Yesterday we learned that starting in September, Netflix will become the exclusive streaming home to all things Disney, Marvel, and Lucasfilm. Being a huge Star Wars nerd, it’s easy to get hopeful about seeing The Force Awakens show up on my streaming provider of choice. However, that won’t be happening any time soon. We know that Netflix and Disney struck … Continue reading
Remember the hoopla around Facebook’s alleged ‘Trending’ section news bias, something that arose from a report citing anonymous sources? Facebook has since published its editorial process concerning the section, and even talked with conservatives including Glenn Beck, who recently stated that he felt the social network was being honest. Before all of this, though, Republican Senator John Thune fired off … Continue reading
The battle to be the life of the party just got that much more intense with the XOUNTS UP 360-degree light-and-sound speaker system. The unit, which strongly resembles a three-foot version of one of those quartz pyramids you’d find in your local rock shop, offers an unusual aesthetic for anyone seeking to make a splash at their next BBQ, birthday … Continue reading
Battleborn, the frenetic team-based shooter from Gearbox Software, has introduced a $20 price cut. What’s more, a brand new character joined its ranks, all on the same day rival shooter Overwatch made its debut. Coincidence or genius marketing? It co…
According to reports, the world’s largest electronics manufacturer Foxconn has replaced around 60,000 human factory workers with machines. Or, as a government publicist for the city of Kunshan told the South China Morning Post, the factory “reduced e…
It’s been a few years since land-cruising Cadillac Escalades ruled America’s streets. Fuel economy has trumped gas-guzzling style since the Great Recession, and hybrid cars surged in popularity. The first mass-produced model was the Toyota Prius, and…
Barry Crawford said that when he was a kid, he dreamed of growing up to be a robot. Sadly, his childhood dream hasn’t come true yet. But he did become what he calls a “gizmologist”, making mechanical artworks, furniture and jewelry. His latest ongoing project is the Mechateuthis, a crank-operated mechanical giant squid.
The Mechateuthis (named after the giant squid’s genus Architeuthis) may look like it’s made of old materials and found objects, but it actually has over 600 hand-fabricated moving parts. Its tentacles, beak and fin are operated indirectly by eight hand cranks that are situated on fence posts along its perimeter. An Arduino turns the motion of the cranks into signals for the sculpture’s motors, which in turn activate the various moving parts. Here’s Make’s interview with Barry at the Maker Faire Bay Area 2016:
Barry originally made Mechateuthis for Burning Man 2015. Here it is blowing people’s minds at Black Rock:
I’d love to see a desktop version of Mechateuthis. And a Godzilla-sized one.
[via Make:]
Approximately every six years, the federal government goes through a major reevaluation and reauthorization of its child nutrition laws. And so this year we are looking to Congress and the president to pass legislation that will help schools determine and achieve their wellness goals and preserve and enhance students’ access to nutritious foods that meet scientifically-based standards. Optimally, this would mean preserving the tenets of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, introduced in 2010 and which, in many ways, made improvements to federal child nutrition laws and policies, including in the areas of school health and nutrition.
After being delayed in 2015, the Senate took up the evaluation earlier this year and the Senate Agriculture Committee unanimously passed a fairly strong piece of legislation endorsed by numerous national and community groups as supporting the health and wellness work they are doing in schools. However, last month, the House Education and Workforce Committee released a far deficient and potentially harmful version. The House committee recently took up the bill on partisan basis, with Republicans on the committee voting in support and Democrats voting in opposition.
Much of the work we and many organizations do state by state and district by district to fight childhood obesity, undernourishment, and physical inactivity and to help students and schools achieve their wellness goals involves many community partners and other stakeholders on the ground. However, that work cannot help but be impacted by what happens at the federal level. All Americans — whether parents, school professionals or citizens worried about the direction of children’s health and education in this country — should be concerned that the House envisioned bill will undermine nutrition standards by:
In contrast, the recommendations put forward in the Senate bill overall reconfirm a commitment at the federal level to promote quality child nutrition and health both in and out of schools. While the bill takes some questionable steps to moderate school nutrition standards around whole wheat and salt, positive highlights include a call for increased authorized funding for the USDA’s Farm to School Program, which helps connect schools to the local production of their food; a continued commitment to serving fresh fruits and vegetables in schools; and continued funding to help schools receive equipment and other assistance needed to improve the nutrition in the food they serve.
Some common ground does exist in the bills, namely both leave unaltered the current law around the federal local school wellness policy, which provides important tools for community members and organizations, parents, schools and students in promoting student health and preventing and reducing childhood obesity.
Children’s health and nutrition will remain in limbo until a time when the Senate and House can work together to pass a compromise bill that the president would sign. For the sake of our children and a stronger future for our country, we should all hope that Congress takes actions that support the efforts of schools and organizations working to improve school and child health and not hinder them.
