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                                                                  EXHIBIT 10.12

                                   ACQUISITION NOTE

July 30, 1997
Toronto, Ontario

MATURITY DATE: July 1, 2007

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned (the "Maker") acknowledges itself indebted
to and promises to pay to Heartsoft Inc. (the "Holder") on the dates specified
below at 225 Richmond Street West, Suite 400, Toronto, Ontario, M5V I W2 (or at
such other place as the Holder may from time to time designate in writing to the
Maker), the principal sum of $1,225,000 (one million two hundred twenty five
thousand dollars)(the "Principal Sum") in lawful money of Canada, together with
interest thereon as set forth herein.

The Principal Sum plus all accrued and unpaid interest thereon shall be due and
payable by the Maker to the Holder in full on July 1, 2007.

The Principal Sum from time to time outstanding shall bear interest from and
after the date hereof at the rate of five percent (5%) per annum, payable in
U.S. dollars, compounded annually both before and after demand, default,
maturity and judgment with interest on overdue principal and interests at the
same rate until the date of payment in full.  The Maker shall pay all accrued
and unpaid interest on the principal amount outstanding from time to time,
annually, in arrears, on or before January 30 of each year.

In the event that the Maker defaults in payment of any sum due hereunder, and
fails to correct that default within 30 days of receiving written notice from
the Holder, the Principal Sum then outstanding together with accrued but unpaid
interest may, at the Holder's option, be accelerated and immediately become due
and payable in full, with interest thereon from such date at the rate as
specified herein.

So long as the Maker is not in default in the making of any payment due
hereunder, it shall have the right to prepay at any time and from time to time
all or any part of the Principal Sum then outstanding, and any interest thereon,
without notice, bonus or penalty, provided that the right of the Maker to make
any such prepayments shall be conditional upon payment by the Maker to the
Holder of all accrued and unpaid interest owing in respect of the Principal Sum
to the date of any such prepayment.

The provisions of this promissory note shall enure to the benefit of the Holder
(who may not transfer, assign, pledge or otherwise encumber this promissory note
without the express written consent of the Maker, which consent may be
unreasonably withhold) and shall be binding upon the Maker and its successors
and assigns.  The Maker hereby waives presentment, protest, demand, notice of
protest and notice of dishonor of this promissory note and expressly agrees that
this promissory note and any payment due hereunder may be extended from time to
time by the Holder without in any way affecting the liability of the Maker.

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The Maker agrees to pay to the Holder 100% of Gross Receipts, as defined in the
offering memorandum of the Maker dated May 30, 1997 (the "Offering Memorandum"),
on an annual basis, until all of the interest owing under this promissory note
is paid in full, and to pay to the Holder 44% of Distributable Cash (as defined
in the Offering Memorandum) until all principal owing under this promissory note
has been paid in full.

This promissory note is issued by the Maker and accepted by the Holder as
partial payment of the consideration due under a software agreement dated July
30, 1997 between the Maker and the Holder, and this promissory note is subject
to the terms and conditions of that agreement.

This promissory note shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the Province of Ontario and the laws of Canada applicable therein.

EXECUTED at Toronto, Ontario this 30th day of July, 1997.

                                     HEARTSOFT 1997 LIMITED PARTNERSHIP,
                                     BY ITS GENERAL PARTNER, CVI LP MANAGEMENT
                                     INC.

                                     Per:       /s/ Greg Coleman
                                          ------------------------------------
                                          Greg Coleman - President<PAGE>

                                                                  EXHIBIT 10.13

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                        HEARTSOFT II 1997 LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

                                ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT

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  THIS AGREEMENT made as of the 30th day of July, 1997

  AMONGST:

         HEARTSOFT II 1997 LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a limited partnership formed
         pursuant to the laws of the !Province of Ontario (hereinafter referred
         to as the "Partnership")

                                                               OF THE FIRST PART

                                        -AND-

         HEARTSOFT INC., a company formed under the laws of the State of
         Delaware (hereinafter referred to as the "Vendor")

                                                              OF THE SECOND PART

                                        -AND-

         EACH PARTY who has been or from time to time may be accepted as a
         limited partner in the Partnership, or who is a successor to any such
         parry (hereinafter individually referred to as a "Limited Partner" and
         collectively referred to as "the Limited Partners")

