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Berwyn

00:05

Not sure what's wrong with that 380 upper deck question

lots of people are excited about various aspects of flying

I always fly on the UD if possible

Fiksdal

@Berwyn Why?

Zach Lipton

I just don't really get what the question is.

why would there be something special you need to know about sitting on the upper deck

I don't know why people downvoted the answer though

Gayot Fow

00:45

0

Q: UK visitor visa refused due to length of prior stay

I was issued a 6-months UK visa in 2014 and I stayed for 3 months. When I applied again for a visa to the UK, it was refused based on the fact that I stayed for 3 months. They also said in the refusal letter that I should state why I asked for 3 months and to provide evidence that my employer was...

New formulae, they have been using this since earlier this year but we don't have one of these in the archives yet

it makes some of the answers here (and other places on the net) obsolete.

Zach Lipton

that's what

"last time you told us you were coming for 2 weeks and stayed for 3 months, what's the deal?"

Gayot Fow

@ZachLipton yes, the exit controls are getting bedded down too

Zach Lipton

I understand that, and it makes sense, but it does seem like some people get tripped up: they apply for the visa with a 2 week itinerary, get issued a 6-month visa, so they say "hey that sounds great" and extend their trip, and then they're penalized for it when they apply again

"don't change your trip from what you had in your visa application" is not a rule some people are aware of, at least until they learn it the hard way (and some countries really don't care)

Gayot Fow

01:04

@ZachLipton That's a way of looking at it. But it also exposes a lifestyle that may not have been transparent at the application stage.

Zach Lipton

true, like in this question: "how do you have so much free time off from your job?"

Gayot Fow

@ZachLipton normal people will extend for a week, maybe 10 days. the bulk maybe extend maybe for a weekend

somebody says 1 week and stays for 3 months, then what?

hippietrail

01:58

@MarkMayo stop flooding the front page with old questions

Relaxed

10:05

@JonathanReez The more pressing question is whether we need to open up new mod positions, it's not like new mods really need to take anyone's place.

On the other hand, we now have many more high-rep contributors than a few years back so it seems deletions and the like are handled much more smoothly (there was a time when mods would step in to close questions in a timely fashion, which is completely unnecessary today).

What's left for them to do? Question fusion? Flag on comments?

@Willeke Yes, it does :)

One more detail, regarding helicopters: Usually it's down to the size of the ship

The heaviest ore carriers or tankers need a pilot something like 60 km out and often the pilot will come on board by helicopter

Meanwhile for smaller ships, there is a rendez-vous point where pilots go with a speed boat

I think for Rotterdam for example there are two pre-defined rendez-vous points

(and also designated routes and waiting areas so it's really much like a road network as you say)

OK, it's actually three rendez-vous point

And the captain can request an helicopter to save time, the company simply pays for it, it's between €2000 and €4000 extra

Willeke

10:33

Thanks @Relaxed, I think it is a bit much to add those details to the answer but it does confirm my memory.

JonathanReez

11:15

@Relaxed tag renamings/mergings/deletions, decisions on contentious Close/Reopens, decisions on disputed Meta questions

and it's also nice to have at least one mod active at all times, which can be covered by having 1 active mod in America, 1 in Europe and 1 in Asia/Australia.

Relaxed

11:36

@JonathanReez OK, good points.

I am not too familiar with the tag business incidentally

I strongly disagree with contentious close/reopen or disputed meta questions. We don't need moderators for that, it's not their role.

Willeke

Having just 3 mods is alright, as long as they do have all the time in the world. Most of the time one will be sleeping, the second working and not on the site, and the third might be off traveling. Having 5 mods will cover most of that. And as we heard yesterday that the mods keep each other informed on when they are not available, I think having the 5, spread as they are, we have now is enough.

Maybe they can brag a bit more about the work they do, so we see it. Good mods are almost invisible, unless the site is in a mess.

JonathanReez

12:41

@Relaxed well, we have a frequent issue where 5 people vote to Close, then 5 people vote to Reopen, then 5 people vote to Close again. A mod is able to lock Close/Reopen votes

same issue with Meta questions where 3 answers say one thing and 3 answers say something else (e.g. the rationale debate)

mods are there to serve as a tie-breaker

if more mods can be elected without others stepping down - I wouldn't have an issue

but I'm not sure how difficult it is to have the admin overlords to create a new election

Willeke

If the site runs well, no need to have an extra mod.

Relaxed

13:18

@JonathanReez They are obviously able to do it but my view is that they should not.

They should do it when it's obvious a question must be closed but it takes days to get 5 close votes.

But if you already have 10+ votes, it's clear there is no consensus and no basis for a mod to step in.

And I think that site is past the point when moderators regularly need to step in close votes.

So mods are not there to serve as tie-breakers.

