Supermoon
Sports funding
Euan’s record breaking cycle
Fire at Johnston Press HQ
Magic numbers at Edinburgh International Magic Festival
Supermoon Saturday today. According to timeanddate.com the moon will rise at 120 degrees at 21.19 this evening. We think this means it will come up in much the same place as it did tonight somewhere around Arthur’s Seat and move east towards the castle.
We were out last night taking some photos which we hope you like. If you have any photos of the moon then do let us know and we can set up a storyboard on EdinburghReportage to accommodate your best shots.
Photos © Martin P McAdam
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Alison Johnstone, Green MSP for Lothian and sport spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, is calling for consultation with user groups to determine how £20million should be used to improve sporting facilities.
The public funding from Sportscotland is expected to be topped up by other bodies to upgrade existing sites and create new centres.
Alison Johnstone MSP, a former competitive athlete and qualified athletics coach, said:
“While I welcome investment in facilities that cater for a broad range of needs, it’s vitally important that we see meaningful consultation with all user groups. In deciding where this money is spent we must listen to the needs of athletes, coaches, governing bodies and leisure facility users.
“The demise of Meadowbank stadium in Edinburgh is a classic example of what not to do. We need to ensure new and upgraded facilities come with realistic maintenance budgets and appropriately trained staff. We need to make sure no area is left behind in the race to create a Commonwealth Games legacy.
“Given the health issues our society faces from inactive lifestyles, and the growing cost to the NHS, we must take every opportunity to make sport accessible, enjoyable and affordable.”
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Sarah Boyack MSP lodged a motion at Holyrood recently to congratulate Euan Hunter on his recent record breaking cycle to raise funds for Mary’s Meals.
The 48 State CycleThat the Parliament congratulates Euan Hunter from Hermiston on cycling across the USA in aid of Mary’s Meals; understands that Euan, with support from his university friends, Duane Walker, Iain Skinner and Kenneth Errington, completed the 6,850 mile route taking in all 48 contiguous states in a world record time of 38 days and eight hours, breaking the previous record of 60 days; understands that Euan aims to raise £5,856, enough to allow Mary’s Meals to feed 480 children, that is 10 children for each state visited on the route, for a year; commends the work of Mary’s Meals, a Scottish charity that provides daily school meals for almost 900,000 children across five continents, and considers this to be an incredible achievement for a very worthy cause.
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There was a fire at the London HQ of Johnston Press who own The Scotsman and The Edinburgh Evening News titles earlier in the week. CEO Ashley Highfield reported the story on Twitter
We have a fire on the roof of the JP Head Office in Cavendish Square, W1. Firemen already on roof… http://t.co/i9RHIngnEh
— ashley highfield (@ashleyhi) July 9, 2014
The fire was soon under control however as you can see from this fabulous photo used by The London Evening Standard
Fire put out! Good work LFB. Nice to help our regional press friends at the Standard with a photo.. http://t.co/4ziHZHgNBA
— ashley highfield (@ashleyhi) July 9, 2014
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The fifth Edinburgh International Magic Festival attracted record numbers this summer as 8,000 people enjoyed eight days of magic across the Capital.
In the Year of Homecoming Scotland, local magicians featured alongside internationally acclaimed performers as magic collided with theatre, science, comedy, history, sideshow, technology and psychology.
German performance artist Johan Lorbeer took the festival to new heights as he levitated on the Grassmarket during the opening weekend. Seen by more than 3000 people, Johan’s appearance trended on Twitter and created a huge buzz around the city.
For the third year in a row the Opening Night Gala at The Royal Lyceum Theatre sold out as magic fans were treated to eight very different performances of breath-taking illusion, sleight-of-hand, circus and mind reading. Award winning artists from South Korea, USA, Spain and France shared the stage with the UK’s finest magicians and American illusionists Penn and Teller told us why they believed The Great Tomsoni, Vegas illusionist Johnny Tomsoni, should win The Great Lafayette Award. Considered a virtuoso by the magic community, Johnny accepted the award via video link with his long term friend and student Lance Burton.
Performers enjoyed record ticket sales at this year’s new venue, Adam House Theatre and 140 pupils graduated from the sell-out Magic School at City Art Centre. Brand new show Tower of Illusion at Camera Obscura and The Secret Room at Lauriston Castle both sold out as members of the public tried their hand at solving riddles in a unique treasure hunt and watched Scotland’s finest magicians animate the Lauriston’s intriguing past with stories, performances and illusions.
The Edinburgh International Magic Festival announced a New Arts Sponsorship Grant to help develop a new partnership with Krispy Kreme – the first time the company has sponsored the arts. Gabriel Rudderman from France won the under 18 prestigious sleight of hand competition War of the Wizards and Englishman Paul Dawson won the Open War of Wizards Competition.
One of the unexpected winners at this year’s festival was social media as audiences and members of public tweeted, liked and shared their magical experiences, increasing MagicFest Facebook likes by 400% and Twitter followers by 50%.
MagicFest Artistic Director, Kevin McMahon said: “Thanks again to people from all around the world who travelled to this year’s MagicFest. The festival grew by a massive 20% this year and I’m blown away by all the support from our sponsors, performers and audience who once again opened up to magic in their thousands. The shows at this years’ festival received amazing reviews from the local media. Going forward I’m absolutely set on bringing the best acts from Scotland and around the world to enchant audiences here in Edinburgh.”
MagicFest Managing Director Svetlana McMahon said: “This was our most ambitious festival yet, with more sell out shows than any other previous festival. We’re really grateful to have once again been a recipient of the New Arts Sponsorship Award, from Arts & Business and the Scottish Government, supporting our partnership with iconic Krispy Kreme Doughnuts.”
You can also listen to David Graves audio piece on the Magic Festival here.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
