The education game, RIP Grange Hill and welcome The Apprentice (Irish style)

I had planned to write up a piece about how we hunt and gather news these days after my experiences in Spain as the world’s financial markets went haywire.

But I still find myself playing catch-up, so I’ll restrict myself to a round-up:

Fellow WMBN member Francis Anderson has turned his attention to video games with his latest post.

He points readers in different directions to see whether the power and the influence of video games can have a positive impact on children via education projects and encouraging greater civic engagement.

Maybe we’re not creating a generation of couch potatoes, but the next imaginative, innovative and creative pillars of the community?

After all, I remember getting an earful from my dad about watching too much TV when I got home from school rather than doing my homework. And look how I turned out…

One of the things I did miss when away was the last ever episode of Grange Hill, a staple of childhood viewing back in the days when I was one of St Julians’ laziest pupils.

I’m quite glad I did miss the grand finale as I might have been tempted to record it for prosperity. I would no doubt have then deleted it within a few brief minutes of watching the recording, spluttering incoherently about how modern day TV execs ruined a landmark show.

Never go back.

Alas I won’t be taking my own advice as regards The Apprentice, despite the excruciatingly poor last series served up by the BBC.

Tonight sees the debut of Ireland’s very own version of The Apprentice and I’ll be heading over to Le Craic – that renowned gentleman, scholar, blogger and fellow Apprentice devotee – as he provides a live blog.

It should serve as a very tasty filler until SirA, the blessed Nick and Margaret and the next bunch of useless wannabes return to our screens.