LAUNCHED: Sex Pistols Credit Cards

So this is an actual thing:

In one of the most unlikely tie-ups for a finance company, Virgin Money today launched a range of Sex Pistols themed credit cards. Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Group founder, says the move celebrates the firm's music heritage given the Sex Pistols were one of the most iconic bands signed by Virgin Records, Branson's record label. The new cards feature infamous 'Never Mind the Bollocks' and 'Anarchy in the UK' artwork. The Sex Pistols signed for Virgin Records in 1977 and released controversial single 'God Save the Queen' during Queen Elizabeth's Silver Jubilee celebrations under the label. In the mid to late seventies, Johnny Rotten (now John Lydon) and Sid Vicious were among the kings of punk. They split after just one studio album and Sid Vicious died of a heroin overdose in 1979.

Perfect for your next holiday in the sun.

(Tipped by JMG reader Lynda)

CALIFORNIA: Virgin Galactic Spaceship Crashes In Mojave Desert On Test Flight

It's been a horrible week for the space industry.

Facebook Twins In Space

From the Winklevoss twins' blog:

Humans have a long tradition of exploring and forging new frontiers, both physically and metaphorically. In the Middle Ages, Marco Polo’s writings - which recounted his 24 years of travel and trade on the Silk Road – built a new and lasting level of economic and cultural awareness between Europe and Asia. 200 years later, they would inspire 15th century explorer Christopher Columbus to search for a shorter route to the Far East by sea. While Columbus did not achieve his original goal, he did manage to bring word of a new landmass back to Europe, which planted the seeds of hope and possibility in the minds of persecuted Pilgrims, who fled to and settled North America 100 years later. Such stories of inadvertent and iterated accomplishment are all too familiar in the spheres of exploration and innovation. They demonstrate how the building blocks of human discovery are not necessarily brilliance and perfection, but rather, the courage to fail and persistence to keep on trying.

Also reportedly booking seats on Virgin Galactic: Ashton Kutcher, Angelina Jolie, Katy Perry, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Russell Brand. The $250,000 ticket price converts to 374 Bitcoins. For today at least.

Virgin Galactic Makes Test Flight

Via the Los Angeles Times:

Virgin Galactic, British billionaire Richard Branson’s commercial space venture, reached its highest altitude yet Friday in a supersonic rocket plane that’s set to carry paying customers into sub-orbit later this year. The company’s SpaceShipTwo blasted through the sound barrier and sped to Mach 1.4, climbing to 71,000 feet in its first powered test flight of the year. The flight, the program's third rocket-powered test flight, is the latest milestone in Virgin Galactic’s goal to take dozens of people into space multiple times each day. The test flight took place shortly after sunrise Friday beginning on the desert runway at Mojave Air and Space Port, about 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles. During the test, SpaceShipTwo was taken to about 46,000 feet by a carrier aircraft and dropped like a bomb. After a short free fall, test pilots Dave Mackay and Mark Stucky engaged the hybrid rocket motor, powered by nitrous oxide and a rubber compound, for about 16 seconds, at which point SpaceShipTwo accelerated to Mach 1.4.

Amazing video.

Richard Branson: Boycott Uganda

"I have been courted by various people and government officials to do business in Uganda. I was seriously considering it. However, the dreadful witch hunt against the gay community and lifetime sentences means it would be against my conscience to support this country. I would urge other companies worldwide to follow suit. Uganda must reconsider or find it being ostracised by companies and tourists worldwide. Governments must realise that people should be able to love whoever they want. It is not for any government (or anyone else) to ever make any judgements on people's sexuality. They should instead celebrate when people build loving relationships that strengthen society, no matter who they are." - Billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson, in a statement published on the front page of the Virgin companies' website.

Richard Branson Pays Off On Bet

Billionaire Virgin America founder Richard Branson has settled a racing bet by working a shift in drag aboard a competing airline.

Donning red lipstick, a flight attendant's skirt and high heels, the maverick businessman served drinks, made intercom announcements and chatted up passengers on an AirAsia X flight from Perth, Australia, to Kuala Lumpur. Two years ago, Branson and AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes wagered on their Formula 1 racing teams, each man betting his own team would finish ahead of the other's in the 2010 Formula 1 Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi. The loser would have to serve as a female flight attendant on the winner's airline. Branson lost.

Last year Branson issued a video in support of same-sex marriage, but some folks still have a problem about a bet wherein the loser has to "degrade" himself by donning drag.

Virgin America Launches In-Flight Dating

Sort of. Gawker thinks this is creepy.

Richard Branson Tweets Against NRA

Virgin Atlantic billionaire Richard Branson appears to be echoing the Vietnam War era chant used against President Lyndon Johnson: "LBJ LBJ how many kids did you kill today?"  Predictably, the wingnuts are already calling for a boycott of his companies.

Richard Branson Comes Out For Marriage

It never hurts to have a billionaire on your side.

Virgin Galactic Unveils World's First Commercial Passenger Spaceship

Yesterday Virgin Galactic publicly unveiled the world's first commercial passenger spacecraft, which can take six passengers and two pilots into suborbital flight. The passenger capsule is suspended between two more traditional aircraft which will carry the vehicle into the upper atmosphere before releasing it. Already 300 people have paid a total of $40M for the less than ten minute flight. Testing begins early next year. Suborbital commercial air travel may become a reality for business passengers within the next 20 years, with flights from Hong Kong to London taking about three hours. If you had $300K to burn, would you go into space? I'd so be up there.

Spaceman Sullenberger?

US Airways Flight 1549 pilot Chesley Sullenberger, who with his crew was honored on the field before yesterday's Super Bowl, has a high-flying offer from Richard Branson.

U.S. Airways better guard Capt. Chesley Sullenberger 3rd. Virgin Air billionaire Richard Branson wants to poach the “Miracle on the Hudson” pilot. “I’d like him to come fly for us,” Branson tell us. “We’ll make him the best-paid pilot at Virgin — we’ll give him double [the salary of] anybody else. He also can become one of the astronauts in my intergalactic spaceship company. The man can write his own ticket with me.” Sullenberger sounded interested when we conveyed Branson’s offer. “That’s amazing,” said the man who saved the lives of 155 people when he deftly landed a jetliner in the freezing Hudson River on Jan. 15. “I hadn’t heard that.” Sully, whom we reached at his home in Danville, Calif., wouldn’t say what his next move will be, but he’s been getting offers. A lot. “I will be happy to entertain all the things that are coming my way,” he told us.

Virgin Galactic is aiming for its maiden commercial space flight in late 2010. The cost is expected to be about $200,000 or 25 million Virgin frequent flyer points. Customers of the Australia-based Virgin Blue earn a chance in their space flight lottery for every frequent flyer point they accrue.