Children's Educational Software The Education Tax Refund

The Education Tax Refund The Education Tax Refund ('ETR') was announced in the 08-09 federal budget. Under the ETR, families can claim up to a 50% tax refund for eligible education expenses for their children, for up to:

• $750 for each child in primary school, and
• $1,500 for each child in secondary school

These amounts equate to a maximum tax offset of $375 and $750 respectively. It is a good idea to be aware of this scheme, as parents can now claim for allowable expenses related to their children's education. Some common allowable expenses include: laptops, desktop computers, education software, school textbooks, trade tools etc. So be sure to keep those receipts, as every dollar spent (up to the limits above) could be worth up to a 50c tax refund for your family.

Eligibility The ETR is available to families receiving the Family Tax Benefit Part A (FTB Part A). The FTB Part A is a separate existing tax benefit which is given by the Family Assistance Office as fortnightly payments to families that meet the Income Test. We won't go into all the rules regarding qualifying for the FTB Part A, but basically families that have a total family income of less than a certain threshold will receive this tax benefit. In the 08-09 year, this limit was $98,514 (for families with under 18 dependants) or $99,962 for families with some dependants over 18. Add $3,796 to the respective limit for each additional child. So basically if your family income was less than this limit, you would be eligible for the FTB Part A, and hence the ETR (whether you currently receive the FTB is irrelevant, your family just needs to be eligible for it).

Additionally, for the purposes of the ETR, any income in the form of youth allowance, disability support or ABSTUDY (there are a few others) do not count to this limit. So if your family income falls under the threshold for the FTB Part A but for those payments in respect of your child, you're still eligible for the ETR.

Allowable expenses
Generally, all expenses that (in the words of the federal government) "support a child during school and improve quality of education" are allowable. For example:

• Laptops & home computers and associated costs (including repair and running costs of computer equipment and lease costs), home Internet connection and printers and paper
• Education software
• School textbooks and material (including prescribed textbooks, associated learning materials, study guides and stationery)
• Prescribed trade tools

The list above is not exhaustive, but give you an idea of what are allowable expenses.
Notice that all school textbooks and materials are allowable. For example, you or your child may have purchased HSC textbooks, or prescribed texts for HSC English - claim those! Your family internet connection is also claimable. Just remember to keep your receipts. If you buy claimable goods second hand from private sellers, request a receipt (a simple note noting the goods / service, the price and date will suffice).

However, tuition costs (such as payments to Dux College or other HSC tuition colleges) and school fees are not allowable expenses. Nor are non-education related software such as computer games, or hardware used for such purposes, obviously.
How to claim
The ETR is claimed when parents complete their annual tax return. For those using the e-Tax software, there will be a section for the ETR. Just remember to keep those receipts!

Idebate Debate - Swine Flu In India - Is It All Over?

It was not even a month back when the first swine flu death happened in India of a 14 year old girl in Pune. Soon after, within another 10 days the swine flu toll in India rose to around 25.

If you are thinking that this post is about discussing the reasons of the spread of swine flu or the measures being taken in India and worldwide to curb the spread of it, well then you are wrong. Surely, I would be discussing few measures or rather few measures not been taken by the Indian Government, but would also be discussing something very peculiar and strange about how the Indian Media is reacting in the last couple of days/weeks.

Less than 10 days back, I travelled to New Delhi from Dubai, and was expecting to be checked thoroughly by the health officials at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, and thought it would take a good 2 hours before I could leave the airport premises. It took me flat 20 minutes to be out of the Airport after I unboarded the aircraft! Even though, my family and I were pleasantly surprised to be out of the airport so soon, which was faster than even the usual when no such flu scare etc is on, the thought of not been checked at all for swine flu, and signing just a declaration that I have no flu like symptoms made my mind boggle. Making my irritation grow further was the fact that the Health Officials were not even wearing the special N-95 masks which are the best for curbing the flu, but were just wearing the usual face mask.

I asked at the airport around, if the thermal machines which were supposed be installed were already done or what? The answer from the aiport officials ranged from a 'not yet' to 'no idea' to 'ask health ministry'! I thought 'WOW', our country where each government boast about 'India Shining' and slogans alike year after year, just can't take proper measures to curb a flu from spreading, forget actually curbing it! The Health Minister, for the spread of Swine Flu, was busy accusing the dead child and her family for switching hospitals in Pune, and helping the flu spread!! Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azad should resign from his post simply for the sake of Humanity. Before making his statement, he forgot that the small girl who died did not develop the flu herself, but she also got it from someone else, and that the spread would'nt have stopped by her not shifting hospitals.

