We are the (paintball) world...

Have you checked out the visitor map? Malaysia! Iran! India! New Zealand! France! Columbia! A dozen more countries and a bunch of U.S. states. Very cool. Sure, there is a bit of ego involved but it really is fascinating to see how far (literally) paintball has come.

Something else that would be very cool would be a comment or two from some of you about paintball in your part of the world. It's true that paintball is pretty much paintball where ever you go. That in itself is exciting - a sport that brings the world together, so if all you do is say "Hi from:" that would be good, too.

Drop me an e-mail (tsp8ntball@aol.com (be sure to mention "paintball" somewhere in the subject line)). Maybe you have something to include as a post. Or a post idea. Or a question. It would be great to hear from you.

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Sunday Paintball Funnies...

Buster the Paintballer didn't get much of rise out of anyone last week. Probably means it was to awful to rate a comment. So, in retaliation, here's another!!

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Saturday Paintball Reruns...

From October 25, 2006

The game…

Paintball is a game of skill. It's also a game of honesty and integrity.

When you are "hit" you call yourself out.

Imagine if ball players were responsible for calling their own balls and strikes or football players were left to determine on their own if they stepped out of bounds. How about race car drivers counting their own laps? Paintball is one of the very few games that place nearly all the responsibility for the games direction and order on the player.

Sure there are referees on the paintball field, but usually no more than 1 or 2 who are mainly concerned for the safety of a dozen or more players. When you are all alone in a bunker and spot that quarter size splotch of paint on your leg it's real tempting to just reach down and wipe it off. Or when hit on the back; did it bounce or break? And if it broke is it a quarter size hit? Awww, who cares. Keep playing. It's "just a game".

Fortunately most players, because it really is "just a game" will call themselves out or ask a referee for a paintcheck. They don't consider the walk back to the safe zone as a walk of shame. Instead they show off their hits and consider them front line "badges of honor". Little white or pink or blue reminders that it is just a game.

Play safe. Play fun. Play fair.

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Screw MySpace...

They advertise Russian Dating Services but if I mention my paintblog address they block me for spamming.

And while I'm in a mood - What the heck is up with that pleasant voice at the McD's drive up window? The one that asks, "Would you like to try a coffee (blah, blah blah)," and is then followed by some snotty, half awake, death row prisoner sounding voice wanting to know what kind of sauce I want with my nuggets (I ordered a fish sandwich)?

I suppose what bugs me most is I keep thanking the pleasant voice, forgetting it's a cheezy recorded advertising voice. I guess real McD employees are to busy to say, "Welcome to McD's." To busy figuring another way to screw up my order!

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Another paintball day...

Nothing really new this week in paintball. Nothing real surprising. I saw a new barrel advertised for an obscene amount of money with the promise of improved accuracy and air efficiency. Another press release showed off a custom made paintball sniper rifle for just $1750. A fellow paintball blogger outlined yet another way to save tournament paintball while another suggested the industry start paying more attention to field owners. Another paintball brand has hit the market and claims to do everything for everyone. Like I said. Nothing really new.

The "busy" season for fields here in the lower 48 is about to begin. The moderate temperatures of spring and fall tend to bring out more players. The last few years of slow economy has been tough on everyone, everywhere. For many field owners and their families this may be a make or break fall. Barring any immediate resurgence in the economy I predict there will be fewer paintball fields in operation come the first of the new year.

T2 will press on.

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Red scare?

I'm not a conspiracy buff but the latest cover story in SplatMagazine, "The Russian Legions Secret Training Facility" and this story, "The Russians Buy New Attack Ship from France" really has to make me wonder what those rascally comrades are up to! World domination, perhaps? Makes you wonder, yes?

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Just because...

Barrel kit - $154

Tourney pants - $95

DM10 - $1550

Getting taken out by a kid in jeans using a rental - priceless.

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Sorry, Cliff!

I just don't see it!

Pinokio Hoppers

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WWW.FORMULAPAINTBALL.COM

New ad on the right. http://formulapaintball.com. Check them out.

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Swoosh...

Coming soon (?) to a paintball jersey near you?

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Where in the world was Mick this past weekend?

If you already know you can't play. I'll add another photo each day till someone figures it out.








Here's another.








So I got a correct answer from "anonymous" but of course we all know that doesn't count so I'll post up one more and call it a day. Thanks for playing along. (By the way - you can click on the pics for the BIG view.) (But you knew that already. eh?)

