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Here The Capital Scot provides information about people, places, and events in the news that are related to Scottish heritage and also items that are not especially Scottish in their content.

Scottish Heritage - This Week --

Odds 'n' Ends

Celtic Life Magazine: As we prepare to launch our Spring 2012 issue of Celtic Life Magazine we are pleased to present you with the opportunity to join our family via our Clans listings pages both in our print publication and on our website. Many exciting changes have taken place at Celtic Life International over the last few months, and over the coming weeks we will be launching a new, dynamic and interactive website to go along with the release of our Spring 2012 edition. ... We kindly invite you to submit your updated Clan information, including full Clan name, logo or coat of arms, location, mailing address, as well as all contact names and information. ... We would also like to offer you the opportunity to take part in an email interview for a feature article about your Clan for our website. Simply let us know if you are interested, and we'd be happy to send along some questions. ... Cost for the Clan listing remains the same at $75. ... If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact us by telephone (902-405-5332) or by email [Celtic Life Magazine]

Society

Britain being overtaken by 'militant secularists', says Baroness Warsi: In an historic visit to the Vatican, Baroness Warsi will express her 'fear' about the marginalisation of religion throughout Britain and Europe, saying that faith needs 'a seat at the table in public life'. [Ed. Voideo] [The Telegraph]

The Church is under-appreciated says the Queen: The Queen has delivered a staunch and strongly-worded defence of the Church and religion in the face of a growing divide between faith and secularism. [The Telegraph]

Scottish Secretary on UK-Vatican commitment to religious freedom: The Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Moore has exclusively spoken to the SCO [Ed. Scottish Catholic Observer] about the UK Government's commitment to working with the Vatican to improve religious freedoms at home and abroad. [Scottish Catholic Observer]

London 2012: Taxis and cars banned from Edinburgh Waverley Station: Taxis and cars are to be banned permanently from Edinburgh Waverley Station as part of anti-terrorism measures. The move comes into force at the end of July in time for the London 2012 Olympics. [BBC News]

Arts and Entertainment

Don't switch off Janice Forsyth, say Scots musicians and politicians: Scottish musicians and politicians from across the political spectrum have joined in a major online campaign to save the Janice Forsyth radio show after it was revealed that BBC Scotland is to axe it. [Scotsman]

Tragedy for Shakespeare, come independence day?: The artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, Michael Boyd, has warned against Scotland 'turning its back' on Shakespeare if it becomes independent. ... Ireland's theatrical world rejected Shakespeare after Irish independence in 1922, and said he hopes an independent Scotland would not be 'self defeating' and do the same. [Herald Scotland]

Rona Wilkie crowned Young Traditional Musician of the Year : A talented fiddler who played for the Queen at the opening of the Scottish Parliament has been crowned winner of the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year. Rona Wilkie, 22, beat five other finalists ... [Scotsman]

Your 100 Best Scottish Novels: We want your help to compile the definitive list of the 100 most important Scottish novels of all time: the books you've read, those you've been meaning to read, the ones you'd recommend to friends and family. Here are the latest ... nominated by readers but presented in no particular order, to add to the first 25 endorsed by literary editor Rosemary Goring or previously nominated by readers. [Herald Scotland]

TAEM News Flash - The Robert Burns Supper: The Arts and Entertainment Magazine attended the Robert Burns' Supper held at the McMahon's Irish Pub and Restaurant in Warrenton, Virginia. ... The event was hosted by The Fauquier Scottish Heritage Society of Fauquier County. Our Publisher's wife Maryann, and his son Joseph (who is also our photographer and guest author), accompanied him to the event to help record the evening's activities. The Society hopes to gain more members in the coming years, and this magazine will be there beside them. [The Arts and Entertainment Magazine]

History and Genealogy

Twelve dates which shaped Scotland's relationship with England: How has the relationship between Scotland and England been shaped over the centuries? Here, BBC Scotland's news website highlights 12 key dates. [Ed. 1603, 1605, 1650, 1707, 1745, 1797, 1820, 1885, 1922, 1979, 1997, 2011] [BBC News]

Rare blueprints found of Scott's expedition ship Discovery: A remarkable set of rare blueprints of a ship credited with launching the 'Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration' have been discovered more than a century after it first sailed. [The Telegraph]

