Peoples Republic of South Devon

Top of the Pots

It’s Melting Pot again tonight. ‘Is it?’ we hear you froth. Yes, it bally-well is. This session will see the region’s great and good (oh, and the parvenus from PRSD) gathering to watch top combos Civilian and Supenik strutting their stuff.

We’ll tell you all about it tomorrow, by which time you should be able to have a listen yersselves in our sexy downloads section. There may even be some pictures too. Pretty good, huh? Clue: yes.

Posted by Thin White Duke

November 21st, 2006

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Feeling blue?

It isn’t ‘arf odd some of the flotsam and jetsam that bob past us here at the People’s Republic news wharf, but we would not be doing our job if we didn’t tell you about at least a few of them. And we deal with such a broad church of (lefty) thinking, that this just might appeal. . . If you’re under 30, want your say and think politics are important, why not join Torbay Conservative Party candidate Marcus Wood for drinks, conversation and a rousing rendition of The Internazionale (the party’s under new leadership, don’t you know) and other songs from The X-Factor? The shindig is on Thursday, November 23. Get in touch with the Torbay Tories for more details.

Posted by Cptn

November 21st, 2006

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De congesting charge

We’re all fans of congestion charging (no, we are - put your hand down, I’m getting to it), but surely (here it is) they have to be used in conjuction with an integrated transport policy (where did that idea go, eh John Prescott?).

Without effective and efficient public transport which can be used at convenient times, the proposal of Exeter City Council to impose congestion charging is just another way of raising money, cynically hidden beneath the veneer of environmentalism - and that ain’t good for anyone.

We have a largely rural population which can only be served by the car. But knowing what Exeter City Council is like these days, maybe they only want people who can pay to get on the streets on the streets, if you see what I mean. They might clutter up the new development else. . . Heaven help you if you’re not shrink-wrapped and sparkly - but more on the council’s attitude to the farmers’ market at a later date.

Posted by Cptn

November 21st, 2006

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Polarised

Makes you wonder, ehh, with all the furore over Polish workers why 30 UK employers attended a jobs fair in Warsaw to attract people to their vancancies. At least the TUC was on hand with UK employment rights advice - these people know more about red tape than we ever will.

And, would you believe, knowing English would make those vulnerable workers less vulnerable - so there is a growing call for language education to go on too. Unless, of course, you’re in Somerset. Somerset Polish Community is offering Polish classes (can anybody translate arse over tit). I mean, come on - workers of the world unite - as long as I don’t have to learn a genitive.

Posted by Cptn

November 20th, 2006

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Buy in

Roll up, roll up! Get your tickets to Buy Nothing Day here!

You ever get the feeling you’re out of step with everyone else? Well November 25 (23 if you’re reading this in North America), Buy Nothing Day (BDN) (who votes for No Acronynm Days? That’s NADs to you) is your chance to get back in step, and all you have to do is buy nothing.

And what better way to really understand the waste and unnecessary nature of the capitalist world? Adbusters, which is organising the day, is just waiting to hear about your posters campaigns etc.

Definitely a laudable idea. My advice - stock up.

Posted by Cptn

November 20th, 2006

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England:Elsewhere

Outside of the environs of London and its satellite cities (Bristol, you know we mean you), there is a beating heart of creativity and involvement. In this month’s NaNoWriMo competition - writing a 50,000 word novel in the month of November - the England:Elsewhere contingent has a total word count that is second only in the world to the American region of Washington:Seattle.

The two England:Elsewhere hubs in the People’s Republic are Exeter and Plymouth, and include at least one (soon-to-be) published author. Devon’s NaNoWriMo organiser Helen (aka “Sammy”) pointed out that last year everyone she met from the Exeter region became a “Winner” and completed a novel.

So, as far as creativity goes, we’s the bee knees people! We need no longer look anywhere but here for our cultural signposts, and, if nothing else, that’s what the People’s Republic is all about - applauding the work of the people for the people. Now that would be a snappy start to a novel… p’haps.

Posted by Edgy

November 19th, 2006

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Bog day afternoon

Here’s the news you’ve all been waiting for! November 19 is World Toilet Day – puh, it comes round so quick, don’t it?

It’s true that most people would rather not chat about toilets, but WaterAid can’t stop banging on about them.

They’d like citizens of the People’s Republic to imagine what it’d be like if no-one in the UK had a toilet.

Pretty stinky, huh? Yet for 2.6 billion people in the world, that’s a daily reality.

Kids are literally dying for the loo – in fact, in the developing world, a child dies every 15 seconds from water-related diseases. Now, that really does stink.

WaterAid is the UK’s only major charity dedicated exclusively to the provision of safe domestic water, sanitation and hygiene education to the world’s poorest people.

For just £15 WaterAid provides someone with safe water, sanitation and hygiene education.

To see how WaterAid is making a real splash visit their website.

Posted by Thin White Duke

November 18th, 2006

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Something For The Weekend #6

SAY HULLO TO: Consolation Prizefighter
WHO ARE: Neil (vocals/guitars), Marc (drums) and Al (bass)
PEDDLING: Excellent stop-start post-punk pop
FROM THEIR BASE IN: Plymouth
THEY SAY: “We’ve got guitars, bass, drums and vocals. Nothing new, but we try our best and enjoy making what we think is ‘good’ music. Whether anyone else thinks so? Well, We shall see…”
WE SAY: Tight as fuck, finely-wrought tuneage, with a Gang Of Four
cum Young Knives vibe. Can’t wait to catch them playing live at Plymouth’s Hub on December 1.
RANDOM LYRIC: “It’s a cold day - these shoes are no way thick enough.”
NEED TO KNOW: They’ve invented an entirely new genre called tea-core. Why not have a listen and see what’s brewing (snort!)
DOWNLOAD: Invasion, In Receiving Rough…, This Story Is Old, Play Dead

Send your Something For The Weekend suggestions to ideas@peoplesrepublicofsouthdevon.co.uk

November 18th, 2006

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Bear faced

If you thought the Exeter Phoenix might be having a bit of a furry frenzy, you could be right. Hot on the paws of Heather Tweed’s Anubis World Tour opening there comes the production of Spanish Train from the Reckless Sleepers theatre group. It’s about the relationship between a dancing bear and a girl, not to mention the tomatoes. The show will be on at the Phoenix on Monday 20 and Tuesday 21 November at 8pm. Who can resist the lure of a dancing bear?

Posted by Cptn

November 18th, 2006

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Girl’s on film

Hidden deep in the bowels of the labyrinthine thisisplymouth site is footage of a performance by our new favourite combo, Living For Thursday (see last week’s Something For The Weekend).

The tune they’re playing is pretty far from their best song (that’s outdoubtedly Repeat Till Fade) but the clip is still worth checking out, in order to witness lead singer Molly Gardner taking her first fledgling steps toward rock superstardom. Oh yes.

Posted by Thin White Duke

November 17th, 2006

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