With the speed at which the flu is spreading in India, and the measures being taken which are astonishingly yet not surprisingly pathetic, the number of cases and the seriousness of this entire pendemic in India shall affect majorly even the Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010. The government other than facing the huge infrastructure/construction problem for the games, would also have to deal with the health scenario. The way things are going, it seems it shall only lead to shame.

Now coming to the peculiar and strange part regarding how the Indian Media is acting in the last couple of days/weeks.

I am sure not many of you know what is the death toll due to swine flu in India currently. Make a guess - 30? 45? 60? 80?. The current death toll due to swine flu in India is 105 (September 02, 2009). Yes, in two weeks time from 25, we have gone up to 105, and the print & TV media has almost done a blackout on news related to Swine Flu. When the death toll rose from 1 to 25 in a week, The Times of India, during that week, on its website had a countdown meter showing the number of deaths rising each hour, and each day, almost as if how 'cricket runs being scored' are shown on News Channels and News Websites. Go watch any news channel, and you would feel as if there is nothing in this world called Swine Flu!

What do you think? Does any reason come to your mind why such a drastic change in the way the media is reacting in the last few days? Surely, it is the government which has gone up to every media house in the country to make them agree on resisting from showing news regarding Swine Flu. Obviously, I am speculating here that the Government and the Media together have taken few steps, but surely, it seems to be a joint effort, otherwise our media which likes to sensationalise every 'Tom, Dick and Harry' issue would have never tone down their stand, specially for a real issue such as this!

You do not have to be a rocket scientist or an intelligent political analyst to guess why these steps has been taken. Obviously to stop the spread of the scare/panic amongst people in the country, as higher the scare, higher the chances of public opinion going against the ruling government. Few people might counter by saying that less the scare, less the chances of spreading the flu, and leading a normal life, etc. Bullshit and non justifiable nonsense if you think like that!

I think it is the most pathetic and foolish step to be taken by the government/media both, if they have. In our country, people wear masks only when there is a real scare in the public. It is not Japan, where people wear masks even if they have just a mild fever. For god sake, the government should realise that they are governing India, where 90% of the people are proven affected from the 'Chalta Hai' syndrome. By reducing the scare and the panic amongst the people, the number of deaths shall only rise, as the lesser number of people would then take precautions. Case in point - Since the last two weeks of blackout of news of swine flu, the number of cases and deaths have multiplied manifold. We have close to 4200 cases tested positive for H1N1, out of which 675 alone are in New Delhi, leave aside the epicentre of the flu in India, Pune (cases as on 2nd september 2009).

For once, I really hope, that India TV & Rajat Sharma and the likes of them sensationalize this issue and let the scare and panic grow in the public, as only then, the rate at which the deaths are happening would reduce, because the government as usual is only speaking and not taking the required actions.

As always,comments welcome. (This was originally posted on my blog FULL START. )

Language Learning Software Spanish Learning Course Software – Can It Helps Us Speak Spanish?

Spanish learning course software is an interesting innovative educational method for learning how speak and understand another language. Spanish is the second most spoken language in the Untied States and the official language of over 21 nations. Learning a new language such as Spanish doesn't have to be tedious - read more in the following review.

Quick overview

Spanish learning course software is probably the easiest and one of the most effective ways to learn Spanish. What is the reason for the growing popularity of this technology? It is mainly about teaching Spanish interactively by using advanced multimedia lesson plans.

These advanced computer-based courses use top technological techniques in order to teach us Spanish: pronunciation practicing techniques, interactive animation-based lesson plans, and native Spanish narration.

What is in it for us?

By using this advanced Spanish learning tool we gain the following:

- Most of these solutions provide auto progress-tracking on our improvement.

- Enable us to learn various Spanish forms, such as Spanish-Spain or Latin-American.

- It enables you to understand and learn a new culture.

- Good solution for people who look for quick results such as travelers.

We could list many other important advantages provided by this advanced technology, simply because This language is considered one of the most dominant on the planet.

Those who wish to learn spanish may find it quite easy and thanks to these tools, this process becomes even easier, so any of us could easily learn how to speak it quit fast.

Summary

Spanish learning course software uses the latest technological achievements in order to help us acquire this important and widely spoken language. There is no doubt that this technology can never compete with professional human Spanish teacher, but it can sure help most of us with basic-intermediate Spanish.

