Readers often think that life as an F1 journalist is all about fast cars, fast women, vast expense accounts and Business Class travel. If only it were like that.. the reality is that one travels down the back, stays in overpriced hotels, which are rarely very good, and have to deal with far too many mindless bureaucrats. My friends will attest that I am by nature an eerily calm person, who refuses to get flustered by anything, but when it comes to visas, even I cannot remain calm.
After a morning wasted travelling to and then waiting at the Russian visa service in Paris, with a raft of paperwork to lodge an application form, I’m now biting my lip to stop myself saying what I really want to say… when I get home I may smash a few plates, and feel better.
Formula 1 should not go to countries where access for the media is this Byzantine. Formula 1 is an entertainment and a means of promotion for the country involved. They pay a King’s Ransom to secure the rights. We go there and generally write pleasant things about the place. If we were spies we wouldn’t try to go as journalists, that would be too hackneyed. We’d go as mechanics as they are all waved through without any grief. The Russians want the media to promote their event but they don’t seem to want the media. I’m afraid I just don’t get it… and I doubt that anyone involved on the Russian side could explain it…
Three hours later, I’ve been home, I’ve signed the necessary forms in black ink rather than blue ink (I wish I was kidding), I’ve got attestations that I’ve never heard of before, rather than conventional proofs of residence, and I’ve printed out three previous Russian visas to show the pen-pushers that it used to be possible to do this in their very office.
So now I will waste my afternoon…
Once more unto the breach.
joeblogsf1 
Just imagine how bad the process would be if they didn’t want you to be there!
Deep breaths Joe, think of the well-earned glass of sanity waiting at the end of the day.
maybe you should just ask for a tourist’s visa. Last summer I travelled throughout Russia by motorcycle. I applied for my Russiam visa here in Luxembourg where I live and in less than one hour I got out of the consulate with my visa in my hands. But I am not a journo….
No journalist would ever ask for a tourist visa. It’s stupid.
You’d probably get sent to the gulag for entering the country illegally if you tried to do it that way…
you’d think that the FIA or F1 would arrange for holders of a full time media pass to get automatic visas for each race country
You’d think
Joe…..you should simply be overjoyed to be allowed into the wonderful
Soviet Un……oooooops sorry ! ….I mean Putins Paradise, don’t I ?
A land where people can do and say anything they want, where anyone
can descibe the ruling regime as totally corrupt and live to tell the tale.
A land ruled by individuals with about as much respect for proper dissent
as a man pouring boiling water on an ants nest has for the millions of lives destroyed. Somebody recently wrote that ‘the Russian mind is incapable of recognising or understanding the ( to them ) weird concept of live and let live.’
Well, I have Russian friends, ( thankfully not living in Putinland ) who value all our western freedoms very highly. And they say, as I say, that F1 should never have allowed it’s puppetmaster ( Bernard Charles Ecclestone ) to fawn and grovel in front of that corrupt and evil dictator.
The sooner we wash our hands of any association with such evil, the better
for us all.
A few years ago I had the same a priori against Russia. Of course people there do not benefit from the same level of freedom as we are allowed in western Europe. But people will talk to you freely and without any fear . As for the capacity of understanding the concept of live and let live, unfortunately you will have to admit that is not a exclusive problem of the Russian people or politicians….
I seem to recall reading something worryingly similar last year.
Don’t/can’t they learn, or do they simply enjoy the power surge? Do you think Liberty will take on board the frustrations your part of the circus has in going to certain countries and either remove them from the calendar or try to inject some common sense into the process?
Will it be easier when France is out of the EU do you think?
Russia only wants the kind of media the will play to its’ government liking through the anti-western way of thinking. There have been rumours at all three Russian GPs that there would be a British broadcast blackout of the event. Touch wood it has not happened yet.
Why do you bother going to Russia? You won’t miss anything. The race is crap , and nothing off track that is interesting happens there anyway… you only help the event by persisting with it.
Black ink rather than blue? You’ve not applied for a British passport lately then…
Actually I have and I had a new one in less than 24 hours. Next question.
I was pleasantly stunned at how good the application process was for renewing a british passport. Very easy to complain about how terrible government is, but in that particular case they deserve huge praise.
I agree
Yes, but you need to complete it in black ink, not blue. The New Zealanders seem able to accommodate blue.
I actually have an old passport with an open ended US Visa stamped in it. It was for a company sales conference trip it has no expiry date. I am pretty sure that all we supplied was our names. Still that was back in the 60s. The queues at immigration at Miami were huge and the staff unfathomable, al us in our business suits were searched but the hippies, of whom there were many were waved straight in.
