Just heard that Penn Jillette, the big guy from Penn & Teller, has moved to Revision3 with a new show called Penn Point. He used to have Penn Says on Crackle, you could download about 20 shows via iTunes, but you couldn’t even watch them on the Crackle web-site. This was due to ‘copyright restrictions’, although exactly what restrictions I don’t know. It was just a guy with a goatee and long hair talking into a video camera. Maybe the theme tune was copyrighted just for the US, who knows. For a while the Crackle site looked as if it was just completely broken with great chunks of content missing. Way to go Sony! The shows were even cross posted to YouTube, again Sony Pictures blocked it on copyright grounds.

I love Revision3 and watch three of their shows, HD Nation, Diggnation and Tekzilla each week, so I've subscribed to Penn Point ready for the shows starting on the 24th of May.

Of course it will never replace Penn Radio and Monkey Tuesday, but then again what would.

Finally footage of this monumental meeting surfaces.

Apparently, back in 2007, Amanda Palmer was asked if she would like to be a part of Hammer Conversations and who would she like to talk to. Henry Rollins was one of the people on the short list and he was available.

Considering that it was just an informal chat in a museum I don’t think that I've seen either of them look so uncomfortable. Amanda was constantly adjusting the microphone and stand, by miniscule amounts, something that she also does between songs at her shows. Henry looked as if he was curling up into a ball, possibly not that at ease with the mic on a stand instead of in his fist.

Unfortunately the video ends at the 95 minute mark. According to eyewitness accounts Palmer embraces Rollins for a full 3 and a half seconds. For Henry that’s a personal best.

Christmas Cacti on flickr

I heard about TED, it stands for Technology, Entertainment and Design, on the net@night podcast with Amber and Leo. After watching the first three that came down the intertubes I must say I really enjoyed them. They are just short 18 minute talks given by fascinating people who have done extraordinary things in their lives.

Really inspirational stuff.

Check out the TED web-site or the TEDTalks (video) page in iTunes. Ideal for watching on the Apple TV.

Taken from iTricks.TV Pick Of The Day: & Teller

I've recently re-archived my video archive onto DVD-R and have been watching programs that have lain in the vault for many years. Including 2 appearances of the legendary Spinal Tap on Tonight with Jonathan Ross. The first is from 27/03/1992 and the second from 08/04/1992 both broadcast on Channel 4. The Tap were, at the time, promoting the Break Like The Wind CD.

Putting this remarkable footage on YouTube has lead me to recall 4 Tap related incidents:

1. At my previous place of employment a young Stuart Lax once enquired, “Yes Carl, but aren’t Spinal Tap a spoof band?” I immediately corrected him by saying, “No Stu, they’re a rock band… they don’t play spoof!”.

2. On stage at the Freddie Mercury tribute concert at Wembley Stadium David St. Hubbins said, “We have cut our set short by 2 and a half hours because… Freddie would have wanted it that way”.

3. When Kerrang! magazine reviewed Spinal Taps appearance at the above tribute concert they noted that upon leaving the stage their drummer tripped, fell and was rushed to hospital. His condition was later described as predictable.

4. When the Break Like The Wind CD was released, debuting at 0 in the UK album charts, David St. Hubbins was asked why his long-time girlfriend Janine and himself had never had children. He replied, “We've had all the tests and I don’t want to apportion blame in anyway but one of us has a low sperm count”.

Update : As of 17/11/2009 all 4 videos have been taken down due to copyright infringement as a result of a third-party notification from Rights. TV.