Peoples Republic of South Devon

Toxic Waste Monkeys win

Posted by Cptn

We are great fans of the hard working, hard rocking Toxic Waste Monkeys, and it comes as no surprise to us that they funked their way to the front in the latest Battle of the (U18) Bands at the Plymouth Hub.

These guys of monkey magic were runners up last time the warbling warfare ensued and runners up this time round were Start Me Up.

For more of the TWMs, check out the podcast from the Melting Pot Live Sessions when yours’ trulies were out and about picking up the best sounds from around the republic.

And if you want to see Start Me Up in video action, stay tooned, ’cause any day now we’re going to be showing their Funkensteign [sic] video, which was premiered at the View From Here, the film festival co-organised by PRSD’s pardners in crime D+CFilm.

 

 Standard Podcast [35:49m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (35)

December 21st, 2007

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Twelve tips for Christmas

Nevermind goodwill, this is the season of lists of every description, and this one is from the TUC South West for you to mull over over your mulled wine.

Nigel Costley, Regional Secretary of the South West TUC, (who, incidentally is offering up this year’s PRSD Christmas message), told us  that: “The run-up to the holiday period can be a stressful time for many workers as they rush to meet Christmas deadlines and consumer expectations.”

The South West TUC’s Twelve Tips are:
1 Ask your Scrooge boss to count Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day as bank holidays, rather than as part of your holiday entitlement. Employers may include bank holidays and public holidays in the minimum entitlement, currently 4.8 weeks and due to rise to 5.6 weeks on April 1 2009, but many add statutory holidays to the minimum.
2 Don’t let Christmas pressure of work grind you down. Make sure you get your correct breaks. Workers who work for six hours or more per day the right to take a break of at least twenty minutes. These rest breaks must be taken during the six hour period, not at the end of it
3 Dodge Christmas Bungs. Be open and transparent about any gifts you receive from your suppliers
4 Don’t drink at work - it might be illegal, it might be dangerous (if you drive or operate machinery) and you run the risk of embarrassing yourself at the Christmas party.
5 Ah, the Christmas party. Remember office equipment isn’t designed for playing with, so resist the temptation to re-enact the French Revolution with the guillotine and the OK Corral with a staple gun and, if you don’t want to spend hours in casualty having shards of glass removed from your bottom, don’t play around with the photocopier. It won’t take your weight!
6 If you’ve got your eye on a colleague, check your company’s policy on workplace relationships before setting out for the Christmas party - some companies seek to ban these relationships
7 Ask your boss to ensure all staff can get home after the party, whether it’s organising lifts or booking taxis.
8 If you work in a pub or club, noise levels can damage your hearing, so make sure your boss keeps the noise down to less than 95db (If you can’t hold a conversation with someone standing 2m away, the noise is loud enough to damage your hearing.) Also, there’s a matter of taste and decency to be considered; listening to Slade’s Merry Christmas Everybody for six hours a day is enough to drive anyone round the bend!
9 Remind your boss to keep the heating on over Christmas. Not only might they be breaking the law if the temperature drops below 16 degrees C, but they could be affecting their productivity and their safety .
10 Check your company’s internet policy before buying your Christmas presents in cyberspace. Most employers will allow some time for personal use - they have to inform you if they are to monitor your internet use - but it’s better to be certain before you embark on an on-line spending spree.
11 Check your boss has carried out a risk assessment before reducing staffing levels during Christmas downtime. Many employers will try to save money by employing fewer staff when the machines are rolling but they need to ensure minimum levels are maintained for safety. Your union will be able to help.
12 Maintaining the work/life balance gets even tougher at Christmas. Good flexible work schemes help staff cope and make sure the work gets done. Ask your boss for time off to see your kid’s nativity play. Although they’re not obliged to agree, if you ask nicely, they might relent, deciding showing a big of Christmas cheer will improve morale and productivity.
Tune in on Christmas Day for the short message from Nigel Costly.

December 21st, 2007

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Shining example

This time of year it’s always nice to see scenes from the High Street. This one is from PRSD stalwart Beachcomber. The monument is in Exeter, and someone once told us its words are based around a riddle in the Exeter Domesday book.

To see more of Beachcomber’s work, visit the gallery.

December 20th, 2007

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Formula jam

Posted by Cptn

There are times when even the most ardent citizens of the PRSD take to the motorway, in a suped up soon-to-be water-fueled (of which more later) wagon. And in a way, it’s refreshing to know that there is a mathematical formula to the otherwise inexplicable snarl ups that seem to be caused by nothing.

A team of mathematicians from the universities of Exeter, Bristol and Budapest have created a mathematical model of congestion. It shows that slowing down below a critical speed when reacting to an unexpected event had a knock on effect that would have cars at a standstill a few miles back.