I think the stamps were “does not expire” until the 90s – I asked my friend who had a open ended multiple entry business visa if I ought to try to catch the boat / grandfather it in case of change, but of course, a visa does not mean grant of entry. At the time a number of publishers seemed to advertise healthily, e.g. in the classifieds in The Economist, or Private Eye, selling books on being a “perpetual traveller” and never paying tax – except the could hundred quid for the book,of course. A friend of a friend who was in a big family business, said he bought one of those books, just to get his lawyer to check it – reliable report the contents were bunk. “Keep running and don’t get caught” is universal great advice… I ought to write a book extolling the amazing off shore haven that is England and Wales.. when i set up the limited partnership, nice lady in Cardiff was a fount: “we never have a real person, you know, filing these… only banks and lawyers.. for everything.. might like to know, you can have a limited as general partner, no need to risk anything to get partnership status (so no corporate level taxation) … and address can be anywhere in the world, we respect that, it’s a person not a creation of local law… no need for returns or reports either, but allow the computer services say you haven’t filed if you have not filed, but you don’t have to…” a student at the notable B School round my corner i got chatting to, could not believe. He incorporated himself, to simplify hassling banks with French paperwork…
Hmm… is a corporation formed whilst the UK is a EU member, “born” European? I mean, will some company argue jus sole grandfathering? These entities are legal persons, after all..
Joe, has there been a Brexit issue for the newsletter? Love to hear the paddock thoughts…
Would it be fair to say that the only reason that you attend this ridiculous charade of a grand prix is to continue your streak of consecutive races visited?
No
I loathe the original question, but I would give up if I imagined the answer was anything else. I shall not type out what I read the question as – effectively –
meaning. Ugh! But I don’t think it was ill meant, as a question. I just think anyone who reads a little, like me, doesn’t think twice, confident we’d be told if something like that was awry.
Stu, do you have a job where you can just opt out because it’s difficult or unpleasant? I suspect, sadly, that you genuinely don’t appreciate the profession that Joe is in or indeed his professionalism in that job, if you think that it is an option to just not bother covering a GP.
They wouldnt save your grandmother from the ravinous bug blatter beast of troll……etc etc etc
They are just visa officials – it is not as though they are demolishing the Earth to make way for a hyper-space bypass or something important. Oh and while waiting don’t ask to hear their poetry!
Just as a side issue about Russia, coincidentally about Sochi when the Winter Olympics were held there.
During the closing ceremony, there was a choir of children singing and Putin was centre stage, basking in it. Out of interest, I turned the subtitles on, to find out what they were singing about. I got the shock of my life and wish I hadn’t.
Because the lyrics included such phrases as “our glorious leader”, “glory to him”, “our magnificent motherland” etc etc etc. It was chilling. The words wouldn’t have been out of place at a 1930’s Nazi rally.
THAT’S what Putin wants you to do. Fawn over him. And otherwise keep quiet.
It seems that both of the old Cold War superpowers now have leaders with classic Fascist tendencies…
I have to say, Maggie Thatcher. Worshipped, and reviled. Which is why I don’t get views on Trump, either way. He made riches bamboozling small time politicos for tax breaks, and was up against small time politicos, plus the one rejected last time around.. But that really is his level. No need to invoke laws of internet discussion… well. actual need, but millenials are post post AOL…
I was a child when Thatcher spat out that striking miners were “traitors”, but i knew that was beyond the pale, sensed she believed it, too – i think 80% were vets…. I take real offence to being called a Thatcher baby, even now, possibly the only wild accusation I ever rose to.
Hey, nobody Godwined here 😉
One problem is that lotsa folks (most?) don’t have much idea what Fascism means… so, they erroneously assume you’re calling somebody [Godwin censor]. *
We aren’t getting the radio-and-newsreel version of it… we’re getting the multi-platform news-cycle entertainment version… and it’s not mainly about territory (modulo Russian hx)… it’s mainly about money… but it’s still basically the same thing…
I expect we’ll be rid of ours before they’re rid of theirs… the main worry is how much harm can he do before the populace gets fed-up insistently enough…
*footnote: Urbandictionary says that Godwin’s Law is suspended in support of Anti-Fascist resisters until further notice. 🙂
Joe,
I met a Russian woman while she was visiting friends about 5 miles from my home. 4 years, 4 Russian Visa’s and 7 Russian Entry stamps later I can COMPLETELY sympathize with your struggles. You get your story and I gained a wife. Life’s hard-won victories are part of the story too. The impossible hours, tens of thousands of air miles and mediocre accommodations you endure for your craft are sincerely appreciated when reading the results. Thanks, CM
Are the ‘new’ FOM aware of these problems? They’d earn a lot of bonus points if they could make visas and travel easier for the media. Do journalists who cover motorcycle and other sports have similar problems?
