Minimalist Wood Cube Alarm Clock with Clap Activated LED Screen

With today’s electronic gadgets often overwhelmingly complicated and sometimes confusing, it’s a refreshing change to see a functional item for the bedside table looking like wooden cube with an LED light. Well, that’s actually exactly what this alarm clock is and it’s perfect for a bedroom that has a decidedly minimalist atmosphere and décor scheme. No fancy gadgets with whistles and touch screens here, just a simple wooden block that tells you all you need to know.

An LED display screen is inbuilt into the wooden cube and displays the time as though imprinted onto the wooden surface. This is in fact achieved by the clapping of your hands, for when not activated, the LED display screen remains blank. In this state, the clock is for all intents and purposes, looks to merely be a decorative wooden accent piece. A benefit of the clap activation is the ability to find the clock in a pitch black room if you have inadvertently placed it elsewhere.

The wood cube alarm clock is ideal for a bedside table but it can be placed in just about any location in the room such as on a shelf or cabinet. The LED displayed time is clear to see from anywhere. It can also be situated in a home office or library where it can remind you of the time when trying to complete an important assignment on time. Here, the benefit rests in the hiding of the time when not urgently required so as to prevent clock watching which frequently wastes time and causes tension.

If you have a stylishly minimalist kitchen interior, then it will look great there too and is perfect for use when cooking and have messy hands. All you need to do is clap (hopefully not whilst covered with flour) and voilà, the time is revealed. It’s fun, modern and different, making it a unique time piece for people who like something out of the ordinary.



Book Review: ‘Books Make a Home’ by Damian Thompson

The common opinion, a room without books is a lifeless empty shell, no matter what beautiful furnishings and décor are included within. This is precisely why a book such as Books Make a Home by The World of Interiors’ Chief Sub-editor Damian Thompson is so close to our heart. If you too love books and recognise the influence and decorative quality books can bring to an interior, then this is a book you really must buy. It’s an attractive book itself and can be placed nicely on a coffee table when not being read.

Books come in a myriad of different sizes, colors, subjects and even materials. Whether you have hundreds of books related to history and politics or a few dozen novels and poetry books, you’ll be able to gain inspiration for better placement and arrangement within your home. Thompson takes each room, one by one and examines the possible design changes you can make with books and how you can employ a host of techniques for stacking, shelving and closeting your collection of reading material. All this done in a way that utilizes space and also makes the room look much better, and with added personality.

The book is packed with inspirational photographs illustrating decorative solutions for each space and every size of collection. You’ll also find how to make use of existing storage features as well as the creation of new areas that you would not have imagined were possible. Additionally ‘Books Make a Home’ explores how books can be combined with decorative objects and personal effects to create fabulously eye-catching displays. There’s even a section which details how to look after each individual book so its appearance is kept to a high standard. The combination of written explanations and tips together with the beautiful photographic presentations makes this book a great help when it comes to establishing books as an essential part of a good décor scheme.

How to Collaborate on Projects

Give them a Common Purpose

The first step is to set the direction for the project by writing a Project Charter. This document describes the scope of the project, the goals to be met and the timeframes for delivery.

 Present your Project Charter to your team over lunch, describing what it is that they must deliver and by when. Then you can ensure that "everyone is on the same page". Remember, collaboration is all about bringing individuals together to form a team. By giving them a common direction, you're already on the right track.

Pair them up to Work Together

Then write your Project Plan and assign multiple people to the same tasks where appropriate, pairing them up to work together.

 That way, your team are forced to work together on common tasks, helping them to overcome any previous boundaries or communication difficulties.

 Make sure people only do work that is "on the plan", so you can stay within scope. That way, your team won't fragment with different directions appearing all over the place. Remember you need to create "one boat, one team, all rowing in the same direction"!

Give them the Right Tools

Incentivize your team to work together by giving them a toolset that allows them to:

• Store all their files online in one place.
• Discuss project tasks, issues and timeframes
• Message one-another when they need to
• See each others activity so they know what's happening
• View tasks, calendars and plans online

Promote Collaboration

Having a great tool set is certainly a step in the right direction. You also need to promote collaboration within your team personally. Reward and recognize great collaboration behavior when you see it. If you see team members communicating effectively online then reward them for it, in front of the team.

By giving your team a solid direction, the right tools at their fingertips and reinforcing great behavior, you can take a defragmented group of individuals and turn them on to the high performing team quickly.

Writing Effective Emails

Write better emails
with James Manktelow & Amy Carlson.

