Outdoor tools to pack for this year's adventures

The winter is the best time to go backpacking in the midst of pristine wonderlands of snow, or if that is not your cup of tea, plan your hikes and other backcountry pursuits for the coming spring and summer. Best of all, these chilly months are a great time to make a checklist of dependable tools, wares, and gadgets to make the next trips more fun and convenient. Here are some fantastic picks:  

Coleman Octagon 8 Tent.

Image Source: skcamping.com

Never mind the redundant model name. This beauty of a tent stands out not only in its bright tangerine hue, but also in its shape and features. The entire blowup resembles the yurts used by nomads and explorers across the great Himalayan mountain range. As each panel can be zipped open, this portable shelter can provide its users a 360-degree view of the surroundings. A meshed layer of inner pitch provides protection from bugs, while a double airbed allows for a plush, home-like slumber.

Backcountry Access BC Link Radio.

Image Source: rei.com

Powered by rechargeable lithium batteries and plenty of handset clips, this device allows for easy and reliable outdoor communication to a range of up to three miles. Better still, this tool is winter-proof—perfect for those who are embarking on a wintertime exploration in the hinterlands.  

Biolite Campstove USB Charger.

Image Source: gearpatrol.com

Many outdoorsmen are raving about this adventure tool, which not only allows campers to cook a meal, but also to charge a smartphone. The stove relies on twigs of wood that go into the camp stove's combustion chamber to produce smokeless heat for cooking. The heat is subsequently converted into electricity enough to power a fan and charge small electronic devices. Best of all, users can make use of this cool gadget indoors, in case of power interruption. This multipurpose device is definitely worth owning.  

Lawyer, entrepreneur, and realty consultant Carl Rheuban loves to unwind by embarking on nature trips across the vast outdoors of California. Know more about his other interests on this Twitter page.

Hot prospects in store for real estate in 2015

If forecasts are considered, 2015 bodes well for most areas of real estate.

Riding on the strength of an economy steadily recuperating from a disastrous fall in 2008, commercial construction across the U.S. will continue its moderate but certain growth as vacancy rates drop substantially. 

Image Source: theconstructionsolutionsgroup.com

According to Forbes.com's Bill Conerly, spending on warehouse, office spaces, and other non-residential properties has shot up 10 percent and office construction increased 17 percent.  Consequently, office vacancy decreased by 16 percent.  Likewise, hotels have enjoyed higher occupancy rates than the previous year.  The forecast is indeed rosy, insofar as demand and revenues are concerned.  

Image Source: ais1.com

Glad tidings also await residential realtors.  The economic recovery trickles down to the housing market.  Not only big housing markets like Dallas and Los Angeles are benefiting from the upswing, but also mid-sized cities and upcoming markets like Des Moines, Minneapolis, and Phoenix, and even formerly worst-hit markets like Atlanta. 

The better news is that the strength displayed by these cities is not merely built on a house of cards:  most of these cities have gained enough traction to witness further growth in the next five years.  Realtor.com presents a list of hot housing markets to dominate the industry in the coming year. 

Image Source: incomepropertyusa.com

Meanwhile, on the global real estate front, many parts of Europe are beginning to pick up the pace as they gradually recover from political and economic uncertainty in the last few years. 

UK-based real estate consultancy firm Knight Frank notes a growing demand in luxury properties in that side of the world.  Forbes has now touted previously troubled cities like Dublin, Rome, and Madrid as rising stars in top-tier real estate.  Meanwhile, newly developed neighborhoods in mega-cities like London, Geneva, and Paris are also on the rise. 

Besides managing his renewable energy business, Carl Rheuban is a property consultant with decades of experience in real estate. Subscribe to this blog and be informed about the trends shaping the real estate industry.

High-tech dives: New gears to bring underwater

One of the cardinal rules of scuba diving is to have the proper gear and equipment every session. And these days, these gadgets are of high-tech variety which makes underwater exploration more exciting for enthusiasts.

Image Source: 101scubadiving.com

For example, news of a digital scuba mask that features a heads-up display has caught the interest of many scuba enthusiasts. Currently in development, the Scubus S is seen by many as the underwater Google Glass. Designed as an alternative to existing high-end scuba system, the built-in, heads-up display can show time, depth, and water temperature, and has a chat function for communicating with other divers. The chat function is especially fascinating as efforts continue in successfully delivering underwater wireless communications.

Image Source:  news.discovery.com

Another diving gear that made the headlines recently was the Exosuit. The Iron Man-like suit allows divers to safely navigate up to 1,000 feet (305 meters) underwater and for as long as 50 hours without experiencing any of the pressure-induced side effects usually associated with deep sea diving. The Exosuit was used during the Antikythera shipwreck exploration last October, which yielded numerous archeological treasures, including ancient bronze and marble statues.

Image Source: theverge.com

Just like in any field, the introduction of new technology heightens the interest of followers. For diving professionals and enthusiasts, this holds true as well, as the development of the Scubus S and Exosuit promises a more rewarding time underwater.

Carl Rheuban is an accomplished attorney, educator, author, and financier, who spends his free time scuba diving. Follow this Google+ page for more scuba diving news and discussions.

Tricks required: Business lessons from magic

Magic tends to fall under the realm of entertainment, thus it can be quite a surprise when some people associate it with business management. But as Eran Yaniv, CEO of startup firm Perfecto Mobile stressed in his article for Entrepreneur.com, there are business lessons that can be learned from doing magic. And he should know; Mr. Yaniv worked as a magician prior to becoming chief executive.