It would help
Aint life just grand on the Big Blue Ball these days ? And hey Joe .. just wait till its US Grand Prix time . Oh there’s no visa problems seeing as how you’re a Brit with a visa waiver .. but .. our CPB as well as TSA under this ‘ so called ‘ president have gone jackboot mad with authority now going as far as demanding to see all your electronic devices as well as your passwords for all your social media accounts regardless of visa or country of origin … if you happen to be one of the unlucky debarking passengers they indiscriminately chose to target . And god help you should you have dual citizenship . Suffice it to say as well Joe that the majority of Embassies across the civilized world are currently recommending against traveling to the US .. because of all the confusion . So yeah … we’re making America .. something again … what though god only knows
FYI; I have immediate family within DHS so the information above both is accurate and up to date
Apologies if I’ve added to the stress … and do take some time away to come back down to a serene place … we can wait … and for those who cannot … TS Elliot to them I say
We do not travel on visa waivers
Actually Joe UK , most of the EU along with NZ AUS etc citizens do travel to the US ( for 90 days or less ) on the visa waiver program . At least so far . Look it up ( I’d post the link but I know you disapprove )
In as far as the potential CBP / TSA harassment upon arrival do know that US citizens as well as our LPR’s are being subjected to the same treatment so be prepared .
Ahhh .. you meant as a professional journalist you don’t come in on the UK visa waiver program . Gotcha ! Mea culpa . Remembered that afterwards . Well Joe .. in that case … your odds just went up 20-40% for getting caught up in one of our CBP’s overzealous targeting .. cause in the US the press is now considered part of the ‘ Deep State ‘ not to be trusted … err … sigh … apologies ahead of time just in case .. and I didn’t vote for him 😦
Russia certainly doesn’t like the press unless it’s state owned.
Suppose anyone from GB will get extra scrutiny.
(One assumes anything or anyone who mentions the chemical air strikes in Syria today will be given a bureaucratic runaround also so the BBC will have extra scrutiny unless it Sky then Putin loves his mate Murdoch, so they’ll get an easier pathway).
In a few years from now it will be CCCP Mk2
or USOR The United States Of Russia with the Fancy Bears in charge of state news.
Sooner F1 leaves the better.
If it’s that bad for you imagine what its like for the people who live in these tyrannies (which F1 and all those involved legitimise by attending). At least you get to go home afterwards.
Not sure it will ease your frustration Joe, but if you had done a UK passport application in blue ink that would have been rejected also.
Blue ink is not photocopier friendly, especially Xerox
Just for information. Not that Joe needs it now. On official documents in Turkey, blue pen is required and black will be rejected, because black can be photocopied more easily.
Complete bonkers. Do we assume because you are a journalist it freaks them out? If you were just a fan, or tourist, would you be treated any better?
Surely as an accredited FIA journalist, they should be responsible for your visa. The guy in charge of the brain cell today only really needs to know that you wrote favourable things last year.
Your earlier piece showed just how tedious obtaining visas could be. To be rejected, is just mindless stupidity on their part.
Never mind, perhaps Liberty will dump these crony GPs in favour of a few more in Trump’s la la land. There is also the vague possibility that by the time you return from Sotchi, you could find France leaving the Euro and having a referendum for FREXIT. Having chatted with my vigneron at lunchtime, there are some very angry voters in these parts.
Liberty have apparently signed an extension with Russia for 10 more years.
I wish you were in a position to “skip” a weekend or two Joe.
Joe, I would be more than happy for you (and all your colleagues) NOT to go to Sochi and I would still consider my sub to GP+ fantastic value with one less race.
The Russians deserve a Press Room devoid of foreign journos and I hope that in their wisdom, as more sensible venues for GPs appear, Liberty Media pick Sochi as one of the first deletions from their portfolio of races.
Just a question. You know that you have to get through this process every F1 season at a known date. Why don’t you do the paperwork in advance during the off season ? In that way, you could have more time to relax between two F1 events and the travelling…
Because you cannot do it until you get invitation letters
Joe, as Russian I can send you invitation letter anytime )
Not for the Grand Prix
As a Wikipedia volunteer, I asked for a journalist pass for the Punta del Este ePrix (then my only home FIA race). I was rejected because I didn’t meet standards.
Now that ‘media friendly’ Liberty have taken over might it bean idea if all the relevant journalist approach them and explain the difficulties they face in the hope that they will do something about it so that in future you are also “waved through without any grief”.
