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Indian Tycoon Sets Balloon Flight Record

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the staying-on-top-of-things dept.

GillBates0 writes "The BBC is reporting that Vijaypat Singhania, a textile tycoon, has set a new world record for the highest hot air balloon flight. The 67-year-old took off from Mumbai, India in a 48m(160ft) balloon and flew to a height of 21,290m (69,852ft) breaking the earlier record of 19,811m(64,997ft)."

8 of 125 comments (clear)

  1. Re:What is it about having a gajillion dollars... by garglblaster · · Score: 2, Insightful
    good question..

    so what would _YOU_ do if you had a gajillion dollars?
    Buy a Porsche..?

    I'd bet he already has a few of those..

    --

    perl -e 'printf("%x!\n",49153)'

  2. Aren't Singhania's one of the richest families? by nsasch · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "This goes to show to the world that we are not bullock cart drivers, but we can compete against the best of the world." Aren't Singhania's one of the richest families in India? Money can do anything.

    --
    Make your computer faster: rm -rf /mnt/windows/
  3. Re:and at the same time ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Why don't you spend all your disposable income on people who need it? That includes getting rid of your computer and internet access, because those things cost money that could be used for other people. In fact, sell off all of your possessions and live in a small, unfurnished apartment. After all, that money can be used to help other people.

    Or you could be a normal person and spend your money as you see fit. If you think people should be forced to spend their money for causes you like, become a politician and raise taxes.

  4. What's the point? by tji · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Is there some value that I'm missing in this? Why does any care that some rich guy made a balloon to take him up 60K ft? Is there some practical application that he is trying to improve this technology for? Or, is he just trying to pump his own ego?

    Why does this get reported everywhere / anywhere?

    1. Re:What's the point? by JamesD_UK · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Why does someone always come up with this argument? I think it's very much possible that he's doing it because he's passionate about ballooning and may get some enjoyment out of setting a record. In the same way that people climb mountains, cycle around the world or collect belly button fluff there doesn't need to be a practical application or technology to be improved behind every human endeavour.

    2. Re:What's the point? by Stiletto · · Score: 4, Insightful


      This argument usually comes from people who aren't passionate about anything. It must be exhausting to sit at home every day laughing at and criticizing other people who are out there living life.

  5. Re:and at the same time ... by WIAKywbfatw · · Score: 3, Insightful

    You're probably an American.

    Well, aren't there people in your country who are billionaires? People who have far more money than they could possibly spend? Well, there are also people who live in abject poverty too.

    Tell me, how is that any different?

    P.S. The earthquake affected parts of India too.

    --

    "Accept that some days you are the pigeon, and some days you are the statue." - David Brent, Wernham Hogg
  6. Re:and at the same time ... by WIAKywbfatw · · Score: 2, Insightful

    My point is still valid. Pick any country and you will find people who are shockingly rich and those who are shockingly poor.

    Short of forced redistribution of wealth on a massive scale that puts us all on a level playing field, that's always going to be the case, so why make a big deal about this particular case?

    --

    "Accept that some days you are the pigeon, and some days you are the statue." - David Brent, Wernham Hogg