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Hi it's actually a gear bag, designed to hold the rig. I think they are still doing the rig bags too for about $50 if i remember what it said on the order form correctly. "Skydiving is a door" Happythoughts

You show a suprising lack of understanding of renting VS buying and the difference you can find in regional real estate markets within the same country. Given you seemingly have bought a place, it's amazing you haven't got a greater understanding of this, but then i guess most people who have benefitted from the capital gains in the global property bubble of the last 10 years have been much like yourself - completely lucky and rather lacking in any real knowledge of property prices. Do you know that since the 1930's real property values (i.e. inflation adjusted) have only increased by approximately 2% per annum? You would have had a better return by renting if you could find a place half what a repayment mortgage would cost, and putting the other half into government bonds, one of the safest investments around. The last 10 years have been an exception to the rule, but we always return back to the statistical average - hence why we are seeing rising global interest rates and many property markets around the world are on a knife edge, basically from many owner occupiers/speculators like yourself who have got in on limited fixed term deals and are not moving to variable rates and can't understand why their debt levels are increasing and not actually being eroded over time. Totally disagree. My dad never made more that 35K a year, and is now making 18K a month due to investing in an apartment complex. I have purchased several rentals, and am paying them off in 15 years or less...or rather, my tennants are paying them off. For roughtly a 25K investment on each house, I will gain 250K in property value over 15 years, and, be able to stop working without the fear of some CEO cutting my so-called "retirement plan" that most people work thier enitre lifes for. While there is risk, with agressive payoff schedules, and proper pricing of rental rates to keep 100% occupancy, ensuring cash flow...its the only way to go. And, you have to live BELOW your means to make this happen, which most people can not do. Remember the golden rule...."He that holds the gold, makes the rules." I'm curious, what sources are you using to ascertain the value of your investment 15 years from today, particularly given the current uncertainty of the housing market globally? Also, what method do you employ to ensure a 100% long term occupancy rate? I know of not a single investor in property who is able to do that in the long term. What is the net yield you are making on your apartments? I expect you bought those apartments in the last 10 years too? The last decade has seen unprecendented capital appreciation in residential property on a global scale and it's pretty much a mainstream view that the bull run is coming to a close. The data speaks for itself - 2% inflation adjusted YoY returns on residential property according to the research Professor Robert Schiller quotes in his book "Irrational Exuberance" http://www.irrationalexuberance.com/index.htm It's funny you mention the saying "he who holds the gold, makes the rules". The funny thing about property investors is that they often get so caught up in the paper value appreciation of their assets, that when it doesn't go to plan, it quickly becomes apparent that the return was nothing more than a paper return to begin with. Property is definitely stickier on the downward slide than other asset classes, but all we have to do is look at Florida and other "hot spots" to see how paper profit can be wiped out. Cash is king, and unless someone is a cash buyer on property investments, i am wary of just how smart an investment residential housing is in the current economic climate. As always, YMMV of course, and undoubtably there are some people who get lucky, buy at the right time, and it pays off and i wish those people all the luck in the world, but in this current climate anyone jumpingonto the property investment bandwagon would probably be advised to read this guys website: www.iamfacingforeclosure.com to see what happens when it goes spectacularly wrong. "Skydiving is a door" Happythoughts

On the Odyssey order form there is an option for a rig bag for the rig you are ordering for $100 which is not a bad price, but what is the functionality and quality of the bag like? If anyone has any idea, please could you let me know. Thanks "Skydiving is a door" Happythoughts

Please explain to me how a variable rate mortgage is going to erode my debt? In today's market and the rising interest rates you'd be insane to get a VRM. The smart thing to do would be to get it fixed as low as possible and hopefully weather the storm the real estate market is going through. Because of the variable rate mortgage there is going to be a phenomenal amount of foreclosures and bankruptcies in the near future. This is because people bought more house then they could afford on a VRM. Might as well get yourself an Interest Only mortgage. I'm paying $900 a month for a 2br 2bth condo in the Galleria area in Houston. Not upscale but not the skids either. Location is the key in Houston. Hell anywhere. So I think I've got a pretty good deal here. I had planned on buying this year but things happened financially and I couldn't afford to. So I've set back my purchase plans another 2 years. YEA 2 fucking years. Hopefully by then I'll be able to swing a 150k mortgage. If not I'll be living in the boonies with a 2hr commute to my dead end job. Sucks not finishing school and getting a job instead of a career. You misunderstood my post - i agree completely with what you said - a VRM is actually not only NOT going to erode debt, but in an environment of increasing rates that we have here in the UK, the debt will increase due to the accumulated interest that has to be paid back. Here in the UK people generally have not opted for long term fixed rate mortgages - they will have them fixed for 2 or 3 years and then they revert to variable rate. People who several years ago were benefitting from 4.5+% fixed interest rates are looking at coming off of those onto a 6% rate. I agree - it's going to hit people hard, but then if you overextend or get involved in speculative investment in property without knowing what you are getting into, and in the process ramping property prices pricing people like you or I out of the market for just a place we can call our own, and raise our family, then i don't have much sympathy. Buying a property should *not* be viewed as an investment vehicle but unfortunately it has become that way because of the global inflation in house prices we have seen. Who wants to buy in at the top of a curve and risk massive debt overextension and being stuck somewhere for years to come? Not I. "Skydiving is a door" Happythoughts