I would have thought it is at least worth a try – think of all the grey hairs it will save if it works
Sadly not at all surprised at your problems with regard to a visa for Russia, despite you having travelled there several times.
One of my daughters was invited a few years ago by a school chum who also happened to be the daughter of a senior politician, to visit her home during the summer holidays.
They provided us with what they believed was all the necessary documents and affidavits (In Russian) for our visit to the embassy in London, but it took two visits and many hours of waiting in a queue before they reluctantly handed over the visa.
The officials at the embassy were the most officious and odious individuals whose main purpose in life seemed to be to make the applicants experience as miserable and wearying as possible.
That said, once she got there she really enjoyed her trip, seeing all the sights in Moscow and St.Petersburg.
Do you know if the folks at Liberty Media are aware of this? Do they care?
Bon courage Joe! Know that your readers appreciate all the efforts you go through to bring us the latest from the paddock. Thanks for these updates that show us the reality of what you have to go through (all the time).
Just do what Sylt does. Wing it on your holiday visa and hope for the best!!!
Don’t be silly. He doesn’t go to races
Huge sympathy, Joe. I am very well aware of what are you talking about. But please, don’t give up 🙂
Joe, Were you issuing a working Visa or a ‘normal’ tourist\ traveler Visa?
I wasn’t issuing any visa. I was applying for a media visa
They’re Russians, Joe. Anyone and everyone not a Russian is a spy. Even Russians are spies.
Maybe they took The Mole columns a little too literally!
Hi Joe, I sympathise. I worked in this Region (Eastern Europe and Cenrtral Asia) from 1991 until 2008, and included many trips to Russia. If you have not done so I recommend you and all your blog followers read the following book (get it on Amazon). “Red Notice: How I Became Putin’s No. 1 Enemy” by Bill Browder. It’s a true story and a very good insight into whats happening in Russia today. Between 2001 and 2005 I may have travelled numerous times between London and Moscow with him or even been to the same restauarants in Moscow, but we were working in different fields, so never met him personally. I remember reading about the various incidents in the book in the FT and other international papers. An excellent read.
Bill Browder – Hmm!?
Check out “Mafia State” by Luke Harding – ex Russia correspondent for the Guardian, for a journalists experience. Not to be taken to Russia, unless you want to experience certain difficulties.
Black ink on documents because some older scanning(OCR), fax and photocopying equipment won’t pick it up properly. Alternatively it’s easier to match black, if you want to ‘correct’/alter someone’s document.
In the previous thread you asked about their requirement for your place of education. Public Schools and Universities are seen as places where philosophical and political ideas are formed, and who you might have mixed with. So it would give them a starting point to see whether you might be recruited, or might be a western spy, or you have anti Russian feelings. Lets not forget blackmail over youthful indiscretions.
Oh Joe…..
Just listened to the latest ‘side podcast’ ….very very well done you on the reasoned practical arguments you put forward, the world has gone nuts. I guess he was trying to placate Christine.
Well done you, the voice of straight forward sensible reason.
Bet he can’t bear to watch the MotoGP grid…..
Reasoned arguments? Joe simply trotted out the age-old defence of grid girls (and his tacit approval by continual inclusion of pictures in the magazine) by saying that they’re just part of F1, and that they exist because people like them.
Joe, you have a dinosaur’s view. Page 3 existed because it was popular, but popularity doesn’t make things right. Perpetuating the view that men drive and women are only good for cheerleading is deeply reprehensible in my view, and I found myself unable to listen to all of that podcast. That!s how angry you made me.
Sorry Joe, you’re utterly wrong on this issue.
First of all you misrepresent me with this comment. This is not what was said. Secondly, your opinion has no more value than my opinion. So don’t be so bloody rude.
There’s none so blind as those who won’t see ………
You got that right. You’re blind to your blindness.
Pour a drink… light a doobie… something… it’s not worth being all worked up about…
Look, there isn’t’ anything wrong with pretty young women being pretty. There just isn’t. Being pretty is one of the things they’re good at. It’s one of God’s little gifts. And cameras love ’em.
(Yes, I blame cameras. There’s lots of beauty that cameras can’t really capture very well. But pretty and/or beautiful women? Bingo! They were made for each other.)
I think the real problem is not “women are good at cheerleading”… the problem is the word “only” in your “women are only good for cheerleading” phrase. Those are your words. I’m not sure if you’re trying to put them in someone else’s mouth. If you are, I hope it’s not Monisha Kaltenborn’s. I don’t think she’d like that… 😉
I also listened to the podcast and it was horribly uncomfortable. If you and the presenter have such a huge moral objection to grid girls then you should boycott F1 all together not take it out on Joe just for posting one picture of a grid girl among the many others in the magazine. Joe isn’t the thought police of F1.
