Hey guys,

Mike”The Birdman” Dodd here or rather my forum name “BirdmanTWIG”

I recently have been doing alot of thinking with this past week and change since the IMOG and what alot of that thinking has been directed as to what it means to be a G1 and a member of a community that is so welcoming to it’s members and the underlying society that has been evolving from the forums and the various personalities such as the AVGN.

I suppose where this starts off is the pride of the Screw-a-tat and what it meant to be around others at the IMOG and how that felt and really made the world of ScrewAttack that much more personal and more relatable thru the various friendships that have formed since then.

Friendship is what alot of being a G1 has become to me and I am sure to alot of others that have been with this site for sometime. A group of people who share ideas and thoughts on a forum is usually just an internet community that goes by with little notice but ScrewAttack did something really different with that…they interacted with us and made us friends and even more so engaged us in a conversations even if we had differing opinions.

One of the best examples of this is Stuttering Craig himself. I have talked with Craig a few times as a journalist and called a few times as a friend but it is when I called out of the blue to see if I could go to the IMOG and he said yes that, the world became a little bit smaller and I became indebted to a guy, I have only spoken across a forum and on a podcast Interview. Craig was willing to take faith in me to put some real money on the line to bring me to the tournament and some 1400 miles across international borders to be apart of a community event like this. Craig really cares about what makes this community come together and with support like this, it’s important to look at what it means to be a g1 and part of something that is greater then the individual but rather something that each and everyone of us is apart of that helps it grow, evolve or whatever

Conversations and experiences with people like Destin, Corey, Jose, James and the PBC crew like Brett and Darrin bring the worlds closer together for me and I am sure others like myself who geniunely struck up a chord and conversations. It is accessability and interaction that are the lifeblood of what makes this site and those affilated with it that much better.

Thru some of experiences and conversations at the Iron Man, I came to put names and faces to the forum names such as Gunslinger Fox whom I have had contact with on XBOX live but not so much on the forums. However as time passed at the IMOG, a friendship formed and we had regular conversations that didn’t involve bits,bytes and  pixels and sprites, it was just a normal conversation and that is kinda of when I realized the true power of the Internet to bring people together.

The g1 community has been remarkably kind to me and my show, THIS WEEK IN GEEK and it was something about that really inspired me to write this blog entry and really express what I feel towards us, the fans, the contributors and just the ordinary Net users out there.

We have been together for a while and we have some ups and downs along the way and even at times lines were drawn in the sand and still, we more or less as a whole were together and are still together and that makes me believe in what I feel ScrewAttack is at it’s heart…

The community talk and forum chatter really seem to come alive and you can see some geniune friendships there and it’s great to see that. I know we have had some forum members come to the forum for some geniune advice and people really give a heartfelt answers and some us use humor to make the situation a little less dark for that person. On review,it does make me believe there is still some good in this world and that people aren’t all jerks or heartless bastards.
Does that sound kinda cheesy but it is, but it is meant for you to take a look back at what you have at your fingertips…

However as a closing statement and I think I said this in my IMOG blog….99% of you make me proud to wear the Screwatat for life on my arm because of what this community means to me.

With that said, I hope to meet all of you one day and to have an event that will make headlines, I’d love nothing more to bring everyone here for a giantic party and gaming blow out.
All of you are always welcome at my home and at the TWIG studios….

The other 1% is for people like the classic console kid from the IMOG, you made kittens cry and that’s just epic fail….

Thanks guys

As I am often fond of saying

“Live free or die hard”

It started and began with a journey that would take us over 3000 miles and 36 hours and across 7 states but it would end with one memory and one feeling that would likely end up being a fond memory of a lifetime.

It was the Ironman of Gaming 2008.

The Crew of This Week in Geek, Mike “The Birdman” Dodd, Steve” Snowball” Saylor, Stefan “The Skunk” Pelltier and our friends, Ashley “I-Candy” and lastly Eric “Floor boy” Horton left Niagara Falls,Ontario on Tuesday June 17th and left for the next 36 hours into what would be an adventure spanning the next 4 days…..

