The Blog of Tom

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Tom

Christopher Hitchens’ article in Vanity Fair tells the true experience of being waterboarded. Not pleasant reading, but necessary.

http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/08/hitchens200808?printable=true&currentPage=all

As a big fan of mental illness, I was interested to read the article in Wired about a device that allows you to experience simulated schitzophrenia through a pair of headphones and a set of video goggles. Its aim is to give police and public sector workers a better understanding of those with mental health problems, but I’m wondering if there might be a consumer market. Given how deranged much of the media seems nowadays, surely it’s only a matter of time before a cheap home edition is released. Insanity as the next big thing in home entertainment? You heard it here first.

I always thought Myspace was a waste of time. Now I’m starting to reconsider.
Hundreds of partygoers trash house after MySpace invite | The Guardian | Guardian Unlimited

Results are in for the 2006 International 3 Day Novel Contest and… I didn’t win. My entry - Idolatry - was shortlisted in the final 20, but missed out on the big one.

As is customary on these occasions, I’d like to make the usual noises about what an honour it was to take part, thank the judges for their nod and offer my congratulations to the overall winner, Brendon McLeod.

Robert Altman is dead.
That is all.

I’ve changed my mind. This is the best headline ever.

Extra anus kills four-legged chick, via stuff.co.nz

My mate Marcus has decided to launch himself into the world as a foreign correspondent by heading over to Nigeria and reporting on the situation there. You can read about his progress here: Marcus Bensasson in Africa

I went to the “world premiere” of the Spider-Man 3 teaser trailer last night at the Vue cinema, Leicester Square. I wasn’t invited because of my prestige in the film industry, but rather because I’m unemployed and was hanging around Forbidden Planet at two o’clock on a thursday afternoon.

Anyway, it all looks very exciting. Black alien costume. little snippets of the Sandman, Peter and MJ’s relationship is on the rocks. Yada, yada, yada. I’m sure I’ll go and see it when it comes out, as will most other stunted perma-teens of my generation.

What’s interesting, though, is that they gave out CD-ROMs with Quicktime files of the trailer to distribute. I guess this means that studios are looking to turn file-sharing to their advantage. (They also gave me a natty hat, which will go straight onto eBay.)

I was going to post loads of pictures here, but the trailer’s already on Quicktime trailers, so I don’t suppose there’s much point.

Oh, alright. Just one…