Jan 23 2008Virgin Galactic Flashes Its Spacecans For Us

Why is this douche building a plane like this? Is this really going to help humanity? Why doesn't he donate his time/money to a better cause like Darfur? I just don't get why rich people have to do shit like this....

I think the plan is to put all the starving and dying Africans into one of these and throw them at the sun. I saw it in Superman IV

Richard Branson is insane... good thing posted about this on swongled.com

Richard Branson also pledged profits from Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Trains into research for environmentally estimated at about 3 billion dollars, id say hes done more than alot of people...

Clever seems to so very...

"Why is this douche building a plane like this? Is this really going to help humanity? "

Not everyone can help humanity thru random, badly researched, cynical comments on blogs. Thank god you are here to save us all though...

It always takes someone a big dream and a set of balls to make changes about the way we think. Once someone takes that leap it can change our society - think about how many things we've done in the last 100 years that were thought to be insane/crazy/stupid. (microwaves, atomic energy, microprocessors, space exploration etc)

#7 you are right about your point, but that doesn't have anything to do with this. This isn't really an idea per se. It's a way to make money. Those ideas were about doing something that hadn't been done before, whereas this, it's exploiting an idea already thought of, again, to make money.

I also agree with #1, about the humanity thing...I mean really, it's simple. Take the millions of dollars you have, and use it wisely. For instance, what is the most important thing that a developing (or 3rd world) country needs? Water, (some of you may argue, but I'm talking about on a fundamental level). So why not take that money, build water treatment plans. This would decrease diseases in a lot of places instantly, if only people had cleaner water. Death tolls would lower in different countries. I'm not getting into political details, but it's just an idea.

I just think this, we humans, could do without.

I was certain there would be a 18 year old hottie with green skin bare breasted and beautiful when I clicked thIs link.
SHAZBOT!!

I live in new mexico.. they are building this spaceport down the road from me. Looks interesting.. but really... how or why would anyone be willing to spend 200k to be in space for 4-5 minutes... you dont get ot orbit or anything cool. Just up... float.. and down... waste.

How or why? Isn't this just what we humans do? You never know who you may met...ET? for example :0)
Looks like a giant Mr. Hanky to me LOL

Scew Darfur, one day tthey will turn around and do the same shit to other people..Most places on Earth suck..if want to help people you have to invade and really be imperialistic.

so fuck it..lets build starships, go to bottom of the sea build cool cars, eat nice pizzas and have some cool transformers. oh maybe nuke an asteroid too.

rather that then sit and cry all day and give money to dictators and not change one bit. i love the earth and i love alot of different people....but we humans need to do this stuff..its our nature to go beyond..

oh al liberal-commie-conservative-social eco freaks..im the greatest of all that is and will ever be.

1 & 8 > Frankly I wish people would piss off and leave Africa alone. You know what good all this help does? Sweet fuck all! In fact, the western "Aid Work" is now crippling Africa beyond recovery. You are taking responsibilty away from African governments, and worst of all, you are making the people of Africa dependant and unable to support themselves. Why work when everything will just be handed to you?

If you wanted to truly help Africa, you would buy goods produced in Africa and help boost economies and create jobs. But its much easier to hand your money over to "Aid Work" isn't it? You know where your money goes???? To some developed, producing nation who supplies food and aid goods - and NOT to Africa.

Whilst Aid might "help" in the very short term and save lives - it is one of the most damaging things you can do to a country long term. What happens when you have an entire country supported by the rest of the world????

But if it does become a big success, he'll be able to help alot more people once he's the rebel trillionaire

Darfur? Why is it that other people always know what is best to do with other people's money? I don't have 200K to spend on a trip to space for a few minutes, but if I did you better believe I'd take it. This is a short life and we get to make it up with our experiences. If you had an extra 200K floating around I doubt you'd sink it into Darfur. If I had an extra 200K I'd damn sure sink it into going into outer space. It used to be 20 million for a ride from the ruskies. Thank you Branson for making it quasi affordable, now a doctor at a local hospital can go into space instead of just the uber-rich. Maybe, because of this some day it will cost $10K, and then maybe going to space will be as affordable as taking a vacation. Now that's real change.

What's the fucking point? Life's too short??? Life's a lot shorter for people that don't have any money. If I had an "extra 200K floating around" I surely wouldn't spend it on this bullshit "plane ride".

Frankly people won't "piss off and leave africa alone" they OBVIOUSLY need help. What responsibility has the african goverment taken? "Lets just stand to the side while people kill and rape each other."

I will continue to aid africa and send money, it's the least I can do. This douche supposedly spends 3 billion to save the environment so he can do whatever he wants to ruin it. Good call.

i cant wait to take my first trip in space >_<

#15 is right though.. it would be cheaper sooner

the earth is not in trouble environmentally. The ppl in darfur are no more in trouble than some group or other is in at every point in human history. The fact of the matter is that eventually we WILL run out of space. When that happens we will need to go other places. The moon, orbiting space stations, mars, or wtf ever. Yeah yeah its scifi bullshit but think in the long term. Does feeding a starving african help humanity? No. Does travelling thru space? eventually, yes.

Does feeding a starving african help humanity? YES

Does travelling through space help humanity? NO

@Clever: "the african government" does not exist.

'nuff said.

I don't care what you people think... I'd pay 200k easily for 4-5 minutes in space.

#13: ARE YOU STUPID? I are you seriously egotistical enough to think that I was actually even talking about Africa? Lol, you idiot. There are plenty of developing cities, towns, nations all over the world. I'm from Central America and if I were wanting to narrow down my comment to a specific set of countries, I'd start with Central America, not fucking Africa.