Do people respond to your emails in the way you want them to? Or do they seem to ignore them, or miss important information? And are you sure that you're making the best possible impression with your emails?

Subject Lines are Headlines

A newspaper headline has two functions: It grabs your attention, and it tells you what the article is about, so that you can decide if you want to read further. Email subject lines need to do exactly the same thing! Use a few well-chosen words, so that the recipient knows at a glance what the email is about.

 If your message is one of a regular series of emails, such as a weekly project report, include the date in the subject line. And for a message that needs a response, you might want to include a call to action, such as "Please reply by November 7".

 Remember that everyone tries to reduce the amount of "spam" email messages they receive. If you make appropriate use of the subject line, you increase the chances that your email will be read, rather than mistaken for spam and deleted without so much as a glance.

 Of course, just as it would be ridiculous to publish a newspaper without headlines, never leave the subject line blank. Emails with blank subject lines are usually spam!

When you compose an email message, there are some simple rules that you can follow to ensure that your emails make a positive impression, and get you the response you want. We'll look at these here, and we'll illustrate the points we're talking about with both good and bad examples at the end of each section.

Bad Example

Subject: Meeting

Hi Jim,

I just wanted to remind you about the meeting we have scheduled next week. Do let me know if you have any questions!

Best wishes,

Mark

This email is an example of poor communication for several reasons. Let's focus on the headline. As you can see, it's titled "Meeting".

Why is this a bad headline?

Well, there's no information about the meeting. If your calendar is full of meetings, you might even wonder which one Mark is talking about. And there's certainly no clarity about the subject, or when and where the meeting's being held.

What's more, the lack of specific information makes it look like a spam email. This email risks being deleted without being read!

Also, the tone of the message is that of a friendly reminder. There's nothing wrong with that, but essential details are missing. If Jim hasn't heard anything about the meeting, or has completely forgotten about it, he'll have to write back for more information.

Good Example

Subject: Reminder of 10am Meeting Sched. 10/05 on PASS Process.

Hi Jim,

I just wanted to remind you about the meeting we have scheduled for Monday, October 5, at 10:00am. It's being held in conference room A, and we'll be discussing the new PASS Process.

If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch (x3024).

Best Wishes,

Mark

See how specific this new headline is?

The great thing about this headline is that the reader doesn't even have to open the email to get most of the relevant information.

And the precise nature of the headline serves as a useful prompt. Every time the reader glances at his saved emails, he'll be reminded about that specific meeting.

Make One Point per Email

One of the advantages of email compared with traditional letters is that it doesn't cost any more to send several emails than it does to send one. So, if you need to communicate with someone about a number of different things, consider writing a separate email on each subject.

That way, your correspondent can reply to each one individually and in the appropriate time frame. One topic might only require a short reply, that he or she can send straight away. Another topic might require more research. By writing separate messages, you should get clearer answers, while helping other people manage their inboxes better.

If you do want to put several points in an email - perhaps because they relate to the same project - consider presenting each point in a separate, numbered paragraph. This makes each point stand out, significantly increasing the likelihood that each point will be addressed.

As with traditional business letters, each individual email should be clear and concise, with the purpose of the message detailed in the very first paragraph. Sentences should be kept short and to the point. The body of the email should contain all pertinent information and should be direct and informative.

Bad Example

Subject: Revisions For Sales Report

Hi Jackie,

Thanks for sending in that report last week. I read through it yesterday and feel that you need more specific information regarding our sales figures in Chapter 2. I also felt that the tone could be a bit more formal. The report is going to be read by our Executive Team, and needs to reflect our professionalism.

Also, I wanted to let you know that I've scheduled a meeting with the PR department for this Friday, regarding the new ad campaign. It's at 11:00, and will be in the small conference room.

Please let me know if you can make that time.

Thanks!

Monica

Monica got a good headline in there, and she was pretty clear on the changes she wanted Jackie to make to that report.

But what did she do wrong?

Well, that second paragraph about the meeting is pretty important, and yet she lumped it into the email that detailed the revisions. If Jackie doesn't put it straight in her calendar, she'll have to remember that the meeting details were in the email titled "Revisions For Sales Report", which is not very logical.

Combining those two important communications increases the chance that either the meeting or the revisions will be forgotten. Let's look at how she could have done it better:

Good Example

Subject: Revisions For Sales Report

Hi Jackie,

Thanks for sending in that report last week. I read through it yesterday and feel that you need more specific information regarding our sales figures in Chapter 2. I also felt that the tone could be a bit more formal. The report is going to be read by our Executive Team, and needs to reflect our professionalism.