I'm ordering my new rig - it gives the options of large/mini rings and also large/mini risers. I'm pretty sure my old rig had mini rings and large risers but is this a possible combination? I don;'t want mini risers because i'm 200lbs out the door, and i'm not a pro swooper so don't care about maximising efficiency through my swoop that much. Is it possible to have this combination set up? "Skydiving is a door" Happythoughts

You show a suprising lack of understanding of renting VS buying and the difference you can find in regional real estate markets within the same country. Given you seemingly have bought a place, it's amazing you haven't got a greater understanding of this, but then i guess most people who have benefitted from the capital gains in the global property bubble of the last 10 years have been much like yourself - completely lucky and rather lacking in any real knowledge of property prices. Do you know that since the 1930's real property values (i.e. inflation adjusted) have only increased by approximately 2% per annum? You would have had a better return by renting if you could find a place half what a repayment mortgage would cost, and putting the other half into government bonds, one of the safest investments around. The last 10 years have been an exception to the rule, but we always return back to the statistical average - hence why we are seeing rising global interest rates and many property markets around the world are on a knife edge, basically from many owner occupiers/speculators like yourself who have got in on limited fixed term deals and are not moving to variable rates and can't understand why their debt levels are increasing and not actually being eroded over time. "Skydiving is a door" Happythoughts

about $1900/month (when converted into dollars) on a 2 bedroom 750sq ft apartment which is actually cheap for the size here. A mortgage on the same place would be cloe to $3000/month which is just unaffordable for us so we are renting for now. "Skydiving is a door" Happythoughts

It has me really confused too--especially the energy stocks. I expected them to go up, but for a different reason. I suspected the Bush administration was keeping the price of gasoline artificially "low" to make the Republicans look good and that the price would go up after the elections if the Republicans won. I would think, though, that big oil companies would be worried about a Congress controlled by the Democrats. BTW, I really don't get why Suncor has a higher P/E than Exxon and Shell.' Walt Bush wasn't keeping oil low - it dropped off by about 25% across the board, here in the UK too. Supply has caught up with demand and exceeded it - coupled with a few OPEC members introducing cuts on their own without the cartel making a unanimous decision, and it's helped keep them low as they flounder about trying to work out what to do. As for Suncor - i don't know much about that company to be honest, but i know PE ratio's mean almost next to nothing without being compared to a myriad of other data and commentary about what's going on within the organisation so i wouldn't pay too much attention to that by itself. "Skydiving is a door" Happythoughts

I'm not an American, so i don't fully understand the political wranglings of how things work. I'm reading that this marks a huge change for the US, and policy for the next 2 years will be markedly different from the last 6. How so? Surely Bush can veto whatever he feels like? Can someone please explain what actual difference this now makes to the political machine? Thanks "Skydiving is a door" Happythoughts

I'm not in LA, but Koala is oine of my favourite dj's. I heard his first mixtape Scratchhappyland back in 96 and saw him then for the first time in London. He inspired me and my bro quite a bit in terms of dj'ing and styles. My bro decided to push forward professionally and i kept djing as a hobby. I always make a point to check him out whenever he has some new stuff come out, his shows are always unique and entertaining as well a musically cutting edge. Have fun at the show, and make sure you go even if you go alone, you won't regret it.

