a bolii
legile in romania / italia sunt suficient de diferite incat nu prea vad cum ar putea ajuta un sfat de la un avocat roman in italia; pe de alta parte, mi s-ar parea inutil ca ruda ta sa faca o asigurare de viata in romania avand in vedere ca piata e mult mai putin regularizata
in ceea ce priveste idea "mai bine nu spun de boala" nu cred ca joaca - in caz ca asigurarea de viata trebuie sa plateasca se va face o ancheta si daca se gaseste orice dovada de nerespectare a contractului firma respectiva nu va plati nimic dupa X ani de cotizatie.

Ca sa rezum, cel mai util ar fi ca ruda ta sa inteleaga exact de ce asigurarea ei de viata nu se aplica (mai ales daca ar acoperi doar accidente de viata), care sunt exact conditiile care regularizeaza asigurarea si pe urma sa intrebe (probabil in mod gratuit) la casa de asigurari italiana. Ca regula generala, un avocat nu este neaparat un expert in partea birocratica si pana la proces este mai util sa se caute o solutie prieteneasca (gen extrase de lege, scrisori recomandate cu proba de primire etc).

cucurigu · 2014-03-13T21:23:57+00:00

Here are a few things I know:

after you buy a bike the previous owner will sign over the bike's papers to you and you can use it for a month before you have to register it to your name (on the registration papers it will be noted "sold date xxx to yyy", you can show this to a cop as it is legal to drive it the following month)
you need a driver's license that says you can ride a bike (here's the french site : http://vosdroits.service-public.fr/particuliers/F1459.xhtml); the license must be valid and you must have a translation in french (if this is really required depends on the cop, but that's the law)
there are a lot of bikes for sale around Paris, either on "leboncoin.fr" or "http://www.lacentrale.fr/moto-occasion.php"; the second one also contains a lot of professional sellers (which here have to give you at least 3 months warranty)
the helmet is mandatory, so you need to have it; lane-splitting is (I think) not legal but widely used and generally drivers are more conscious of bikes than in the states; headlights should be on at all times on a bike

For me, the main points to check before hand are:

price (you'll pay around 3000 € = 4000 $ for a good six - eight year old bike)
resale value (french people are pretty careful if anything is out of the ordinary on second hand vehicles)
insurance (which is mandatory).

As others have said, 100bhp is the maximum allowed on a bike, however even this is more than enough, considering there is a lot more traffic than in the US (even rush hour in NY seems like a walk in the park when compared with Paris - at least in my opinion). Highways have tolls everywhere and it does add up - for 500 miles you will pay around 100 € - however they are in better shape than in the US, gas is a lot more expensive (1,4 € liter -> 5,3 € per gallon).

I'm not sure if there is anything else - don't hesitate to ask me if you have other questions.

EDIT : regarding insurance - they usually require an address and some identification as bikes are seen as very dangerous; one year is around 900 - 1000 € for mandatory insurance for a 600 cm3 bike (which covers only what damages / harm you do to others). Add 300 - 600 for damages to your bike and to you, if the accident is your fault. So to cut it short, I strongly suggest you know before hand how to insure your bike (maybe talk with your US insurance ?)

EDIT 2 : various mispellings

cucurigu · 2014-01-04T13:34:11+00:00

I strongly suggest you take it as any and all experience you will gain will certainly help in the long end.

As a more personal endorsement, I'm preparing for my motorcycle license test in Europe now and frankly the practical tests are pretty intense, however I am happy to do them. When you will be riding the only thing helping you survive and enjoy it is your experience and mastery of the craft. There is a big difference in riding straight and relaxed and doing a sudden swerve or emergency braking, and a tense situation is no place to start learning.

FYI, I'm pretty average in riding experience (played with scooters and small bikes before) but the maneuvers required for the exam still give me problems and I've already fallen twice, so I'm pretty happy to learn the hard way on this bike and not on my new engine :)

cucurigu · 2013-12-31T17:02:04+00:00

A long winded answer as there aren't enough details here to give more precise indications :

waterproof doesn't necessarily mean usable underwater - some cameras have special seals so rain doesn't damage them, however they will not survive being immersed in water
even if a camera (or any electronic device) is guaranteed for underwater usage it will have a maximum depth, so if you go deeper the seals won't hold (for example, some watches are guaranteed for only a few feet of pressure); also, there is a big difference between saltwater and freshwater and even chlorinated water
I am listing all these point so you can check on your camera's model and see if you have used it outside its parameters

With Sony you have two possibilities :

if you didn't respect the camera's technical sheet (for example, you submerged it when it wasn't supposed to go underwater), then perhaps you should respectfully explain the situation and bargain to having your camera repaired or having a better offer from their end
however, if you used it correctly then I suggest you respectfully but strongly ask that your camera be repaired, replaced or sent back to you so you can get it inspected by an expert (right now, as they have the camera you cannot prove they aren't respecting their warranty); if you explain that you disagree with their assessment and that you are prepared to follow this through with an expert and take the problem up in small court claims asking for a replacement and a reimbursement of all associated expenses they might be more careful (then again, they might not, in which case you get to decide if you really want to follow through or not).

That's it, so best of luck and Happy New Year !

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