Thanks for your hard work on this!

Monica

AND

Subject: Friday 10/9, 11am Meeting w/PR Dept

Hi Jackie,

I wanted to let you know that I've scheduled a meeting with the PR department for this Friday, 10/9, regarding the new ad campaign.

It's at 11:00am, and will be in the small conference room. Please let me know if you can make that time.

Thanks!

Monica

By separating those two important communications, Jackie will be able to find what she needs quickly in her inbox.

As well as this, separating the two topics helps her keep her saved emails relevant. Once she's done with the revisions email she can delete it, but keep the meeting reminder email until the end of the week.

Specify the Response You Want

Make sure to include any call to action you want, such as a phone call or follow-up appointment. Then, make sure you include your contact information, including your name, title, and phone numbers. Do this even with internal messages. Remember, the easier you make it for someone else to respond, the more likely they are to do so!

Bad Example

From: reliablelandscapes@domain.com

Subject: Proposal

Lynn,

Did you get my proposal last week? I haven't heard back and wanted to make sure.

Can you please call me so we can discuss?

Thanks!

Peter

There are several pieces of important information missing from this email.

The first thing that's missing is information about the proposal. What if Lynn got several proposals? Which one is the writer talking about? Also, did he send it by post, or through email?

Also, the writer gave Lynn no information on how to get in touch. Where is his office number, his cell number, or his business name? Lynn will have to go and find that information.

And, most critically, he didn't give his full name and title at the bottom of the mail - despite the fact that his name doesn't form part of his email address.

Good Example

Subject: Checking On Reliable Landscapes Proposal

Dear Lynn,

I just wanted to check that you have received the landscaping proposal I emailed to you last week. I haven't heard back and wanted to make sure it went through.

Can you please call me by Thursday so we can discuss? This is when our discount offer expires, and I want to make sure you don't miss it!

The quickest way to contact me is by cell phone.

Thanks!

Peter Schuell, Owner
Reliable Landscaping, Inc.
555.135.4598 (office)
555.135.2929 (cell)

Peter has now given Lynn all the information she needs. She knows he emailed the proposal last week, that he'd like her to call him by Thursday, and that she should use his cell phone to make contact quickly.

Most importantly, Peter included his name and title, so Lynn knows who he is, and put his contact information at the bottom.

Using EOM Headlines

When you have a very short message to convey, you can use the EOM, or End Of Message, technique.

This is possible when you can put all the relevant information in the subject line, followed by the letters "EOM". This lets the recipient know that he or she doesn't even have to open the email; all the information is right there. The subject line is the message!

Example

Subject: 10/5 Meeting, 10am, Conf. Rm. A, On PASS Procedure EOM

Be a Good Correspondent

Make sure that you go through your inbox regularly and respond as appropriate. This is a simple act of courtesy and will also serve to encourage others to reply to your emails

in a timely manner. If a detailed response is required to an email, and you don't have the time to pull together the information straight away, send a holding reply saying that you have received the message, and indicating when you will respond fully.

How frequently you should check your mail will depend on the nature of your work, but try to avoid interrupting a task you're working on to check your mail, simply because you wonder if something interesting has come in.

Always set your Out of Office agent when you're going to be away from your email for a day or more, whether on leave or because you're at meetings.

Internal Email

Internal emails, just like other emails, should not be too informal. Remember, these are written forms of communication that can be printed out and viewed by people other than those for whom they were originally intended! Always use your spell checker, and avoid slang.

Thanks for ehow.com

Abstract Hand-Carved Wooden Statue of a Man Deep in Thought

This abstract wooden sculpture depicting a man deep in thought must resonate with a great many of us during our working day. Whilst we may not be sitting on the ground, the action of drifting off into a dream world instead of tapping away at a computer or having to fill in mundane forms is something we all must admit to at some point in every day. Throughout humanity’s history, our imaginations and thoughts have paved the way to some of our greatest inventions and successes.

The abstract figurine consists of two main sections both joined together by a pair of arms. The top section depicts the thinking man’s head, chest and shoulders whilst the lower section is comprised of his crossed legs. It’s very Eastern in theme and style and this is no wonder for the human sculpture is made on the Indonesian island of Bali, now most famous as being an attractive international tourist destination. Skilled artisans in this region of south-east Asia have long been making works of art and sculpture from the natural materials found in the forests of this part of the world.