Image Source: creativitypost.com

Alex Stone, author of “Fooling Houdini” would agree, too. As he explained in this FastCompany.com article, “Creativity is about questioning assumptions. … Every kind of creative endeavor is a sort of magic trick."

Image Source: vulture.com

So what tricks do magicians have up their sleeves that carry valuable lessons for the business community? As those familiar with the art can attest, magicians need to keep reinventing their performance in order to stay ahead of the competition. The same is true in business; companies need to constantly innovate to keep their competitors guessing.

Image Source: boreme.com

Reinvention also keeps a magician’s audience interested. In business, innovation keeps products and services relevant to customers and clients. And keeping the audience engaged, as any magician knows, is the most essential part of the act. A magician cannot truly claim success if his audience is not captivated by his tricks. Success, too, isn’t genuine for companies that do not attract loyal patrons or returning clients.

With the sleight of hand, magicians can create spellbinding moments. Business leaders can take their cue from these enchanting performers; those who can create a “wow” moment for stakeholders, clients, and customers know that they have made a difference.  

A member of the Academy of Magical Arts and Sciences and the International Brotherhood of Magicians, business executive Carl Rheuban performs magic tricks before intimate and big crowds during his spare time. Follow this Twitter account for related links on the world of magic.

REPOST: iPad + Lego + stage magic = brilliance

The creative applications of stage magic can lead to amazing results that wow audiences—and work well as advertisements for new products. Michelle Starr of CNET.com reports on German stage magician Simon Pierro, who uses iPads in a promotional trick for the LEGO Group.

Image Source: cnet.com

 German stage magician Simon Pierro has made something of a name for himself as the "iPad magician" -- using an iPad tablet to perform sleight-of-hand that is pretty amazing -- even watching it on YouTube. However he does it, it's certainly very clever.

Thematically, it goes hand-in-hand with Lego Fusion -- a strange hybrid of building with Lego bricks and playing a game on the iPad, once you have scanned your creations into the app. So Pierro, at the behest of Lego, will be making appearances in Lego stores, working his iPad magic -- with Lego bricks.

"What do you get when you cross Lego bricks, an iPad, and a magician? Cool magic!" Lego wrote. "Watch internationally famous magician Simon Pierro as he puts Lego bricks into his iPad and then pours them back out again."

This is just the first of a series of Lego iPad magic videos from Pierro. If you know how he does it, keep it to yourself: it's much more fun to wonder.  

Businessman Carl Rheuban is also an avid practitioner of stage magic. Visit this page for more on his passions.

Magicians and their sleight of hand

In a short YouTube video, a man shares what he does whenever he runs out of cash and he forgets his wallet and his credit cards: He holds five $1 bills in his hand, starts counting them one by one, and folds them. One quick toss and suddenly, the $1 bills become five $100 bills.

He made the change astoundingly fast, smooth, and natural. No amount of attention paid into that video can catch how it's done.

The man in the video is Carl Rheuban. Aside from his real estate consultancy and entrepreneurial endeavors, he has been performing tricks with bills and cards before big and small crowds for almost 60 years.

The secret---the quickness of hand, that is---is not really clandestine. Such talent has been known, discussed, and revealed for centuries, but not everyone is bound to possess the ability to deceive even the keenest eye with swift and suave maneuvers.

Part of "The Secrets of Stage Conjuring" by the great illusionist Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin includes one of the earliest writings on the sly power of the hand, which he so artfully described: "My hands are short ... but that very shortness is a virtue, if not a beauty. The dexterity of the fingers is in inverse proportion to their length."

The skill relies not solely on the physiology of the hand, of course. As succinctly told in a 1912 book titled "Our Magic," the success of a magical act hinges on the workings of the mind: The real art in performance magic is largely intellectual. It requires a great deal of mental discipline to achieve precision and technical adeptness. Rheuban says he has done the trick many times. But because of the profound skill that goes into it, it never fails to elicit spectacular reactions.  

Whenever he is not busy managing his businesses, Carl Rheuban performs magic tricks before intimate and big crowds. Visit this website to know more about his skills.

Carl Rheuban has been a Life Member of the Magic Castle for over 40 years.

The Magic Castle is both a building and a membership club in Hollywood, California that is devoted to the art and craft of magic as an entertainment vehicle.  Only members and their guests are allowed to enter this castle-like structure.  Inside you will find a Victorian décor.  Lots of velvet, torches and secret passageways add to the fun.  Bars and restaurants are in the castle as are many performance venues.  While there are many levels of membership, Magician Members are actively practicing their craft as a hobby or a career.  Every night that the Castle is open, you can watch members give performances.  The castle is actually organized around a non-profit academy devoted to the advancement of magic.  

 

Image Source: wikipedia.org

To become a magician member, a person needs to apply, pay a membership fee and be able to demonstrate a knowledge of magic and perform an audition in front of an interview committee.  Carl Rheuban, who has practiced magic for 60 years, became a life member over 40 years ago. Since Rheuban specializes in close-up and parlor effects with coins and cards, he fits well into the Castle venue.  In fact, the structure contains venues specifically for close-up and parlor tricks.

 

Image Source: magiccastle.com

One effect that Carl Rheuban likes to perform is one that he has up on YouTube, in which he changes five $1 bills into five $100 bills before your eyes.  He notes that viewers love this trick, wishing they could make it work for them when money is tight.  

 

Image Source: tripadvisor.com 

In addition, to receiving privileges to visit the Castle, members can bring guests and can access one of the world’s most extensive libraries on magic and related areas.  

If you ever have the opportunity to visit the Magic Castle, make sure you do so.  It is an experience you will not forget.