1. Income Tax

2. Capital Gains Tax

3. Corporate Taxes

4. Goods and Services Taxes

5. Property Taxes

6. Excise Taxes

7. Customs Duties

8. Payroll Taxes

9. Fringe Benefits Tax

10. Inheritance Tax

11. Superannuation Taxes

and now the dreaded

12. Carbon Tax

Seems steep, no? All these taxes makes you wonder how we make any money at all in Australia and if it’s just a little over the top. But what if that isn’t enough? What if you could get taxed for using a “WEB BROWSER”! … <pause for effect>

Well our friends at Kogan decided that it is exactly what we need. Labelling themselves “Australia’s premier discount online store for all your technology needs,” Kogan has taken it onto themselves to “implement the world’s first Internet Explorer 7 Tax”. This tax is aimed at those users whose “system administrator has been in a coma for over 5 years,” hence allowing you (the user) to use an “antique” internet browser (Kogan’s own words). Following this the user is informed that they will be charged a 6.8% “tax” on their purchase to “make the internet a better place”.

I can see how the techno geeks at Kogan see themselves as crusaders in the ever prevalent struggle of browser updates. You can just imagine the high fives and cheers going up in the room when some stressed out designer came up with this idea… most probably looked something like this:

Team Kogan (not really)

Although I have had my grinds with Internet Explore (IE) 7, IE8 and IE9 and most probably in the future IE10 and 11 and 12 etc, I think punishing the user for how they choose to access your site and purchase goods of you is bonkers.

I mean really… is it that hard to inform your user to “UPDATE” their browser to purchase stuff from you? I mean surely it is easier to have a pop up box that simply states “Please update your browser to continue this purchase” as apposed to whining about how  ”our web team (are) having to spend a lot of time making our new website look normal on IE7″ hence “anyone buying from the site who uses IE7 will be lumped with a 6.8% surcharge – that’s 0.1% for each month IE7 has been on the market”. I mean come on! Can someone please pull out the world’s smallest violin and break out a tune already.

Here are some reasons why people might not have updated:

1. Limitations by system administrator and the way a network is set up

2. The user is elderly and has no clue that they even need to update

3. The user is a youngster that has no interest in how a browser works

4. The computer cannot handle the newer versions of IE.

5. etc… i’m not bothered doing Kogans work for them

Lastly the definition of the word TAX…

Tax n. A tax or duty is a compulsory charge imposed on an individual or legal entity by a government or equivalent. In Australia taxes and duties are imposed by Federal, State or local governments.

Last time I check Kogan was not a Federal, State or Local Government… so technically this should really be called “The Kogan Rips Off its Customers Charge”. I just want to know if Kogan provides these funds back to the government being a tax and all and if as a user/business this tax is legally recognised for me to claim a tax back from the Australian Taxation Office. I mean if I can, maybe Kogan can teach our Prime Minister a thing or too about screwing the people with ridiculous taxes… wait… a bit to late for that.

Needs to be seen to be believed

Thank you to Abraham who brought this to my attention. If you have suggestions for theTZAR to cover send them to helptzr@gmail.com

theTZAR has spoken!

That ability to lie is what most Apple users will pay a great premium for, without actually realising they are purchasing the item for that reason. Funny isn’t it? Let me give you an example, over three years ago I purchased my now wife an Apple Macbook 13″ in Aluminium Casing. Great little laptop, however she was due for an upgrade, so I sold that laptop and upgraded her to the 2011 Macbook Pro. Let’s just say no one even noticed. Better still, the young lady who we sold the laptop to now has the “privilege” of looking like she owns the latest Macbook at a fraction of the price! Win-Win!

Must be using Olay… It hasn’t aged one bit

So how may you ask is this saving you money? Well it’s simple. Apple does not make you look like a cheapskate, hence it is not forcing you to purchase a new device anytime soon, and trust me this is a great thing. One thing that Apple learnt is that the best way to upgrade your product is by upgrading what’s inside and not what’s on the outside. That way people who do not own that device are excited to buy it and customers who purchased something like the iPhone 4 on a 24 month plan from someone like Vodafone, one week before the iPhone 4S came out, can stay happy because they have the ability to “lie” about their device and bitch about Vodafone’s reception!