Even if Joe was a sexist pig, and I don’t believe he is, does that have any bearing on his F1 reporting? It shouldn’t people should be able to separate ones private personal opinions from their professional work. We don’t have to only buy things from people who believe the same things as us. Different opinions used to be allowed.
I have daughters, you are wrong.
I was deeply offended by Mr C’s supposedly politically hyper correct blinkered attitude. I used to enjoy “An Aside with Joe” but was put off by the length of time devoted to an almost hysterical view that women must never ever be seen at a GP and if they are admitted against Mr C’s wishes they must never be photographed. It was clear that he could not understand anyone having any view other than his own. He could not accept that women are present in large numbers in all sorts of capacities, he seemed to imagine that the only women there were grid girls.
Let alone the many glamorous team guests, there are all sorts of shapes and sizes of both men and women, literally thousands of them. If you show photos of an event do you want to give the impression that no one was there or do you show something of everything? Which is what GP+ does very well.
I dare you to leave out all pictures of women Joe, how long before you are castigated for not including women and branded a misogynist?
Ok Joe you can delete my pose as I have repeated it on his facebook page, plus a bit more. He just laughed!
Oh dear… sadly an interesting conversation was lost thanks to an overly liberal interviewer. Very disappointing. Why can’t people like this interviewer accept that men and women are different. F1 appeals to a mainly male audience. What are normal men interested in? Yes girls… Is that so wrong? The girls on the grid are not forced to be there… they benefit too. If the liberals are so easily offended then why follow F1?
Joe – next time please get another interviewer…
Black ink doesn’t fade. China allows blue or black ink, but they left me off the only time I applied for a visa (to see the 2005 GP) when I (unknown to me at the time) signed the application form in brown ink. “It must have faded a bit,” they said.
Is it just me, or do various places insist on blue… which tells them it’s an original signed copy and not a simple xerox of one…
Maybe it was the bank…
Yes, for mortgages, at least here in Washington state.
First world problems
Hi Joe. I’m Russian. It’s not good that you and your colleagues have such difficulties with getting russian visas. It’s absurd and I’m very sorry. I hope you’ll enjoy spending time in the country during the Russian GP!
Thank you
That’s a very nice gesture there, Andrey…
Unfortunately Russian government only cares about internal media, which is why basically all of it is state-owned, the Grand Prix is hosted for promotion within the country much more so than for promotion of the country abroad (F1 can’t really help Russia with that at the moment anyway).
I’m also Russian and I apologize that we couldn’t make the process less ridiculous. I hope you enjoy Sochi regardless, it’s a nice city outside of the rather desolate Olympic park.
I couldn’t help thinking, all day, that such reasonable requests as yours, are the stuff that ministers can blazon one day, and the next, Accenture is 400 billion over budget and 7 years behind schedule on the latest FormulaGovernment computerization programme.
I had only one secret to my success, and that is that the Department for Trade mothballed one of their best, at a wee 50 years of age, who, customer to the pub opposite my flat off Victoria Street, was i think intrigued what kind of customer I am, and having been given a “golden what we pay you is proportionate to ho much we rate the man we’re putting n your toxic waste disposal role” payment, plus index linked (erm…) pension (my man had – rounded up, which they do – 35 years of service, interviewed at Admiralty Arch, to place context, so full pension was earned, was a lifer) felt he could afford to teach this then boy a thing or two. Said Gift From God to my otherwise failed prospects, could relate YM episodes to the original internecine departmental smoke and fire clarifications.
(I may have just wanted to mention Accenture, who apparently Larry Ellison’s Oracle Corp are eyeing up. $68 BLN cash pile, sizes $78 BLN Accenture close yesterday. Williams have a long association. This would finally bring a true Silicon Valley firm to F1. Totally separately, if you care for AMD stock, I think Apple may need some defensive IP. Don’\t ask me though, my last two trades were Baltimore Tech from FTSE 100 entry down to de-listing, and SGI from 17 cents to 4 dollars. The first because Peter Gutman knows about x.509 certificates, 20 years later Google tells us 67% of “secure” connections they get are degraded, same reasons see that man’s paper from ’97, oh and a customer wanted a website cheap for a favour “bit like IBM’s…” and I happened to notice Baltimore Tech’s website hadn’t stripped the comments form when they – badly – copied ibm dot com… SGI a buy same reason as AMD/ATI: DOD second supplier and cross licensing needs filling. NO NEW BRANDS re coming out of this massive venture capital boom. That is something I am corralling all my thoughts about, because the lack of big brans in tech, is the hold back for F1 sponsorship, mega deals like Oracle – Accenture not counting as new money. A different Mr. E. about the paddock would be very not dull, I refer you to the original best seller, “The Difference Between Larry Ellison And God”. I believe God’s Japanese gardens are less authentic, or something. That obsession of his, might matter. The man spends billions to helm America’s Cup yachts. Some think lots of billions get quietly thrown at that by Larry E. He is certainly F1 scale.)
