Private conglomerate Virgin Group has had its hands in everything from airlines to media to mobile phones. It even has its own vodka brand, launched in 1994. But according to a new website set to launch June 15 called VirginGaming.com, it appears that the next Virgin venture will be video games. The debut is going to be watched closely by many publicly traded video game studios, including Sony (SNE), which has partnered with the site on a promotional deal for one of its games.

A nice little story came out a couple of weeks ago but hasn't gotten much press, what with stimulus packages and "bad banks" and Jessica Simpson's alleged weight gain. Richard Branson, eccentric billionaire and founder of Virgin Atlantic Airways, is reaching out to Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, the pilot of US Airways Group (NYSE: LCC) Flight 1549, in hopes of putting the hero on the Virgin payroll.

Branson told a New York Daily News reporter, "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 ..." In response, a flattered "Sully" said he is weighing his options, which recently included a cover shot on People magazine.

This post is one of several on business heirs apparent. Let us know in the comments whether you think Sam Branson should take up the reigns of Virgin, and be sure to check out the other heir apparent posts.

One might say Sam Branson is a fortunate son, born into a life of money, leadership, and rock-and-roll. His father, whimsical billionaire Richard Branson, carries a net worth of $3.8 billion and maintains a fleet of Virgin-branded enterprises. Branson built this umbrella of companies from the ground up starting nearly 40 years ago.

The Virgin brand soared to prominence in the early 1980s as a record label featuring such acts as the Rolling Stones and Janet Jackson. Ahead of the bubble burst for the compact-disc industry, Branson unloaded this arm of the Virgin empire in 1992, focusing on his pet project -- Virgin Atlantic Airways, which launched in 1984.

Other Virgin progeny include pay-as-you-go mobile-phone service Virgin Mobile (sold to NTL for about 1 billion pounds in July 2006) and Virgin Fuels, which seeks to develop environmentally friendly and cheaper fuel sources for automobiles and airplanes.

Branson's sense of adventure, critical in his business ventures, has also taken him into and across the world's oceans. He has broken speed records in both boat and hot-air balloon, and recently boarded an amphibious vehicle to cross the English Channel in record time.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• According to people familiar with the matter, the Wall Street Journal reported that Anheuser-Busch Companies Inc (NYSE: BUD) and InBev may be one possible coupling in the fast-consolidating brewery industry; the people familiar said the two have already held talks.
• HSBC Holdings Plc (NYSE: HBC) yesterday launched its first two retail branches in Japan, according to the Financial Times. The bank also kicked off its "HSBC Premier" services, which aim to tap into Japan's budding market for wealth management.

• Despite rumors that none of those interested in struggling bank Northern Rock Plc (OTC: NHRKF), the UK Guardian reported that Sir Richard Branson will submit a bid by Monday's government deadline. Investment group Olivant is also expected to submit a bid for Northern Rock.

• TechCrunch has "gotten word" that Yahoo Inc (NASDAQ: YHOO) will acquire Maven Networks for $150M.

Richard Branson is one of the most innovative, creative billionaires out there, and his latest project provides further evidence of that. Virgin Money USA, which opened for business on Monday, is designed to make it easier to lend money to friends and family more formally. A little bit like Prosper.com, Virgin Money USA will act as a conduit between parties, providing a platform and legal/tax documentation for informal loans.

According to The New York Times, "Virgin Money USA will offer personal and business loans, mortgages and reverse mortgages. The average interest rate for loans is 6 percent, and for mortgages, 5 percent. Borrowers are charged a $9 per payment administrative fee and will pay an upfront charge ranging from $99 for unsecured loans to $2,000 for large mortgages. Borrowers can select terms of their loans, including the duration and rates. The bank will not retain any of the interest."

So technically the loans will be made by Virgin (just as technically Prosper loans are made by Prosper), but the risk will all be held by the friends and family of the borrowers.

The fees ($9 per payment adds up on a small personal loan) make this look like a very questionable move for consumers. And lending money to friends and family is something that should be avoided whenever possible anyway. But in the wake of the subprime meltdown, and the need for emergency loans from friends and family, Virgin Money USA could be well-positioned for success.

When David Neeleman stepped down as CEO of JetBlue Airways Corporation (NASDAQ: JBLU), the company he founded, the stock rallied. Some speculate that with Neeleman no longer in charge, the airline could be for sale. While anything is possible, I wouldn't get too excited, for a whole bunch of reasons.

First of all, Neeleman is only resigning as CEO. He will stay on as chairman and owns about 6% of the company. So if he doesn't want the company sold, it still probably won't happen. And even if he does, there's still the problem of finding a buyer. While the shares are beaten down, they're still not that cheap by any metric that I can see.

And then there's the reputation of the airline industry. As billionaire Richard Branson has said, "The fastest way to become a millionaire is to start off a billionaire and then buy an airline." Most of the major airlines are emerging from bankruptcy and are probably in no rush to take on a huge amount of debt buying JetBlue.

