> Excellent work, Dick.

This isn't reddit.

http://jacquesmattheij.com/The+Unofficial+HN+FAQ#downvoted

Richard = Dick.

Nope. Dick is a nickname that many people with the first name Richard use, but it's both rude and incorrect to use the name Dick for a Richard who doesn't go by Dick.

Uh, you might want to look up the word "literally". I don't even find them terribly similar.

Actually, the part where he details the stats is practically verbatim. There are some nuances between both articles, but he could have provided a link to his sources. It always helps to learn more.

Edit: After completing the Times article and rereading R. Branson's, I can confirm that the general flow is the same. In some parts, he only just paraphrases or summarizes, but the information is really the same.

I can actually see quite distinct similarities in the general flow of the article i.e. the sequence of subjects he touches.

Parts are word for word identical. In school, this would be rightly be called plagiarism and probably get you in a lot of trouble. Not the point here, obviously, but sloppy nonetheless.

I clearly didn't read close enough, there are absolutely full sentences lifted from the referenced article. I would never be caught dead doing something so silly, certainly not in such a public and (seemingly) outspoken capacity.