It looks a busy summer ahead for those onec people, what with a radio show during the summer radio station that is Freesound at the Plymouth Arts Centre, gigs in September and October and another couple of releases coming out in the next couple of months.

Pete told the PRSD about the radio show: “The emphasis for the show is; experimental music/spoken word/plays, in fact anything goes! If anyone has anything they would like to contribute or if you would like to perform live then just get in touch!”

The shows, Sonic Skullduggery, take place on Firdays between 9pm and 11pm between August 7 and September 4

The gigs are at Oddfellows Hall in the heart of Devonport, Plymouth, on September 24 Citizen Fish and October 3. Honkeyfinger.

We will pass more details on when we can.

posted by Cptn

• If you’d like to be part of the onec Sonic Skullduggery radio show, email them at <a href = “mailto: info@onec.tv”> info@onec.tv</a>

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Budding scientists from South Devon can get in early for the next National Science and Engineering Week, which is taking place on March 12-21, 2010.

The theme this year will be Earth, which is something we can all get our teeth into, so to speak

And the broad subject matter of ‘Earth’ and means your project can related to all science subjects (engineering, biology, chemistry, physics, maths and social science).

Some of the scientist week suggestions are: Earth’s amazing phenomenon – wild weather, volcanoes, northern lights; Earth and it’s wildlife – mass migrations, strange creatures, biodiversity; Earth’s place in the Universe – space travel, planets, satellites; or People and the Earth – climate change, biofuels, booming populations, world food production

And it also links in to the International Year of Biodiversity. Joined up thinking, ehh?

Funding is available for organisations wanting to organise events. A maximum of £2,000 can be applied for and applications are due by October 8 2009.

See the ESCR Society website for more details

posted by Cptn

• What’s your favourite bit of Earth? Comments below please.

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How to deal with the negative effects of shopaholic over-consumption were investigated during an Exeter conference when delegates heard how cognitive behaviour therapy is proving to be effective in treating compulsive buyers.

The British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) Annual Conference at Exeter University heard that some shopaholics see shopping as a means of being noticed, boosting self esteem and escaping from problematic relationships.

Stephen Kellett of the University of Sheffield said: “Compulsive buying can be a response to help individuals fill a void in their life. It can be as habitual as brushing your teeth. The evidence suggests that CBT can play a vital role in tackling the problem, which not only affects the sufferer but also their family.”

Sue Eccles of the University of Bournemouth said: “In a time of recession, many people have become more aware of the negative affects of their over consumption. Mental health providers need to become more aware of the increase in those seeking help with their over-shopping.”

posted by Cptn

• What’s your compulsion? Comments below please.

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It’s always nice when the South Devon scene is picked up by the nationals, and the latest brittle debacle of leaked emails and sore losers in South Devon Lib Dems has even made onto the pages of Guido Fawkes’ blog.

The Lib Dems performed poorly in the county council elections, and Sally Morgan, the Lib Dem Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the new Central Devon constituency, lost her seat on the county council. Imagine her chagrin when told how well the party was doing as it tried to sting her for some more cash.

Well, you don’t have to imagine, ’cause she provided a handy email (see below) about what she thought of the situation – just letting off steam you understand – and the email got leaked. Hmm, interesting unity within the party there.

Was it leaked to put Sally in her place, or destabilise her some more? She is after all no longer on the town council, out of the county council and her district council place will be fought next year.

But who would be able to stand-in as Lid Dem PPC at such short notice if Sally does decide it’s all too much? Could it be leader Lib Dem of Teignbridge Council Alan Connett, looking for something to do if and when the unitary council comes into play?

posted by Cptn

How well will the Lib Dems do in the next election? They didn’t have the scale of scandal of Anthony Steen proportions and still managed to lose out to the Conservatives at the county council elections. Does this bode well for them come the general election? Comments below please.

