Talk of the Town: Now that's what I call quite good . .

Not according to Edinburgh Council, who are due to launch their own idea of the ultimate prize today – a year's free council tax.

According to the hyperbolic press release, all customers who sign up to pay their annual bill by direct debit will be entered into "the exciting prize draw".

Councillor Phil Wheeler, finance and resources convenor, said: "I would like to wish all the entries in the prize draw good luck in winning this exciting and valuable prize."

It's hardly the ultimate prize, but one less tax to pay wouldn't go amiss .

The street graffiti approach to warning on dog mess

DOG fouling is a problem which never ceases to irritate the residents of the Capital.

Despite fines being introduced for owners who allow their pampered pooches to foul the pavements of the city, in some areas pedestrians still find themselves having to treat the ground beneath their feet as an obstacle course.

The problem has been a topic of some debate to contributors of the online Portobello forum 'talkPorty', who have highlighted the work of one fearless campaigner.

The person in question has kindly gone around local streets using chalk to highlight any offending doggy-doo - even posting warning signs such as "Careful. Dog poo Ahead!" to help wary walkers.

Prickly punchline

APPROPRIATELY enough for a story about police advice to cultivate prickly plants as a deterrent to housebreakers, it seems the idea, reported in the Evening News recently, has grown and grown.

So much so that BBC Radio 5-live's Drive programme took a cutting from our exclusive and invited a representative of constabulary on to the show to explain all.

After which presenter Peter Allen produced the neatest of sign-off's by thanking "Lothian and Herbacious Borders Police" for the contribution.

Rakugo's a funny thing

COMING face to face with a black belt in Rakugo is more likely to have you clutching your sides in laughter rather than in agony.

Rakugo – meaning "fallen words" – is no martial art though. Instead, it's the ancient Japanese art of comic storytelling.

Rakugo master Yonedanji Katsura give a demonstration of the skill at the Scottish Storytelling Centre on Thursday evening from 7pm.