Christmas Wishes? Recession Wishes more like.

Within just half an hour after writing my "Kid's TV is changing" blog I already want to write more.
Good sign I suppose.
And this time, it's time to vent some emotions, or current thoughts.
Let's make it current thoughts:
Why the hell is Christmas shopping so effing difficult?
You have to ask around to get people's ideas, that are likely to change or have already been told to someone else and so that person will end up with TWO giant Galaxy bars.
Or, you can come up with your own innovative ideas. Maybe a book that suits their personality, or a film that you both once enjoyed years ago and wish to watch with them again. Then you go to them, dropping subtle (or otherwise) hints and......it doesn't work. They declare that they've bought that brilliant film ages ago, or have simply changed all their tastes in books/films/music/whatever.

But the new bane of my life this year is actually the cost. I have only bought 3 people some middling presents so far, and have already lost out on an amount a way past 30 pounds.
Doing some more quick sums, I now have to buy 5 or more people good presents with a budget settling somewhere below 40 pounds.
One of those people is my girlfriend. I don't want to watch my special other-half's face fall after she gets a Terry's Chocolate Orange after giving a PlayStation 3 game.
Another one of those people is my mum. Oh joy!
So, I don't want to give off the impression that I'm cheap. It's not that at all. I want to get all these people good gifts that will make them smile on the 25th of December, as I wish to do every year. A trait of mine is to get gifts off the lists, which require a sense of thoughtfulness and emotion etc.
But on my minimal wages, it may prove difficult.
So if you are one of those 9 to 10 people reading this, I love you all and I'm sorry. I hope your Christmas proves good from someone else at least.
~
That was fun. I could make a habit of this

Kid's Film and TV has changed. For the worst

Quick intro: I'm a college student with a media fascination and a desire for creative writing.
So, time for some evidence!

Starting off, an argument I fired up a couple of weeks ago, and that is what the title suggests:

The things that today’s children are growing up with these days is nothing compared to what my friends and I got. I am 17, and when I grew up, television and film truly had begun their colourful trek up to the peak of entertaining children.

Now, in 2010, I personally believe they have peaked, and are now going downhill again. On a sled made of digitally-enhanced squirrels.

My earliest days, I had Disney taking me through each day: Toy Story, Jungle Book, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty – all these colourful films that sparked imagination, but were also considered classics.

I don’t see Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs becoming a classic, ladies and gentlemen. It just won’t happen.

It may still spark imagination though. If you find your child throwing hamburgers off rooftops shouting “Eureka”, I won’t stop you complaining to Disney.

Hey, I might even get there first.

The television was good too. We had gotten out of the (now-considered) not politically-correct Bill and Ben era, and we moved into the Japanese influential era. Power Rangers, Pokémon, Cubix, Digimon to name a few; these separate squarely-drawn teenagers surrounded by robots that could transform or cute animals that could, essentially, murder at their owner’s command.

“Awesome” new special effects and desirable storylines that could easily blow a 10-year-old out the window, followed by the cliché “WOW!” when a Power Ranger takes a robotic dinosaur’s head off.

Nowadays, it’s Ben 10 and remakes of older shows. If you ever get the chance to see the new episodes of Tom and Jerry, DON’T. Just turn off the television and back away as quickly as possible.

Today’s television doesn’t spark as much imagination as it used to. New trailers show animated animals falling over a lot, trying to make it fun and exciting. But it isn’t.

Toy Story – Children’s toys are alive! That’s brilliant!

Dexter’s Laboratory – A secret, exciting lab even with sisterly difficulties as well. Also brilliant!

Spongebob Squarepants – A living bathroom sponge with an annoying laugh and a job as a restaurant worker - below the age of 12! Not brilliant.

I know the unfortunate fact is that after so many good years, you do run out of ideas. Look at EastEnders, and that was shite to start with.

It just means that today’s young aren’t getting as much visual stimulation as we used to.

So they go looking for it around the back of ASDA car parks.

Alcohol and drugs aren’t the problem here, people. Rubbish Saturday morning television is.

The end. What a glorious first impression I've made!

But make of this what you will, and I'll see you around.

Peace out.