Flip Video And Cisco Give Zennie A Flip Video Ultra HD

Regular viewers of my video blog posts on YouTube and Blip.tv know that I've used Flip Video Camcorders since 2009. In fact, about 60 percent of my video stock consists of segments made with Flip products. Moreover, some of my greatest videos, like the Fight With A Bouncer On Fillmore (not me, of course), were made with Flips, as well as my TV show, The Blog Report With Zennie62.

(In fact, for that video I just stood on the curb and held the camera up without saying a word. You'd think someone would have noticed.)

And even California Governor and former Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown came into my Flip Video's focus on the night of his election victory, and after Arnie Fields told me of his "Jerry-centric" run for Mayor of Oakland.

Reportedly, Jerry saw it and could only think of how much he disliked Arnie's message, and why I'd interview him (Arnie was a candidate, case closed. Hilariously, nothing else mattered to him at the time.

Then there was the time in the limo with the cast from the horror movie Hatchet II (out on DVD now), with its creator Adam Green, and the incredibly lovely Danielle Harris. All of those videos were made with my Flip.

I could go on and on, but Flip Video and Cisco were kind enough to provide me with a new Flip Video Ultra HD. So, to return the good deed, I created this "commercial," which I hope they actually make into a commercial.

I even thought of a tag line: "Flip Video. Video-Blog everywhere! Video-blog anywhere!"

But what I like about Flip is it's ease of use and high-quality product.  I have other camcorders from Sony and a high-end Canon VIXIA HF10 HD, but the inexpensive Ultra HD is almost the match of the Canon, with the lack of a true telephoto lens and mic port the only difference maker.   That's not bad considering the $200 cost difference.

But the Flip is the camcorder for vlogging.  If you're going to video-blog, you need a Flip.

Stay tuned.

National Signing Day: Cal Ranks High, Seeks New Offensive Coach

Today is National Signing Day, and Cal Football's set to bring in an excellent recruiting class (Scout has it ranked #15), but before we get to the details there, some news that's still fresh: Cal Offensive Coordinator Andy Ludwig is gone. According to ESPN's Ted Miller on Jan 25th, Ludwig, who was (I see now unfairly) criticized in this space, told the San Diego Union Tribune that he would get a chance to install his own offense.

Here's Ludwig:

At Cal, I was an offensive coordinator with a coach who was also an offensive coordinator...I'm excited to get back to running my system. I have nothing but positive things to say about my time there and we'll be implementing a similar system to what we had at Cal, just with my signature on it.

Talk about dancing on the line, Coach Ludwig leaves open the question, to what degree was the Cal Offense his, versus Cal Head Coach Jeff Tedford's? The other issue would seem to be continuity, but now that Cal's gone through it's fifth OC in the Tedford Era, obviously the one constant is Jeff himself. Otherwise, Coach T would not change Offensive Coordinators so often and with such ease.

"HydroTech" has an interesting take on the Coach, Ludwig departure over at California Golden Blogs, but to keep this brief for now, I am not in agreement on the Cal Offense being "set." It needs a group of plays that are done and define it over the years. To me, it's not the best idea to have a play book that's a mix of "this or that" just to have it.

For example, the San Francisco 49ers Playbook under Bill Walsh started with one basic pass play that was the foundation of "The System:" It's called "22 Z-In." Here it is from The West Coach Offense Playbook:

 In Walsh's words...

This is a five-step drop pattern. The quarterback takes five big steps and a hitch step and throws on time. The receiver splits 12 to 14 yards. The flanker releases inside for 5 to 6 yards and then bursts hard to the outside foot of the cornerback. What he wants to do is to get that cornerback on his heels. Then he'll turn in about three steps and catch the pass 12 yards deep.

The fullback runs what we call a scat pattern. He doesn't have any pickup, and he releases to the outside. He never catches the ball more than 2 yards past the line of scrimmage, most often right at the line of scrimmage. If the backer blitzes, he looks for the ball early.
Our tight end picks off the near end backer. He'll put his head past that man's shoulder, slow down, and make contact. He bounces off it and goes to the far guard position, turns and faces the quarterback, and watches his eyes because he's the last outlet.

The quarterback throws the ball related to the sky safety. If the safety gives ground, he'll throw to the fullback. If the safety flattens out, we'll throw in behind him, in this case to the flanker. If it's man-to-man, the flanker runs a man-to-man pattern trying to beat the corner. If it's man-to-man, the safety will often chase the tight end, and there will be a good throwing lane with the backer coming out on the fullback.

When we throw to the fullback the ball should arrive to him a foot in front of his number. If the fullback has to reach, he will take his eyes off the ball, slow down or break stride, and probably get nothing out of it.

That describes what Walsh intends from that play, and, in one form or another, it is reflected in the thousands of passes designed in the entire playbook. But it serves as the intellectual and diagrammatical basis for "The System."  That's important because in order to have consistent quarterback play, regardless of who's at QB, you need to express a constant approach to the game that can be passed to player after player, and not just have a collection of plays.

Can Tedford make the that one passing play and approach has defined the Cal Offense over the years?  No.  Sadly, no.  And that's one reason for the up-and-down play at the QB position.  And that's likely to continue in the 2011 Season.   Nothing agains Coach Tedford, I'm just pointing to an area where improvement is needed.

More on National Signing Day in the next post...

Punxsutwawney Phil Says Early Spring; Chicago Weather Twitter Stream

Today's Groundhog's Day and the World Famous and lovable GroundHog Punxsutwawney Phil says it's going to be an early spring.

Tell that to Chicago.

From the looks of the Chicago Weather Twitter Stream below, Chicagoans are just trying to deal with a massive blizzard, right now, today.