So how’s that for a dramatic intro?

The decision to go to IMOG was pretty made up when I became G1 of the year and a chance phone call to Craig that turned into a ticket that brought me to Dallas.
It was the beginning of an adventure that would mean many late nights training with Stefan and my other producer Pierce “The Punk” Derks and it would alot of laughter and some intense Wii moments.

So we hit the road and some how ended up getting lost on our way to Buffalo.

Full Pics of theses parts of our journey can be found here
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=608294&l=adb05&id=504684933
Part 2
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=27021&l=cc962&id=504684933

and Finally after 36 hours we arrived in Dallas and then promptly were almost killed by a cab driver who decided driving into oncoming traffic was a WiCKED idea and it suffice to say, it sucked to say the least.

We did have a day off and screwed around in Grapevine, Tx but then we headed out to the pre game night at the convention centre and almost immediately the experience started out for us and more specfically for me.

I ran into Craig as he was preparing to leave and I got to meet the man whom re inspired the inner gamer in me and the one who made me get a tattoo on my body that symbolized a community and a life force that holds us, the G1’s together.
Our meeting was brief but memorable as I got a pat on the back and told that we would be able to talk more later on and it was good enough for me and Stefan and the TWIG group as we entered the convention centre.

We got signed up and registered and I got to be lucky competitor # 42…as we all know that #42 is the answer to life, the universe and everything. Walking into that room and seeing fellow G1’s was an experience that I really can’t describe except to say that it was like coming home to an old friend that you haven’t seen in years, familiarity and excitement. The night was alot of fun because I got to meet people like Fox, and the ScrewAttack family like Jose, Ben, and new comers like Destin, Jared , Corey and it was such a welcoming experience for us.

After the night had ended we decided that we wanted to go and grab some food and as luck would have it, we ended up running into everyone again at Hooters and they invited us to go over and have a few drinks with them and just chat it up and it was a bloody blast getting to know everyone. It was especially cool knowing that Destin is a Canadian just like us and that was instant street cred for us. We all shared some laughs and got to know each other and it was pretty cool to get along with people like that after knowing them for a scant few hours.

However it would be the later evening that would really bring the G1 community a little closer to me. I was browsing the forums and found out that the TWIG crew was not alone in the hotel but were joined by Biglou, Righteous Brian, Full Metal and others and it was decided that we should all get together and hang out since we weren’t really that tired. Stefan and I went down stairs and played with Brian’s 360 and just chatted the night away from such topics as science,ghosts, video games and what will happen with the Wii and knowing tomorrow would be different as we would face each other as competitors.
There was some laughs involving me and jumping into the pool but I’ll hopefully let that shame fade into Internet nothingness.
Still, I did have fun with it and what can I say? As long your laughing, it’s all good.

Then it began……

Day 1
PICS
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=27022&l=866f6&id=504684933
PART 2
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=27026&l=3d728&id=504684933

The competition started off for me and Stefan at close to 11 with the Lost levels. I wasn’t used to the Super Nintendo version of the game and I choked and only got around 60,000 points before biting the dust which kinda sunked me for the tourney. However we did managed to pull off some impressive scores for Stefan and he started to move up the tournament ladder. The highlights of that day mostly include of being able to meet more G1’s and have people ask to pose with my tattoo and being treated like a member of the ScrewAttack family. I even had someone ask me if TWIG was apart of ScrewAttack and It made me feel like maybe we had done something right with connecting with these guys last summer during our interview series.
We competed thru out the day but came to know more and more of our G1 friends and soon some true friendships began to form. I in particular had the chance to hang out with Gunslinger Fox for most of the tournament and just had a blast talking photography and the forums and mostly about the growth of a social community. I also talked with Jason and then had a nice long sit down with James Rolfe aka the Nerd about film making and where horror is headed in this generation.
It was one of the better experiences from IMOG as it was from one film student to film maker and it wasn’t just talking Nerd stuff but actually about the art.

