An interview with Markus Harris, the Director of Communications for the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, gives us good insight into what propels one to buy a watch and what kinds of watches are hot right now.

At the time of the interview which was conducted by The Palm Beach Post, Mr. Harris was asked what kind of watch he was wearing? The answer may surprise you However, his bottom line is that watches are emotional purchases, things that are bought because they become family heirlooms and as in Harris’ case, that doesn’t mean it has to cost a lot.

He wears a 1906 Elgin pocket watch bought by his great-grandfather and which has been in his family for three generations. Because of its gold case it’s worth about $300, but that’s it. These days with the price of gold having sky-rocketed it’s hard to buy a gold watch for that amount.

Being made out of gold is one thing that will make a watch expensive. The brand that produces the watch is also a factor, if it is a jewelry watch or not, what kind of movements it has and what other precious metals may be used – such as gold and platinum. Many watches are made from stainless steel and the watchmaking industry is also using titanium and carbon fiber to create new looks and light-weight timepieces.

The number of complications of a luxury watch also contributes to the price – a second hand, chronometer, chimes and other features are “extras”, as can be the decorative design / engraving, etc.

A brand like Rolex, because of its name and reputation, can and does command high prices. However, there are many, many luxury watches produced by smaller, boutique – like companies that are so unique and produced in such limited editions that they can command upwards of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Of course, these pieces are sure to be jewelry watches, decked out in diamonds and other jewels.

Fans of Rolex watches will always love owning and buying more Rolexes, however today, there are so many choices that it almost seems “passe” to buy a Rolex. A lot of celebrities favor Rolex and this has kept the brand alive, especially among today’s young rich and famous. Other brands favored by celebrities include Breitling and Audemars Piguet. Of course, Cartier watches will always be loved and sought after.

Another thing which can influence the price of a watch is when it was made. There is a comeback in vintage watches. Like vintage cars, if the piece has been well preserved and runs well, then it can fetch an even higher price because it will appeal to people’s emotions and memories of the “old times.”

When asked about his favorite watch, Mr. Harris responds that he currently likes anything by Gallet and has always been a fan of Patek Philippe. When it comes to American-made watches he has an affinity for those from the 1950’s, specifically the Omega Speedmaster and Rolex Oyster.

When asked what he thinks is the most “important” watch today, he responds by saying he likes some of the experimental designs of Japanese watches (the one Japanese brand that most people know is Seiko) and that URWERK’s UR 202 is “quite intriguing; the mechanical use of twin turbines in an automatic. That’s cutting-edge horology.” URWERK is a German company that was founded by two brothers in 1997. Taken from the company’s website, a description of the UR 202 reads “time on the UR-202 is displayed using telescopic minute hands operating through the middle of three orbiting and revolving hour satellites. It is the world’s first wristwatch featuring an innovative new winding system regulated by compressing air utilizing miniature turbines.”

Mr. Harris is not the first to make comment of what has become the “trend of the year” among luxury watches, which is that the difference between men’s watches and women’s watches is fading; many companies don’t want to market a watch as one or the other anymore because many women favor the larger faced watches that are made for men and men are starting to favor jewelry watches more as well. Vintage watches are making a comeback among both groups.

Anyone that wants to skydive for the first time trying to became an experienced skydiver have to first understand the basic rules and all the risks that exist in skydiving. Doing it, the level of risks in this sport will be greatly reduced.

Like all extreme sports, this one has an age restriction too, set at 18 years. Not even a parent can’t sign documents in order for a minor to jump. 18 years or older, no exceptions here. In order to be 100% sure that your landing will not bring up any problems, you must weight not more than 250 pounds.

You need to be in good health even if skydiving is not very demanding from this point of view. If you can pull your chute line, you can skydive at it’s best, and this was never a problem for people.

Some teachers could let you do your first jump all alone if you want. Usually you can make your first jump after 5 to 6 hours of ground training. You can do your ground training and your first jump in the same day.

You should never wear clothes that will limit your moves, sandals or open toed shoes. You should always wear clothes you best feel in and running shoes. You can also bring with you glasses or contacts, the goggles you will be provided with, will fit over with no problem. Your skydiving jump will consist of 30 seconds of free fall and 30 second to land.