Do love these stories, so much, always brings a smile to my face. Ealing could make a good comedy film out of the hassle one has to go through to visit and promote a country. Get Russia to join the EU and then with free movement of people it should be a breeze. Please keep these stories coming as they have cheered me up no half. So you have to endure the struggle.
One day you and your fellow scribes should make a point and just don’t go, then let’s see what Liberty thinks about that.
Dunno now if in RBR’s blog or Motorsport, mention Lewis expecting to head to head with his engineer in the pits, post race, and surprised the eng.. was back at home base… But can not a virtue be made of such virtualization? Why do jumbotrons show the broadcast feed, not the corners leading to the one in front of where you sit? If we could do it with the wireless networking, i think the tech is there, but if a fan in the stands switched to a feed from a corner, can we not project their reactions on a virtual grand stand, so their favourite driver might be aware of his following?
There existed a brilliant magazine, Studio Sound and Broadcast Engineering, from which pages the hopeful pre-teen me barely peeped, and the first issue I bought detailed a production of a Greek play, where they lugged a Fairlight III up a baking mountain, and used the sampler to first play rhythmic chants of the Chorus, into the audience, from concealed speakers, then from concealed , sample the voices of the crowd and create a synthesis, and bit by bit raise the volume, so they brought the audience into a real – and timed, cued – chant, with hardly anyone realizing…
Tom Sawyer and fences to be painted, but if there is a trick about which we will be generous, because the effect is real and would not work if it misled us, then I say: try.
In the world of my adolescence, I would be reading a in depth article how sound engineers solved the belief that F1 engines lack excitement, in my magazine. Maybe when my mentor said he meant to make me a cynic, i was immune because secretly i already was, by then.
These are the sorts of jobs people dream about being assigned to do. The jobs the very best give freely to attempt, if they can spare the time. But somehow this modern world prevents any of them happening… I don’t want to know why, because I am too busy trying to make different kinds of dream jobs appear in reality – if it is a social or general plague that afflicted us to ruin such professional delights, I’m doomed and don’t want to know yet… But I do know it can happen, and back when “mission statements” mattered as things to have, ours was to sprinkle the pixie dust over objectives, and ward off ill spirits. I’m just sure that in fact, when I was a kid, the world got things done because of jobs of this character, and they were no big exception. Are we kill joys? Too specialist and narrow, now? Have we taken the beauty away by dissecting the flowers? (and forgotten how Feynmann answered that acusation…)
Maybe I’m living in la-la land… but hasn’t the whole computing-and-connectivity thing led to more people, not less, poking around and figuring out how to do cool things?
I recall a similar painful process to get a Russian visa a few years ago, even with the help of a visa agent. I imagine it would be an even more involved process for journalists.
On a side note, I wonder whether Putin will turn up at the driver’s briefing room after the race and podium ceremony like in previous years. The sight of Bernie hanging off Putin like a lap dog was not a good image.
I hope Joe will allow my other comment, Nick – because I do believe these stories, but they seem unreal to me, virtue who I used.I’d be super chuffed if readers could be saved some trouble, too.
It was a fantastic image – for Putin and the Domestic Russian media which is the true audience for the race.
Putin’s role in the ceremonial is probably contractual, if you ever watch Russian TV the lead story on the news *every single night* is “What Did Putin Do Today”. Every single day.
May I take the liberty to suggest there is one not – going – to – fleece – you Visa service who will do (“difficult”) business needs, with complete serenity, as if you asked them to pass the milk, over tea? I think if I just say the founder is Olga Scott, you’ll find them. I would not be surprised if a deal would procure perennial peripatetic peacefulness. I imagine they would revel if it were said they were the reason a practical feature of your blog, had been put to rest!
Joe, the trials and tribulations you suffer on our behalf are much appreciated.
PS Always complete a form in black ball point pen!
I enjoy this blog a great deal but I don’t actually have the time to read GP+ (i.e. provide you with an income in exchange for your efforts).
Could I suggest you start a Patreon account so that we can at least buy you a beer at times like this?