Business and Technology

Hundreds of millions 'leaking out' of Scotland: Hundreds of millions of pounds are 'leaking out' of the Scottish economy, with contracts for major building and infrastructure projects being handed to firms outside Scotland, a new report has claimed. [Scotsman]

Britain could be stripped of AAA credit rating within a year: Moody's, which changed the rating of nine European sovereigns after the markets closed in America, said Britain was exposed to 'any further deterioration in European economic conditions and financial landscape.' [The Telegraph]

Scotland battles Sweden to get European spaceport: The United States may be the home for Sir Richard Branson's space tourism venture Virgin Galactic, but, even though flights are not scheduled to take off until at least 2013, is he already looking for a European base? [BBC News]

George Osborne accuses BBC of fuelling anti-business culture in Britain: The Chancellor compared the broadcaster to the women who used to gather to watch the execution of aristocrats during the French Revolution. The accusation came during an interview on BBC Radio Four's Today programme after Britain was warned that its credit rating may be downgraded. [The Telegraph]

Scottish retail sales suffer worst slump since 1999: Scottish retailers have suffered their worst monthly sales performance for more than a decade, according to the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC). [BBC News]

Egypt's mummies divulge secrets in modern Scotland: Modern technology reveals the secrets kept for thousands of years by Egyptian mummies in a major exhibition at Scotland's National Museum. [Reuters]

Sports

The Scots are starting to reclaim their game: In the six tournaments on the European Tour this year, only Abu Dhabi is missing a top-10 finish by a Scot. That is a far cry from last year, when only David Drysdale and Steven O'Hara had vague sniffs at success in the early stretches of the Race to Dubai. [The National]

Politics, Government, and Law

Scotland's youngest ever politician takes a career gap: Aberdeen's John West has never shied away from following his heart. In 2007 he became Scotland's youngest ever politician at just 18. Five years on, West has found himself with itchy feet and has packed in the politics in favour of a gap year backpacking around the world. [gapyear.com]

Lot's of Independence News

Twelve unresolved questions on Scottish independence: As the country begins gearing up for a Scottish independence referendum, debate surrounding how Scotland would go forward alone has been heating up. [BBC News]

Political sketch: 'Will ye no come back again': The Prime Minister went to Scotland yesterday and confirmed his dad's name was Cameron, thereby putting the lie to those who have spent the last 19 months claiming the illegitimate alternative. [The Staggers (blog)]

Britain pitches unity to Scots: Arguing that the centuries-old 'ties that bind' the United Kingdom together were under threat from Scottish separatism, Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron traveled to Edinburgh yesterday to meet with First Minister Alex Salmond in what was seen here as the first, sparring bout of a longer battle over an independence referendum. [The Boston Globe]

David Cameron's gamble to save the Union: David Cameron made a fresh gamble in the battle against Scottish independence yesterday, offering to devolve more power to Edinburgh if the Scots vote to remain part of the United Kingdom. [Video] [The Telegraph]

Scottish independence: Voters need 'straight choice': Scotland's voters must have a 'straight choice' between independence and remaining in the Union, rather than being given a third option if a referendum is held, peers say. The Lords constitution committee found an option of 'devolution max', giving more tax powers to Holyrood, would set up 'competing' systems within the UK. [BBC News]

Scottish Heritage - This Month --

Not Necessarily Scottish - -

General Interest

USA - The WWII/Korean War Version of 'Before You Go' is a tribute and thank you to our aging veterans of WWII, the veterans of the Korean War who helped to preserve that victory finally and a long overdue thank-you to veterans of the Vietnam war. [Video] [Before You Go]

Worldwide - Is it time for your Digital Diet?: A friend told me recently that her five-year-old son was suffering night terrors. One night, she went into his room to comfort him, patting his head and soothing with gentle words. In his sleep, her son said: 'Mummy, mummy, put your BlackBerry down. Put your BlackBerry down.' [The Telegraph]

GB - Britain's most celebrated dogs: The Brits have always had a soft spot for man's best friend. We take a look at some of our most famous pooches, fictional or real. [The Telegraph]

Humor

So, How Was Afghanistan?: Welcome back! Wow, I almost didn't recognize you. How long has it been? It seems like forever since you left for Afghanistan. What a lucky guy, getting to take so many exotic trips halfway around the world with your best friends. ... [The Onion]