News from the Dominions: Canada's new governor-general gets a geeky coat of arms

People Boris has met with: Lily Allen, Kelly Brook. People Boris has not met with: Tube Union leaders

London agenda for Monday 4 October

London agenda for Monday 4 October
1. Abandon whimsical storytelling approach and see some proper gags with Alun Cochrane [Spoonfed]
2. It’s Meatball Mondays at the Gallery Mess [Le Cool]
3. Watch Cory Doctorow interview William Gibson at Cadogen Hall [Run Riot]

City Hall: The old mayor will battle the new mayor. Again.

It’s the second most powerful job in British politics with an international platform and a huge personal mandate. Successful applicants can expect a plush office with riverside views and invites to all the best parties in the finest city in the world.

And yet, barring some miracle or catastrophe, City Hall will only ever have had two occupants, by the time it enters the second half of its second decade.
I pondered this as I watched Ken Livingstone clinch Labour’s nomination for Mayor. Now I say clinch but in reality the result was never in much doubt.

Off Fleet Street: everything in media isn't a downer

For the most part, the media consists of slick sales-pitches. It wants us to buy something, believe someone, serve somebody. Occasionally, however, a piece comes along that offers more than platitudes and does more than prescribe. These magical little moments occur when, and where, they are least expected. Recently, I picked up the October issue of Red for a swift goggle at Vanessa Paradis and came across ‘Why Giving Up Is Good To Do’. A brief, but imminently sensible article critiquing the notion that whatever it is you’re doing, you have to keep doing it till the bitter end. Author Anna Pursglove’s remark that: “The sky… does not fall in when you admit that you never should have done it in the first place or that it worked for you once, but doesn’t any more,” was exactly what I needed to read at that moment.

Jellied Eels: News from around the boroughs

Campaigners hope to save one of London’s finest cinemas. With Alfred Hitchcock's help

Campaigners hope to save one of London’s finest cinemas. And Alfred Hitchcock will help

Facebook Places, Foursquare: let me sin in peace

I feel weird having sex with my flatmate’s girlfriend when he is in the room

Snipe's agony uncle launches the It Gets Better Project, a YouTube channel to tell gay kids that It Gets Better