“If You Have a Galaxy S or an S II Your Just Not Cool Anymore” – Imaginary Quote by an Imaginary Samsung Executive

As you can see Apple’s greatest rival Samsung does not share in the belief that they should save you money. Sure their new handsets are tempting… but they don’t give you the option to lie. They force you to tell the truth. The conversation might go something a little like this:

You pull out your Galaxy S II to make a call.

Friend: ”OH is that a Samsung Galaxy S III?”

You: ”Why yes it is!”

Friend: ”LIAR!!!!”

You: ”UH WHAT”

Friend: ”What else have you lied to me about! I HATE YOU”

See what i mean… tragic… However, if you have one of these:

TA DA!

The conversation in the same scenario can go a little something like this:

Friend: ”OH is that the new iPhone 4S”

You: ”Yes… Yes it is”

Friend: ”COOOOOOOOOLLLLLL”

You: ” Yes… Yes it is!”

Friend: ”Can i play with Siri”

You: ”NO”

Friend: ”Why?”

You: ”I don’t want her cheating on me”

Friend: ” WOW deep man…”

This is the moment you can slowly look up to the sky and say, “thanks Steve!”

theTZAR has spoken.

[Click ME]

For those who do not know I am a 27 year old chemistry graduate working for a  global pharmaceutical company whilst studying for a Masters in Technology in Business Systems. My job as a father, a husband and a man is to make life easier for the two most important people in my life… my girls.

It was for this reason I had to make one of the hardest decisions in my life, that still plagues me until this day…

I’d like you, as my readers to ask yourselves… what would you do?

Do I take a job that offers me more money and do a job I am not 100% sure I enjoy? Or do I sacrifice that salary increase and remain in my current role whereby I could or could not progress to the position I’d prefer to be in, whilst spending more time with my family?

This conundrum raises many questions:

- What is the benefit to my family?

- Will I be happy?

- How does this decision affect my wife and child?

- What would my parents do in the same situation?

- How will my family be perceived?

As a father, the majority of the time my decisions are based on what is best for my wife and child and not necessarily what is best for me. A sacrifice for them is the best type of sacrifice I could make. Which is why I had to make the decision I did.

Let me explain the situation:
Whilst I am a successful and an experienced medical representative, my imagination has led me to great heights in innovation. The experience  I have has made me a market expert in the pharmaceutical field and a valuable addition to any company. In saying this I am not boasting, but being realistic about my performance in my current role.

I was approached by my recruiter for a once in a life time opportunity that offered a $20,000 pay increase and an insane “National Management Title,” at first I was enthralled by the idea. I went for the inteview and absolutely dominated in all aspects for the potential role.

The next day I received a phone call from my recruiter telling me I got the job… to which I had to reply, “thank you but  I chose to decline this generous offer”. To this day my colleagues think I am mad. They think my talent is wasted in Pharmaceuticals and I am under-appreciated which leads me to believe that I might truly be mad. But there is sound reasoning behind my madness. Let me attempt to explain.

Family Always First

As a representative my business is my own, my office is my home and my life has the best sense of work-life balance of any profession. Sure the extra $20,000 would mean I could purchase a bigger home, go on an extra holiday and maybe upgrade my wife’s car. But when I considered it, it could NEVER and I mean NEVER buy my daughter’s smile from the extra time I get to spend with her. It can never make up for the extra time I get to spend with my wife, nor could it purchase the extra headache that comes from being home more often. All that and more is worth more than an extra $20,000 p.a. and in reality I would pay a whole lot more to keep it that way.

From a young age I have alway asked myself – “What do I want to achieve before I die?” Up until I had my daughter the responses were along these lines; “Own a Ferrari”, “Own a Yacht” or even “Be Famous.” But now it all has changed. All I can think about is, “why am I working and not with my child?”