Dr Gábor Orosz of the University of Exeter, told the PRSD: “When you tap your brake, the traffic may come to a full stand-still several miles behind you. It really matters how hard you brake – a slight braking from a driver who has identified a problem early will allow the traffic flow to remain smooth. Heavier braking, usually caused by a driver reacting late to a problem, can affect traffic flow for many miles.”

The effect is called a ‘backward travelling wave’, of course.

We’ve come up with our own formula: desire/need to travel + poor public transport = congestion to the power of pollutants over frustration. We’ll publish it in our ’stay at home’ papers, the sequel to our earlier and younger ‘dirty stop out’ theory.

December 19th, 2007

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Clegg and Watson

Posted by Cptn

South west and EU-wide Liberal Leader (official title) Graham Watson MEP used to be the new Liberal leader’s, Nick Clegg’s, boss.

Nick Clegg was an MEP and served under Graham when the G-man led the UK Liberal Democrat MEPs in Brussels and Strasbourg from 1999-2001. Graham Watson is now the king of all Liberal MEPs (unofficial title), and possibly all Liberals in Europe.

‘Our new leader is a first class strategist and an excellent communicator and is the best choice to lead our Westminster troops,’ Graham told the PRSD. He didn’t say: ‘I taught him everything he knows.’

We await the opinion of Lid Dems MPs in the republic – Adrian Sanders (Torbay) and Richard Younger-Ross (Teignbridge) – because they haven’t yet learnt to use email.

December 19th, 2007

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Hospital pass

Posted by Cptn

Just to keep you all in the loop of development at Derriford, Plymouth. Plans have been submitted for a £50 million hospital designed by Foster + Partners, and no, we don’t know if it’ll look like a gherkin.

But we do know that the Regional Development Agency claims it will create 250 jobs, and they say it will be one of the first new centre of clinical excellent in the country. And that it will be ‘co-owned and run by all who work in it’.

December 19th, 2007

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Steamed up

Roving reporter Eddie Dyke got in touch with this news.

‘I recently discovered the Robey Trust, who are small band of people dedicated to keeping the good name of Robey engineering,’ he told us. ‘With the help of of a lottery grant they have set up a workshop/garage in Tavistock where several steam engines have been restored to an as new condition.

‘There also several restored early diesel stationary engines in the workshop, all in full working order and maintained by the small band of volounteer enthusiasts.’

For more pictures, visit our super online gallery.

And if you’re out and about, you can always upload your pictures to the gallery or send them through to info@peoplesrepublicofsouthdevon.co.uk

December 18th, 2007

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‘Bloodbath’ for the arts

Posted by Cptn

The Arts Council has been throwing its weight around throughout the country– the word ‘bloodbath‘ has been used. Odd considering its above inflation settlement from the government.

Let’s just hope the other cuts are better managed than that at the Northcott.

With a little digging maybe the Arts Council will discover the low audiences over recent months were due to the theatre’s redevelopment.

And how would they know about other changes we’ve made when we’ve had no contact with them since spring, asks the Northcott.

Artistic excellence aside, someone over there at the AC should take responsibility for the £2.1 million misdirection of funds if the theatre closes.

Check out the Save the Northcott campaign. And read the original article and comments.

December 17th, 2007

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Haytor art show

Posted by Cptn

Do something really spiritual today – combine conversing with nature and appreciating art. An Haytor, near Bovey Tracey on Dartmoor, there’s a small but perfectly formed art exhibition - but be quick, today’s the last day.

Adam Bunce, Luci Coles and Ben Yates have combined their not unconsiderable forces with some woodturning, hot drinks, festive food, jewellery and a stall selling Peruvian and Bolivian handicrafts for a show that makes use of the space at the Boys’ Brigade training centre.

And then make it up the historic rocks, which have yet to have the chair lift fitted. It’s the kinda thing to get you brain working again.

Adam Bunce gave us some directions: ‘To get to Haytor from the A38 turn off at Drumbridges roundabout and follow signs for Bovey Tracey. Then drive up onto the moor and follow signs for Haytor. You’ll go up and up and over a cattle grid and then we are on the left as you round the corner after the red phone box and the Moorlands House Hotel.

‘To get to Broadleas simply walk down the drive that runs adjacent to the bottom car park at Haytor (the one with the toilet block and the information centre). There will be signs up and people can phone the venue on (01364) 661353 if they get stuck.’

December 16th, 2007

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Who wants a positive body image this Christmas?

Posted by Cptn

In response to what the ‘All I want for Christmas is a new Me’ campaign in the Western Morning News, we thought we’d have our own ‘Let me be me’ project.

All you have to do is write in and say why you’re happy with who you are (no smut or rude bits please).

As well as entrants we’re also looking for prizes from people and companies who support a positive body image.

Make this Christmas the one we celebrate ourselves, not someone else’s image of what we should be.

Send your messages to info@peoplesrepublicofsouthdevon.co.uk or offer them up as comments, below.

December 15th, 2007

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