                                                              OF THE THIRD PART

WHEREAS the Partnership intends to acquire from the Vendor an undivided 15%
interest in and to the HEARTSOFT K:8 LIBRARY, a set of 50 education software
programs, pursuant to the terms of a software agreement (the "Software
Agreement") dated July 30, 1997;

AND WHEREAS in partial satisfaction of the purchase price for the Computer
Programs, the Partnership intends to execute and deliver to the Vendor an
acquisition note (the "Acquisition Note") in the maximum principal amount of
$1,225,000;

AND WHEREAS the Partnership intends to accept subscriptions for a maximum of
1,750 units (the "Units") in the Partnership;

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Assumption Agreement                                                    Page 2
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AND WHEREAS in partial satisfaction of the purchase price for the Units, each of
the Limited Partners has agreed to assume his or her pro rata share of the
Acquisition Note;

NOW THEREFORE in consideration of the payment of the sum of One Dollar ($1.00),
and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby
acknowledged, and of the premises and mutual covenants contained herein, the
parties hereto agree as follows:

1.   Each of the Limited Partners hereby irrevocably agrees to pay to the Vendor
his or her pro rata share of the Acquisition Note in accordance with its terms.

2.   In consideration of the assumption by the Limited Partners of all of the
obligations of the Partnership under the Acquisition Note, the Vendor hereby
releases and discharges the Partnership from all liability under the Acquisition
Note.

3.   Each Limited Partner hereby irrevocably directs the Partnership to pay to
the Vendor 100% of his or her share of Gross Receipts, as defined in the
offering memorandum of the Partnership dated May 30, 1997 (the "Offering
Memorandum"), on a quarterly basis, until all of the interest owing under the
Acquisition Note is paid in full, and to pay to the Vendor 45% of Distributable
Cash (as defined in the Offering Memorandum) until all principal owing under the
Acquisition Note is paid in full.

4.   The Vendor may not further assign, transfer, pledge, hypothecate, grant a
security interest in or otherwise encumber the Acquisition Note or this
agreement without the express written consent of the Partnership and each of the
Limited Partners, which consent may be unreasonably withheld.

5.   In the event that a Limited Partner sells, transfers or assigns his or her
units in the Partnership, such Limited Partner shall also be entitled to assign
or transfer his or her obligations under the Acquisition Note, provided that:

      (a) such transfer is made in accordance with the terms of the Partnership
          agreement; and

     (b)  the transferee assumes all of the transferor's obligations under the
          Acquisition Note and this agreement.

6.   Nothing contained herein shall be construed as making any Limited Partner
liable to the Vendor for any amount greater than such Limited Partner's pro rata
share of the Acquisition Note, nor as releasing or limiting the liability of the
Partnership from any other liabilities to the Vendor under the Software
Agreement.

7.   This agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the
parties hereto and their respective heirs, executors, administrators and other
legal representatives, successors and assigns.

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Assumption Agreement                                                    Page 3
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8.   This agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the Province of Ontario and the laws of Canada applicable therein, and
the parties hereto irrevocably attorn to the jurisdiction of the courts of the
Province of Ontario.

9.   This agreement may be executed In two or more counterparts, with the same
effect as If all parties hereto had signed the same document- This agreement may
also be adopted In any subscription forms, transfer and assignment form or
similar instruments signed by a Limited Partner or his attorney, with the same
effect as if such Limited Partner had executed a counterpart of this agreement.
All counterparts and adopting instruments shall be construed together 2nd shall
constitute one and the same agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF this agreement has been executed as of the date and year
first above written.

                                    HEARTSOFT 111997 LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, BY ITS
                                    GENERAL PARTNER,
                                    CVI LP MANAGEMENT INC.

                              Per:  /s/ Greg Coleman
                                    --------------------------------------------
                                    Greg Coleman - President

                                    HEARTSOFT INC.

                                    Per: /s/ Benjamin Shell
                                    --------------------------------------------

---------------------               --------------------------------------------
Signature of Witness                Signature of Limited Partner

---------------------               --------------------------------------------
Name of Witness                     Name of Limited Partner

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