Most people feel the free falling like a great flying experience.

Even if skydiving as a sport, envolves risks, if you are good trained you can call skydiving a very safe sport because bad injures and death are unlikely.

You will just have to learn learn and learn all you can about this great extreme sport and you will do great. Discuss every aspect of this sport with your friends, family or any other experienced skydiver and you will grow in knowledge, you will develop your skills and in the same time you will be more secure of yourself.

YAY People! Friday! And you know what that means… tomorrow is Saturday! WOOHOO!

I’m going to eat a burger this weekend.

I’m going skydiving this weekend.

I’m meeting Oprah this weekend.

I’m joining the Free Masons this weekend.

I’m selling Lemonade this weekend.

I’m hunting a shark this weekend.

I’m swimming the English Channel this weekend.

I’m making a paper plane this weekend.

I’m lying a lot about what I’m doing this weekend…. eating the burger may happen. I can’t guarantee the rest. Even my paper planes are shite.

But its weekend!!! And I have Monday off. WOOHOO! It’s the little things, I know.

The Luminox Navy SEAL dive watch, one of the American company’s most most esteemed watches was released just 4 years after the company started business. The story began when U.S. Navy Procurement officer Nick North heard stories of a watch that boasted an effective new concept to watch technology.

This amazing new function was an illumination system that needed no exposure to environmental or indoor light sources or the use of batteries. In other company’s watches, even the dimmest glow needs contact with an outside light source. Not so with the Luminox watch. Utilizing mini gas lights or borosillcate glass capsules embedded on the hands, markers and bezel, this new technological advancement could function even in complete darkness.

The Lumionx company applied this proprietary illumination technology to create a customized watch for the U.S. Navy SEAL team. It would become the SEALs standard issue dive watch for night time missions. The technology of this watch – now on the public market – ensures one can see all the information you need at a glance, at any hour of the day, even in complete darkness. The system of capsules is guaranteed to last for 25 years.

Once word got around about the power of the Luminox lighting system, the company was courted by the US Air Force to create a watch for pilots flying the F-117 Nighthawk Stealth Fighter Jet. The pilots, who had already taken to the watch made for the SEALs were seeking a watch customized to their own needs, so Luminox custom-designed a new watch, acquiring the the privilege from Lockheed Martin, builders of the F-117 Nighthawk to use a picture of the plane for their marketing campaigns. A more lucrative contract followed with an exclusive deal to design more watches devoted to other combat aircraft such as the F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-22 Raptor and SR-174 Blackbird.

Nowadays it is not just U.S. Navy SEALS and Air Force Pilots who wear Luminox watches. Many other prestigious governmental organizations have assumed Luminox as their favoured watch, including ATF and FBI government agents and Border Patrol units.

Certain Law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Military have even made Lumionx-like illumination system a compulsory item in their required equipment issue, as noted in procurement specification MIL-W-46374F. Obviously the ability to comprehend vital information in complete blackness is an essential requisite of many such agencies.

Since its early days, the Luminox watch company have gone from strength to strength. Today Luminox watches are offered in 40 countries around the world. With a reputation that continues to grow based on the success of the Luminox Navy SEAL dive watch, consumers have quickly taken to the consumer version of the diving watch, possibly concluding that if the watch is adequate enough for Elite members of the U.S. Navy Forces, then it can manage their recreational uses.

Anyone that wants to skydive for the first time trying to became an experienced skydiver have to first understand the basic rules and all the risks that exist in skydiving. Doing it, the level of risks in this sport will be greatly reduced.

Like all extreme sports, this one has an age restriction too, set at 18 years. Not even a parent can’t sign documents in order for a minor to jump. 18 years or older, no exceptions here. In order to be 100% sure that your landing will not bring up any problems, you must weight not more than 250 pounds.

You need to be in good health even if skydiving is not very demanding from this point of view. If you can pull your chute line, you can skydive at it’s best, and this was never a problem for people.

Some teachers could let you do your first jump all alone if you want. Usually you can make your first jump after 5 to 6 hours of ground training. You can do your ground training and your first jump in the same day.