• info shot: Central Devon is a new parliamentary constituency for: Ashburton and Buckfastleigh, Bovey, Chudleigh, Haytor, Kenn Valley, Moorland, Teignbridge North, and Teign Valley

Sally’s full email

Dear Cowley St and Campaigns Dept.
Please do not employ apparatchiks to telephone me at home to tell me how well the Party did in the local elections only days after I and many of my colleagues lost our seats.
I do not appreciate being told how the public decided to teach Gordon brown a lesson nor that a General Election is around the corner and we have never been in a better position.
I no longer subscribe to that particular variety of bull****.
I was particularly taken aback to be asked if I would make a substantial donation and increase my standing order. Is that not the equivalent of frisking a mugging victim for any more pickings?
The party has benefited from several thousand pounds of my money as well as my blood, sweat and tears and yet the Party chooses to spend such money on employing ‘organisers’ whose sole purpose it seems is to forward centrally-generated emails that I have already received.
I would happily save the Party thousands of pounds a year by offering the services of my 11-year-old daughter who would be more than capable of performing such tasks for the price of a tenner and a few bags of Haribo cola bottles.
They obviously do little else as I have not seen sight nor sound of such organisers for many, many months despite being a Parliamentary Candidate.
Perhaps the Party thinks PPCs who are councillors and mothers have not time for such fripperies. The lack of support would lead me to believe so.
For that reason I’ve cancelled my, already generous, standing order and when my membership expires in October the Party can sing for it.
Yours, with b***** all left to lose.
Sally

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Here’s a few back-of-the-envelope calculations to work out some of the savings of Devon going unitary, in advance of next week’s Devon unitary council announcements.

If the eight district councils in Devon disappear then you don’t have to pay eight chief executives at around £100,000 each, that’s an £800,000 saving each year.

And with 40 directors (treasurers, etc) going on, let’s say £80,000, that’s a saving of £3,200,000 per year.

So, just with that top slice of management, there’s a saving of £4 million.

Around 400 district councillors on £10,000 each would be lost. Another saving of £4 million.

But then there’s the human side. Apparently 200 people would lose their job if Devon went unitary. With a 10 per cent staff turnover in local government annually, they wouldn’t be replaced (or create part-time roles as you wind down the positions.) There’s also the 30/50 calculation where you identify people with who are over the age of 50 with 30 year’s service, as they can retire on maximum pension with full redundancy.

But what of the cost to democracy?

Well, do you know your district councillor?

posted by Cptn

Check out how much East Devon District Council has spent on fighting the unitary – more than £175,000

• If you’ve got a more accurate assessment, then drop us a line and leave a comment below.

(join the People’s Republic of South Devon crowd sourcing experiment, where you can have your hand in investigations and stories for the site)

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Ben Bradshaw, Culture Minister and Exeter MP, will visit the Exeter Northcott theatre on Friday, July 3 at 2.30pm. What with his long list of credentials and support for the Northcott in the campaign to save the theatre in 2008, you’d think its future is secure for some time…

Ben will be at the theatre for an hour, chatting about the A Night Less Ordinary project, where under 26s get free tickets to the theatre (the Northcott dishes out 50 tickets to its shows a week).

Then big Ben, will chat with performers from the UK Taiko Festival, which takes place at Exeter Northcott this weekend (Friday, July 3 to Saturday, July 4).

Rounding off with a discussion about Exeter University’s arts and culture strategy.

Then exit, pursued by a nagging worry about the next general election.

posted by Cptn

When’s the last time you went to the theatre? Comments below, please

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We’re on the look out for journalists, editors and writers to join our crowd sourcing experiment to provide new, well-researched and well-written articles for the People’s Republic of South Devon site.

Crowd sourcing builds on the belief that the community as a whole has more expertise than any individual.

We’ve decided to use that ethos to engage as much as the community as possible in the generation of environmental, current affairs and arts stories.

To get the ball rolling we’ve posted up some press releases. You could re-write them or they could be used as the basis for stories in their own right.

But it’s not just press releases we’re after. There’s also plenty of scope for your own feature ideas, or people to interview, or issues that need investigating. Submit your ideas and/or stories and we’ll look for input from the whole community.

The stories then go through our editors to check for legalities and style before being posted on the site.

It’s an attempt by us to be as transparent as possible and as engaged as possible with the community in the media process. And it will also give us a chance to share what we know, such as it as, about this whole New Media game, in bite size chunks.

Pop along to the PRSD Crowd Sourcing site, or drop us an email at info@peoplesrepublicofsouthdevon.co.uk

posted by Cptn

If you could cover anything, what would it be?

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The renovations in Torquay of the Royal Terrace Gardens or Rock Walk, if you prefer is in need of artists and there are two commissions going.