I’d like to second this comment
I could be dead wrong, but I suspect Joe wants subscriptions, not tips…
Down at the pub or bar where you live, how many beers does a subscription cost? I’m not trying to tell you how to spend your money, ‘just thinking out loud, that’s all… let’s say you want to buy him a beer for each of 2 travails per year… at your local’s beer rate, how many years of good conscience does 1 year of subscription buy?
😉
It’s the cost of processing and hassle – Patreon donations often look quite large to me, on a par with a magazine subscription anyhow.
And bear in mind, the demand fro Patreon was definitely because – I cannot say I care for their attitude at all, but just reporting fact – PayPal declined to serve much of the market participants. Andecdata bt consistent every time I read a in depth discussion about Patreon.
Now, if the setup was wanted to b something like, load 5 bucks, deduct so many cents per article, and with some experiments such as lower pricing for older race reports maybe – something to make it possible to seek maximal revenue in a mostly automated fashion, so one could run the experiment and end of day feel satisfied the results are fairly the best one can expect, i.e. safe to drawn conclusions from, well I’m sure that such a thing could be put together quickly. Reading some dot net managed libraries for PDF handling and screen rasterization, nicely written and commented code too, still makes me think there is one heck of a lot of potential for obscure bugs and testing and so much more work than one thinks, but that is hardly a shocker.
I wouldn’t mind a workout of my “l33t skilz”* 🙂
But would Joe even want the result?
*I studiously profess none, formally, ever. Originally because people just thought it meant i was not serious about advertising, being a geek… and now that online ads are all “programmatic” or however adland calls their cluster***k markets, i absolutely do never want to lead with computing as a lead skill in a market where use of the words computer science probably ought to be a alarm for a bogus pitch.
I know to much how something simple like this could bloat and become top loaded with management, consultants.. big budget even… but in this instance that is not a objection indicating preference for lone programmer superstardom or iconoclastic hacker talent, but rather a observation that for this kind of purpose, the business case can be very marginal to make, inviting management over weight. I would’t offer to “give something a go”, but I’m lately evaluating to check my personal pre – operational flight testing is not tending to F35 proportions of fail, and so I would be happy, if it fit, to draw a proper proposal and schedule, to use my hobby time, seriously.
Josh,
my solution to having insufficient quality time for GP+ was simpler:
epic glorious well watered, barricaded against distraction, session in the holiday downtimes.
They taste even better, matured 🙂
Me neither. But I subscribed to GP+ even though I don’t have time to read the magazine. It’s my way of thanking Joe for his free blog.
How’s Christian Sylt?
Who? No F1 journalist by that name
Having attended a few of the Zoom events organised by Christian which have raised significant sums for charities, I’ve been impressed by the number of F1 personalities that have attended (drivers, team principles, former drivers etc etc). I think that he knows more and has a better insight than some of the contributors to this blog appreciate ….
I am sure that is what he says
Just listened to the latest ‘Aside with Joe’ – do you think you will offer up your time for that show again….?!?!?
Interesting question
i was thinking the same. They’re always brilliant shows and i thoroughly enjoy listening to Joe’s insights but i was stunned by what I heard. The guy just went nuts over a photo, pushed his own self rightious agenda, and just wasn’t listening to Joe’s ‘reflection’ point. I think Joe did well not to politely end the show but I was disappointed that instead of 60 minutes of Joe’s insight, a huge chunk was a debate about one photo. I hope for all our sakes Joe you do more of them but i would understand your reluctance
I was stunned too, but in a rather different direction, sadly. I’ve always been one of Joe’s biggest supporters, but not on this issue.
Yo clearly do not understand my point of view.
Joe, I feel your pain. In 2000 I moved to Paris and had to go through the process of acquiring a ‘Carte de Sejour’ and then swapping driving licences over to a French one. There was a sweep stake in the office for any new arrival on how many attempts it would take.
Maybe the process is worse in Paris as different Embassies assume the French love of bureaucracy?
Good luck with these pointless challenges.
Here is a quick capture of obtaining UK visa in Russia:
– Regular procedure takes around 40 days and costs around 100 pounds for 1 year visa.
– You need to visit ‘UK Visa centre’ in order to scan all your fingers and take special photo.
You need dozens of support document:
– Printed version of 16 page long application
– Scans of your foreign passports for 10 years.
– Scans of your national passport
– translation of your national passport, with stamp of certified translator.
– Copy of certified translator license.
– Copy of marriage certificate (and certified translation as well)
– Copy of your childs birth certificates (with certified translation)
– Bank statements (some banks could issue it in englisg/pounds, so no translation here)
– Copy (with translation) of your ‘work records’ books.