That would sum up alot of the Iron Man for me. it wasn’t the video games at all.
It was building relationships and forging new friendships and in some cases evolving things from a casual friendship to something a little deeper.
I also had my first real sit down with Jose after the Eating contest but no spoilers till the video comes out.
James did a live Nerd thing and it was very entertaining and really made it a blast for all those in attendance. It was cool cause I was able to land the plane in TOP GUN and win an IMOG t shirt.

The day wound down and eventually we headed back to our hotel and ran into some of our friends from last night and found out that the same people were staying in our hotel from ScrewAttack and we had only one re course when we found that out….PARTY!

So the TWIG crew decided it would be a wicked idea along with Fox to throw an impromptu party and we had people from ScrewAttack and PBC production and James and his wife all come to our room and just have a party and just have fun to say the least. It also marked the first time I really had a chance to sit down with Destin and Corey and Brett and get to know them outside of thier net personas. It was a fun time but everyone knew that we had to get up in the morning and we called it a night around….4 am LOL

So DAY TWO of the IMOG was about to begin and today looked a little better and a little worse for me.
Games I wasn’t great at but would give it my all at and ones that Stefan would remain strong and the hope that TWIG could win the Championship belt.

PICS FROM DAY TWO
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=27109&l=36b06&id=504684933
PART 2
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=27111&l=c89c0&id=504684933

The day was long and hard but as always filled with more fun conversations and video games. Today was a day I spent with a few more IMOG people and got to know them a little better.I spent a chunk of the day with Jose and Corey and talking Social networking and all sorts of other nerdy crap and it was sincerely one of the best times of the tournament outside of the competition. Did I mention I was getting my ass kicked most of the time…. However, I did win a match against some of the people and that was encouraging but then I learned the art of being thrashed when a kid beat me down in HALO 3 something fierce…and i learned my place. Still I decided that I would get to know more of the people around me and I talked more with Brett, Fox and others and made plans for that evening that TWIG would once again host a party and see how many people could be crammed into a room.

This is where Stefan would make his crawl to the upper ladder but that is not my story to tell…and as such I’ll make sure he blogs about it.

The second party night in a row which is what really proved to me the strength of the ScrewAttack community, not just as it’s members but from it’s founders and staff. We were having a great time just laughing and in vain, trying to make a Captain S drinking game…(I’m beta testing it….I’ll have a working version eventually) and being together as friends and not strangers from the night before.

PARTY PICS
BTW Say POOP to Corey
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=27215&l=e5454&id=504684933

As the night drew on and the party started to get moved from PBC down to our room again! We started to have more and more conversations and bonding but then something unexpected happened….we could not find Stefan and we immediately got worried.

It was not in his character to wander off like that in a strange place and with no one to help him except the people he had met today. We searched the place high and low and even took a drive around the area to search for him. We all pulled together and out of the stupor to come together for clarity of purpose….to help another G1…another brother from a different mother.
Eventually Stefan was found….across the hall from us and all of us could breathe a sigh of relief but not before Fox sacked the kid for scaring us half to death.
Even Jose came out to help us look and check in us. He gave us a half naked hug and said “I love you Birdman” and I smiled and laughed as I got hugged and then he humped my friend Ashley’s leg….I felt like family.

It was that people like Jose, and others came together when needed and served a common goal….that it is what I will take away from the Iron Man of Gaming. A community that cares for itself and looks after one another. I like to use dramatic words and phrases but in all truthfullness I saw a love in this community for a stranger and a caring that I have seen no where else. That night made me more proud then ever to wear the ScrewAttack as more then just a sign of loyalty but as a badge of honor for what we as a G1’s stand for…community, support and acceptance…no lines drawn outside of PS3 fan boys….I kid.

I stayed up with Fox and a few others and played some old school dreamcast and finally crashed after worrying but knowing we had made some serious friendships that night.

Sadly we had to say bye to Fox that night as he had other plans for the following day but we shook hands and it was really good. You just get a feeling about people and he’s one of the people from the Super 8 I get a feeling that I know I have person to back me up if I need anything from.

We all went to bed feeling like we had accomplished something.