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Kicking adversity in the butt - paintball style.

I first caught this story over at 68Caliber. Great stuff.

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Last week's best caption.

My caption would read, "I hope the gopher is OK."

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Sunday Paintball Funnies...

Let's skip the photo caption this week.

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Saturday Paintball Reruns ...

From January 16, 2009

JT Paintball


JT Paintball has been around almost as long as paintball itself. Motocross gear was their original claim to fame. Tough racing goggles and lenses was a natural lead in to paintball masks. Like any company they have had their ups and downs but through change they have survived. Part of their change can be seen in this collection of JT logos from the past.

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I write, there fore I am...

I blog because I like to write. In hopes of becoming a better writer I use blogs to practice the art. Every writer has their own a style, one they are comfortable with and if they are lucky, one that will please an audience. My style tends toward "getting in and getting out." I figure why stick around to long and take a chance of frying the spell checker or botching another "to, too, two" grammar rule.

Part of my style is to leave a few thoughts with a link to someone with a better mastery of the bigger, more complicated words and ideas. So for a better understanding of the "cheaper paint/less players" paradox I relinquish the keyboard to Reiner.

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Paintball gun ...

KEE will be distributing this:

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Paintball stuff ...

I hardly let a week go buy without missing a chance to complain about online rip offs. It's a let the buyer beware world out there. I have, however, been finding some pretty good deals on AMAZON Paintball lately. I'll keep you posted on what I find with links.

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Seller beware...

Common Craigslist scam targets greedy sellers

Spokane Co. Sheriff's Dept.

SPOKANE -- A Craigslist seller failed to fall for a scam in which the buyer sends the seller a check for much more than the asking price, then requests the seller to send back the overage.

The buyer’s check is always a counterfeit, and by cashing it, the seller becomes an unwitting partner in defrauding his own bank or credit union.

According to a Crime Check report, a Chattaroy teen advertised a paintball gun on the popular website Craigslist and was offered $300 by a man in Cranbrook, Detroit. The man sent the teen a check for $1,980 and asked for the overage to be sent back by Western Union. More here.

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Back at the Paintball shop...

I hate having to tell someone their CO2 or HPA (high pressure air) tank is past inspection date. Watching them go through the five stages of grief can be very traumatic.

First there is denial. "No way! I just bought that tank (3 years ago, used). How can it be out of date?"

Then anger. "Bull$%!&! Let me see that thing. Stupid @$$ rules."

Then bargaining. "Awe, C'mon. Fill it anyway. So what if you face a $20,000 fine and 5 years in jail. I won't tell anyone."

Then depression. "Oh man. I'm not going to be able to play this weekend."

And even when they reach the acceptance stage and start looking at the display of new tanks they still have that, "You're just trying to sell me something!" look in their eye.

It's always something.

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SLOW DOWN!

These folks mean business! Signs threaten speeders with paintball guns

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Tippmann TPX Paintball problem...

An issue regarding the new Tippmann pistol has surfaced. Click here for more information.

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Count to ten...breath!

I had the oddest e-mail exchange yesterday. I'm still shaking my head in disbelief. I still throw up a bit when I think about it. Let me see if I can set this up...

For the past couple of weeks I've been getting an advertisement/spam/email just about every other day from "Watch-Your-Back-Productions (WYBP)." Seems they want me to consider purchasing their reusable grenade. It's an interesting product as far as grenades go but it's not something I'm interested in so I emailed WYBP and asked that I be taken off their mailing list.

And I get this response: "I will never never take you off my list I love you to much to let you go. Just kidding your off it good luck in all your paintball ventures. Charles"

Cute. So Charles has a sense of humor. Then he ends the email with, "Look for our suicide bomber vest coming out soon."

BACK UP THE DAMN TRAIN! Suicide bomber vest??

Here was my response: "You are kidding, again. Right?"

And his reply: "No I am not kidding about the vest. We are coming out with a suicide bomber vest. You jump out the bushes and push the button and poof a cloud of smoke and paintball shoot out 360 degrees. Pretty crazy huh. I will still keep you on our blacklist but if you are ever interested in what we have to offer to the game you know how to contact us. Have a good one. Charles."

Charles. Charles. Charles. You just poked a hornets nest with a very short stick, my friend.

red paint
dumb barrels
questionable promoting
rip offs

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Sunday Paintball Funnies...