Maybe I am wrong, maybe I will never be a millionaire… but by the end of it all when my little girl of 11 month looks at me, smiles and says “Papa”… well I know no amount of money could ever buy the happiness I feel at exactly that moment. So how did i decline and reject my job offer? Easy… with confidence!

theTZAR says love your family!

theTZAR has spoken!

She is the gatekeeper of knowledge

Oh how great that feeling was when I entered the site for the first time and saw everything it had to offer. I must have spent over 8 hours in the Cinema 4D section alone. It was one of the greatest gifts I have given myself. I felt like a scholar discovering the lost library of Atlantis. I swear I even heard the holy music and saw cherubs holding harps continuously singing “HAAA” as I entered my login name and password.

You teach ‘em son… you teach ‘em good!

For those of you who do not know what Lynda.com is, here is a blurb from the company:

lynda.com helps anyone learn software, creative, and business skills to achieve personal and professional goals. Members receive unlimited access to a vast library of high quality, current, and engaging video tutorials taught by great teachers who are also working professionals.

My wife used to tell me that my Macbook is my mistress, well if that’s the case I now have a new mistress and her name is Lynda.

theTZAR has spoken!

It soooo BLOCKY!

What makes Minecraft entertaining is the freedom.  It almost feels like a kid who played with LEGOs and a kid who learnt how to code sat down one day and said… “HEY LET’S COMBINE THESE TOGETHER” and VOILA – Minecraft is born. On a more serious note the game allows you to do whatever you want.

Take that Gravity and Architecture school

For those who get bored with the standard Minecraft universe and would like a greater challenge there is the option of trying the end-user mods, that allow for further expansion and growth in the microcosm of your own universe. These mods are free, however, one must BEWARE that some are malicious and may contain a virus.

Multiplayer can inject some fun into what at first glance can seem like a lonely game, but the sensation of fun is greatly diminished when some bozo destroys a one-to-one scale of the Star Ship Enterprise that you have spent days creating.

To go where no Minecrafter has gone before!

Furthermore, dying in this game SUCKS! If and WHEN you die you lose all your items… so don’t do it man!

Overall, the game is playable and the added benefit of multiplayer and a free world engine can make the game enjoyable. Basically if you are aged between 8 – 15 years of age and loved Legos as a kid you might find this game relevant. I personally rate it as 8.5/10.

by theHAT

Want to write for TZR.com.au … Contact theTZAR @ helptzr@gmail.com

He started early… @ 14 months

Let’s analyse the first claim. I’m 27 and I play more games now than I did when I was in school. I mean now i have a home, a TV and finances to support my addiction. The funny thing is, as a kid growing up I was picked on by the boys playing Rugby League and the skateboarders who smoked weed much more than I was by those kids who played Wolfenstein 3D or DOOM!

But then again I was growing up in the era of Nokia 5110′s and Snake was the game of choice, even for the stoners… COULD THAT HAVE BEEN THE PROBLEM?… DAMN YOU NOKIA?!!! DAMN YOU SNAKE?!!!

DAMN YOU SNAKE…. DAMN YOU TO HELL!!

But on a more serious note if anything, I believe blaming games is a ridiculous and a lazy move by any parent or so called “Doctor”. I remember talking to my wife who attended a talk by a very inspirational man. This man told her that we should not focus our energy on blaming games for a child’s behaviours but instead focus on the real problem… THE KID! Is the kid bullied themselves? Are the parents bullies? Let’s identify the real problem not just apply a simple stupid stereotype.

However, as a scientist (Oh yeah forgot to mention i have a Chemistry degree… SHOCK HORROR) I need to analyse the violence pre and post video games to find the real truth in the matter. To do this I will compare evil people who became evil whilst playing video games to those who did not:

Did not play video games:

- Attila the Hun: plundered and devastated all in his path, died by drowning in his own blood… did not own an xbox

Attila the X-boxless

- Josef Stalin: estimated to have caused the murder of 10-60 million people… Finds the concept of playing with his or someone else’s Wii disgusting

Never played with his Wii

- Adolf Hitler: Fuhrer, brought death and destruction to tens of millions of people and shot himself in the head whilst biting down on a cyanide pill to commit suicide… never played Angry Birds!

