I’ve been thinking about it, and this can’t be good for VG. They invite a lot of high-falutin’ people, including a lot of wealthy customers, subject them first to chilling winds and cold to see the vehicle, then have them party in a cold tent with iced vodka, after checking their coats and valuables. Then they quickly herd them outside in subfreezing temperatures and hurricane-force winds without their coats and other things, waiting in the chill blast for buses, shortly after which the tent collapses. Many of them are only now starting to get their belongings back, which were scattered across the desert and probably stopped only by the east fence of the airport. And Burt is saying “I told you so”:
…we drive past Schwarzenegger’s private jet as it taxis along the runway. It has been held on the ground for two hours because the wind was too strong to take off. Moments later we pass the party tent, which has now been reduced to a pile of tarpaulin and twisted metal. “I told them it was a bad idea to hold the event in this weather,” says Rutan.
Throwing a party isn’t rocket science, and it’s supposed to be something in Sir Richard’s wheel house. I wonder how many “future astronauts” had their faith shaken in the company’s ability to fly them safely?
Hey, at least NASA knows how to throw a good party….
See http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/03/dont-miss-the-h/….
BBB
I like Virgin and Branson but note well that Richard Branson is consumed with angst over AGW. Probably just simply couldn’t believe it wouldn’t be ‘warm’ at the event.
I talked to Sir Richard for a few minutes Monday night. I managed to muster up the tact to not blame the fiasco on global warming…
Karmic retribution for CO15?
Why not use a hanger? Seems like a perfect place for both a party and unveiling. A tent, at night, in the desert doesn’t sound like a good idea any time, unless your backpacking to get away from light polution. Not the case for this event.
Maybe it was reverse psychology. I’ve often felt that the Mojave at night in winter is a good test of your pure animal will to survive. If you don’t have a robust internal fire burning cheerfully, a core belief that you’ll be all right, the howling gelid black void will make you just curl up and die, and spring-time hikers will find your gnawed bones in May.
So anyone who came cheerfully through the rollout will be unflappable during the actual launch, even if there are odd noises and unexpected lurches. Sir Richard is a genius!
Unpredictable weather occurs and you blame Branson for throwing a party that you attended for free. What a jerk you are, Rand.
Unpredictable weather occurs and you blame Branson for throwing a party that you attended for free.
“Unpredictable weather” that was actually predicted days in advance. I “attended for free” because Sir Richard wanted press to attend, and tell the world what a wonderful event it was. Believe me, he didn’t do it out of the goodness of his heart, or because he thought we were somehow entitled.
What a jerk you are, Rand.
Boo hoo. Some anonymous troll on the Internet calls me a jerk. Whatever will I do?
Is Burt Rutan, who warned Virgin not to do this, a “jerk,” too?
Rand, Burt is a mere engineer to the guys in the front office. Why would management, with their MBAs etc, listen to him on anything other than purely technical issues? /sarcasm off.
Having worked for a long time as a designer, I am used to management ignoring the engineering people, except when they are trying to fix the blame on their latest fiasco.
I really hope that this is just a small speedbump on the road to commercial space…
This is not a PR disaster by Virgin standards. After years of train problems, Virgin Cola and other failures this is small potatoes. They already have a video out showing the carnage and getting their spin out.
I’m very curious what was so unpredictable about the weather? And yeah, I’m ignoring the point that it wasn’t Rand complaining about the PR fiasco, but the major partner of the project.
You are not “press” Rand. You are a disgruntled wannabe with a blog.
You are not “press” Rand.
Better tell Popular Mechanics, because I attended on their behalf, and just published a piece there.
I’m press, and you’re a moron troll.
You are not press Rand. PM lets you post in their blog.
Popular Mechanics on line is not a blog, you moron. And they don’t “let me” post there. They edit and publish pieces by me, and pay me for them.
Well, VG media folks are not too pleased with your commentary here so I am certain that will rub off on their view of PM as well. Nice job! See ya!
So THERE!
“Popular Mechanics on line is not a blog, you moron. And they don’t “let me” post there. They edit and publish pieces by me, and pay me for them.”
Suck on that Bob, you fucking Enzyte sucking, Joker grinning, POS Tard!
Now, now, don’t be so hard on Bob. He has achieved that perfect balance of pugnacious stupidity coupled with aggressive ignorance, which is quite a feat in itself. Most trolls just settle for one or the other.