You should never wear clothes that will limit your moves, sandals or open toed shoes. You should always wear clothes you best feel in and running shoes. You can also bring with you glasses or contacts, the goggles you will be provided with, will fit over with no problem. Your skydiving jump will consist of 30 seconds of free fall and 30 second to land.

Most people feel the free falling like a great flying experience.

Even if skydiving as a sport, envolves risks, if you are good trained you can call skydiving a very safe sport because bad injures and death are unlikely.

You will just have to learn learn and learn all you can about this great extreme sport and you will do great. Discuss every aspect of this sport with your friends, family or any other experienced skydiver and you will grow in knowledge, you will develop your skills and in the same time you will be more secure of yourself.

Sitting between two Sumo wrestlers from the larger parts of Japan, I’m flying from LAX to SLC to spend this holiday with my familyand friends. It’s uncomfortable as hell, but some things are simply worth the hassle.

This is of course, one of them, but I’m planning on holding my expression of appreciation for the hassle until I’m no longer a head jammed between two separate sets of shoulders. Visualize a bowling ball stuck in a very narrow alleyway, halfway up from the street.

I’m actually grateful for the opportunity to be flying home as I was teaching today until 4:00 and didn’t leave for LAX at 3:00 as planned. A student who’d sworn up and down that she wouldn’t be later than noon showed up at 1:30 and we didn’t get into the sky until 3:00, about the same time I’d meant to leave for LAX.  But…I’m also incredibly grateful for the opportunity to teach.  In fact, it means more to me than ever. I’ll never be a world competitor-level skydiver again, and I’ll never be able to keep up with the twenty-somethings that can kick my ass backwards from Monday. But I do love the thrill of teaching, and will do so until the day I’m wormfodder.

Getting to LAX was stressful (LA traffic is usually about as relaxing as dodging seagull poop bombs falling on a busy pier) and true to form, the hurriedier I go, the behinder I get. The 91 freeway North had an accident. And of course, so did the 110. AND the 105. I needed to be at the airport by 5:30 to catch my flight, and at 6:15 I was pulling into the long-term parking lot. Not a good omen.

I’m grateful to a friend for talking me through the drive and keeping me calm while I was contemplating jumping out of my truck and screaming “I’ve got a temper and I’m not afraid to use it!” and hoping that would clear traffic ahead. That could have begun a bad day… Thankfully, my flight was magically delayed and I got through security just in time to catch the flight, even though it had been delayed by 30 minutes. Glad for the “no baggage” thing.

So back to the two Sumo wrestlers and the unmentioned guy across the aisle….

The gentleman seated across from me is having a discussion with his wife about “regifting” and how horrid it is, “how could anyone do such a thing?” What makes this eavesdropping really uncomfortable is that in order to listen in, I’m practically nose to nipple with the oversized man-boob of the 350 pounder sitting next to me. And I don’t want to rile him any (he’s sleeping, or pretending to be. Or maybe his eyelids are simply as overweight as he is, I’m not sure). But…the conversation is one I’d really like to jump into. We’ve all received weird gifts in the past, right? Yet my plane-mate is proclaiming that re-gifting is right up there with cheating at cards, taking the quarters from your daughter’s pile of tip change, or thumbing through Cosmo in the checkout line (it’s a Utah thing….)

Hmmm…I for one, don’t have a lot of use for the gallon of  Old Spice that I received for Christmas one year. And the Chia Pet head of George W. Bush? It’s either gonna get round-filed or handed off to someone as a joke gift, or maybe as repayment for the strip monopoly game I got for my 40^th birthday. Either way…it seems a shame to throw away a gift that is still shrink-wrapped. I’d return it, but the day after Christmas, Walmart immediately lowered the Chia-head of the president from 49.99 to 2.99. It  wasn’t worth the gas cost to drive to the store’s return department.

Which brings me to another reason I like re-gifting; Return Departments. Have you ever braved one the day after Christmas?

I’m thinking that the French had a better time of it against the English Armada.
Very Large People In Polyester fighting for space in an area smaller than most corrals,  these anti-regifters sound akin to braying donkeys as they argue with return clerks about why they should get regular price for something they’re returning even though the post-Christmas price is 90% off of whatever it was paid for. It was a gift, it cost them NOTHING! Whatever happened to “It’s the thought that counts?”

