We love our pets. Dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, and other species have become an essential part of more families than ever before. Pet owners are drawn to their animal companions through an innate desire to connect with other species. But there is a dark side to our domestic connection with animal life: the pet industry is contributing to a global conservation crisis for wildlife, often without the knowledge of pet owners. In Unnatural Companions, journalist Peter Christie issues a call to action for pet owners. If we hope to reverse the alarming trend of wildlife decline, pet owners must acknowledge the pets-versus-conservation dilemma and concede that our well-fed and sheltered cats too often prey on garden wildlife and seemingly harmless reptiles released into the wild might be the next destructive invasive species. We want our pets to eat nutritionally healthy food, but how does the designer food we feed them impact the environment? Christie's book is a cautionary tale to responsible pet owners about why we must change the ways we love and care for our pets. It concludes with the positive message that the small changes we make at home can foster better practices within the pet industry that will ultimately benefit our pets' wild brethren.

Bideford is an historic port on the RiverTorridge in north Devon. In the sixteenth century Bideford developed as a major trading port for the American colonies and maintained its significance into the eighteenth century. During the twentieth century the port and shipbuilding declined Bideford although it still has a fishing fleet. In Lost Bideford & District authors Julian and Anthony Barnes and Peter Christie portray through the years the old bridge in Bideford and the pier, wartime activities including the arrival of American GIs, old businesses that have disappeared today including factories, mines and lime kilns, lost schools, mansions, windmills, chapels and toll houses, railways that have closed, the changing face of neighbouring Instow and Northam, and much more. Lost Bideford & District presents a portrait of this corner of the South West over the last century to recent decades that has radically changed or disappeared today, showing not only industries and buildings that have gone but also people and street scenes, many popular places of entertainment and much more. This fascinating photographic history of lost Bideford and the surrounding district will appeal to all those who live in the area or know it well, as well as those who remember it from previous decades.

The North Devon town of Bideford, situated on the estuary of the River Torridge, has a long and fascinating history as a port. From its quays sailed the first colonising venture to the New World under Sir Richard Grenville. The first Native American to be buried in England lies in its churchyard. The town was home to the Victorian novelist Charles Kingsley, who set his novel Westward Ho! in the area, and its tourism industry went on to develop greatly. Still popular with visitors today, Bideford's narrow streets lead to a tree-lined quay bustling with fishing vessels, cargo and pleasure boats. In this book, writer Peter Christie and photographer Graham Hobbs have chosen a selection of old and new photographs that are individually merged to reveal how Bideford has changed over the decades. Each of the 180 pictures combines a recent colour view with the matching sepia archive scene. Through the split-image effect, readers have the opportunity to 'step back in time' and discover what life was like for previous generations. This fascinating visual chronicle reflects past and present glimpses of Bideford and will be enjoyed by residents, visitors, local historians and all those with links to the town.

Bideford History Tour is a unique guide to the fascinating past of an historic English port town. Sited astride the River Torridge, its two halves are linked by the thirteenth-century bridge with its twenty-four arches all of different sizes. Founded by the Saxons, it has a long and fascinating history as a port and market town. Peter Christie and Graham Hobbs guide the reader through its charming streets, showing how its famous landmarks and hidden-away gems have transformed over time. With the help of a handy location map, readers are invited on this tour to discover for themselves the changing face of Bideford.

Ilfracombe History Tour offers a fascinating glimpse into the past of this north Devon harbour town and holiday resort. Authors Peter Christie and Graham Hobbs guide readers around its streets and buildings, showing how its famous landmarks used to look and how they have changed across the centuries, as well as exploring some of its lesser-known sights and hidden corners. This pocket-sized guide reveals how the town has altered and highlights the way of life for past generations. With the help of a handy location map, readers are invited to discover for themselves the history and the changing face of Ilfracombe.

This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone!

There is no doubt that the pace of business has accelerated--products go from concept to release faster than ever, business partnerships and alliances are established (and dissolved) more quickly, competitors react more swiftly to any tilt in the playing field. Whether your business is microprocessors or airplane manufacturing, it will live or die by the degree to which you can anticipate demand for your products and services. In Getting It Right the First Time, John Katsaros and Peter Christy argue that the most successful businesses will be those that accurately predict market conditions--especially the market changes that will occur within the crucial 18-to-36-month innovation window. Or, to paraphrase hockey superstar Wayne Gretzky: "skate to where the puck is going to be, not to where it is." Showcasing dozens of colorful examples of lucrative successes and missed opportunities (from high-tech to financial services to medical devices), the authors present a detailed plan for how you and your company can learn to: identify your top customers in advance of entering the market, successfully position your company and its products to those customers, and catch emerging trends before your competitors do. Eschewing traditional market research techniques--such as focus groups, polls, and surveys-- Katsaros and Christy demonstrate how "expert interviews" with potential early adopters can help identify your "killer app"--the function that customers most value--and avoid costly trial-and-error. In a viciously competitive world where your company may have only one chance to score big, Getting It Right the First Time provides essential guidance for entrepreneurs, marketers, product developers, and business strategists, and offers new insight into the dynamics of innovation.

There is no doubt that the pace of business has accelerated--products go from concept to release faster than ever, business partnerships and alliances are established (and dissolved) more quickly, competitors react more swiftly to any tilt in the playing field. Whether your business is microprocessors or airplane manufacturing, it will live or die by the degree to which you can anticipate demand for your products and services. In Getting It Right the First Time, John Katsaros and Peter Christy argue that the most successful businesses will be those that accurately predict market conditions--especially the market changes that will occur within the crucial 18-to-36-month innovation window. Or, to paraphrase hockey superstar Wayne Gretzky: "skate to where the puck is going to be, not to where it is." Showcasing dozens of colorful examples of lucrative successes and missed opportunities (from high-tech to financial services to medical devices), the authors present a detailed plan for how you and your company can learn to: identify your top customers in advance of entering the market, successfully position your company and its products to those customers, and catch emerging trends before your competitors do. Eschewing traditional market research techniques--such as focus groups, polls, and surveys-- Katsaros and Christy demonstrate how "expert interviews" with potential early adopters can help identify your "killer app"--the function that customers most value--and avoid costly trial-and-error. In a viciously competitive world where your company may have only one chance to score big, Getting It Right the First Time provides essential guidance for entrepreneurs, marketers, product developers, and business strategists, and offers new insight into the dynamics of innovation.