Magic streaming from RealNetworks and Channel 4

NEWS David Blaine, the illusionist with a fondness for treating audiences to a bit of Van Gogh style ear-pruning (apparently), is using broadband to take his latest stunt to UK TV viewers. Blaine will be encased in a clear 7ft by 7ft by 3ft plastic box, hung from a crane 40 ft above the ground and suspended there for 44 days and 44 nights. He'll be equipped with one tube to drink from, one to urinate in and very little else, apart from nappies, a paper notebook and some lip balm. Even magicians willing to dice with death can't deal the petrifying prospect of chapped lips, it would seem. The spectacle of Blaine doing what appears, on the face of it, to be not very much will be available on a live stream 24 hours a day on Channel 4's 4Broadband, which uses streaming technology from RealOne Superpass. Patrick Walker, director of international programming at RealNetworks, said in a statement: "This is the perfect event for internet coverage. No one knows what impact this feat will have on David Blaine and our subscribers will be in a unique position to follow his progress around the clock." Viewers will be able to see Blaine, who appears to have been no stranger to pies in his preparation for his stint at starvation, entering the box live tonight at 8pm and witness the magician regain his freedom several pounds lighter - and several thousands pounds richer - on 20 October at 9pm. The Blaine-in-a-box spectacle will be located just spitting distance from the silicon.com offices in Tower Bridge. As a service to readers, silicon.com will be taking requests for how to keep the enclosed entertainer occupied during his incarceration. What should we thrown at the illusionist? Email your feedback to: editorial@silicon.com .