Lola

My requirements are specific and very crucial. Please read everything below before recommending. Thank you, and sorry about the length! I need my notebook to be portable (15" tops, and ideally 13") and light. Battery life must be at least 4 hours--but the longer the better, of course. Also, I do a lot of drawing with a tablet/music making/filmmaking/video editing, and I CANNOT have my notebook crashing on me. I need a machine that is fast and reliable in this aspect. Design/appearance matters, but less than the other requirements, mentioned above. The brand is very important to me--not because I care about having a brand-name notebook, but because I have a very limited knowledge of the hardware of computers (and cannot understand all those tech-savvy blogs' reviews about Intel Core Telemumble jumble CPU XIDUGidh Processing Firesomething bluesomething tooth), and I need a company that is good with after service. Price is not an issue, but I do want to know about value--and whether it matches up to the price.

I'm leaning towards LG and Samsung (although their notebooks aren't rated very high on the blogs I checked), because I live in South Korea, and both brands are top brands in SK-- and therefore the most reliable and quick about responding to customer complaints.

However, I'm very seriously considering a Mac. I'm scared to change from PC to Mac (especially because Korea is a Mac-unfriendly place and so getting Mac tech help or Mac products would be more of a chore) but the one reason I'm considering this is because an overwhelming number of people recommended a Mac to me for my needs (filmmaking, recording/making music). I also heard that Rian Johnson used a plain ol' MacBook (earlier gen) to record for his movie, Brick--and I was impressed with how professional the result was.

You don't have to answer all of my questions--just an informed opinion on any one of the questions I asked would be helpful. Thank you very much!

I like tv shows with a witty, or at least compelling script. If the script is lacking, the show must make up for it in style and good-looking people.

TV shows I watch/like: True Blood, Skins, House. Some Gossip Girl.

I hated One Tree Hill. I hated the OC after the first season. I hate the concept of Lost--seems pretty dumb. Anything by Josh Whedon? Pretentious. Buffy reminds me of the 90s: depressing and ugly. I dont like mediocre dramas, either. Oh and no Desperate Housewives--I want shows with younger people. They dont have to be teens, necessarily, but at least not milfs.

Thank you so much!

This isn't my personal opinion, but I read an article somewhere that said that the Bright Eyes lead and lyricist, Conor Oberst, was often hailed as this generation's Bob Dylan, because of his weak voice and good lyrics. But then the article went on to say that Oberst wasn't AS GOOD as Dylan. I love Bright Eyes lyrics, and to me, when I compare them with Bob Dylan's lyrics, the former are so much deeper, and far more richer in metaphore and poetry than the lyrics of Bob Dylan. (Not trying to insult him, just stating my opinion). Can you please explainw hy people might say Dylan's lyrics are better? I'm genuinely curious; is it because Dylan is a legend, and people are unwilling to proclaim that anyone might surpass his legendry? Or is there some element of Dylan's song/lyrics that I've missed? Please, no insults... I'm openminded and I'd really like it if someone could explain this to me, and maybe even help me to appreciate Bob Dylan more. Thanks!

It's a phrase used in sports, apparently. I read it in a book but can't find the meaning anywhere. Thanks!

I need.

I'll be checking each and every recommendation, because I am trying to make a CD for my friend.

This is very different from the genre of music I normally listen to, so I'd appreciate it if you could help. Thanks.

I auditioned for my university's hip-hop dance group. I failed. Then I tried out for my university's jazz dancing group. I failed again. I don't know why I failed, because I considered myself to be pretty good. Still, I need to get over my self-pity, self-flagellation, depression, and jealousy (my friend got in). It doesn't help that I geniuinely love dancing, and geniuinely wanted to use the opportunity to make friends with some of the people in the groups--now that opportunity is lost.

I don't want to talk about it with anyone else for fear of sounding whiny. Anyway, I've tried watching movies, eating chocolate, eating in general, working out, focusing on schoolwork, gossiping--nothing works. I really want to stop wallowing--help! I'd especially love (true) stories about successful people who had to experience countless rejections before their big break. Or something.

Oh, and don't suggest sex.

Thanks.

My fifteen year-old brother is an ardent amateur guitarist. He's not very proficient yet, though he can manage most basic chords. He has been practicing so far with an acoustic guitar, but wants an electric guitar. I am planning to get him one, but the varieties are dizzying. I need someone who is familiar with the different brands to recommend some brands for beginners. Also, should I buy a cheap, new one? Or a used guitar?

Any general tips would be very much appreciated.

Thanks!

...and tinted moisturizer, powder, etc.

Which of the four (or five) is absolutely essential?

Which is ideal for when you want to make your skin look nice, but don't want to look heavily made up? I see these girls on the street with this pale skin... but it looks cakey and gross.

Thanks.

1. I don't know what "moisturizer" is, and why lots of magazines recommend that instead of foundation. Are they the same thing?

2. I'm confused because there are so many kinds of makeup--for the skin there's concealer, foundation, moisturizer, powder, for the eyes there's eye shadow, eyeliner, mascara, etc etc. Can you explain what all of these are and what is necessary?

Thanks.

P.S. Please, no replies that say anything along the lines of "natural beauty is the best! don't use makeup!".