Can someone please explain why tech and energy in particular are strengthening as a result of Democrat gains. Thanks "Skydiving is a door" Happythoughts

Thinking about getting on for my next rig. I will be freeflying in it. Has anyone out there had any bad experiences with this rig? My research has led me to find that the main flaps have been a problem in the past, particularly when people are using canopy sizes bigger or smaller than what the rig was designed for. Is this still the case? Are there any downsides to this rig (other than high cost)? What does "K Series" actually mean? (this is what Sunpath have on their website as being the latest model). I tried on my mates and the deluxe padding plus the cut in lats made for a level of comfort that is hard to pass up. I'd be grateful if you could provide your thoughts, good and bad. Cheers "Skydiving is a door" Happythoughts

Nigel you about today (friday)? I'm going to try it out at 11.30 and might check out the instructor demo after to get a little ground footage. If anyone is thinking about coming up later, i would probably say it's going to be booked out. I got there at 8am and there was already a line. I got on for 11.30 (i think they are running about 12-15 people/hour) and it's only running until 7pm. It's only approx a 2 min flight but i'm just curious to know what an outdoor tunnel feels like. "Skydiving is a door" Happythoughts

I couldn't get on today and am toying with the idea of heading up tomorrow. It's only about 2 mins but i think the idea of flying up to 30+ ft or more off the ground in the middle of London is probably a once in a lifetime thing so i might head down, even if it will just be some simple belly work all the way. i shot a pretty poor quality 30 secs off on my phone - will post the link to skydivingmovies when i get it uploaded. Edited to add link to video http://www.skydivingmovies.com/ver2/pafiledb.php?action=file&id=5055 Anyone heading up there tomorrow am then? "Skydiving is a door" Happythoughts

Thanks mate. "Skydiving is a door" Happythoughts

Jeez that was a quick reply So how were they? Did they last a while or did you get through them quite quickly? Thanks "Skydiving is a door" Happythoughts

If so, what do you think of them? I tried the SBM 200 which was actually really nice (and a good price) but i'm thinking of getting the SBM 300 or QRM 400. For those who have no idea what i'm talking about which i'm sure is most of you, it's these things: http://www.amazon.com/HoMedics-SBM-300-Therapist-Shiatsu-Massaging/dp/B000AQE7K8 and http://www.amazon.com/Homedics-QRM-400-Massaging-Cushion-Traveling/dp/B000BGJQ26 Thanks if anyone can provide any feedback/advice "Skydiving is a door" Happythoughts

Good spot Craig - i have a class right off Russell Square tomorrow night at 6.30pm and will try and get down there early to check it out and report back on what's going on. "Skydiving is a door" Happythoughts

I was listening to the radio and the presenter was regaling us with an anecdote along these lines: "My dad used to announce 'Right, i'm going to the toilet', pick the sunday papers up and go and spend an hour and a half in the toilet. even on a bad day, i only spend 3 mins sat there and i never EVER take anything to read". Me, i can sit there a while, and without fail i NEED something to read. If i don't have anything to read, it just feels wrong. What about you guys? Readers or speeders? "Skydiving is a door" Happythoughts

Guys i want to try and plan for the future a little and invest in equities. I have always wanted to do it, but never really got around to it. I'm now determined to try and set aside £100-200/month (about $200-300) to invest. I have always followed the financial news and the markets from the sidelines, but never specific companies really, unless i happen across reading about them in a story. I never have spent time looking for "tips" or anything like that, but i have started reading the FT, WSJ (online) and Investors Chronicle. I'm wanting to get in and make some long plays and just ease myself into it and basically not get burnt. If anyone here can help me out in any way - advice, websites, stories about your own experiences etc - i would massively appreciate it. Although the amount of cash i'm looking to expose each month is pretty small by most standards, it actually represents quite a lot to me and i really want to put this money to good use rather than fritter it away. I have ordered a copy of the Naked Trader, by Robbie Burns which came recommended, and am reading Rob Schillers "Irrational Exurberance" to help keep me grounded and to give me some history. Many thanks to anyone that can help me out!

Where??? I was just looking at houses for sale in Austin, and I couldn't believe how much the prices had gone up since the last time I looked. When did you last look? "Skydiving is a door" Happythoughts

I don't own a house - priced out here in London... "Skydiving is a door" Happythoughts

Any idea what the market is like in Austin? I'm curious to know if the massive student population and the likes of Dell et al are helping prop the market up there. "Skydiving is a door" Happythoughts

Thanks for the insiders opinion, i appreciate it. The UK has seen as massive uptake of Interest Only mortgages, particularly amongst the newer first time buyers in the last 5 years, most without any specificed repayment vehicle. Capital appreciation on the property has helped with those who refinanced and shifted to a repayment mortgage, but no one knows what will happen to those with IO mortgages and no repayment vehicle - only time will tell i guess. "Skydiving is a door" Happythoughts

It seems there is a definate downturn in the market, but are the major metropolitans on the east and west coasts being affected? Anyone notice a downturn, and in particular in NYC, LA, SF and San Diego areas? Thanks! "Skydiving is a door" Happythoughts