THINGS I WISH MY KIDS WOULD ASK ME
Editor's note: Barry Courter has a 21-year-old son who is a senior in college and a 17-year-old daughter who is a junior in high school.
Q: Dad, it's way early, but do you have any advice on encouraging kids to learn to play a musical instrument?
A: Only this: As with playing sports, becoming an artist or a musician requires a kid to have some desire and ability first. Another axiom I have learned is that the level of effort put forth by the child will be inversely proportional to the amount of money you spend on equipment or lessons. In other words, the more you spend on a guitar, the less likely it is the child will play it. Of course, if you buy a really cheap one that sounds horrible, he won't play that either. Good luck.
- By Barry Courter
APP WATCH
What: TurboTax SnapTax
Cost: Free
System: iPhone
What it does: This free app from Intuit's TurboTax allows taxpayers to fill out tax forms by simply snapping a photo of their W-2 forms use app uses something called optical character recognition to read the forms. The service is only for those who normally fill out a 1040EZ tax form and costs $14.99 to submit returns. The whole process takes 15 to 30 minutes, the company says.
GAME GEAR
Does your apartment look like it got hit by a tornado of rock? Maybe it's time to get organized. Level Up's Rock Band branded ottomans provide plenty of room to hold an entire living room concert. Measuring 18 by 35 by 88 inches, this solidly constructed wood frame comes with Velcro guitar loops, fitted drumstick loops, side accessory pockets, game/controller trays and a microphone pocket.
Rating: 8/10
Details: $199.99, levelupgear.com/rockband
SCREEN SCENE
Now showing: "The Roommate"
If you've ever wanted to see a star of a popular TV series torment the soon-to-be wife of a famous pro athlete, here's the movie for you: Leighton "Gossip Girl" Meester plays a troubled co-ed who has an unhealthy obsession with her new roommate,eter" Kelly. The only way this could be better is if Miley Cyrus had a supporting role as their RA. - Ethan Alter.
- McClatchy Newspapers
POP PICKS
ARTIST OF THE WEEK: The Dirtbombs - "Party Store" (CD)
Tightly wound sort-of-a-cover-band The Dirtbombs destroy the floodgates for a career best and, just five weeks in, make a case for 2011's top album. In retrospect, some entries in The Dirtbombs' fine catalog were too on-the-nose, obviously fun but not too fun to be obvious. After releasing one-off covers of INXS and Suicide, Mike Collins and his chain gang turned themselves into ghost riders, screaming off into oblivion in search of a new, new start. Turns out The Dirtbombs have some mystery in them yet, as they stop sounding like a first-rate cover band and instead discover the first-rate freak lurking inside. Now that's reason to celebrate. - Alex Bahler
- PopMatters.com