Duh…it’s also a new profit program, right? Mark up an item 150% of cost, then discount it by 50% of the retail price, which still engenders a profit margin of 50%, then discount it by 90something percent the day after the holiday and still clear a minimal profit for the fast turnaround.

It’s amazing the crap people will buy in the Christmas buying frenzy. Honestly….how many of your friends really NEED a Ped-Egg, and how many of them are wondering if they have funky feet and you’re trying to be diplomatic with your gift?  When I got a gallon of Old Spice, I found my insecurities wondering if I smelled so badly that only a worser smell could mask the olfactory offensives?  That  24 pack of battery-operated personal fans…let it sit right where it will be the day after Christmas. Honest. I don’t want/need one. Although they could be fun in freefall….Hmmmm….. Silly String is really fun in free fall too.

Back to reality here tho; I am a grateful person. This year, I’ve learned more about life than I had in the previous lifetime. If I were a cat, I’ve used up eight of my nine. I’m gonna make this last one count. I’m grateful for the thoughts sent my way, and I’m grateful for all the love and support sent my way. I’m appreciative of the cards, letters, emails….and I’m gonna re-gift them all. I promise, if you sent me some love, some support, a card, a happy thought, I’m going to re-gift it and pass it along.

Re-wrapped, of course.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours from my very humble trailer in Lake Elsinore, California.

The thrill of Las Vegas is not only in its casinos and desert but meters into the sky, as you are on track for one of the most memorable experiences of your life. Some extreme sports Las Vegas "centers offer tandem jumps and accelerated freefall (AFF). Enjoy the spectacle of Las Vegas Strip. Mount Charleston. Red Rock Canyon as you are ready for the trip of your life. Freefall for about 60 seconds ago, and then a parachute, 5-7 minutes enough to take time offmore.

Las Vegas Skydiving Center

Las Vegas Skydiving Center offers people aged over 18 and in good physical condition can do a tandem jump with a Jumpmaster trained. After basic training you are driving and flying at a height of nearly 2 miles and freefall for almost a minute at 120 miles per hour and then placed on earth in your square parachute. He is the chief instructor of Las Vegas Skydiving Center With over 14,000 jumps,Experienced skydiver in Nevada. For bikers who want to use the parachute more serious the occasion, is accelerated freefall or AFF program. This is essentially a course of 7 followed by parachute jumps that alone!

Schedule and Fees

Tandem jumps cost $ 185, but beware special discounts throughout the year that the work of the sales of autumn. A deposit of $ 29.75 is required in advance. Advanced Free Fall Program (AFF), from $ 99 for ground training and $ 224 for each phase of the program. AfterShe graduated and are ready to individuals, you can continue to do in Las Vegas Skydiving Center, where you can pass rental equipment and coaching techniques used to tune all parachuting.

Skydive Las Vegas

Located south of Las Vegas 1401 Airport Road. Boulder City. Skydive Las Vegas is a center of extreme sports is allowed to parachute into the ground Boulder City Airport. Fly to the drop zone in a Cessna P206 or a super-turbine Cessna Caravan. A 249, one U.S. dollarsTandem from 15,000 feet to discover the joy and freedom of skydiving. A $ 50 per person is required in advance. Prices are offered a reduced value at different times of the year and review. Consider also the house with your digital photos or videos remember to take the experience of a lifetime. Go to the airport by yourself or book a shuttle service and get to choose from a central location of the Strip. The shuttle takes you back to the pick-upPeriod.

Friends Link : Best HDTV Best HDTV For You Convection Oven

Anyone that wants to skydive for the first time trying to became an experienced skydiver have to first understand the basic rules and all the risks that exist in skydiving. Doing it, the level of risks in this sport will be greatly reduced.

Like all extreme sports, this one has an age restriction too, set at 18 years. Not even a parent can’t sign documents in order for a minor to jump. 18 years or older, no exceptions here. In order to be 100% sure that your landing will not bring up any problems, you must weight not more than 250 pounds.

You need to be in good health even if skydiving is not very demanding from this point of view. If you can pull your chute line, you can skydive at it’s best, and this was never a problem for people.

Some teachers could let you do your first jump all alone if you want. Usually you can make your first jump after 5 to 6 hours of ground training. You can do your ground training and your first jump in the same day.