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Virtual Reality (VR) is one of the hottest tech items in recent times. The technology replicates a physical environment while virtually injecting the user’s presence into that environment. Not only do VR headsets replicate visuals, but also sound. Additional tactile replication through the use of wired gloves is also possible. VR headsets also allow additional input through the use of devices such as keyboard and mice. While not new technology, virtual reality has received well-deserved buzz, with recent months especially with Facebook’s purchase of Oculus Rift in 2014. However, virtual reality is by no means cheap technology. Quality headsets can set you back hundreds or even thousands of dollars. So what are a few good VR headsets that you get that won’t leave too much of a dent in your wallet?
DOMO nHance VR Headset – This VR headset works with your smartphone to give you hours of fun. It allows the user to experience true 3D and it also allows you to explore this Virtual 3D world with head tracking. Users can place their Android or iOS smartphones into the headset and launch the accompanying app to immerse themselves in virtual reality. The nHance VR2 uses the sensors in your smartphone to direct the head-tracking abilities. This headset takes its cues from another VR platform, Google Cardboard and works with all of Cardboard’s apps. Users can access these Google Cardboard apps through the use of human interface devices (HID) such as keyboards, mice through Bluetooth or USB. It also works well with most phones with display sizes ranging from 3.5″ to 5.7″. However, the nHance VR2 isn’t all about technical specifications. It is ergonomically designed to fit you well allowing you to play games or watch movies for an extended period with very little discomfort. To help it stay in place, the nHance VR Headset also comes with an adjustable harness that keeps the headset close to your face, while a leather pad cushions the strap against the base of your skull. The nHance VR2 relies on a pair of Aspherical Optical Lenses which can be adjusted to fit the size of the phone display. The smartphone mount is also adjustable and users can charge the phone through an access slot built right into the headset.
PTron VR Headset – The PTron VR Headset is beautifully designed with a number of attractive features giving you a great virtual reality experience. The headset allows you to engage in high definition gaming with eye-tracking, using your eye movement as a controller. As with other VR headsets, the PTron VR Headset allows you to use your smartphone as an immersive cinema screen. The PTron VR Headset is also fitted with a pair of spherical lenses which are fully adjustable. The headset works with many different brands and models of cell phones from iPhone, Samsung, LG and HTC to name a few. It supports both iOS and Android. The design is fully closed, allowing you to fully immerse yourself into the game-playing or movie-watching experience. It is also lightweight allowing you to wear it for hours at a time without growing weary. The headset allows Bluetooth 3.0 control, has selfie support, allows you to use a wireless mouse, gamepad and PC remote control.
Zebronics VR Headset – Zebronics VR Headset is yet another virtual reality headset available on the market that is compatible with Google Cardboard’s growing stable of 3D and VR-ready apps. The headset comes with a pair of focus-adjusting lenses allowing the user to set the best focal length for his or her eyes. The headset’s pads are also ultra soft ensure hours of comfort. Rounding out its list of features is a magnet toggle switch, a metal neodymium ring, a ceramic disc, and motion sensors for gaming.
Agnus VR Headset – The Agnus VR Headset is a sleek, well-designed headset that is sure to make you look cool while enjoying it. The headset can help you to watch theater-sized 3D movies and play games in 3D as well. Its high-quality lenses make for an amazing viewing experience. The Agnus VR Headset can also fit a variety of phones with varying sizes. The headset features an adjustable spring system that allows the use of phones in the 4″ to 6″ range. Of course, no VR headset will be complete without the use of headphones for a truly immersive experience and so its easy access port makes connecting your audio a minor task.
Irusu Play VR Headset – The Irusu Play VR Headset promises you a fully immersive experience with most Android and iOS phones. The lenses have Ion Plating refining which means that it is able to block electromagnetic radiation without decreasing the integrity of the headset’s optics. The lenses also have an 8-layer nano coating and have been polished 5 times in order to reduce deformity and glare. This treatment helps to reduce user fatigue and assists in a better 3D reality. Like most other VR headsets, users can adjust the focal distance of the smartphone allowing people of most vision abilities to enjoy the headset. The Inusu Play VR Headset also makes its mark in wearability with its comfortable headband and heat-dissipating design. This allows you to enjoy hours of gaming or movie-watching without growing weary.
2016 promises to be the year of virtual reality, allowing users new immersive experiences in gaming and movie watching. Luckily it appears to be a technology that people from different walks of life can enjoy. Most new technology is incredibly pricey and restrictive for those who aren’t willing to shell out large amounts of cash. Because of this, many people find themselves being left out when new technology hits as they are forced to wait until the technology becomes cheaper and more ubiquitous. However, the same cannot be said for virtual reality headsets which are available at an affordable price even now. There is an impressive range of devices available for anyone with a smartphone interested in experiencing virtual reality.
