Virgin Megastore is officially dead. Dead along with it is one of your top five theoretical backup jobs in the event of your layoff; the idea that selling music in a store could be a profitable endeavor; your own whimsical daydream about one day maybe opening up a little record shop, just the really cool shit, and just living that life; and the music industry as a whole.

Hell, Joan Kroc gave the Salvation Army $1.8 billion and it still can't scrape together enough to build a new swimming pool in Detroit. Argentina's not crying for you, buddy. At least you have a job. You better hold onto like the precious diamond that it is—a valuable gem made out of dirt that you squeeze really tight. You do what you must. You do what the boss says. You do what the boss doesn't say, just to scrape and give yourself that tiny edge that just might cause them to lay off Doris, the receptionist, instead of you, when the time comes. "Furloughs," they said. "Ten percent less in the check, but you get a few more days off each month," they said. What happened? You work right through those furlough days. Because there's too much work. It's kind of like a staycation, but at work, and minus the "-cation." Just a "stay."

Of execution? One might say that. Yes one might. Because your Stay could be a staycation—of poorness:

"The real problem is that long-term unemployment is going up dramatically," said Franklin Allen, finance professor at the Wharton School. "Unfortunately, many people in their late 40s and 50s may never get jobs again."

How do you like them apples? I hope you like them enough to sell, for nickels, for the next 30 years.

The heat is causing flights into JFK and probably other NYC airports to be delayed by hours. I'm sitting at San Francisco International waiting out a 2 hour delay. Why this may be of interest to is that the Virgin America gate crew has begun entertaining the crowd with games of craps and three-card monte, both with loud play-by-play over the PA system. This must happen regular, unless dice and packs of cards are standard equipment at airport departure gates. And of course there's the issue of training. I mean, I don't know how to shoot craps or play three-card monte, and I've been in Vegas and Times Square during the bad old days.

With a few exceptions, the people waiting for their flight are not amused.

Helio wants the deal because it will put them into the prepaid market and Virgin wants the deal because it will put them in the subscription market. They also feel that a combined company will give them more clout with Sprint — or T-Mobile if Sprint get purchased. If Sprint is not purchased, look for the combined company to inject a few billion into Sprint and also giving them a 20-30 percent stake in the new firm.

It may well be. Aflame, too, are the sentiments of Wikipedia's volunteers, many of whom are already enraged by Wales's jetsetting ways. For Wales, the gathering had an added attraction: After lunch, Branson took a party by catamaran to Mosquito, where women in bikini danced on the beach. "Normally the girls would be naked, but the prime minister is here," said Branson.

(Image via Wikimedia Commons)

Virgin Mobile, unlike the big carriers, rents a wireless network rather than owning one, essentially gussying up and reselling Sprint's service under its own name. It's a challenging business model, known in the trade as being a "mobile virtual network operator" or "MVNO." Disney and Amp'd, among others, have failed to make a go of it.

Renting one's network means lower capital costs, and according to the Wall Street Journal, Virgin has 4.83 million subscribers and actually made a small profit this year. Virgin Mobile has plenty of revenue, but with a flat IPO today and loads of debt, it is unclear if it can make itself into a viable company.

Disney Mobile shut down last month and Amp'd burned through hundreds of millions of dollars with nothing to show for it. History does not look good for Virgin, but with strong name recognition among their target market and clever advertising, we don't put it past Sir Richard to succeed where others have failed.

(Photo by AP/Jacques Brinon)

***MEDIA ALERT***
***INTERVIEW / PHOTO OPPORTUNITY***

SIR RICHARD BRANSON AND KEVIN FEDERLINE TO SAVE THE U.S. PENNY FROM ANNIHILATION!

The man can't touch his own baby or make sure his wife brushes her damn hair, but losing the penny? That will not stand. Interestingly, one can schedule an interview with Branson, but not Federline — wisely, he is not permitted to speak. More details on this momentous occasion after the jump.

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Branson and Federline Lobby for Penny Awareness - Virgin Mobile USA Campaign Highlights New One-Cent Text Messaging Offer and Charity Penny Drive

WHO: Virgin Founder and Chairman Sir Richard Branson, performer and rapper Kevin Federline and Americans for Common Cents Policy Director Matthew Eggers unite to prove the value of the penny in face of its possible legislative elimination.

WHAT: Branson, Federline and Eggers show their enthusiasm for the nostalgic coin by highlighting the value of the penny and being the first to sign the "Save the Penny" petition to be presented to lawmakers in Washington D.C. Representatives from Virgin Mobile will be gathering signatures for the petition and collecting pennies for charity to show that the penny, alone or in numbers, carries weight and makes a difference. To demonstrate the power of one penny to its customers, Virgin Mobile introduces new Penny Texting, which offers 1,000 text messages for just $9.99 per month. And on a larger scale, all of the pennies collected on the "Save the Penny" campaign trail will be donated to The RE*Generation, a charitable movement dedicated to connecting young people with organizations working on the front lines of activism.

WHEN: Wednesday, June 21
Media Check-in: 1:00 p.m.
Presentation: 1:30 p.m.

SCHEDULED INTERVIEWS WITH SIR RICHARD BRANSON START AT 2:30 PM. MADE BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.

WHERE: New York City, Times Square

For more information please contact:
LaForce + Stevens
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