You should never wear clothes that will limit your moves, sandals or open toed shoes. You should always wear clothes you best feel in and running shoes. You can also bring with you glasses or contacts, the goggles you will be provided with, will fit over with no problem. Your skydiving jump will consist of 30 seconds of free fall and 30 second to land.

Most people feel the free falling like a great flying experience.

Even if skydiving as a sport, envolves risks, if you are good trained you can call skydiving a very safe sport because bad injures and death are unlikely.

You will just have to learn learn and learn all you can about this great extreme sport and you will do great. Discuss every aspect of this sport with your friends, family or any other experienced skydiver and you will grow in knowledge, you will develop your skills and in the same time you will be more secure of yourself.

Anyone that wants to skydive for the first time trying to became an experienced skydiver have to first understand the basic rules and all the risks that exist in skydiving. Doing it, the level of risks in this sport will be greatly reduced.

Like all extreme sports, this one has an age restriction too, set at 18 years. Not even a parent can’t sign documents in order for a minor to jump. 18 years or older, no exceptions here. In order to be 100% sure that your landing will not bring up any problems, you must weight not more than 250 pounds.

You need to be in good health even if skydiving is not very demanding from this point of view. If you can pull your chute line, you can skydive at it’s best, and this was never a problem for people.

Some teachers could let you do your first jump all alone if you want. Usually you can make your first jump after 5 to 6 hours of ground training. You can do your ground training and your first jump in the same day.

You should never wear clothes that will limit your moves, sandals or open toed shoes. You should always wear clothes you best feel in and running shoes. You can also bring with you glasses or contacts, the goggles you will be provided with, will fit over with no problem. Your skydiving jump will consist of 30 seconds of free fall and 30 second to land.

Most people feel the free falling like a great flying experience.

Even if skydiving as a sport, envolves risks, if you are good trained you can call skydiving a very safe sport because bad injures and death are unlikely.

You will just have to learn learn and learn all you can about this great extreme sport and you will do great. Discuss every aspect of this sport with your friends, family or any other experienced skydiver and you will grow in knowledge, you will develop your skills and in the same time you will be more secure of yourself.

I got to cross a big thing off my bucket list this week.

Falling out of a perfectly good plane, for no good reason – aka skydiving! I have had friends who love skydiving. I have even gone and been the cheering squad when they did that. And I often had the thought – that looks like fun. Of course, I also had the thought – they must be crazy, you couldn’t pay me to do that.

So, of course, it wound up on my bucket list. Then while planning the year of events with the Diva Development Committee of Success in the City – we came up with the idea of ‘confronting fear, embracing risk’ as a topic for a panel discussion. And one of our members said – wouldn’t it be cool to go skydiving as part of the event?

I never said I wasn’t crazy, so I immediately agreed to participate. Then, to make sure I wouldn’t back out, I registered, and then paid for it (knowing there were no refunds).

Well, after two false starts due to weather, we did it. AND IT WAS AMAZING!!!

We are all planning to do it again.

And now the huge goals I have set for myself in my business don’t seem quite as scary.

I dreamed of flying since I was a little kid. My friend Eddie showed me it was possible. This video, taken by my friend Ethan, shows me skydiving indoors at Skyventure, in Orlando, in April 2009:

© Sheri Jordan and Aunt Sheri Says, 2009-2010.

Greedy to be in the spotlight everytime, celebrities have always tried all kinds of extreme sports. Nowadays many actors got into aviation business and obtained a pilot licence.

Maybe some of you are aware of John Travolta as one of a kind actor, but also a one of a kind pilot.  With over 5000 flying hours he obtained a pilot certificate and a very significant contract with Breitling for advertising their watches. In case of Breitling and John Travolta, it is deep passion for aviation and great experience in the field.

The Sun announced that Michael Jackson’s kids had tried indoor skydiving in a flight simulator. Both Prince Michael and Paris were visiting Hollywood’s Universal Studios (accompanied by aunt La Toya) and decided to try their hand at the skydiving. They couldn’t stop laughing as they defied gravity when their bodies floated on a cushion of air.