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Depending on your income, you may be eligible for a child tax credit of up to $1,000 per child. Remember that unlike a tax deduction, a tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduction in your tax bill. Sound good? Here’s what you need to know about the child tax credit, from the eligibility requirements to how to claim it. For starters, you need to be the parent or guardian of a minor child.
Check out our income tax calculator.
Child tax credits are designed to give an income boost to the parents or guardians of dependent children. How much is the child tax credit? That depends on your income. The child tax credit lets you reduce your federal income tax bill by up to $1,000 for each qualifying child under the age of 17 that you claim as a dependent. The child tax credit for 2015 is the same as it was for 2014: up to $1,000 per child.
The child tax credit is just that – a tax credit. It’s not a deduction. Because it’s a tax credit, it directly reduces the amount you owe the IRS. So, if your tax liability is $3,000 but you’re eligible for, say, $800 of child tax credit, you now owe $2,200.
The child tax credit is non-refundable. That means that if you’re eligible for $3,000 in tax credits but only owe the IRS $2,000, you won’t get the $1,000 difference refunded to you. Technically, you can get that $1,000, but you’ll have to claim what’s called the Additional Child Tax Credit – assuming you’re eligible to do so. We’ll get to that.
Related Article: All About IRS Form 1040A
Eligibility for the child tax credit hinges on a few factors. One of them, of course, is whether you are the parent or guardian of minor children. The child you claim as your dependent has to meet six IRS tests:
In addition to these 6 tests, income is also an eligibility factor.
Eligibility for the child tax credit isn’t all-or-nothing. There’s such a thing as the child tax credit income phase-out. As your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) increases, the child tax credit begins to phase out. You’ll get $50 less in child tax credits for every $1,000 – or portion of $1,000 – that your modified AGI exceeds:
As you can see, it’s possible to be so rich that you’re ineligible for the child tax credit.
Related Article: The Lowest Taxes in America
Eligible filers will claim the child tax credit on Form 1040, Form 1040A, or Form 1040NR. Unfortunately for those who like the simplified versions of the tax form (Form 1040NR-EZ or Form 1040EZ), you can’t claim the child tax credit on those worksheets.
The IRS provides Publication 972 The Child Tax Credit as a child tax credit worksheet to help you calculate the child tax credit. It’s not a child tax credit calculator per se but it will tell you how much you can claim in child tax credits on your Form 1040, Form 1040A, or Form 1040NR.
Want to know how to calculate the child tax credit? Look no further than Publication 972. The publication starts with some introductory material to help you understand the tax credit and who’s eligible. The worksheet comes later.
The child tax credit itself is non-refundable. That means that if the amount of credit you’re eligible for is greater than the amount you owe the IRS, you won’t get the difference back in your tax refund. To get that money, you can file for what’s called the Additional Child Tax Credit, assuming you’re eligible.
The 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) expanded the eligibility for the additional child tax credit. The law reduced the minimum amount of earned income used in calculating the additional child tax credit to $3,000. This change made more taxpayers eligible for the credit and raised the amount they could claim.
The additional child tax credit has been extended and will last through December 2017. It’s designed for filers who get less than the full amount of the child tax credit. Before you file for the additional child tax credit, you’ll need to fill out the paperwork for the regular child tax credit. According to the IRS:
The child tax credit and the childcare tax credit are two different things. The child tax credit can only be claimed by the parents or guardians of minor children. The child and dependent care tax credit, on the other hand, can also be used by those who are caring for aging parents or disabled relatives.
With the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, you can’t claim more than $3,000 of care expenses for one child/dependent. If you have two or more children/dependents, you can’t claim more than $6,000 of care expenses. Technically, there’s no income phase out if you’re trying to claim the CDCTC, but the credit can only equal up to 35% of your qualifying care expenses (depending on your AGI).
What counts as a care expense? According to the IRS rules on the CDCT, “If you paid someone to care for your child, spouse, or dependent last year, you may be able to claim the Child and Dependent Care Credit.” You must have secured a caregiver who you paid so that you or your husband or wife (if filing jointly) could go to work or hunt for a job. To claim the federal credit, fill out IRS Form 2441.
Some states offer a complementary state-level child tax credit and/or CDCTC that matches part or all of the federal credit. In some states, the credits are refundable and in other states they are not. Check out this map for state-by-state details.
The IRS offers child tax credits to help parents and guardians offset some of the costs of raising a family. Some people who are eligible for these child tax credits never claim them, however. If you’re eligible, don’t leave money on the table. You could be reducing or eliminating your tax bill, or earning a bigger refund. Who doesn’t want that?
Photo credit: ©iStock.com/Christopher Futcher, ©iStock.com/gruizza, ©iStock.com/DragonImages
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