The final day of the IMOG came and we all came together again and well, this is mostly Stephen’s story here so I’ll let him tell it suffice to say, mine was spent with a fellow G1 Wade aka TexanOtaku and just enjoying our last day at IMOG.

DAY 3 PICS
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=27215&l=e5454&id=504684933

I’m going to wrap this up and say that there are so many friends and experiences and more that I owe to Craig for bringing me down to Texas for but I really think it is I that should be more then grateful for what i was given by Craig and the ScrewAttack family.
In the course of 3 days…I played video games, I partied, I made friends but mostly importantly I learned something about a group of people…I learned that the heart of the community is caring and acceptance and I experienced that first hand from all members of the site.

So I’ll say a special thanks to Craig, James, Corey, Destin, Jose, Chad, Ben and James and to ALL of the Super 8 people stuck with us like Lou, Jason, Brian and Andy…you guys al kick so much ass and make me so remarkably proud to wear the Screwatat for the rest of my life.

Craig said that ScrewAttack was like a family and in that regard, I cannot think of a more true phrase….thank you for welcoming me into your home, and as in a tradition amongst my people, you are forever welcome into mine.

Thanks guys for reading!

Live free or die hard!

Regards

Mike”The Birdman” Dodd
aka g1 of the year BirdmanTWIG

First off, I am so sorry for not blogging as much as I should. Well not sure if I have an audience right now but with some of the Interviews and web site plugs, I decided I likely should do something.

So without further delay, yes, The Birdman and the rest of the TWIG crew are headed to Texas to compete in the Iron Man of Gaming which is hosted by Screwattack.com

Stefan and I have been training for a few weeks for this and all things considered, I feel pretty ramped up for this and I think we’ll be ready to roll out and kick some ass. So what is the the Iron man of Gaming?

Well…….

From the website itself…http://www.ironmanofgaming.com

Taking place June 19-22nd at the Grapevine Convention Center near Dallas, TX over $10,000 in cash and prizes will be up for grabs as gamers compete on games from “All Consoles, All Genres, and All Eras”.
The Iron-Man of gaming is completely different then any gaming event that you have been to. It is centered around fun, gaming and always something going on. No matter when you come there will be something to do. On friday and saturday nights there will be a video game band preforming for those of you who love music.
The winner of the Iron-Man will also receive $10,000 in cash and prizes as well as their name engraved on the championship belt. Other events that will be taking place are Battle of the Rock Band, test your might classic gaming challenge, partners Pac-Man, blindfolded Sonic, blowing dust out of a cartridge, a Cosplay contest and many more.

So the crew and I will be video blogging the whole trip down to Texas and the comp and some our adventures on the side. I will also be bringing our SLR camera and seeing what we can do to kick some ass and chew some bubblegum. Do I intend to win? Well it would be nice and a freak accident but I do intend to have a good time? Oh hell’s yes!

So stay tuned to here and http://www.thisweekingeek.net and http://stevesaylor.net for more up dates

Until we blog again!

Live free and die hard!

Man, I feel like a bad blogger! I haven’t been able to get my thoughts down since Life got in the way for a little while but I have a few minutes between cleaning and making lunch for myself.

So anyway, the big news first….Pierce is saved! He is now an official Canadian resident and he is able to continue his education at Niagara College thanks to that. I won’t go into alot of the details but suffice to say the right pressure was applied to the right people and it got done up. Pierce is now able to apply for OSAP and his parents now can afford to stay in Canada thanks to this little development as well. We do thank those of you who donated to help him out, the money raised will be used towards his education and his final year and hopefully Pierce and I will graduate together.
You guys have no idea how relieved I actually am.