So let's try one more. Hit the comments with a caption.

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Last week's best caption?

My caption would read, "DIE GOPHER!"

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Paintball here and there...

So, tell me where you are from and what paintball is like (the good stuff) in your part of the world.

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Saturday Paintball Reruns...

From October 4, 2005

**WARNING** Adult Content

"Holland Gets Prickly Over Park Sex...
9/13/2005 6:56:48

Park rangers in Holland have a new strategy to dissuade couples from getting randy in Het Twiske Park, outside of Amsterdam: nettles and thistles. According to the UK's More magazine, the park is fed up with people using their nature preserve for sexual escapades. Says Het Twiske's head park ranger of the perpetrators, "They are very difficult to catch because they warn each other with mobile phones when they hear us approaching." Rangers have planned to cut back bushes and replace them with thistles and nettles in an attempt to make things more abrasive for lovers. A plan is also in the works to turn popular areas into paintball ranges."

I hope the "perpetrators" wear masks!

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Excuse me while I ponder off topic...

This has nothing to do with paintball or maybe everything to do with paintball. I guess anything could be turned into something about paintball. At the risk of sounding like the odd guy at the end of the bench I literally gasped when I first saw this photo. It was full screen so it loses a bit of its "OH WOW" here but it still amazes me.

After the gasp came awe and wonder at the site of the Hoover dam, built in the 1930's, and the new Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge. Only the awe and wonder I feel when I think about how man landed on the moon and returned is greater. What we can accomplish when working together is the awe part. The wonder part comes when trying to understand why we can't get much simpler, smaller things right.

I remember something from a long ago psychology class that explained how we deal with bad crap here on earth by reaching for the stars. We build huge bridges to help us forget about all the small ones that are falling apart. It's human nature to fixate on the 6 o'clock news story about the guy that walks into a Pennsylvania gym and kills a bunch of people so we can forget about the guy down the street that beats his wife.

Some how the professor made it sound like a good thing. Or at least a normal thing. The older I get the less sure I am. Figure paintball into all that anyway you see fit.

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Product alert...

I mentioned awhile back that the KEE Ultra HPA tanks with the Reactor III valve had been recalled. The Ultra comes with a low pressure kit included in the package and if you have since received an Ultra with the Reactor II valve you probable have the wrong low pressure kit. Apparently KEE left the Reactor III low pressure kit in the package when they repackaged it with an Ultra/Reactor II. The Reactor III low pressure kit is different from the Reactor II low pressure kit.

Clear as mud?

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Go figure...

T-Square Paintball is not open for play during the week. School starts next week in most of Arkansas. Guess how many people showed up Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday and so far today wanting to play?

Saturday and Sunday, folks. It's on the flyer. It's on the answering machine. It's on the signs.

Can't wait for tomorrow.

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When we are not playing paintball...

we share the field with others.

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More great bunkers...

Tanks make great bunkers.

But now, this. Nice!

Anyone got some plywood.

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Yeah, I know. I should get a life!

Hey Mom. Be sure to get your kids all the
latest paintball apparel. "In Hate We Trust!"

Man this stuff pisses me off.

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I'm speechless!

Choo Choo R Snacks is extremely proud to announce that our line of Buffalo Bills Premium Snacks is now the official snack of PbNation! Paintball and jerky - the perfect marriage!

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Sunday Paintball Funnies...

Let's try this again. Hit the comments with a caption.

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You're all to funny!

Thanks to all who participated In last weeks Sunday Paintball Funnies.

My caption would be "DIE GOPHER!"

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Saturday Paintball Reruns...

From January 28, 2008

Do unto others...

There is an idea, I suppose it could be called a philosophy, that circulates among what I consider the more reputable paintball field owners.

“Make sure the player getting shot at is having as much fun as the player shooting at him.”

It came from a field in Texas. From exactly who is a matter of debate. At any rate, I believe it is an ideal every paintball field owner should strive for.

It’s beyond me to think there are players that come to a field to purposely hurt someone. I hear about it. “Let’s waste the noobies.” “Let’s lay waste to this target rich environment.” “Let’s put the beat down on those players with the Wallyworld guns.”

I just write it off as testosterone driven puffery. I don’t see a lot of overly aggressive players here at T-Square. Maybe it’s because by the time players get to the field and have been through the Pro-Shop where I listen for and reprimand such attitudes, have heard the safety briefing that promotes fair play, and have heard the repeated “Let’s have fun” pleas of the referees they get the idea.