Tries the get the Angry Bird angle just right!

- Ivan the IV of Russia: also know as Ivan the Terrible, gathered between 500-1000 people on a daily basis to torture and murder so as to enterain himself and his sons… sucks at DRAW WITH FRIENDS.

Angry with a random player for writing the word instead of drawing it!

- Vlad the Impaler: Is the primary inspiration for the popullar novel “Dracula”… never been thanked by a Twilight fan…

The resemblance is uncanny!

Played video games

- Little Timmy: Drew on a wall with a texta… Bad TIMMY

EVIL!!!

- Denis the Menace: A fictional television character from the 90′s… he angered Mr Wilson!

MR WILLLLLSOOOON!

As is clearly visible from this quick meta analysis games are crucial to prevent torture, mass extermination and impalement… however it will not stop the Twilight saga.

They ask me… ‘are you a Doctor?’… and i say no i’m theTZAR!

Oh how I love these moments, when I can learn and read and the whole place is whisper quite! But what I didn’t know was that danger lurked in the background, silently whispering… sleep … And so I did. Suddenly I was awoken by a crash as my iPad came tumbling out of my hands and hit the hardwood floor beneath me.

As anyone in my state of sleep, I thought “she’ll be right”… i mean it had the “official” Apple cover… that’s “meant” to protect it. But boy was I wrong. The “cover” flew off like a coward before a battle and let my iPad face the might of the hardwood floor screen on. Though it was a stalemate my iPad was scarred with a giant crack running down the whole screen.

The Coward Cover

For me this moment was surreal! In my short lifetime I have had a multitude of phones, gizmo and such and not once have I broken, dented or even scratched a screen and now one of the most beloved gadgets I owned was… disfigured.

I tried using it again, but the magic was gone, the giant scar was a constant reminder of my weak moment when I gave into sleep and let my iMate down.

I decided I will contact the birthplace of my gizmo to see what they can do for me, I mean how hard is it to replace a glass screen? Obviously very. I was informed that my whole unit will need to be replaced and that because my warranty expired last month it would cost me AU$320. An absurd amount for just a screen. I politely (or not depending on who you ask) declined.

How I imagined I looked whilst talking to Apple.

I decided to do some research and found a place in Sydney city that would change it for AU$280, I told them that for AU$40 I can get a new unit! Another place in Kingsgrove quoted me AU$180. Much more reasonable but still ridiculous.

So I went on eBay and found the glass for AU$40 including delivery! SCORE!!

Isn’t she beautiful?!

As I anxiously waited for my package to arrive, I did research on YouTube to the point were I classified myself as an iPad surgeon. The day finally arrived and my package was here. So I began. Slowly but surely I pulled the glass off, being careful not to damage the WiFi receiver!

After about 2 hours I got my unit back and although I classify it as a success there was something YouTube and my eBay seller did not advise me of… The plastic fill-in between the iPad casing and the screen was missing.

Furthermore, whilst my device is operating smoothly, every so often it has a twitch where it believes I am zooming in and out whilst I’m trying to scroll. But apart from that my good buddy and friend is back and to make sure he has a standing chance against his arch nemesis sleep and floor, I bought a proper cover by Otter Box! TAKE THAT SLEEP!

Yeh! You like that! That’s right… walk away sleep!

So the question is should you pay Apple inc. to change your device, or should you brave it yourself? Well if you don’t mind your iPad twitching every so often like an ex-military experiment patient… Then I say risk it… If you really botch it up you can take it back to Apple and try your luck!

theTZAR has spoken!

Today i woke up to a trailer, I thoroughly believe this movie was made for me. So Disney theTZAR would like to thank you.

theTZAR is pleased

Reblogged from Tech:

Like burying vegetables in mac and cheese, Sony’s trying to get kids interested in books by combining them with video games.

The name of this work in progress is Wonderbooks. It’s an augmented reality book that works with the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Move accessories, with 12 pages of thick card stock on the inside that the Move’s camera can read.

Read more… 285 more words