The first is to produce work for an existing historic grotto found within the lower wall of the gardens. The grotto is currently empty and it will be the role of the artist, through research and dialogue with the design team, to produce work that will create a moment of delight and surprise for visitors to the gardens.

The second is to call for an artist or designer to research and produce creative and inspired interpretation highlighting aspects of the unique area of Torbay and especially its status as a Geopark. This interpretation will be located with the Royal Terrace Gardens and Rock Walk as part of the renovation project.

For more details on both and an artist brief, check out the page on the Ginkgo Projects site

posted by Cptn

Where else could do with an artistic upgrade? (Heavitree notwithstanding)

Keep up-to-date with the Rock Walk developments

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Stagecoach Devon has made a move to combat Twirlies (you know, the ones who stand at bus stops with their free passes and ask if they are ‘too early’) by extending the time the buses accept National Bus Pass holders to 9am (on the majority of Stagecoach services in Devon).

But before you all start re-setting your alarm clock, remember that this is only for Stagecoach Devon services – no other carriers have offered nor are obliged to accept National Bus Passes before 9.30am. And the Exeter Mega Rider ticket area remains a 9.30am start.

posted by Cptn

• What’s your favourite bus journey in Devon?

• I’ve just received a google alert on Stagecoach Devon which shows a post you’ve made re: Twirlies get earlier with Stagecoach Devon free bus pass extension.

Could you make a couple of amends? Stagecoach have not changed the times, this has been done by the local councils – they dictate the times the pass can be used (so actually they should be congratulated on this), i’ve attached the times for you as they are different by location.

Also you mention the Exeter Megarider, this is available ti use at any time of the day (not after 9.30am) this goes for all purchased multi journey tickets (explorer / Megarider gold / Torbay megarider etc)

If you require any more info please let me know…..

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Spare a thought for newly re-elected South West Lib Dem MEP Graham Watson today. Graham has been Leader of the Liberal group in the European Parliament for seven-and-a-half years and today he hands the mantle over.

The successor looks likely to be former Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt.

But do not worry, the South West packs a punch with its politicians what with the likes of Ben Bradshaw as Culture Secretary, Richard Younger-Ross as enquirer into heritage buildings, and Anthony Steen as man with a big house.

posted by Cptn

• if you were a politician, what job would you want?

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Newton Abbot is set to turn itself into a fun venue for all the family on Saturday, July 25 (put it in your diary), when the inaugural Newton Abbot Festival swaggers into town.

It’s early days yet, but what’s already in store are, amongst other things, Newton Abbot in Bloom, a Court Leet Ale Tasting, poetry readings and a big exhibition about Darwin with street theatre, and a stage full of activities right at the town’s famed and face-lifted St Leonard’s Clock Tower.

There’s even ‘the Expression Zone’ (you know, for kids) possibly named after the look on all the youngsters’ faces after they’ve been dragged around the Darwin exhibition at Forde Hall. And with a graffiti wall, skateboarding, bmx-ing and djs, this is the Air Fusion-lite section of the day, now that the music festival has disappeared.

“Enjoy a FREE day of Devon at its best,” extols the website. “Why? Because a dedicated group of folk have put a lot of effort into this Festival day.”

And you’d better enjoy yourself, too!

posted by Cptn

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What a weekend for arts (starting Saturday, June 20). The contemporary dance troupe Task Force, led by Stephan Koplowitz, begin stepping their way around the historic South Devon with their Liquid Landscapes tour. Over on arts+culture there’s a run down of the venues, plus a diary of South Devon artist Helen Snell‘s involvement with the Mayflower Steps performance. But that’s not all

At the CCANW, Hadlon Forest there’s the Skylines Festival Day today (June 20). Check out arts+culture for more. And there are animated workshops as part of Exeter Festival and in association with Animated Exeter, tomorrow (Sunday, June 21). Check out D+CFilm for more.

Also on D+CFilm, there’s a Quails music video (by filmmaker Darren Jones) to celebrate the Teignmouth band’s Turkish Tour.

(and if you’re heading north – that’s North Devon, remember North Devon Festival’s Art Trek. Arts+Culture has some behind-the-scenes insights from Stella Levy as she organises the last few days up to the event).

posted by Cptn

(image: the Primitive Hut – part of Skylines at the CCANW)

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