Another famous pilot is Angelina Jolie. Yes!  The Tomb Raider’s actress owns a 360,000 dollar Cirrus SR-22 and has been spotted taking  Brad Pitt and kids Maddox, Zahara and baby Shiloh for trips in the speedy jet. Harisson Ford is a private pilot of both planes and helicopters. In March 2004, Ford officially became chairman of the Young Eagles program of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). Paris Hiloton is “addicted” to skydiving – after jumping from a plane to celebrate her birthday in 2007.

Other personalities involved in aviation (that have a pilot licence for exemple): Clint Eastwood, Senator John Forbes Kerry, Actor Morgan Freeman, Tom Cruise, Ex-American President George W. Bush, and many others.

As I was still in bed this morning trying to figure out if my body was actually going to allow me to get going for the day, I caught a glimps at the news and was suddenly awestruck by the story of Eleanor Cunningham.  At first glance, Eleanor looks just like any other grandmother, a slight woman with grey hair and glasses, a face full of wrinkles, but also a great big smile.  Eleanor turned 95 this past week, and to celebrate, this weekend she jumped out of an airplane.  This was in fact the second time she undertook this feat, the first time was five years ago when she was a young spring chicken of just 90.  In the story, her family laughed and called her daffy for doing this, but in the world I live in, Eleanor just became my biggest hero. 

I wouldn’t say that I am an adventurous type, but I have always wanted to skydive.  There are in fact, certain members of my own family that think I am a little daffy myself just for thinking about it, but that does not stop the desire to give it a try some time.  My only fear is that it would become an addictive habit.  Once I try it I would want to do it again and again.  I have a little bit of history to back me up on this one, you see I waited until I was over 40 before I finally got a tattoo, it was something I had thought about since college, and since that first time I have now been inked almost a dozen times.  And I have a feeling there will be a number more before too long.  I did come very close to taking the big leap a few years ago, a few friends from work were all making the trip together and I was rearing to go.  Unfortunately that was also the summer I twisted my knee up playing a catch in the lake with my kids, and I had surgery just a few days before the jump date.  Something tells me my doctor would not have been too happy with me if I came back the next week with it all messed up again.  So I missed that chance, but I will indeed one day jump out of a perfectly good airplane.  Hopefully before I am 95.

Eleanor’s story is an inspiration to me, and a reminder that you are never too old to live your dreams.  Sure, not all dreams are as high-flying as hers or mine, but we all have those things we have always wanted to try, but for some reason or another we have not gotten around to them.  But I never want fear to be that factor for me.  Sure, the idea of free-falling face first towards the ground does make me nervous, but so does that wait in the line for a rollercoaster.  But I love rollercoasters.  And once I get on and start that climb to the top the nervousness becomes excitement, and as I plummet from that first drop, the smile on my face can not be stopped.  I have to imagine that I would experience the same type of up and down emotions when getting ready to skydive, but I would hate to think that I would let my fears prevent me from doing something I really want to do.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that everyone should jump out of a plane to face their fears, this particular situation works for me, but if you have no desire to jump out of a plane, then doing it would just be asinine.  A friend of mine just ran the Sears Tower race this weekend.  It is 103 flights up the tower from the lobby to the observation deck.  This seems like pure stupidity to me, but that is because I don’t want to climb the stairs in my own house most of the time, why would I want to run UP the Sears Tower.  And before I get any complaints, yes, I know it is now called the Willis Tower, but until the day that Gary Coleman grows more than six-foot tall, I will continue to call it the Sears Tower.  That’s what I’m talking about Willis.

The point is, that too many people don’t do things because they are afraid.  I see this sometimes in my own kids, and it makes me nuts.  If you want to run a marathon, then just do it.  If you want to travel around Europe, then save the money and plot the time and do it.  Life is too short to spend all this time wishing you would have done something.  Of course, also take into account your other responsibilities in life.  Part of the reason I started writing this blog is because I had always wanted to try my hand at writing, but I did not quit my job to persue the writing of the all American novel.  I still have a mortgage to pay, and kids to feed.  Sure, it may lead me to writing other things, perhaps a short story or script, I may even one day try to get something published.  And even if I should get turned down, at least I would have tried.  And I would have no regrets.

