Abstract: A system and method which allows real estate investors to realize the liquidity, diversification, real time pricing, low costs, market valuation, and other advantages heretofore associated with investing in stocks, bonds, and commodities. A preferred embodiment of the invention allows a real estate institution representative to list a property with the invention by entering information about the property into a database. This information is validated, and a number of shares is assigned to the property. Once assigned by the present invention, property shares can be traded among investors. The present invention also allows an investor to research properties and to evaluate property attractiveness at various share prices.

Abstract: A stabilized spar buoy construction for deep sea operations including an elongated submerged hull having a selected volume and a selected water plane area, mooring lines connecting the bottom portions of the hull with the sea bottom, said hull having oil storage chambers and variable ballast chambers to establish and maintain a constant center of gravity of the spar buoy at a selected distance below the center of buoyancy of the spar buoy, a riser system extending through a through passage-way in the hull, a riser float chamber having pitch oscillations of the same amplitude as the hull and maintaining tension on the riser system and minimizing pitch motions therein, the bending stresses in the riser system between the sea floor and the riser float chamber being minimized by maintaining a selected constant distance between the center of gravity and the center of buoyancy under different load conditions of the spar buoy, said variable ballast chambers in the hull extending above the oil storage chambers.

Abstract: A transfer apparatus and method utilizing a boom having complete spatial freedom. The boom is supported by a series of ropes and may be moved in any of three mutually parallel planes so as to transfer material in any desired manner, as by utilizing a conveyor system or a lifting rope.