Sat
Dec.8
2012

There’s nothing quite like a good mind bending television show when relaxing between two trips or after a whole day of city sightseeing. Not only do you care about what goes on between the characters, you care about what is going on in the plot! Nothing sucks you in quite like a good mind-bender—especially within the worlds of science fiction and horror. Here are five of our favorite television mind-bending shows (spoiler free! Promise!):

Lost
If you haven’t yet, you must watch Lost. The writers and creators of this fantastic and intriguing show worked really hard to keep it from being the Gilligan’s Island of the new millennium. The pilot for this show was one of the most expensive to make in television history, but the effort certainly paid off! Every episode brings just another degree of “what the heck is going on?!?” while keeping enough continuity to keep you invested.

Flash Forward
This show is created by the creators of Lost and asks an interesting question: what if you did know the future, but only a part of it? The show plays with the concepts of destiny and free will better than any other has done before it. Is the future written in stone? Can the characters keep it from happening? Do they want to? If one person changes his destiny does that change the destiny of everybody else? These are the things that keep you watching one episode after the next.

The Prisoner
We don’t mean the modern version of this show. We are talking about the original version that so confounded viewers the stations airing it were flooded with angry letters. The main character wakes up in “The Village” but doesn’t know how he got there, who he is or why he keeps having visions from another life—is it his? How did he get to where he is now? Every episode tells you a little bit more but you definitely won’t see a lot of the best moments coming!

Battlestar Galactica
Go for the “reboot” or “retelling” of the story that aired on the Sci-Fi channel. After being attacked by the “Cylons,” the last of humanity is stranded in space so they set off in search of the fabled “Earth”, hoping it will be their new home. Sounds simple enough but there’s a twist: the enemy looks just like everybody else…which begs the question: who do you trust? One thing is for certain, you won’t be able to stop watching until you’ve seen the whole thing.

Dexter
Though this one isn’t mind-bendy in the “wow I didn’t see that one coming” sense, it definitely messes with your mind in a “what is he going to do next?” sense. This show, based around Dexter a man who murders almost for fun is violent and often horrific but somehow—in spite of all of the blood, Dexter is a sympathetic character.

Obviously there are other shows that provide their own excitement and mind bendiness (Twilight Zone? The early years of X-Files?) but these are some of the best and most worthy of your time. Is this list missing your favorite mind-bender? List it below!

Lifecruiser Love Mind-Benders
 

Thu
Dec.6
2012

Living in New York City can be a new and exciting adventure. New York City is full of many different kinds of opportunities. No matter your passion, you can be sure to find something that suits you. But it is important to pursue your dreams no matter what they are and this is a place where many dreams can come true.

US, New York Times SquareNY Theatre district, Image courtesy of Vikram Vetrivel

One of the most popular dreams to chase in New York is singing. Although many people think of the West Coast, NY has a ton to offer. If you are serious about your vocals you can find many venues to get the word out about your talent. There are hundreds of cafes and lounges where you can perform. Not only do many record labels have hubs in New York but also the world of Broadway employs hundreds of performers. Getting a contract or job at this level might take a lot of training and performing, but those who pull it off will never regret it.

Strengthening your vocals is also extremely important. Unlike recording artists, you do not have the luxury of having a recorded and lightly altered version of your voice. You are singing live. You must deliver. It is important to make a lasting impression with those that are listening to you.

As you look on YouTube and other places that advertise music talent, you will notice something: the common thread between all of these artists are instruments. No matter the genre of music you sing, instruments are always a great help. If you are looking to get into the music scene you should find instrument lessons. There are great benefits in living in a big city. One of which is that there are many place to receive piano lessons in New York.

Lifecruiser playing grand piano

Learning an instrument can really help you, especially when it comes to nervous energy. For many, getting up in-front of a crowd makes their hands shake and heart race. This is because they have extra energy that they need to channel. That is why many big name artists dance on stage. But, an instrument can be a way for you to get rid of your extra energy.

Voice training is one of the most important things for an artist. But when you are just beginning in this career money is hard to come by. It is not always feasible to hire a person vocal teacher. Luckily, there is another option. Many libraries carry voice lessons in their movie sections. Your first voice lesson could be as simple as going to the library and checking it out. This may not be the most ideal option, but it can be a helpful option to you.

These tips to help you with you music career could be small. But every little thing helps. Every artist had to start some where. Remember that no singing gig is too small. As long as you are performing, you are living your dream. Never forget your dream and continue to pursue it.

Lifecruiser Love Music
 

Tue
Dec.4
2012

Surfing for many is more than just a sport. It’s a passion and a way to get an adrenaline rush. However, the real thrill of surfing can only be experienced when you’ve gotten better at it.

Like any sport, surfing requires you to put in time and effort to master it. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Once you get the basics right, you’ll find that surfing can truly be an amazing adventure.

Surfer in  the water

In the following article we go look into a few tips to help you surf better…

1. Know How to Swim: First things first, surfing isn’t for non-swimmers because of the obvious dangers. You need to be a decent swimmer to ensure safety and maximum fun. Real surfers aim for the biggest waves to ride, which means they’re ready to face powerful currents. So if you don’t know swimming, learn it first.

2. Find a School or a Teacher: In order to learn surfing well, you need to be aware of the basics – right from standing on the board to approaching a wave. This is why you should find a good surfing school or an experienced instructor to start off. It’s always good to compare surfing schools and do your homework before you jump in. Remember, learning how to surf properly is good for your own safety.

3. Dress for it: Make sure you get a wetsuit before you go out there and hit the waves. It not only helps you keep warm in those chilly waters but also works as a rash guard for your skin when it gets rubbed against the board. You can rent one at a surfing school or if you’re not comfortable with it, you can always buy one – especially if you plan to surf regularly.

4. Choose a Good Board: Your surfboard needs to be durable and easy to handle, which means you should get one that is of the right size and construction. Out of these two factors, you should focus on size first. Big surfers require long boards and small surfers require short ones. As far as the construction of board is concerned, softboards are the best. If you’re planning to buy the board online, check out IsleSurfBoards.com for an affordable deal.

5. Work Out Your Arms: Surfing is a physically demanding sport. You’ll have to constantly “push up” to go through the various steps such as getting on the board, paddling and standing up. It requires a lot of arm work, which is why it makes sense to do some regular arm strengthening exercises.

Here a few safety tips to keep in mind when surfing:

• Don’t surf during heavy rains.
• Come out of the water if you get injured or sick.
• Avoid surfing near swimmers.
• Never surf alone; do it with a friend.
• Talk to lifeguards before hitting the waters.

In order to surf better, you need to keep on improving yourself. So the more you practice it while being safe, the easier it will get.

Lifecruiser Love Water Sports