The day dreaming figurine is made from Suar wood which is a type of hardwood native to a rainforest tree in South America. In the last century, the tree species was spread across the tropical regions of the world and is now found in Indonesia as well. Suar wood is a very eco-friendly wood for it is fast growing and easily replaceable. Its popularity as a material for sculpture can be found in the fact that the wood varies dramatically in color from the centre of the tree to the outer rings. Its interlocking grain also makes it a strong wood and less liable to crack in drier regions of the world such as North America.

The thinking man wooden figurine has been individually hand-carved and will thus be a unique piece. It will look lovely in just about any room in the home and will certainly sit well in an Asian or Buddhist themed interior.

Master Top 300

Description

Mastertop 300 is already to use blend of a synthetic mineral aggregate and cement which is applied as a dry shake to the surface of fresh concrete or screeds.

Mastertop 300 will provide continuous protection to concrete floor against wear, impact, and abrasion and a high resisitance to various industrial chemicals, oils, greases, detergents and hydraulic fluids found in the aviation industry.

Primary Uses

Mastertop 300 is designed to ensure improved durability in applications where the floor is subjected to medium and heavy traffic and where a non-dusting is required. It will improve and enhance performance of all concrete floors.

Typical Applications

§  Workshops

§  Power Stations

§  Garages

§  Car Parks

§  Warehouses

§  Loading Bays

§  Factories

§  Shipyards

§  Aircraft Hangars

§  Traffic Decking

§  Car Washes

§  Helicopter Pads

Composition

Mastertop 300 consists of non-metallic, inert high quality synthetic mineral aggregates, propriety chemicals, pigments and cement.

Advantages

o   Premixed offering factory controlled quality assurance

o   Applied monolithically to fresh concrete.

o   Quick application and finishing results in considerable time savings

o   Ease of application 

o   Joints can be provided with better protection by addition of extra material at edges of bays

o   Wear, abrasion and impact resistance are superior to normal concrete.

o   Non-oxidising

o   Slip-Resistant finish can be obtained

o   High impermeability compared to concrete under the same conditions

o   Mastertop 300 forms an integral part of the floor surface and will not delaminate or peel

o   Non-dusting

o   For internal and external use

o   Easy to clean

o   Economic installation

o   Maintenance free, long life performance

Application

v  Concrete should not segregate and bleed or contain more than 3% air.

v  Screeds to which Mastertop 300 is to be applied, should have a minimum thickness of 75mm.

v  Generally in temperatures of 35-45°C a waiting period of 30-40 mins is recommended.

Coverage 

Typical applications can be from 3Kg-7Kg/m2, however for most industrial applications 5Kg/m2 coverage is recommended.

Storage

Shelf life is 12 months when stored as above.

Safety Precautions

Avoid contact with with eyes and prolonged contact with skin. If contact occurs wash thoroughly with water and calla doctor. Keep product out of reach of children

Thankyou

(BASF-The Chemical Company, www.basf.co.ae)

Square Black Latticework Accent Table with Shelves

If you’re looking for an accent table with a sense of grounded stability, formal elegance and high functionality, then this square latticework table with shelves, as seen below, is going to fit your requirements. The black accent table is suitable for a wide range of living room décor schemes and will look good beside numerous types of sofa and armchair styles. It’s lattice design allows it to merge with a great many different themes that other styles would have difficulty complimenting.

Latticework designs are thousands of years old and are popular throughout Europe and Asia. Lattice décor in buildings can be seen as far afield as Spain, Saudi Arabia and India whilst latticework windows are even mentioned in biblical stories. The accent table above also has a rather Charles Rennie Mackintosh (famous Scottish architect, artist and designer) look about it which is reminiscent of the Japanese designs he was influenced by. Although in this case, the table also has a subtle Indian appearance which will reflect well in a South Asian styled interior décor arrangement.

 Below the table top are two extra shelves on which can be placed everyday items you need close to hand or more decorative objects such as bowls, sculptures and art books. The lattice sides provide a delightful framework to whatever objects you decide to place on these square shelves and allow visitors to at first peer through the latticework before finally seeing the decorative objects whole as they move closer to the side table and its nearby sofa or armchair. Alternatively, of course, the accent table can be placed in a location entirely independent of any seating furniture piece and become a feature all by itself in an emptier part of an interior space.

 Functional, stylish, graceful and small, the latticework accent table can be situated in a living room, bedroom, dining room or even a bathroom, where it will fulfil a variety of roles.