Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

Kids check lists twice for Santa HILARY SCHRAMM THE GAMECOCK You might think it’s too early to make plans for celebrating the holidays and for mulating your wish list. And frankly, you are right. But this is a nation based around consumerism, so anticipation is key. According to MSNBC, the first week of November is “Dear Santa Letter Week.” That’s right, a month and a half before any major gift-exchanging holidays, kids are already formulating their plans of attack — and coincidentally, so are parents. n,very year, as oama manes ms usi anu checks it twice, kids make lists of their own. And usually there is at least one item that stands out as “The Toy,” the one all kids want. Remember Cabbage Patch dolls? Pokemon cards? Tickle Me Elmo? Parents lined up in the stores for these toys. So what'is hot this year? According to MSNBC, a new Elmo that dances to the “Hokey Pokey” is barreling off shelves. Toywishes Magazine, which publishes a Top 12 toy list every year, also predicts that toys such as Barbies, Bratz dolls and McFlurry makers will do well this holiday season. The list also recommends Neopets, which are 9-inch representations of virtual mmmmm i. 1L x PHOTO BY MORGAN FORD/THE GAMECOCK Plush toys for children are always a good idea, and Hokey Pokey Elmo is already a hot Item for Christmas. pets designed at www.neopets.com. Many of this year’s toys are relics from the pop culture of our childhoods—or even earlier. Last year and this year, Care Bears were the stuffed animal of choice for many households. Also joining the ranks of retro toys are My Little Pony, Strawberry Shortcake and Ninja Turtles. Kids may start their wish lists about halfway through April, but college students aren’t immune to the holiday fever either. Most students seem to already know what they’re asking for this holiday season. A lot of the time, students will ask for things they can’t afford to give themselves. Often, students are interested in technolo gy-related gifts such as DVD players or portable MP3 players such as an iPod. “I want an MP3 player,” says fourth-year chemistry student Ashley Jones. “I’m sort of ashamed of myself that I don’t have one yet. I just haven’t gotten around to it.” While a lot of students want to try new technology, other students follow the nos talgic trend with childhood classics such as Nintendo games. “Not only do I have a classic Nintendo set and Super Nintendo, now I want a Nintendo Game Cube, too,” says third-year English student Bethany Kessell. Other students want entertainment sta ples like music and movies. Movies such as “Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde,” “Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd” and “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” were recently released on DVD and video just in time for the holi day season, and both the Indiana Jones tril ogy and “Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” box sets fill the shelves. Music was also released from artists such as Kid Rock and Britney Spears just in time for the hol idays. But most students agree on one key wish list component: money. “I just want the biggest gift card ever, to the gas station or Wal-Mart,” says second year business student Sarah Tennant. “I’m tired of paying for necessities.” Whether they ask for retro holiday good ies or the latest high-tech toys, USC stu dents, like much of America, have already begun the most important part of the holi day countdown: the Christmas list. Comments on this story?E-mail gamecockmixeditor@hotmail.com PHOTO BY MORGAN FORD/THE GAMECOCK Creative Kids Toy Shop in Five Points offers a world of goodies for kids. —r .. ^..—-1 5 All 2003 Hours: *"v j Mon & Thurs 8-6 I Yi Tues, Wed, & Fri 10-5 1 / Sat 10-5 L 3223 Devine Street C\ (Across from Earthfare) 15254-9797 www.outspokinbicycles.com Bikes on Sale *Save an additional 10% with this ad Columbia's Best fojjjears ’ v