[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09_YaUw9Rm8[/youtube]

Local author/blogger/personality Tim Ferriss has been working with the History Channel for a while now on a possible series and tonight the pilot episode will be airing. In Trial By Fire Tim will take on a new skill each episode, something that usually takes years to learn, and try to master it in a week. As you can see from the sneak peek the first one takes place in Japan and could go horribly wrong. (though I suspect since he’s still alive and can walk it worked out OK). He talks a little about where these shows might take him in this interview on Gadling. If you’ve ever seen Tim talk, or read his book The Four Hour Work Week you know this is going to be a damn interesting show.

If your interest was piqued by The Gatherers, the exhibition over at the YBCA (reviews: SF Gate, Shotgun Review), you might be interested in the Artists Talk tonight at Artists’ Television Access. Two of the artists in the show — Amy Franceschini and Wilson Diaz — will discuss their collaboration, The Movement of the Liberation of the Coca Plant. SF Weekly has posted a mention of the event too, with additional info about Franceschini. If this is the first time you’ve heard of the show, let me quote Brian Andrews at Shotgun (linked above): “The Gatherers investigates urban landscapes and food systems in this era of climate change and growing organic consciousness.”

Admission: $6; Address: 992 Valencia (at 21^st St).

NB: If you, dear readers, are aware of a good link to a page about Diaz, please post it in the comments.

[Suggestion: enjoy the discussion, and then go drink something organic at Amnesia across the street and north a block. Tonight they feature Gaucho, a “gypsy jazz band.” (Think Django.)]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pl-TWH93qTY[/youtube]

Over on Laughing Squid, Todd Lappin found this amazing video from the cockpit of a Virgin Atlantic flight in a 747 as they fly in and land at SFO. It’s full of all kinds of knob turning and checklist checking, as well as amazing views.