Are you interested in one week's work placement in The Irish Times? Transition Year students can learn first-hand about the workings of this newspaper if their submission is published in Media Scope's weekly Over to You column. Just send us a 200-word piece on a media-related topic.
Alan Mulroy, Franciscan College, Gormanston, Co Meath
Christmas time is a special part of the year for everyone. It's a time of giving and receiving, having a bit of crack, meeting friends and relatives, relaxing in front of the television. Nice fantasy, isn't it?
Over the past number of years Christmas seems to have lost its sparkle for me. It's all about gifts and the elusive question "What's for me?" The spirit of Christmas seems to have gone astray in the Celtic Tiger's roar. It has been converted into a national holiday for "Me, Myself and I".
Furthermore it has brought the shopoholics out of the woodwork. Christmas began on the first day of November; as the Halloween decorations came down in the shops, the Christmas ones went up without anyone blinking an eye. This country had been shopping for two months for one day of the year. Yes, one day! Twenty-four little hours, for all those important must-have gifts - the PlayStation 2, mini-disc players, MP3s or the electronic Who Wants to be a Millionaire?
Who cares if you were visited by your great-great-great grandmother! All that counts at Christmas is what is under that Christmas tree with your name on it.
Bronwyn Greene, Loreto Secondary School, Bray, Co Wicklow
Sony wishes parents a happy Christmas with the launch of its new console, 2 PlayStation 2. Parents will now feel the pinch in their pockets after indulging their children with this little delight.
This console, which has been advertised globally at great expense, is the most anticipated computer of its kind. Launched exactly two months before Christmas Day, this PlayStation was destined for Christmas lists everywhere.
As it was mainly targeted at those still living at home, Santa saw PlayStation 2 pop up on more than one letter! Let's hope he did not spot the main drawback of this wonderful machine - the price.
Santa should expect his bank balance to plummet, with consoles costing £379.99 and the controllers a further £24.99 each. A memory card set him back yet another £34.99 and games sell at £49.99 each. A total of £514.95 per child, with one purchased game to play on the console.
If this new PlayStation is anything to go by, we've had a costly Christmas. Thanks, Sony!
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