Back in 2004, Tim McGraw had a hit with a song entitled Live Like You Were Dying.  The song was dedicated to his father, the late “Tug” McGraw, who was a major league pitcher for the Mets and Phillies for almost 20 years, and had passed away earlier that year.  The song was to honor his father’s free spirit mentality and to express the idea that if you lived each day like it was your last, you would then experience your life to the fullest.  Although I commend the idea behind the song, I have always had just one little problem with this idea.  Rather than living my life like it was coming towards the end, I would rather celebrate each day as a new beginning.  I would rather live like I was living, each day full of possibilities and adventure.  Sure, not every adventure is as thrilling as jumping out of an airplane, but there is also a lot of joy and excitement to be had knowing that when you get home tonight, someone has taken the time to make Sloppy Joes and Tater Tots for you just because it is one of your favorite meals.  Living your life to the fullest doesn’t mean that you give up on the everyday parts of life, but enhance them with those extra adventures from time to time.  Ride a rollercoaster.  Sing out loud, even when others are listening.  Take a trip somewhere you always wanted to go.  Kiss your kids and hug your friends.  Live like you were living.

After she had safely landed back on solid ground, Eleanor Cunningham told all of the press gathered that she hoped when she turned 100 she would be able to celebrate that birthday by taking a trip to the moon.  So maybe the old broad is a little daffy, but she is still my hero.  And who knows, with a spirit and a heart as big as hers, she might just make it there.  She doesn’t strike me as one who tends to give up easily.  Maybe we should all take a cue from Eleanor.  Do the things we want to do, be happy and spread that happiness to others.  Be a little daffy every now and then, and most importantly, live.  Just live each day as if it is a great adventure, and then let that adventure be your life.

Image from Guardian Online.

Alternative skydiving? This man is in a tracking position, vertically, but still. Who said good weather and parachutes are needed for skydiving? It’s all about creativity and innovation.

Infinite Skydiving fra Oxfordshire,England har lavet en video, hvor de stryger en tshirt i frit fald.

Hvorfor stryger de den ikke bare der hjemme?

Extreme ironing handler om, at stryge en beklædningsgenstand under så ekstreme forhold som overhovedet muligt. Du kan se en række billeder fra extreme ironing events hos Damn Coll Pics.

I think it’s a posibillity that you came across these facts on our Airsports.tv headlines.

On October 28, 2009 a skydiving event was held at Gorak Shep. During the event, world skydiving champion Wendy Smith from New Zealand, Global Angels ambassador and tandem master Tom Noonan and Wing Commander Jai Kishan from the Indian Air Force, made a successful landing at the Gorak Shep, Kala Patthar plateau, lying at an altitude of 17,192 feet (5,242m), right beside Mt. Everest. This is believed to be the highest skydiving stunt performed over highest drop zone in the world.

Picturest from the event here! http://www.everest-skydive.com/

Video here

The parachute drop zone in the area is a parachutist aims at the ground as he jumps off the plane. This is the entire area in which the diver leaves the plane and about which he drives, how it falls, and where to touch down when it hits the ground.

Therefore, the skydive drop zone, the entire region, where people learn, and then parachuting exercise. There are three ways to learn, skydiving, and each depends on the amount of time and money one is willing tospend. You can choose between tandem jumping, diving and static line accelerated free fall. Each is designed to give you the experience of skydiving in varying degrees.

The manner in which you will skydive for the first time by what you hope to draw from the experience of skydiving to be determined. Her first experiences should be designed to familiarize you with the sport, and expand your horizons and give you lots of fun and excitement.

The first type of parachute that most people involvedin tandem skydiving. It is a great way to experience skydiving with little risk and, without much preparation. In this method, parachuting, using a drogue parachute will be able to open the parachute in order for a quick descent to the exit and then slow significantly, so the descent can be used as a training tool. Most schools use tandem skydiving and jumping as a first step a student wants to try it, but many people just jumping for single tandem jumptheir lives only experience this thrill.

Tandem Skydiving means that the student is literally connected (by a belt) to the teachers during the dive. Students can choose to do nothing and enjoy the ride, or can, by taking place to learn to dive. In any case, the teacher has total control over the final dive.

Another way to learn is the static line parachuting. In this method, the parachute to a static line connected to the plane and theSkydiving takes place automatically when the divers entered, as the plane leaves.