Or maybe they just know I have my eye on them.

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I'm coming for you...

A few posts back I mentioned paintball characters. Keep in mind, I'm not talking about sets of character players like "aggs" or "newbs" or "those tournament players." I'm talking about the ones of a kind. Paintball characters are players that stand out even among the sets.

There was a player that use to come out back in the day who could only be described as "The Terminator." I know it's a cliche description but when this guy walked out on the field his biceps ripped through his t-shirt, he grew a foot taller and his eyes took on a bright red glow. Off the field he was quiet and unassuming. When the game started he turned into a quiet and unassuming killing machine.

When you watched him play from the spectator side of the net all you could feel was an overwhelming sense of relief that you were on the spectator side of the net. On the field he didn't compete against a team. He battled individuals - one at a time. When he set you in his sites you could feel his determination reach through what ever you were cowering behind. If you were lucky enough to be on his side you just stepped aside and waited for the game to end. If you were his opponent your best move was to pull a paintball from your hopper, bite the end of it off, and pour the fill down your back.

I haven't seen him in awhile. He was/is definitely a paintball character. I think he spends his time now collecting stamps. But I bet his chrome plated Autococker is still sitting within arm's length.

How about you? Do you know of any paintball characters?

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Fishing report...

Yes, I caught a couple. My butt is chapped (from sitting in a canoe for 7 hours) and my arms are fried but other than that it was a nice day off. Time waits for no man they say so I'm back to find three more groups reserved for the weekend and a bunch of comments that I hope to get a chance to respond to. I should go out to the car and bring in the wet gear. Last time I forgot, left it in there for a couple of days and, well, let's just say Fabreze, even when applied liberally only does a so so job. I suppose now that I'm back at my desk I should report on something paintball related but that would mean the time off is really and truly over. Maybe later.

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Gone Fish'in...

Hope to catch them all.

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New guns?

Is DYE releasing 3 new guns soon?

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Ring. Ring,,,

I open at noon. I can understand why some people might call between 9am and noon. What I can't figure out is why people call at 7:30 in the morning. (Don't even get me started about the calls at 2pm.) Maybe they are calling hoping for any answering machine that will provide some general information. Nope. They hang up before the part about the store and field hours. Maybe they are calling to verify T-Square Paintball exists. Maybe I should be on phone duty and answer 24/7. What do you think?

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*&%$#(&...

I'm getting old. It could be an explanation for why I'm much more sensitive these days about certain things. I'm not a choir boy, believe me. But cussing has really been getting on my nerves lately.

I've never tolerated it here at the field. I've been known to toss out an errant "DAMN" when getting tagged in the back while reffing but when I hear blatant cussing on the field I'm all over the player. I've gotten applause from moms a couple of times.

The "F-Bomb" is the one that really grinds at my gut. Sometimes I'm glad I'm only 5'5" cause it's the only thing that stops me from going up to people and slapping them on the back of their heads. It breaks my heart to report that the worst instigators of the F word are my fellow Airmen from the base across the street. They think nothing of standing at the check in counter yakking F this and F that while my daughter checks them in and my granddaughter plays on the floor behind the counter.

All I can do is continue to let people know I don't appreciate their language. Nearly every time the offender is apologetic. I'd like to tell them how slovenly cussing is and how unintelligent it makes them sound but I'm afraid they might start cussing at me.

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Sunday Paintball Funnies...

Ok. I'm going to put you to work.
Hit the comment link and give me a caption for this pic!

No. There's no prize!!

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Saturday Paintball Reruns...

From Oct 12, 2005

Disgruntled customers...

Disgruntled customers make a lot of different noises. The sound of SQUEALING TIRES is one I've keyed on lately. It happens at least once a week and already three times this week!

The field and store hours are on T2 brochures. The field and store hours are on the T2 phone message service. The field and store hours are posted on our T2 Welcome board. And for the folks that walk past the posted hours on the fence near the entrance and then stand outside the Pro-Shop beating on the door - the field and store hours are displayed in the window near the front door of the Pro-Shop.

I suppose if I drove all the way from Benton or Maumelle to get a CO2 tank filled, only to find the shop closed, I might be a little pissed too - at myself. It's been along time since I've taken out my frustrations on vehicle tires, maybe 35 years ago, when I was 17, in my Dad's truck!

I'm closed Monday and Tuesday, people. Get over it!

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