Kindergarten Learning Games Get Artistic With The Online Coloring Games!

No matter what kind of career a young child might want to follow, creativity is needed in all the professional fields. It helps them find the right solutions and adapt to any given situation, that’s why, the activities which develop a child’s imagination are highly encouraged since kindergarten. When it comes to a sort of fun and creative activity, the online coloring games are some of the most loved among children and for parents they should be perceived as an important factor determining the enrichment of a child’s innate creativity skills.

It is well known that from an early age, kids tend to imitate the grownups close to them. It’s their natural means of learning about the world they life in. Not only grownups become their examples to be followed and copied, but the celebrities they see on TV or in the magazines. Take the Jonas Bros for example, who have so many fans among kids an teens. That’s why the Jonas Bros coloring game has in no time become one of children’s favorite game online. They get the opportunity of fancying themselves as the fashion and hairstylists of their most admired teen stars and to actually work on their creativity skills, which is, after all, the main aim of the online coloring games

Besides their need to find some celebrity role models, at this age kids and teens are extremely curious about all surrounding them. It’s natural and something to be promoted by parents and teachers. The coloring games not only that give them the opportunity to work on their creativity playing with the colors, but while they fill in the blank drawings there, they get to recreate the reality as perceived by their minds. For instance, they go playing in the park and they make some new friends. When they use the colors to paint the characters in the boy and girl coloring game they can re-experience the great time spent with their friends and to copy the reality flash taken by their minds.

Have you noticed how fascinated little kids are by their reflection in the mirror and how curious to study the other kids of their age? Well, the online coloring games are meant to determine children to set a lien between them and the character that needs to be colored, I other words to identify themselves to the gives character. Now, what girl wouldn’t see herself looking as the cute little girl in the garden girl coloring game? They get to color dress in the color she thinks, she, herself would look nice, to dye her hair in the same color as her hair and so on. It’s both fun and highly creative!

No matter who much time kids spend reading fairy books, since their pastime activities have changed so much along the years, their fascination with great adventures stories and fairy tales will never die, that’s for sure. One of such story which will continue to stir their rich imagination is The Legend of Zelda. You can just imagine how thrilled they are to discover that in the hero coloring game they get to select the colors meant to brig to life their favorite four legendary characters!

The children of today are the competent grownups of tomorrow. If we know just how to encourage them channeling their energy, curiosity and last but not least their overflowing creativity with the help of the online coloring games for instance, we can dare have an optimistic view upon the future.

Educational Video Games Video Game Design Requires Multiple Talents

If you're a fan of video games, you may have thought about video game design as a career. What may surprise you is that this career requires a set of skills far beyond a love of games and a knack for using computers and video gaming systems.



Developing video games is a cost and time intensive process that draws on a variety of skills and talents that may surprise you. In fact, most developers with successful games under their belts are artistic and have good writing skills as well as a solid background in computer programming and design. If you are considering a career in video game design, consider the many aspects of game design and think about which area you would excel at:



Game Concept Design



This is an early phase of the process and is done primarily by writers and game concept specialists. These are the individuals who create the parameters for the game such as the overall goal or objective, what type of skills will be used in the game, etc. If you've ever thought you had an awesome game idea or felt that you could have improved on a game you've played, you might want to go into game concept design.



Game play and rules also fall under the concept area. No video game can be played without particular guidelines and rules. These can be quite complex; designers who are good at understanding and applying a variety of regulations as well as developing new ones are in high demand. Creativity is also needed so that rules can be both interesting and rational within the parameters of the game.



Layout and 3D Modeling



If you enjoy photo manipulation, Computer Aided Drafting and Design and artwork, you may like working on layout and design. Some companies hire individuals strictly to do backgrounds or characters for games in order to give a game a particular style or ensure realism. This aspect of video game design is what can give a stellar game a distinctive look and feel that inspires a great fan following.



Object placement is a part of layout that is primarily associated with the proper placement of significant objects that may have special powers, provide a key to the next level or a game or reveal a key secret to advancement. Some larger companies have individuals who focus on this sub-category of game layout.



Scripting and Plot Development



The dialogue and actions of characters in complex video games can make or break the success of the game. Scripting is the part of video game design that develops the actual dialogue for characters and keeps the action moving forward. Awkward or unrealistic scripting can be a death sentence, so scripters are central to the design of the game. This is similar to writing the script for a movie or play, so writing skills and an understanding of dialogue and character are essential.



