Are you aware about the different kind of birds in your region? Are you aware about what is the total count of the birds in the planet? Study of birds is extremely interesting and is accepted around the world in the present time. They in a way contribute wholly a different meaning towards comprehending the nature’s concept in its full bloom. The major issues surrounding the study of birds is that almost all information is availed either through text books or a local zoo is the key to knowing about them. To understand their behaviour patterns one cannot watch them. If you browse the internet for this then there also you have all the information garnered by some other individual who have closely observed their movements earlier. But if you are looking forward to make studying birds your profession then in that case you will not be able to do without spending quality time with these beautiful creations of God to know about them even better.

Watching birds is a favourite hobby of some individuals as when you watch them you will find yourself close to the bounty of nature. A sense of peace seems to drive a person as they watch the movement of the birds’ whole day long. Merely watching them a person can easily spend their whole day without even realizing. All this can be done by a person at Bird Discovery Centre Singapore. This is a place where you can come across all the information associated with birds of different varieties along with exploring other fascinating facts about these beautiful creatures. Besides birds from Singapore you will find birds from all over the globe here.

Bird Discovery Centre Singapore is the current endeavour of the popular Wildlife reserve Singapore to aid the wildlife along with rendering new dimensions to the endangered bird’s world. The place got its initial kick in January 2009 and since then it has become immensely popular amongst the local members as well as the tourists visiting from distant places. Becoming familiar about these creatures within the four walls of the room is an inventive approach and with all that information in your mind visiting a Bird discovery centre enables the students to have a better understanding about the things which they learnt in the class room. This process of teaching breaks the monotony and enlivens the teaching process for the students. Such kind of an experience will not be received by an individual anywhere worldwide.

Other attractions of the place mainly comprise a live approach of looking as well as interacting with the endangered birds. The way the birds are kept in the park is almost identical to the surrounding as well as environment from where they have originated. So, a bird that has originated from a colder climate has an enclosure with trees. A care like this is rarely given to the birds elsewhere. Hence if you are planning for a vacation in Singapore then do make a point to visit Bird Discovery Centre Singapore and get in touch the beauty nature holds in for you.

A lot of us still remember the days of playing our favorite vinyl record albums on a turntable, and can recall the anticipation of bringing that album home from the record store to give it a spin and play our radio favorite again and again.  Here is a classic way to resurrect one or two of those old record albums and show them off in an artsy way and protect them at the same time. 

I was inspired to create this decorating project when I came across an album shaped hanging frame with a glass cover to protect the front of the album jacket.  That of course is the part that holds the record itself.  The frame was designed to display album covers on a wall as decorative art.  Throughout the decades of modern music as we know it, specifically the time period from the psychedelic 60s to the present time, the design and artwork that would go in to an album jacket cover, and the more current CD covers, at times has resulted in phenomenal and historically significant art.  So, when I discovered this frame designed to show off some of those more artsy album covers, I was immediately drawn to the idea and started to make a list of the old albums I had that might work well displayed on my walls.

Then, like that proverbial light bulb flashing over my head, I had a revolutionary idea that had me jumping through the ceiling with excitement.  What if I took an old record album or two, great musically speaking, but lacking in artistic interpretation on the cover, and used that same frame I found to display the vinyl record itself.   Of course you’re asking me, “What is so original about that idea?”  Well, pull up a chair and I’ll show you how to make that dark vinyl disc a work of art.

First let us look at the supplies you will need for this attention drawing project:

Square album frame with glass cover: (12 ¼” X 12 ¼”); An album, without the jacket cover Scrapbooking theme paper, theme wrapping paper, or any artistic paper that projects the message or theme of the album itself. Thicker cardboard cut in to the square dimensions of your frame (this should match the shape given above that is intended for an album cover to fit inside) Adhesive glue stick or artist spray adhesive

To put this framed art project together, you are simply taking an old record album and showing it off on your wall in the same way that music artists are awarded once their recordings reach a certain level of sales.  Whereas their successfully selling record albums are represented in gold or platinum, our framed records will be the actual albums themselves with a decorative theme border surrounding them.     

