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PRIDE SCOTIA CHAIR CALLS FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY

Submitted by Editor on

Pride Scotia is the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Communities' pink-letter day in the calendar, a celebration of their own and other's sexual and lifestyle diversity. This year in Broughton it's being held on Saturday 7 May.

'Pride Scotia is OUR day – for OUR community,' say the organisers, 'And it would be really nice if YOU decide to grace us with your presence by joining US to celebrate. We're here because we're Queer! If Queer isn't you, just come along anyway. Here because you care!'

POVERTY AND INEQUALITY HUSTINGS

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A hustings tomorrow night (26 April) will examine Scottish Parliamentary candidates on their policies for tackling poverty and inequality. The event will take place in the SYHA builiding at 9 Haddington Place, 6.00–8.30pm.

Fielding questions will be: Jacquie Bell (Scottish Liberal-Democrats); Malcolm Chisholm (Scottish Labour); Colin Fox (Scottish Socialist Party); Andrew Hardie (Scottish Conservatives); Alison Johnstone (Scottish Greens): Shirley-Anne Somerville (Scottish Nationalist Party).

SMALL SPACE WITH BIG IDEAS

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Are you a single person (or bijou couple) looking for your own affordable, comfortable, modern accommodation with minimum impact on the environment?

Are you a former guardsman looking to expand your horizons after years in a sentry box?

Are you a cat seeking less room to share with humans?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then you should hurry to St Andrew Square where the Cube will remain on display until Sunday as part of the Science Festival.

DAN NOT SO DESPERATE

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We don't know who Dan is, but apparently he's alive and well and living on a desert island in the Water of Leith.

This photograph was sent to Spurtle at lunchtime, having been taken earlier in the day below Warriston Junction.

Higher on the bridge, in chalk, are the words 'Viva Dan', suggesting he may have had support from a Spanish admirer before launching himself into the void.

If any reader can tell us Dan's identity or suggest a reason for his lonely sojourn, we'd be interested to know.

PLANNING UPDATE – 18.4.11

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If our memory of the film Titanic serves correctly, some people chose to play violins while the great liner slipped beneath the waves. The Emperor Nero, famously, preferred to rearrange deckchairs whilst the capital of the ancient world burned to the ground. But in the Athens of the North, facing budgetary meltdown, we do things differently: the City of Edinburgh Council fiddles with its fairy lights.

OTTER RUBBISH

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The latest edition of the Liberal-Democrats' 'election special' freesheet Edinburgh North & Leith News contains the following thought-provoking article which we quote in full:

Otterly Fantastic

A baby otter has been photographed living on the Water of Leith.

Otter boffins say that the sightings are a good indication that the river is healthier now than it was in the 1960s when otters disappeared from the Water of Leith because of pollution.

That's it. Yes, in its entirety. There is no more.

THE ANGEL IS IN THE DETAIL – 'DIVERSITY' AT THE UNION GALLERY

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In a rather disarming preamble to this exhibition, Barbara Franc writes of her sculptures being linked together in what she hopes is 'a celebration of life and the very simple and slightly selfish pleasure of bringing a smile to people's faces'. For observers of her work there is certainly a childish sense of wonder and pleasure at these extraordinary creations.