"Buy our products" um, we do...they're called blood diamonds (recent movie released, which was fairly well done, you should watch it). Granted that's not all we buy from there (and by "we" I mean people, not just the US, you moron). Africa is not a "country" and I said "countries." There are plenty of countries with poor areas (yes, even the US), like Mexico, Guatemala, Belize (I can go down the whole strip), Plenty of areas in Russia, India, Japan, China, Turkey, Spain, Italy, and yes...places in Africa too.

Oh and to #18: No, we will not run out of space. Have you seen the size of the empty real estate the world has? Seriously, take a look at the Sahara Dessert. Look at the western part of the US, look at the mountains in China. Hell, even look at Russia & Canada. Oh, here's the big one "ANTARCTICA." Where there is a will, there is a way, and if we do actually become desperate enough to HAVE to move entire countries, there is plenty of room on earth.

#20: nicely put.

Geeze sounds like someone has a case of the MOOONDAYS.

$200,000 sounds quite reasonable. Didn't Lance Bass have to pay 20 million to go up with the Russians? That's 100 times cheaper. Of course I don't know what I'm talking about. Beat you to it!

Richard Branson gave a talk at TED a while ago about this, and why he's doing it, some of you guys should watch it.

http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/181

Clever: While the western world keeps interfering in Africa, governments will never take responsibility. As I said earlier; Aid will help in the short term, and cripple in the long. If the Western World wants to help, they need to INVEST in countries. INVEST in businesses set up BY THE PEOPLE. INVEST in people. Countries like Nigeria, Kenya and many others are leaps ahead of other countries because of investment and trade patterns set up with the west. The US government must lift export taxes from Africa and remove the existing barriers to trade. This is how the world works, and must continue to work. Economics fails with things like free hand-outs. In fact, when people can go to an 'Aid' station and receive goods for free, there is no incentive for an entrepreneur to set up a business selling those goods.

If you want to cripple someone, take away their ability to be independent. If you truly wanted to "help Africa", GO THERE. As a tourist. Spend your money in the economy, boost jobs and businesses. Tourism is a HUGE source of income/employment for Africa. Hand your money over to people who are working for it. That is the only way jobs are created. Grow micro and macro economies until that country has a big enough economy to help its poor.

guate6: You arrogant, misguided twat. I was simply referring you to my post as you agreed with post #1. Nothing you've said so far even warrants any intelligent response.

Clever: How misguided and ignorant can you be? What is the most successful political and economic system we have today? Is it Communism? Is it Socialism? NO. You know what the most successful structure is. How did the US and the rest of the world come out of the great depression? Certainly not through fucking "Aid".

African boy: You may think what I said warranted no intelligent response, and it's because I'm right. You can think of anything to say to contradict me, because I spoke the truth. You keep referring to buying goods from Africa, good, go out and be an African salesman, I'm sure you'll get some tourist to buy your country's things. Arrogant twat? No no, sadly you are mistaken.

I have always planned on going to different countries in Africa when I can do my world travels...you can come with me, as clearly you've not left your village and seen that there are countries and villages where people don't produce much except for themselves and they do need help. Arrogant twat? When I suggested helping countries in need; when you yourself thought I was referring to "the country of Africa." Hah, I think not.

Listen guate6, I've got no qualms with you. I've not tried to argue with you, no matter how much you wanted the attention. You picked that up all your own... which is why you earned the title 'arrogant twat'. As I explained in my previous post, I was simply referring you to mine. Obviously a bit too advanced for you to understand?

I have not once addressed anything you said. "are you seriously egotistical enough to think that I was actually even talking about Africa." I've never addressed you so I'm not sure where you get that. And, as I said before, its because nothing you've said has warranted any response. There is one thing I will respond to though, and thats building water treatment facilities (in Africa - because thats what we're talking about, maybe you aren't, but we are). I would fully support something like this because it should create a few jobs - and thats what I'm trying to get at here.

DO trade with Africa, DO support its businesses, and DO create jobs. Because that is the ONLY way Africa will emerge from this mess. If you have not yet been to Africa, you will not understand how it works. Thats just how simple it is. Human Rights groups come all the way over here to shout their opinions at everyone, and end up shitting themselves. Africa is tough, and if you can't handle it, you leave. If you're scared of crime, don't come to Africa. If you're scared of political abrubtness, don't come to Africa. If you're scared of brutality and a serious lack of consideration, don't come to Africa. If you're scared of being stranded and left for dead while no-one gives a shit, don't come to Africa. Life is worth a lot less here than in the developed world, and other developing countries on this planet, and if you can't face up to that then you simply won't hack it here. I can promise you that you can be dying on the streets in Mogadishu and no-one will even notice - you just weren't strong enough. I have travelled up the entire east coast of this continent, and let me tell you that you are very much on your own. Governments don't give a shit about their own people, never mind foreigners. If you end up in an African jail, you're fucked for life. No-one cares!

If you haven't done some decent research before coming over to this continent, good luck to you, and don't be surprised when all your plans fall to shit and you have to jump around to get the first flight back to the cotton-wool world you come from.

I live in Africa

Get in the spaceship and hope it blows up.

No one cares where you live or what you do.

lol, I don't know who's posing as me, but good job... 'nuff said.

At #1, why should you really give a damn what he does with his money? It's HIS money after all, and if people what to PAY HIM $200,000 to go into space, and he can provide it, what's the problem? The problem is, you can't afford it...hence your stupid response.

Besides, if you read into why he is doing what he is doing, as well as read up on all the charity work he does....yeah, just get a life eh?