Proper plotting moves the story forward and, like scripting, relies heavily on understanding human nature, motives and character. A plot in a video game may be incidental to the action. However, some games are becoming increasingly plot driven, but it must make sense and follow a recognizable and interesting thread that will keep gamers interested.



New Degrees Combine Skills



Because video game design has taken off in recent years and is now a billion dollar industry, the need for good designers is increasing. In the past, a game design team might have included writers with liberal arts degrees, artists and computer programmers who had to pull it all together. Today there are many colleges and universities that offer specialized video game design degrees. These degrees are valuable because they cover the many skill sets needed for success in the business. These skills include scripting, 3D art, story development, content development and animation by combining elements of several different disciplines into one comprehensive degree focusing on the needs of the video game design industry.

Foreign Language Software How To Buy A Language Software

Want to study different language in a bit of time? Want to speak it like it is your native tongue? Try any language software available on the market today. They do not prepare you to become a native speaker but rather to speak like a native speaker.

It is a fact that one of the easiest ways you can learn another language is by learning it on the computer with language software that lets you learn interactively and at your own pace. Not all language software are created alike, but the best ones on the market have a tracking feature that lets you monitor your progress.

With a self-paced language software, learning becomes a great experience and an entertaining one, unlike in a classroom type environment where you have to manage your pace to keep up with your classmates at the same time.

IN FAVOR OF THE SOFTWARE

Learning a new language may be tedious and hard, especially if it is an entirely different language (think American trying to learn Chinese). Really, the best way to get up to speed in the learning is to immerse yourself in the language - travel to that country or make friends with native speakers - but it can take up a lot of your money or time, or both.

Language software programs are the best language immersion programs to be developed in this very technologically advanced era. With these programs, you learn the language the manner you did when you were a child - through graphics. They don't bombard you with English translations of words. A picture is displayed and below it you'll see how that picture is called in a different language. Other languages can be easily taught whether that language is French, German, English, Chinese, Korean, and the like.

Language software an used nowadays not only in schools but also in companies where they teach their employees to learn a new language by giving them computerized language software rather than paying for a language tutor to teach them, which is costly and time-consuming. (And you know that many companies do not have time on their hands.)

Another benefit you can have with language immersion software is that you can follow the accent and the sound you hear so that you will be talking like you are a native speaker of the country. Speaking another language thus becomes as easy as one, two, three. Language immersion software programs feature native speakers pronouncing words and phrases. So what you hear is a pure accent, not the accent that comes as a result of learning another language apart from English.

Adapting this language software in a classroom-based instruction will need more equipment, like a sound system for individual microphones and a video projector. Reviewing the software requirements is necessary before purchasing the software. Choose a software that is suitable for the students or children, where they can learn at their own phase and not pressured by others. Try learning another language with a language immersion software. You'll be talking another language in no time.

Learn German Software Learn Spanish Through Software

If you want to learn Spanish then there are lots of methods available for learning. You can choose the one which is easiest for you. There are a number of books, audio cassettes, videos and software that can help you to learn Spanish easily. You can get complete information about Spanish language by consulting any of these resources. The best method of learning Spanish is through software because it gives you multiple dimensional and functional support to learners.

The benefit of learning through software is that you can put your text in English or any other language like Italian, French, Dutch, Portuguese, Czech, German, Korean, Japanese etc this software can change your provided text into Spanish language that you can pronounce easily, save in a file or learn by heart.

Spanish learning software also provides visuals and sounds to help you to learn Spanish instantly. The software provides you multiple dimensional support where you can also convert Spanish into English text, English text to Spanish and similarly any other language mentioned before.

So software is the easiest and cheapest way to learn Spanish as you don't need to buy it. You can download freeware from the internet. For more advanced software you might have to spend a little amount but at the same time you get the luxury to communicate with other people on chat rooms through this software who are also using the same software.

Thus this is more comprehensive and easy way of learning Spanish language. You can also buy or download English to Spanish or Italian to Spanish or French to Spanish words from the internet that can help you to build your vocabulary for Spanish words.

Majority of people learn foreign languages to know about their cultures and learning Spanish is really fun and entertainment. You can also get more information about learning Spanish through different blogs that can help you to know Spanish language online. Spanish is culturally rich language and it is available in different forms and pronounced in different ways.

Learning Spanish through software is rated as the best source because it saves your time, gives you multiple language support, provide you opportunity to listen to the pronunciation of the words and speak them in the same sense and accent.