They don't make comedy like they used to . . . From the slapstick comedy of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel, the surrealism of Spike Milligan and Monty Python, and the golden age of political incorrectness helmed by Benny Hill, to the alternative scene that burst forth following the punk movement, the hedonistic joy of Absolutely Fabulous, the lacerating scorn of Jimmy Carr, Ricky Gervais, and Jo Brand and the meteoric rise of socially conscious stand up today: comedy can be many things, and it is a cultural phenomenon has come to define Britain like few others. In Different Times, David Stubbs charts the superstars that were in on the gags, the unsung heroes hiding in the wings and the people who ended up being the butt of the joke. Comedians and their work speak to and of their time, drawing upon and moulding Britons' relationship with their national history, reflecting us as a people, and, simply, providing raucous laughs for millions of people around the world. Different Times is a joyous, witty and insightful paean to British comedy.

Fall accidents are a major problem. In the workplace, falls are the largest category of accident leading to serious injury. In the UK, for example, estimates from the Health and Safety Executive suggest the cost of falls each year is in excess of 300 million to employers and 800 million to society. Away from work, as many as 2.5 million people each year may have serious enough injuries from falling in the home or during leisure activities to require a visit to hospital. While there have been reductions in numbers of accidents in other categories over recent decades, falls have remained at a consistent high level. Despite this, most falls are preventable. This book provides an authoritative guide to the nature and extent of falls and examines the causes from a combination of factors, such as the design and condition of the walking surface, cleaning and maintenance procedures, lighting, weather, and individual activity, fitness and vision. The book also considers different types of falls, namely slips and trips on the level, falls on stairs, falls from height, falls in the workplace, and falls during entry/egress from vehicles. This volume discusses methods for prevention, drawing on the latest research. The case is made for an ergonomics approach, involving a holistic view of the complex interaction between people and the environment. While more obvious aspects such as the nature of footwear and the walking surface are important, prevention of falls also requires attention to factors, such as risk-taking behavior and organizational influences, including job design and implementation and maintenance of effective housekeeping procedures.

Readable and authoritative, Understanding and Preventing Falls provides a guide to the nature and extent of the problem of falls. Drawing on the latest research, the authors outline the combination of environmental factors that commonly lead to falls and explore how to prevent them. The case is made for a multifaceted approach to falls prevention, taking account of the complex interplay that exists between individuals and the environment. Broad in scope, the book is divided into two parts. The first part examines the current state of knowledge and understanding of the causes and prevention of falls, with chapters on human ambulation and balance on level surfaces and on steps and stairs followed by chapters exploring vision and the effects of aging. Rounding out the coverage, the second part contains a series of case studies illustrating how falls occur in different circumstances and varying approaches to their prevention. While there have been reductions in the number and severity of injuries from other causes over recent decades, the incidence of injuries from falling has remained consistently high. However, many falls are preventable. This unique resource supplies a concise overview of how to minimize the occurrences of slips, trips, and falls in a variety of situations and conditions.

In Jimi Hendrix: The Stories Behind the Songs, music journalist and author David Stubbs provides the definitive companion to Hendrix's recorded output, from the early years, including 'Hey Joe' and 'Purple Haze' through to his posthumously released trilogy that concluded with Both Sides Of The Sky. Quite possibly the greatest solo rock artist of all time, Jimi Hendrix was the supreme physical and musical emblem of rock music. And although he was an immense guitarist, he also connected with audiences as a performer and a songwriter. Songs like 'Voodoo Chile' and 'Third Stone From The Sun' were the brilliant products of a dazed yet expanded consciousness, full of casual epithets which illuminated the era: 'May you never hear surf music again'; ''Scuse me while I kiss the sky'; 'Gonna raise my freak flag high'. Each one of them is explored, dissected and celebrated.

West Germany after the Second World War was a country in shock: estranged from its recent history, and adrift from the rest of Europe. This proved to be fertile ground for a generation of musicians who, from the 1960s onwards, would develop the experimental sounds that became known as Krautrock.

Faust, Neu!, Cluster, Ash Ra Tempel, Amon Düül II, Can, Kraftwerk - the influence of these groups upon popular music is incalculable. Future Days is an in-depth study of the music and the groups who made it.

In Mars By 1980, David Stubbs charts the evolution of electronic music from the earliest mechanical experiments in the late nineteenth century, through to the ubiquitous, familiar sounds of electronica, house and techno that we know today. It's a tale of mavericks and future dreamers overcoming Luddite resistance, malfunctioning devices, and sonic mayhem. The beginnings may be in the world of avant-classical composition, but it continues on through the sonic funk of Stevie Wonder and Giorgio Moroder, via the astonishing sounds of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, through unforgettable eighties electropop by the likes of Depeche Mode, the Pet Shop Boys and Laurie Anderson, and right up to present-day innovators on the underground scene.

"Reflections of the Moon" presents the Moon's necessary role in the birth process. A key property, possessed by life-chemical compounds, of rotating a particular form of light to the left, could link with the Moon's, and Earth's spin, directions. Simple hands and face analogies assist appreciation. Then we relate Astrology to Science, summarise its supporting scientific evidence, and show how to carry it out.
Following a short history of life on Earth and its prime causes we briefly show astrology's contribution to characterising consciousness. A presentation of "The Pre-Natal Epoch" and "The Ideal Birth Moment" completes the reader's preparation to examine:
- The method for determining Ideal Birth Moments for two, premature babies that is described fully.
- Ancestors' characters, determined
astrologically, that will fill out family-history's framework. - Lines of descent and single generations to provide a base for Astrogenealogy.
- Individuals' Moon positions that could well connect them to those of others within a line of female descent.
The book's purpose comprises the presentation of this new study of natal, astrological research. Exciting enthusiasm among readers should encourage some to explore the rich vein of astrological opportunities opened out in the book.

1996 And The End of History examines the year as it panned out in the UK not just in politics but in music, light entertainment and sport. It was the zenith of a decade which will go down as remarkably untroubled bymodern standards; following the collapse of the Berlin Wall, prior to 9/11, in which political conditions of peace and apparent economic prosperity created an overall mood of frivolity, postmodern anti-seriousness and a desire to get back to sunnier times before the grim onset of the strife-ridden 70's and 80's.