Willeke

13:31

I like it when people post the reason why they vote the way they do, whether it is up or down, or close or keep open, those arguments will help you make your decision. And it might help the OP to understand what is wrong with the question.

Willeke

14:19

@Fiksdal, when you update that hitchhiking Europe question, can you remove the 'slightly' from 'more dangerous'. It is not that hitch hiking is always more dangerous, but it is different enough from other methods of travel that the word 'slightly' is taking too much of the warning away. (We have had that discussion on the site before, I feel very strongly about it, others do not.)

Fiksdal

14:48

@Willeke You're right, done.

Willeke

Thanks

In this link (you can edit it in if you want) there is safe hitch hiking and in there 'send the license plate to a friend' hitchwiki.org/en/Top_tips

Might be the best use of mobile phones ever.

Eugene

15:04

Hey guys.

Once again have a small question since I'm preparing for an upcomming travel to UK, London. Maybe some of you asked this question already. In what time does Google Maps show scheduled route in other country. In that countries timezone or in local time? Thank you.

Willeke

I think google always use local time, as do travel websites.

If you want to use public transport, try this site for the UK: traveline.info

Eugene

GMaps suggested first National Express and then ordinary bus

Willeke

Or for London tfl.gov.uk

Travel line will cover both of those, often with a train and a car alternative.

Do not use them instead of google, use them side by side.

You can set them (both I think) for not using some kind of transport, like ignore trains if you do not want them.

I know Travel line did suggest good options many times.

Eugene

15:31

Okay. Will try both. Keeping my fingers crossed for tommorow :)

Willeke

Do you fly in to Gatwick?

Eugene

Stansted

Willeke

Ah, the small one. I used to fly there when a friend lived near. It is an easy airport to navigate.

What transport is best depends on your location in London, I would run it on the TFL site as well.

Eugene

15:47

Okay

Jon Snow

16:07

Hello, can anyone from London help me with finding a place to buy an Oyster card?

Willeke

I am not from London but I think I can help

Are you in London now?

Jon Snow

Yes. I'm in Silvertown and I'm having trouble finding any info about buying Oyster cards in person.

Willeke

17

Q: Where to buy an Oyster card and where to get the refund after a short time of use

A group of 4 teenage girls will visit London for two days and want to use a travel card for both days. But a paper travel card is £12 per day and the cap on an Oyster card is about £6.50 for the day. Only one of the girls has a contactless bank card. Now is the question, where can you buy such a...

public-transport london-underground oyster

That questions answers will help.

I think your best bet is a ticket machine at the nearest underground station.

if that does not work, you can go to the nearest staffed station.

@JonSnow, does that help?

Jon Snow

I tried the machine at my nearest station, however it only lets you top up your card, it doesn't let you create a new one.

Willeke

16:24

As you can see, I am the one who asked the question. I have not been in London since. Did you ask for help at the station?

Jon Snow

Well the one I tried was pretty small and it's a Sunday afternoon. I'll try a bigger station tomorrow.

Willeke

If there is not staff around to help you, just ask a fellow user of the machine, often two see more than one.

There is likely a different button or screen you have to use to get the option.

@Fiksdal, just saw your last comment here :D

13

Q: International-to-US connection in Vancouver in 40 minutes, possible?

I'll be transiting Vancouver tomorrow, arriving on an international flight and continuing to the US (meaning I'll clear US customs in YVR). Transit time was originally scheduled to be 1:10, which i already found pretty tight -- but as of now, my flight is 30 min late, meaning I'd only have 40 min...

transit international-travel short-connection yvr connecting-flight

Fiksdal

19:30

@Willeke Haha, yeah, I try to be witty sometimes :)

Willeke

:D

Willeke

19:43

@Fiksdal, that cruise ship Q can do with a few more 'open' votes, in my view cruise ships are about travel and docking is a basic part of cruise travel.

Fiksdal

@Willeke Wasn't even aware of it, haven't been to the review queue in hours

Will check

Willeke

I hope it is in the review Queue, but you can also open-vote (if high enough level) at the Q itself.

Fiksdal

@Willeke The rep requirement is 3k for both doing it in the queue and on the question itself. No difference at all.

Also, if there are currently reopen votes on it, it will be in the queue, so that's the easiest way to find it. I'll go check.

Willeke

Ah, I was not sure as I have been able to vote for it so long.

Fiksdal

:)

Willeke

19:46

It takes a while to get in the queue but voting from there helps towards your badges so voting from there is better.

Fiksdal

@Willeke AFAIK it enters the queue immediatley once someone casts the first close or reopen vote

And I didn't know there was any difference between close/reopen votes in the queue or not in terms of badges?

@JonathanReez I'm LOL-ing pretty nicely over your comment about Mark that is starred in the sidebar. Haha :D

I voted to reopen the cruise ship question. Wasn't sure, but meh. If people really care they can close it a second time. I won't re-reopen then.

Willeke

thanks

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