Step 1:  You may have a square piece of the thick cardboard included with your frame.  However, if you do not, just cut a square piece of cardboard in the dimensions listed above from an ordinary cardboard box.  Test fit the cardboard inside the frame before going any further.  Once you have a fit, set your cardboard on a flat surface safe for cutting upon.  Now, take your album of choice, and place it exactly in the center.  A perfect way to find the true center is to first measure your square and make a pen mark at that point.  Then, simply lay the album over the cardboard and line up the hole in the middle of the album with that pen mark.  Bet the inventor of the record album never realized the center hole had a dual purpose, did he?  Once you have marked your place, take a sharp utility blade and slowly score the cardboard along the circular edge of the album.  Once complete, remove the album and cut completely through your scored cardboard to remove the inner circle.  You are now ready for the next step.

Step 2:   You will now want to take your scrapbooking paper or wrapping paper of choice, and cover your cardboard using an adhesive glue stick.  Make sure the paper is flat against the cardboard without any bubbles, and then cut out the center circular portion where the album itself will be inserted.  Once the paper is dry, place it inside the album frame, insert your album, and place the protective backing that came with the frame back in place.  

That is it!  Your artsy framed old record album is ready to be hung on the wall and admired.  Have fun with it.

I have been a fan of NBC’s popular sitcom “The Office” for quite some time.  More than anything, the secret to the show’s success is its ability to develop a humorous parody of true life office situations, such as boring meetings, an irrational boss, office politics, competition, even romance.  One of the areas the writers work on is humor in the work place.  Two situations in particular come to mind:  Michael Scott’s (the boss) inane ability to tell jokes to his staff, which nobody appreciates, and Jim Halpert’s barrage of practical jokes on his nemesis at work, Dwight Schrute (moving Dwight’s desk into the men’s room was my personal favorite).

In Scott’s case, as manager he simply wants to lighten things up in the workplace.  Although he genuinely believes he is being witty, he is oblivious to the fact his delivery is not only bad, but his comments are embarrassingly crude and politically incorrect.  Although he has the best intentions, his staff is simply shocked by what  comes out of his mouth.  In other words, instead of easing the tensions in the office, he compounds it.

In Halpert’s case, there is considerable tension between Schrute and himself, but because of Dwight’s offbeat persona, he makes an easy target for Jim who gets satisfaction watching his foil react to his pranks.  This greatly relieves the stress of work, at least for Jim and Pam.  However, Jim can become distraught if his practical jokes backfire.

The lesson from both scenarios is there is a fine line between adding levity to the workplace and making matters worse.

There is a trend in management today to promote humor in the workplace in the hopes it will relieve the tedium of work.  Although this sounds all well and good, there are also pitfalls.  First, not everyone shares the same sense of humor.  What one person considers funny may be considered obnoxious or distasteful to another.  Second, it is very easy to go over the line and tell a politically incorrect joke, thereby paving the way for a reprimand or, even worse, a lawsuit to be filed against the person, the company, or both.

Sarcasm is perhaps the most common form of humor found in the workplace, but this can get old quickly if done excessively and perceived in a negative context.  Imitations of people can be comical, but it also reveals your true feelings about someone, plus, if your target finds out about it, you might earn their wrath or turn a friend into an enemy.  To me, imitations of people in the office are the first hint that someone has their foot on a banana peel.

Practical jokes are still around, but not to the degree as exemplified in “The Office.”  The biggest danger here is if the joke is manifested in front of a prospective or existing customer, thereby affecting business.  Company newbies, particularly recent college graduates, beware:  be wary of sophomoric hijinks in the workplace.  Humor in the office is vastly different than what you experienced in college.

Is there room for humor in the workplace anymore?  Yes, the prime intent is to relieve stress, engage the brain, and reinvigorate your coworkers.  You should be cognizant though of the fine line between silliness and getting in the way of accomplishing productive work. Like any comedian, you should know your audience and tailor your humor accordingly.  No, we no longer live in an era where crude jokes can be openly told in the workplace.  We must be careful not to offend, but aside from this, there is nothing wrong with a little levity to liven things up.

And for God’s sake, don’t try some of Jim’s practical jokes at work.