Talk of the Town: Try to stay awake, this is interesting

DO WE sleep well because we're contented or because our city is so dull there's nothing worth staying up for?

These were among the questions that weren't answered in a recent poll which found that Edinburghers are amongst the UK's biggest snoozers.

We average 7 hours 12 minutes a night, beating the national average of 6 hours 44 minutes. However, this is still 1 hour 16 minutes short of the ideal night's sleep.

GP Dawn Harper said: "If you have difficulty sleeping, it is important to remember you are not alone and occasional sleeplessness is common."

Especially if you live in one of the city's noisier areas.

We know who we're backing in South Africa

A SIZEABLE crowd gathered at the Scottish Storytelling Centre on Thursday night for a spot Raguko – traditional Japanese comedy.

Audiences took a shine to the comic performance, not to mention the lavish sushi put on by the city's Consul-General's private chef.

As we're sadly lacking in a home representative at the World Cup in South Africa next month, why don't we raise a toast for the saki of Auld Lang Syne and back Japan?

Councillors lock horns

POLITICIANS bicker behind closed doors, but in public they usually show a united front. Not always, though.

On his blog, Cllr Andrew Burns wrote that biomass is "bizarrely" not welcome in Edinburgh.

The comment angered Gordon Munro, Cllr Burns' colleague in Leith. In response, he wrote: "That's because it's the wrong thing in the wrong place, Andrew.

"Leith is a tidal port and a combination of benign environmental use such as tidal, wave and wind power alongside high specification housing with minimal environmental impact is what is needed."

Cllr Burns responded that he had "the wrong end of the stick" and was actually referring to the cancelled biomass boilers plan in the city's PPP schools."

He signed off with: "Follow the links and all will be clear ;-)" That's him told.

Gay penguins hatch Plan B

EDINBURGH Zoo's pair of gay gentoo penguins, Colin and Justin, usually act like a regular male and female mating couple and adopt an egg from one of the other couples to bring up as their own.

This year there have been no spare eggs to go around, leaving Colin and Justin chickless. Poor things. Don't worry though, zoo staff say the pair are keeping each other warm in their love nest instead.