Chris Watson – författare

In the early 1970s, a new breed of film emerged that would completely change the way black people were presented in movies. With their afros picked to spherical perfection and their guns blazing, big bad soul brothers and super sexy sisters lit up movie theaters across the country. Never before had black men and women appeared on screen in quite this way. In time, these films would be called "blaxploitation." And while it has long been debated exactly which film launched the blaxploitation era, the financial success of Melvin Van Peebles''s Sweet Sweetback''s Baadasssss Song and Gordon Parks''s Shaft helped open the flood gates for the more than 200 films that are now considered blaxploitation.Reflections on Blaxploitation: Actors and Directors Speak is a collection of interviews with many of the men and women who defined the genre. In candid conversations, some of the most important figures of the era describe what it was like to work on these films and what impact they had on American culture. Among those interviewed are such icons as Jim Brown (Slaughter), Antonio Fargas (Foxy Brown), Gloria Hendry (Hell Up in Harlem), Jim Kelly (Black Belt Jones), Ron O''Neal (Superfly), William Marshall (Blacula), and Fred Williamson (Hammer). Also featured here are some of the most influential names behind the scenes, including Larry Cohen (Black Caesar), Oscar Williams (Five on the Black Hand Side), and Melvin Van Peebles. This volume also includes a filmography of every known (or rumored) blaxploitation film, including their availability on VHS and DVD.

When he was fourteen years old, some friends of his parents gave wildlife sound recordist, Chris Watson, ‘The Observer''s Book of Birds’. Flicking through the pages, Chris was captivated by the description of a bird which sang at night. The bird was a Nightingale; and since first reading about it, Chris has been fortunate enough to hear Nightingales both in Britain and Europe but always as part of a chorus of birds. Now, in this programme, he tries to get a microphone really close to a Nightingale to record its remarkable song - a rich, mellow series of notes. The location is Rutland Water. There are two areas here which are regularly frequented by Nightingales - the Lyndon Reserve on the South Shore and Hambleton Wood, which is on a peninsula extending out into the Reservoir. Having been guided by the Wardens from the Nature Reserve to the areas of scrub where Nightingales have been heard singing, Chris is able to rig up microphones near potential song posts. The result, after several sleepless nights and a battle with brambles and nettles is the most astonishing clear, beautiful recording of a Nightingale. In ‘Hunt for the Nightingale''s Song’, the story of Chris''s quest to find and record a Nightingale is inter-cut with a commentary featuring Rob Thomas (Cardiff University), and Rob Fuller (British Trust for Ornithology) about the song of the Nightingale, its composition and function. Produced by Sarah Blunt.

Brimming with punchy, practical ideas to improve your day-to-day effectiveness, Chris Watson’s Upskill: 21 keys to professional growth is the definitive guide to developing the adaptive skills essential for success at work. In Upskill, adaptive skills specialist Chris Watson delivers a dynamic snapshot of easy-to-access development possibilities – providing you with:840 user-friendly tools and techniques reflecting the latest thinking on how to extend capability, boost professional growth and take charge of your career.A rich resource of reliable solutions, grouped around the twenty-one adaptive skills most valued by today’s employers – including creativity, collaboration and communication.An abundance of proven approaches, topical insights, time-saving apps and inspirational videos, as well as helpful signposts to relevant quotes, books and other resources. Each chapter focuses on one of the twenty-one skills, and begins with examples of how the individual skills – which can be practised and refined throughout a career, and have all been shown to be associated with greater operational agility – may be observed in the work environment. This brief introduction is then followed by forty practical ideas to develop the performance of people. Although there is no formal hierarchy to the list of suggestions, all of the ideas have been categorised into three inter-related clusters for ease of use – encompassing ideas for personal development, for delivering results and for long-term gain. Within each of the three clusters, all of the ideas for professional growth have been laid out in terms of how they can help you respond and adjust to the requirements of your role and the ever-changing world of work:Some of the suggestions are tools – apps, templates, downloads and inventories – which can be picked up and used/introduced straightaway. Some of the suggestions are techniques – methods, approaches and procedures – for you to try out, investigate and explore. The final set of suggestions indicate where to look for further inspiration – including films,podcasts, related research and a wide range of suggested reading materials. The majority of the hints, tips and techniques can be actioned without having to access any external support or invest in any additional outlay, and are as useful for new starters in an organisation as they are for experienced managers.Suitable for anyone who is committed to developing themselves and their colleagues, but may not have the time, the resources, the budget or the inspiration to know where to start.

Brimming with punchy, practical ideas to improve your day-to-day effectiveness, Upskill: 21 keys to professional growth is the definitive guide to developing the adaptive skills essential for success at work. In Upskill, adaptive skills specialist Chris Watson delivers a dynamic snapshot of easy-to-access development possibilities providing you with: 840 user-friendly tools and techniques reflecting the latest thinking on how to extend capability, boost professional growth and take charge of your career; a rich resource of reliable solutions, grouped around the twenty-one adaptive skills most valued by today''s employers including creativity, collaboration and communication; an abundance of proven approaches, topical insights, time-saving apps and inspirational videos, as well as helpful signposts to relevant quotes, books and other resources. Each chapter focuses on one of the twenty-one skills, and begins with examples of how the individual skills which can be practised and refined throughout a career, and have all been shown to be associated with greater operational agility may be observed in the work environment. This brief introduction is then followed by forty practical ideas to develop the performance of people. Although there is no formal hierarchy to the list of suggestions, all of the ideas have been categorised into three inter-related clusters for ease of use encompassing ideas for personal development, for delivering results and for long-term gain. Within each of the three clusters, all of the ideas for professional growth have been laid out in terms of how they can help you respond and adjust to the requirements of your role and the ever-changing world of work. Some of the suggestions are tools apps, templates, downloads and inventories which can be picked up and used/introduced straightaway. Some of the suggestions are techniques methods, approaches and procedures for you to try out, investigate and explore. The final set of suggestions indicate where to look for further inspiration including films, podcasts, related research and a wide range of suggested reading materials. The majority of the hints, tips and techniques can be actioned without having to access any external support or invest in any additional outlay, and are as useful for new starters in an organisation as they are for experienced managers. Suitable for anyone who is committed to developing themselves and their colleagues, but may not have the time, the resources, the budget or the inspiration to know where to start.

Disease is an inevitable everyday risk for all those who keep cattle and very often it has a huge impact on the animal's welfare, as well as its productivity. This clearly written and easy-to-understand book covers the principal diseases and conditions that occur in cattle and is essential reading for all those who own, or care for, cattle.Enables the reader to clearly identify all the common cattle diseasesPresents a practical, step-by-step description of how to examine an animalExamines all the body systems and the important diseases associated with each oneDetails the underlying processes involved in many common diseases in order to facilitate a logical approach to their treatment and preventionHelps the stockperson to decide whether they can treat a sick animal themselves or need to seek professional advice