Richard's Blog - February 2012

Military mishaps with amphibious cars

The story starts eight years ago when we broke the Guinness World Record for the first and fastest crossing of the English Channel by an amphibious vehicle. Virgin Atlantic and I completed the Channel Challenge in a Gibbs Aquada, travelling from Dover to Calais in under two hours. A cross between a boat with wheels and a waterproof car, the Gibbs Aquada reached 100mph on land and over 30mph on water. It was great fun to drive and was also perfect for taking on all sorts of record-breaking eff…

Something in the water?

Whilst talking to the deputy chancellor of Trinity College recently, he also mentioned how sad it was that in areas of Britain the water doesn’t have enough natural fluoride. Although it could easily be added, the authorities are worried about public perception of adding extra fluoride.He says there is no danger whatsoever in adding it and there are no taste issues. Apparently it is proven in the areas where there is natural fluoride that kids need to go to the dentist less. The deputy cha…

A night of tears and music

I received a Lifetime Industry Award from the Grammys the other night and whilst the evening was a bitter sweet event I thought I'd share my acceptance remarks. Perhaps they'll bring a smile or two during this sad time: "Since I hadn’t seen Clive Davis for a number of years, he and Neil had Jane Fonda ring me to ask if I was free to accept this award tonight. He hadn't realised that my memories of Jane were rather painful. Most people who get circumcised sensibly do it as…

Thank you Whitney

Clive Davis, the Recording Academy, and the entire world lost Whitney Houston on the weekend of the Grammys, the biggest music celebration of the year. I was with Clive in LA the night before the Grammys to receive the Grammy Salute To Industry Icons® President's Merit Award. Our emotions went from great anticipation for his "hottest ticket in town" party to utter shock and devastation over the loss of one of our most beautiful, angelic voices. Saturday night's event was a sad but wonderf…

10 more questions from kids on Virgin Oceanic

Here are 10 more fantastic questions on Virgin Oceanic from children at Here There Everywhere - News for Kids on everything from OceanElders to sperm whales. 11. Can kids be Ocean Elders? Mrs. Hanson's 3rd grade classThey can certainly join our community! Everyone is invited to go to www.oceanelders.org and post and vote on their favorite ocean conservation ideas. I hope you will join us!12. Will kids be able to go into space and will your trips offer space walks? Mrs. Hanson's 3rd grade classM…

Warning - contains strong language

Warning - this clip contains very bad language, and not much better acting! As promised, here is the blooper video from an Amex ad back in 1986. To see the finished article, read the blog on why it sometimes pays to advertise for others.

Russia must make the right choice on drugs

Worrying news from Russia where Federal Drug Control Service (FSKN), the government’s anti-drugs agency has blocked the website of the public health organization, the Andrey Rylkov Foundation, for discussing the use of addiction medicine methadone. The Government agency claims the Foundation is “promoting the use of drugs”, as using methadone is illegal in Russia. Russia must change this outdated policy as it attempts to get on top of its own growing drug and HIV problem. It ha…

Keep the comments coming

It's always great to hear your comments, whether they are online or in person, and every now and then one really stands out. The words below are from Lynne Leblanc, who was responding through Facebook to one of my recent logs from Antarctica."To all the doubters and individuals who believe we can’t change I ask this:When a child stumbles with their first steps, should we tell them to stop trying?When a student does poorly on their first test, should we tell them to stop studying?When a tee…

Ask Richard 16

Here are some more answers to your questions - this time on female entrepreneurs, cupcakes, books and Brazil, filmed on an iPad in the back of a cab in London. @TipsyTeabag Why do you think female entrepreneurs are under-represented?@CareerBreakSite What (if anything) do you miss about the early days of your business?@MimiLaRueCakery If you were a cupcake, what flavour would you be?@pasmyth What business book (apart from ur own) had the most impact on you and why?@ayrtonfvf Are you interested…

Antarctica log 11 - Occupy World Street

The global community has proven it can tackle threats like acid rain, CFCs, and protecting the whales. Why not climate change?The problem with climate change is that the vested interest has such huge financial resources that it is difficult to get the public (particularly in America) to see behind such huge propaganda. Over time Mother Nature will make things clearer but by then the damage will be severe and many of our species will have disappeared. The science is clear. Government policies …

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