– Copy (with translation) of your diploma. Including 3 page appendix with your scores.
– Support letter from your company.
– Registration data on your company (with translation).
Basically application has around hundred individual pages.
And yes, you can speed up procedure. Fast track access cost you extra 200 pounds. And you can expect passport back in 4 days.
And yes, you also need to list all visited countries in last 10 years.
And there is a limit of 10 entries in web application form.
However you can save application. Come back. Add new entry button is enabled after this. So you can add another visit. Save form. Open form. Add another country. Etc.
And you need to separate commonwealth countries (such as Canada) from the countries, not affiliated with Her Majesty.
Other countries like Greece are much more friendly:
Last week I’ve got visa from them for whole Schengen Area.
All you need: Fingerprints, Photo, plane tickets, support letter from hotel with confirmation of your booking, copies of non-empty pages in actual foreign and national passports (no translation), copy of your traveling insurance, statement from bank (no translation), and 4 page application. And it costs around 50 euro. And ready in 1 week time (regular processing)
US visa application requirements in Russia
– Upload your Photo
– Fill your Application on web.
– Provide confirmation of visa fee payments
Send your passport alongside with
– CV
– Support letter from your company
– Previous foreign passports
With express mail to embassy.
Visa cost: $160
I don’t need instructions…
Gave me a headache…
shirley a cue for when i wer’t lad…
anyhow, I had this lovely book on how a pencil is made, when i wert lad…
Alex is having it easy!
you clearly do, given you used the wrong colour ink which is commonly stated on such forms.
Imagine trying to get a visa when your last job was MOD IT Executive and the one before was RAF Weapons Engineer! They wouldn’t let me in even though I had been in on holiday with no issues before the Tit – for – Tat diplomatic expulsions.
On the black vs blue ink debate (which I’m somewhat amused to see was commented on by a Mr Gray) registrars’ ink, which is archival quality and required to be used on official documents such as marriage records, is a blue-black ink. It is a blue ink when liquid which dries to a black, and is iron based and so resistant to fading. The interesting thing is although what is written with it doesn’t fade, over time the ink itself sort of does, and older ink will write in more of a grey than blue (which again doesn’t fade.) On entering the US one time I used a pen with some older registrars ink in it, and got challenged by the immigration agent about why I had filled it out my I-90 form in pencil. I’m not sure that my explanation about it being registrars’ ink was fully comprehended or accepted, but I did get waved on through without having to rewrite the form.
In the U.S. to be called a bureaucrat is largely an insult to be offended by. In France, it’s something to aspire to. In Russia (and most 2nd/3rd world countries) it’s the closest thing to being a deity.
An American friend who fled the USSR as a child, returned as a consultant 20 years later. He was amazed by the accountants who were trained in the Soviet era, they had an amazing ability to find discrepancies of a fraction of a ruble in accounts for companies that had tens of millions of dollars missing every year…
Does this year’s application form have a tick box for stating you had nothing to do with the wifi SSID incident?
That’s just the way it is Joe. Be careful not have an opinion on it – that’s just the way it is.
I see your struggle with visas. As a fellow traveler, I can feel the pain.
Listing all countries in the last 10 years may seem a lot of work, but it doesn’t beat my U.K. residency application, to which I had not only to attach the list of countries but a scan of the passport stamps as proof of in and out days for each country!
The black ink in forms doesn’t get me anymore. Only blue ink goes onto my forms!
I wonder if you have considered assistance for your visas. In The Netherlands, we use CIBT visas and they have a branch in Paris. I mean no advertising but, as a customer, they arranged my very first Chinese visa as multiple entry and valid for 3 years. Even my Chinese peers were surprised with that. I do recommend their executive service. They fill the forms in for you and it’s fast, so you get your passport back quickly.
Maybe you saw some nice shapely bums in your travels? 🙂
I just listened to your side podcast interview. Sorry you had to endure that argument about good looking women at F1 races. Every time I go to an F1 race or a race at Laguna Seca, or Toronto, or wherever, I expect and hope to see some nice bums. That’s part of the spectacle. I expect the same when I go to the beach. Can’t a guy have a bit of fun at the races? Keep the bums, I say!
Just listened to the side podcast interview and found the second half frustrating. Mr. C’s arguments are tired and irrelevant. Joe, please do not let that attack influence you and continue with Grand Prix + in the current style. Add even more photos. I’ve only managed to attend one grand prix in my life and love the atmosphere created by the photos.
You don’t need side podcast. We listen to side podcast to hear your insights. Please consider joining (or starting) your own show. Perhaps a bit shorter but a lot more frequent.