One last chance to get to the accelerated free fall. In this method, one or more teachers, usually two to accompany the student on the go and assist and instruct him as he dives. If the students about how the parachute failed to deploy safely, the trainer can only be achieved over and show him what to do. If there is still a problem, the teacher of the student's slide to draw down. This is the quickest way to a freeAutumn diving. In general, there are at least three guided dives before the student can solo skydiving.

Trainers are responsible for determining if a student ready for a solo parachute jump, responsibility by observing how he dive into the sky dive drop zone area managed. There is nothing to consider how the first experience, if your own parachute ripcord!

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On this blog, I’ve often written about my plans to leave finance and pursue a career as a starving writer.  Of course, like forgiveness, skydiving, or not-cringing-when-viewing-an-ugly-baby, it’s easier said than done.  However, over the past few months, I have been hard at work to try and actually make it happen.

So, attached is a registered WGA spec script that I wrote a couple months ago for the TV show 30 Rock.  If you’ve seen the show and have some free time, I welcome you to give it a read.  Any comments, thoughts, and suggestions (like “don’t quit your day job,” or “my cat could craft better plots with his feces than you,” or “you are a genius sent straight from heaven to shine light in my life”) would be greatly appreciated.

And if you do reference your cat’s bowel movements, I will forgive you.  Or, at least I’ll try.

“Easy Birth Oven” – Copyrighted and registered with the WGA, 2009

The Premise: Jack unveils a new GE product for aspiring mothers.  As a result, Liz and Jenna fight over who would be the better mom.  And Tracy decides to take the SATs, to the delight of the writing staff.

After Jump for the Cause event in September this year, a team of 70 specially-qualified wingsuit skydivers will attempt to set the official US Wingsuit Formation Skydiving record in Lake Elsinore, California, today, November 11th 2009. The formation will be visible from the ground and spectators are encouraged to attend.

According to Raise the Sky website:

,, To achieve the record, the team will fly in a huge, evenly spaced, predetermined formation like a flock of birds, exiting four separate aircraft from 13,000 feet above the ground and flying for more than two miles before deploying parachutes and landing. Two judges from the United States Parachute Association (www.uspa.org) will officially ratify the record when it is complete.”

Raise the Sky is donating all benefits from the event to City Year Los Angeles.  By doing something that seems impossible to most humans, the team wants to inspire at-risk youth in Los Angeles to stay in school.

We are keeping in touch with some of the brave skydivers and will come up with updates and news about this event! So stay tunned!

Wow, another great day of flocking and jumping with the Brits here in Elsinore. Weather couldn’t have been better.

Eike had some four way stuff going on, Mark Harris and Phil Peggs organizing other smaller groups. Melanie Curtis is stunning in her wingsuit, but then again, she’s just plain “stunning.”

Winds kicked up a bit, so we saw more than a couple students backing up.

A first flight course started the morning for me personally, but the real highlight of the day was Chris Warnock appearing on the DZ with his very cool home-built wingsuit.  Marko, Chris, and myself went out together with Marko setting the base. Chris exited cleanly, flew flat and fast, with Marko and I next to him. Marko and Chris docked not once, not twice, but THREE times, giving Chris his first docking experience in a wingsuit. (BEER!). Other than finding that the winds had taken us a little too far north (over the waters of Lake Elsinore), it was a terrific jump. Chris had a few line twists under a borrowed PD Storm, but he’ll probably soon learn to keep that monstrous legwing closed in the future. Marko and I struggled to get back to the DZ, and landed on the north west side of the runway. Damn, I hate walking that far back to the packing mat. How come the students get a pick up and we had to hoof it? Tero Paukku is here with his lovely wife Lela, as are so many other wingsuiters from abroad.

Sorry gang, no pix tonight. I left my camera locked in one of the student rooms, and I haven’t a key.

Tomorrow morning bright and ugly; first flight courses with Gilead and Keith. More flockers to join us soon!

Matt Hoover Inspires Greatness in the 2009 flock. What a sense of humor!

This is insane. I still haven’t gotten the balls to sign up for skydiving. I’m not afraid of heights but I am afraid of jumping out of planes.

Did they have to yell “THAT’S IN-CREDIBLE” in unison at the end?