So while takeover speculation might be fun, it just doesn't really seem justified here.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) reported that Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE: HPQ) has pushed into the high-end copier market with two new multi-function color printers.
• According to people close to the matter, Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic Airways has agreed to but up to 24 of Boeing Company's (NYSE: BA) 787 Dreamliners, reported the Wall Street Journal.

• The Economic Times reported that US investment bank Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc (NYSE: LEH) will invest almost $80M in an Indian special economic zone, or SEZ, and may invest up to $300M in the venture.
• The Globe and Mail reported that Bed Bath & Beyond Inc (NASDAQ: BBBY) is looking for store locations in Canada, according to industry sources.

• TheDeal.com (subscription required) speculated that the proposed buyout of LaSalle Bank by Bank of America Corporation (NYSE: BAC) could catalyze a slew of bank acquisitions in the Chicago market, with possible acquirers including Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ: FITB) and National City Corporation (NYSE: NCC), and possible targets including TCF Financial Corp (NYSE: TCB).
• DigiTimes.com reported that the VP of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (NYSE: TSM) reportedly said that a buyout of Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (NYSE: SMI) by private equity firms would be positive.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• The Wall Street Journal reported that Sallie Mae (NYSE: SLM), the education loan company, has agreed to sell itself for $25B to J.P. Morgan Chase and Co (NYSE: JPM) and Bank of America Corporation (NYSE: BAC).
• The Wall Street Journal also reported that Google Inc (NASDAQ: GOOG) and Clear Channel Communications Inc (NYSE: CCU) have agreed to a multi-year deal in which Google will sell advertising on Clear Channel's 675-plus radio stations.

• According to the Daily Mail, Sir Richard Branson's Virgin is planning on taking on Ryanair Holdings plc (NASDAQ: RYAAY) in a air fare war for transatlantic routes.
• Nestle SA ADS (OTC: NSRGY) has reportedly placed a bid to acquire India's Mount Everest Mineral Water, according to the Economic Times.
• The U.K. Times reported that it has emerged that a key BP plc ADS (NYSE: BP) pipeline has been closed for over six months due to suspected corrosion.

For the last two weeks the average temperature in the region in which I live has failed to rise above a daytime high of 10°F. Our night time lows have stuck around -10°F. I'm sure that it's warm somewhere. I'm also sure that by the time a few of you finish reading this you'll tell me where to go ... to find warmer temperatures.

Ask any first-year student studying meteorology and I'm sure they will tell you that it is an absence of cloud cover which allows climatic heat to escape into the reaches beyond our atmosphere, resulting in cold temperatures. Our planet doesn't heat itself, the sun does. Remove the sun and this planet would become a sphere of rock-solid ice in less than twelve hours, colder than the coldest cold that you have ever imagined. No amount of carbon dioxide gas could save you from freezing into a stiff little peoplecicle.

The greenhouse gang wants you to believe that we are filling the atmosphere with gasses that are holding in heat and threatening to fry me and you. If such is the case, then the meteorologists must be wrong and it's not cloud cover which holds heat down to earth, it's invisible gasses that are doing so. I truly hope the curriculum has been adjusted at all the meteorology schools to reflect this "new truth".

I think that is why British billionaire Richard Branson has offered $25 million for an effective process to remove carbon dioxide from our atmosphere. I think that he's as tired of these scientists running amok as I am. I think he's really setting a trap to catch them in their folly. I submit to you that Richard Branson is demanding that scientists prove that what they've been saying is true. Mr. Branson is not a fool and he knows that if carbon dioxide is indeed the tangible danger that the scientific community is demanding that you and I believe it is, then someone can gather the stuff and bring it to be reviewed by me and you.

That's right: Branson, the Missouri resort-town best-known for all-you-can-eat buffets and family-friendly theaters featuring performers like the Osmonds and Anita Bryant, will now be offering casino gambling. Well, not quite. Actually, mogul of all trades Richard Branson is in negotiations to acquire a site in Macao for a $3 billion dollar casino project.

This announcement comes on the heels of Macau surpassing Las Vegas in gaming revenue. Now, it looks like the former Portuguese enclave (now back under Chinese control) will have its own flamboyant casino mogul to rival Steve Wynn and Donald Trump.

His official name is Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson. But, of course, he is certainly not stuffy.

He has incredible vision, and tremendous business skills, and he likes to challenge conventional widsom. And the formula has padded his bank account with a net worth in excess of $3 billion.

Now Branson wants to give it away to deal with the challenges of global warming. Over the next 10 years he is going to invest up to $3 billion to attack the problem. The proceeds will come from 100% of profits from a variety of his businesses at Virgin.

Basically, he will focus on renewable energy systems and technologies.

I'm sure Branson's email inbox is overflowing right now with pitches. With soaring oil prices, there has been an influx of startup companies trying to find ways to provide alternative energy approaches. This should also be good news for the long-term prospects of ethanol companies such as VeraSun (VSE) and Pacific Ethanol (PEIX), which has Microsoft's Bill Gates as an investor.

Tom Taulli is the author of various books, including the Complete M&A Handbook and operates InvestorOffering.com.