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September
Lite the Blue Paper and Stand Well Back 16th September 2006
War breaks out in the world of London freesheets
Over the past few weeks it hasn’t only been fellow rushing commuters you have to dodge entering a tube station, but a mushrooming purple cloud of newspaper distributors too.

You can't have missed London Lite and thelondonpaper. Released only a week apart from one another, these two new afternoon free sheets are now an inevitable part of the day. Whilst morning equivalent Metro sits unassumingly in its stand at the tube station, legions of media foot soldiers forcibly thrust these new publications on you. With Associated Newspapers and News International behind them don’t expect this turf war to abate till Transport for London decides who will gain the exclusive rights to join Metro underground.

Both papers are hard to tell apart in terms of content – short, digestible news with handy maps, figures, sound-bites and fact boxes, a sizeable dose of celebrity gossip, topped off with an extensive ‘What’s on?’ section. Design-wise London Lite’s lagging way behind though, aping the tired format of sister paper Metro. On the opposite page, thelondonpaper’s wholesale rip-off of the Guardian’s Berliner format is as brazen as it is effective.

But what does it mean for us Londoners? Well most obviously, rubbish. By early evening tube carriages are strewn with unread papers, half read papers and a scattering of loose sheets. On the plus side you’re unlikely ever to be without reading material on board a tube again. No more staring into space (or armpit) as tunnel walls rush by, but sadly - if it is indeed possible - even lower levels of chat, as people lock into the world of newsprint.

My major gripe though is with myself. With all these free papers floating around I’ve found myself re-reading the same nothing stories twice a day, morning and evening. As a student I used to congratulate myself for watching Neighbours two times in 24 hours, but reading about Jessie Wallace’s new toy-boy over and over doesn’t have quite the same sheen. Help me stop please.

I always carry a novel to read. However, the empty, unchallenging news and gossip - which used to be confined to early stolen mornings with Metro - is now literally thrust upon me every afternoon as well. I know it’s no good for me, I read it eight hours ago but I can’t stop myself. Like the 20-stone slacker who orders pizza every night – it’s just too easy. I need help.

‘Intimate Adventures of a London Call Girl’ has been burning a hole in my handbag for the whole month – with all these effortless, disposable, free newspapers how am I ever going to get past chapter three?
Madame 2sauds
On the 10th anniversary of his death, a waxwork of hip hop artist Tupac Shakur has made its way across the ocean from Las Vegas to its new temporary home in London’s Madame Tussaud’s. Graffiti, loud speakers, tattoos and shattered glass will be used to create a suitable setting for the iconic, if controversial musical figure.
Seventh Day Dramatists
London’s West End is set to see the start of Sunday performances within a year. As the National Theatre announces its intention to open on the traditional “day of rest” most commercial theatres are expected to follow suit. While most of the capital’s major attractions are open on a Sunday, the city’s ever-popular Theatreland currently comes to a grinding halt halfway through the weekend.
London's Young Speaking in Tongues
Southfields Community College in Wandsworth claims to be the most multi-lingual in Europe. From Punjabi to Polish, Thai to Turkish, students at the school speak an amazing 71 languages between them. In addition to this 550 of the college’s 1300 pupils are bilingual.
October 2009
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Frieze Still Pleases
September 2009
26th September
A River Runs Through It
23rd September
Blogging is Best
August 2009
26th August
When Saturday comes
22nd August
Bring on the Bikes
July 2009
27th July
Against the Clock
20th July
View for a thrill
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
18th February
New Photography Laws
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Glitz and the Pitts
January 2009
27th January
Setting the Standard
21st January
Too Much for Posh Nosh?
December 2008
23rd December
January is on the Horizon
20th December
Merry Christmas
November 2008
26th November
All The World's A Stage
20th November
Surviving the Crunch
October 2008
24th October
Boris v Jingjing
17th October
Soaps in Pole Position
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
23rd April
By George
11th April
Back to the 80s
March 2008
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20th February
Dark, Satanic Turnmills
6th February
A Diamond in the Drink
January 2008
21st January
People Wanted for Plinth
14th January
Boo! Hiss!
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Tate That - A Hirst for Art
20th December
Christmas Shopping
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27th November
Mind the Gap
26th November
London On A Tray
October 2007
26th October
Leaving the Station
14th October
The Sky's the Limit
September 2007
August 2007
24th August
Heathrow under Siege
17th August
Gormless
10th August
Losing Face
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
23rd March
So, Another Magazine
16th March
Avoiding iContact
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
26th May
Curvaceous Border
12th May
Vegging Out
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
20th January
February Sales
20th January
Moby Sick
13th January
Glass Half Full
3rd January
Three Cheers for the Tube Station Workers
December 2005
22nd December
January Bites
16th December
A Remarkable Year
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
29th July
Moving On From 7/7
22nd July
Get loaded in the park
15th July
Victoire!!
June 2005
May 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
30th December
Party Pooper
23rd December
The Second Battle of Trafalgar
16th December
Sadie's Year
November 2004
28th November
Ripper-Watch
21st November
Kinky Boots
14th November
Smoked out
October 2004
22nd October
Yuppie Meal
15th October
Fines of Fury
8th October
No Twist in the Turner
September 2004
17th September
Battleships, bloodsports and Batman
10th September
Clique Week
3rd September
Return of the Bard
August 2004
July 2004
 
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