So that is the big news out of the way and the rest of the news to be honest with you is rather mundane but exciting in it’s own little way. I got back from vacation like two weeks and immediately did an Interview with the boys over at http://www.truefanboy.com
What an experience that was! Hoping that’ll get posted @ http://www.thisweekingeek.net

Other then that being doing alot of photography and getting back into the production groove! So Hopefully we’ll see more blog posts on here and what’s going on with me and what not so for now I’ll leave you with this picture from the latest STAR WARS WELLAND Event

Well I am just heading out to a Star wars thing here in Welland But I’ll do a photo blog post for sure and an actual Blog post and catching you guys up on what has been happening to the Birdman.
Haven’t forgotten this thing, just life got in the way

Want to blog
Net Connection sucks
Pierce is saved…..details coming
New Lens for camera
Check out my flickr and Facebook for pics
Freed aspects of my mind
Feeling good
More blog later on

Birdman checking in here and it’s been one week of the vacation more or less down and despite it being vacation, not a lot of downtime all things considered.

Been really busy here and doing alot of catch up with doctors and dentists and Native affairs but it’s been alright. Really been the first time in a long time that I’ve had a chance to really catch a breathe and kinda look around at what is going on around here in my life. However oddly enough, I am actually able to remember my dreams but the dreams have been safe to say, it’s been odd and strangely disturbing…not the sorta thing you share on a blog. I don’t know what else to say but it’s very strange to be back in the place into which I grew up. I know where things should be but yet I don’t at the same time and it’s all kinda new to me again. Its somewhere between nostaglia and a sense I can quite explain.
Even as I sit down stairs right now, I have the patio door open and just listening to the outside world of the country side and it’s full of sounds I don’t recognize and even ones that could be described as even scary…just heard a loud as hell crash and it sounded just off you know.

I suppose that kinda flows right into what I want to talk about next, been really thinking alot about the paranormal and all sorts of things that go bump in the night. Recently I got talking with a MUFON researcher and I am planning it for a TWIG show and really got to thinking about life in the universe so to speak and where we really sit in the grand scheme of things. As you can tell, I am watching the X Files and it’s really bringing up some old interesting feelings and old thoughts. I am really going to be going into this in some great detail later on… so for now I’ll leave this be

One of the best parts of being here is being able to play with my camera to full it’s fullest capacity and that means buying a new Lens, I scored a 70mm-300mm lens for my PenTax K110D and it’s bloody amazing! I actually have started using my Flickr account and while I’ll still do a vast majority of my pics on Facebook, I will add pics here for my blog followers.

Anyway, Likely gonna take off for the night and maybe tomorrow, I’ll do some more writing or at actually get to writing the treatment for the next audio drama.

Well this is day one of my vacation and I am not quite sure what to do with myself. I am sitting here on a unsecured wireless network which someone has allowed me access to..well kinda. However since I am merely using it for blogging and the occcassional XBOX Live download, then I don’t consider it not so bad.

So I finished exams on Friday morning and with that,l finished second year of Niagara College and now I await the trials of third year but that also means summer and a chance to unwind…well yes and no.
I am continuing on with THIS WEEK IN GEEK til I sign my new contract with my new company and that means all sorts of new stuff like Interviews, topics and round tables….so don’t worry TWIG is not dead.

As a matter of a fact, I have been thinking about a new audio drama in the vein of Wrong Guy, Wrong Time, and producing a trilogy of them so to speak, each spoofing a different genre. I am thinking about doing one that spoofs the horror movies that Pierce and I love so much. Kinda got the idea tonight and well while I am here, I might write a treatment and see what happens. It would be cool to see the ideas or Piledriving the shark continue on thru this vehicle and as such, it’ll help us work on our production skills and of course, acting and having fun. We’ll have to wait and see, hopefully have a draft ready in a week or so.

Anyway, So now that I am on vacation, I decided to bring my camera and take some pics however I made the mistake of playing with formats on my Pentax KD110 SLR and now I am having difficulty getting them converted to JPEG from PEF format….damn it. I am however am going to see if I am get them converted at a local photolab tomorrow as I don’t have Photoshop on my Windows Laptop yet….I knew I should have done that or maybe format this thing into a Windows XP machine…Vista SUCKS!

Gonna take off and watch a Discovery Movie, called SUPERCOMET and see what happens if a comet hit the Earth.

Will Blog more tomorrow and maybe have pics from Facebook and Flickr.

Also, please visit www.savepierce.org