A blog by Ross of Penge (formerly of Balham)

I blogged pretty extensively during 2014 and early 2015, but got out of the habit. In the time since there has been a huge amount I've sort of wanted to write about (politics, terror etc) but I haven't. I tried several times, but anger and frustration about what was happening prevented me from getting things down in a coherent form. Given I couldn't express what I felt, and it didn't seem like it would make a difference anyway, I let it lie fallow.

It's now early 2017, and I'm back, blogging about my attempt to do the first month of the year without social media. After that, who knows?

And why gateway2thesouth? Named after a famous sketch popularised by Peter Sellers:

"Broad-bosomed, bold, becalmed, benign,
Lies Balham, four-square on the Northern Line."

I lived in Balham for 23 years - longer than I have been anywhere else, and it still feels like one of the places in the world I most belong.

Thursday 28 January 2010

This is what I am talking about

First post - and perhaps a lazy one, so I hope not indicative of future efforts. However, it's worthy of a mention.

Two things that annoy me are: The Daily Mail, and scare stories which are either groundless or blow something out of all proportion. It is remarkable how strong the positive correlation is between these two betes noires.

Early 80's new wave pop star Joe Jackson sang 'Everything Gives You Cancer". This was one of several songs he wrote lampooning the ability of popular culture to sensationalise pretty much anything. So, one generation (25 years) on, what have we learned?

Here is a nice little list of claims that the Mail has advanced over the years, which would make poor Joe pull his hair out. (Thinking about this, he wasn't exactly hirsute in the late 80's so this may be an inappropriate comment), but ....

Causes of Cancer - no honestly

Admittedly, I have yet to research the extent to which the Mail blames this on asylum seekers, or suggests the effect it is bound to have on house prices, but I am confident it is only a matter of time!

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