The Great Chicago Blizzard 2011 caused the closing of Chicago schools for the first time this century and the Chicago Board of Trade has delayed its opening to 10 AM CST. Last night, Lake Shore Drive and Sheridan Avenue near Northwestern University were closed and still are today, with cars stranded along the way.

In all, thirty states have been gripped by the largest snow storms since the 50s and 60s, bringing "life-threatening" weather conditions. All you need to do to know this is visit that great connector Twitter and watch the tweet stream for Chicago Weather:




Stay tuned.

Come PArty with the FRO CREW for the Superbowl

Special Radio show visit for Dr. Football

Today @ 9am ET Dr.Football Will Visit with "the Peddler Hour" to talk SUPER BOWL, Football Collectables and other historic tidbits....Lots of Steeler and Packer talk as the show originates from Steeltown.

Listen Here:http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thepeddlerhour

Lake Shore Drive In Chicago Closed, Lake Michigan With 24-Foot Swells

Chicago, this blogger's hometown, is in a snow-blizzard mess, and so much so that "Lake Shore Drive" is a Twitter Trending Topic for the first time.

According to tweets, people have been told to abandon their cars and walk to safety because of the unusually high waves. Lake Shore Drive is closed, as is Sheridan Blvd in Evanston next to Northwestern University.

Several photos on Twitpic (like this one by @callmerashad) show a surreal scene of darkness, haze, snow, and cars illuminated by street lights and headlights, and snow - a lot of snow.

All thanks to a giant winter storm system that's literally attacking an area from Chicago to Dallas, where in suburban Arlington, Texas, Super Bowl XVL will be played this Sunday. Already, Super Bowl events are harder to get to in an already spread-out Super Bowl plan, because of the snow and ice.

But that's nothing compared to Chicago.

Mayor Richard J. Daley said the storm is "of historic magnitude, the likes of which we have not seen in decades."

Or, since January 26, 1967, when Chicago was buried under up two 23 inches of snow in two days.

I should know.  I was six years old and in Chicago, where I was born.  At the time, we lived at 7427 Wentworth.   My parents owned a three story (what's called a "two-flat") building that still stands today in good condition.  But that month was one where you just didn't go outside at all.  Our giant backyard was buried in snow that came up to three feet in some areas.  It was a bright white sight.  You could not walk down the stairs to it without walking, er, wading,  right into the snow.    The best thing to do was to stay and home and watch the then-new Star Trek television show.

From the looks of these YouTube videos, watching Star Trek's a good idea now:

Some things and Other things-Our weekly (sometimes jaded and comical) look at news from the world of football-

By Dr. Bill Chachkes-Executive Editor-Football Reporters Online

Some interesting happenings this week from around the football world….


Sunday Night’s Pro Bowl, the NFL’s version of an All-star game was the most watched in 14 years….Really? Not that I wasn’t one of those watching at least part of it, but we all know the players were only playing at half speed…Maybe they should bring back the skills competition, or how about a rookie game? Packers Linebacker Clay Matthews pre game ritual is to douse his long (Blonde) mane in ice water just before he hits the field….nice, what if it freezes? Then he’s really the Iceman…..The NFL Management team, and reps from the NFLPA are finally meeting on Saturday down in Dallas, both to begin talks and to “accelerate” the pace of negotiations…what took you so long Guys? An NFLPA rep told me in E-mail this morning he expects it to be the busiest week in some time….and that’s the best news we have heard in some time…From New England Sports networks’ the Daily Blend: Tom Brady is among the most hated players in the NFL. Guess Pats fans are still in shock that another team from New York beat them in the post season….Speaking of that team from NY wearing Green & White…Rex Ryan was spotted In Hawaii at the Pro Bowl this past weekend without his sweater vest , but wearing a white Jets polo shirt and some Dog tags….Last time I checked he had no military service credit in his background…..Unless they are his Dad’s, or they filming a remake of my favorite movie from1970, Kelly’s Heroes….Maybe Rex is Playing (channeling) Carroll O’Connor’s General Colt character, Or is he Donald Sutherland’s “ODDBALl?”….I want to know who on the Jets Coaching staff is Playing Clint Eastwood’s Part….Hopefully not the recently “dismissed” Sal Alosi…..Today here in NY, they are getting ready to ship 7,000 Pizzas to the Afgan front thanks to UNO Grill…Beats mess hall food, even with the improvements in Army Food…”MRE’s Anyone?I donlt ever remember adding water to Pizza....As I write this, the Super Bowl Media day is going on. Rest assured Packers QB Aaron Rodgers has bought plenty of warm coats since we asked him that 5 Years ago at his NFL Draft Presser….Lots of players are concerned about the pace of the talks between the players and the owners…from Jets DB Antonio Cromartie to Steelers WR Hines Ward…..Speaking of the city of Dallas, that emporium of grilled meat products, we hear there are almost as many people worried about how much they will pay to park their cars for the game as they are about finding “suitable Gentleman’s Adult entertainment….” I remember the 12 months I spent stationed at Ft. Hood down near Waco, no shortage of available “dates” there, Girls just love men in uniforms…Speaking of the Army, If the Pentagon & The department of the Army follow suit like they did with Lt. Caleb Campbell, Lt. Ali Villineuva may make it back to Play Pro Football by 2013…now who wants to figure out what to do with a 6’ 10” Tight End….and this week we’ll close with the “Youngest Reporter” at the Super Bowl, 11 year old Braden Madden, of Sachse Texas is part of the credentialed media this week,..interviewing players and filing stories for the “Weekly Reader” which is part of the Reader Digest family....Good for him,…but I had to wait until I was 29 to get a SB credential,….does he have his FWAA Card yet??We'll cut him a break because he's 11, but we're going to send him a few "real" questions to ask.....