Groupthink – Problems in Poli Sci

Now, none of you will see me, or think of me and have your first thoughts go to things like "what a stoner", and you'd be right. I don't smoke marijuana, however unlike many others who abstain from the use of the drug, I consider myself extremely open to educational material related to marijuana, and the topic of its potential legalization. The problem here is although I leave my mind open to a changing view on marijuana as new evidence comes to light, I receive flak from people around be because I'm open to both sides of that legalization coin.

In my political science class today, I mentioned a 20-year study into the long-term effects of chronic marijuana use, which of course, earned me a great deal of backlash. Friendly tip, don't bring up the proven negative consequences of long-term chronic marijuana use in a college setting if you're not looking for a fight… College stoners seem to only be relaxed and mellow when they're high, and quite the opposite when someone indicates that they may be doing harm to themselves. In any case, I noted a 20-year study featured in the medical journal Addiction that listed the effects of long-term chronic marijuana use as:

• Increased likelihood of psychosis and psychotic symptoms.
  
• Earlier development of psychotic conditions.
  
• A doubling in the likelihood of developing a psychotic condition if the user begins smoking marijuana while in their adolescence.
  
• Increased likelihood of developing an intellectual impairment, showing that studies of marijuana-using students indicated consistently lower test scores and poorer chances of completing secondary schooling.
  
• Diminished IQ, especially when the smoking begins in adolescence.
  

The real issue here, in my mind, is not the list of effects that chronic marijuana use comes with, but the lack of willingness to listen to, and accept the scientifically proven consequences. One of the worst things we can do as people is to willingly stop thinking critically, and force through ideas based solely upon public opinion and group or leadership consensus.

The debate began after our professor mentioned the recent ads by government groups, listing the negative consequences of chronic, long-term marijuana use. The vast majority of the class disagreed with the spending of government funds on the ad campaigns, with arguments like "they could be spending the money on something else". It's an easy statement to make, but one that it rarely backed up (by your average college student) with a plan for said alternative spending, or indications as to why it would be better spent on the proposed alternative. Another student tried to counter by confronting me and asking "we know alcohol and tobacco are bad for you, but do you see the government taking out ads to denounce the effects of those drugs?" This was by far the most ignorant piece of pushback that I faced, as we are all, or should all be familiar by now with the "don't drink and drive" commercials, the Alcoholics Anonymous campaigns that note the negative effects of chronic or excessive drinking, and the health warnings and ads depicting the effects of cigarette smoking and second-hand smoke.

Folks, we know that chronic drug use is ultimately bad for us. Cirrhosis of the liver, throat mouth and lung cancer, cardiovascular conditions, all of these can be caused by the use of tobacco and alcohol just as truly as the previously bullet-listed effects are caused by the chronic, long-term use of marijuana. Does this mean that I feel we shouldn't decriminalize marijuana? No. I feel that it has the potential to be as much of a tax revenue cash cow as alcohol or tobacco, possibly even moreso. However, just because I support its decriminalization does NOT mean that I am willing to ignore, or that I will encourage others to ignore the possible consequences of their actions in choosing to partake in the use of any drug. Do I drink? Sure do, when the occasion warrants it. Do I smoke? Hell no, and you'll never catch me smoking unless it's a single, celebratory cigar on a VERY special occasion. Do I use marijuana? No, it's simply not something I'm interested in. These are my choices, based on a weighing of the risks and rewards associated with each, just as everyone else around the world makes their decisions. The problem right now is that, although the studies exist, and the effects are known, people are more willing to ignore the consequences of smoking marijuana, and decisions that risks your well-being should NOT be made while in a state of self-imposed ignorance. It's one thing to act without the ability to know the consequences with the mindset "you'll never known until you're tried", but it's something else entirely to say "I don't care if there's proof, I'm doing what I want, because I can".

Anyway, with my second non-paintball-related blogpost of the day, I'll leave you with this final question and an apology:

Question: Why do you think people are so willing to remain ignorant about the consequences of chronic marijuana use?

Apology: I'm sorry for publishing non-paintball items to the blog. I've linked my Microsoft Word to this blog specifically so anything I write from the Word "Blog Post" template will automatically be published here… Thinking about making this my only blog going forward to save on time and effort.

Regardless folks, as per the usual sign-off, keep calm and throw paint!

Joshua J. Taylor – The Noob Baller

The Ottawa Incident – Je Me Souviens

Before I get into the bulk of this article I would like to offer my condolences to the families and friends of the two soldiers that we have lost this week to radicalized individuals. These were cowardly attacks against honourable men and it has saddened me greatly to be shown that there are such cruel and heartless people in this nation, and that they can act so senselessly and violently against people who have done them no harm. It is the commitment and good standing of these two men that I will remember going forward.

There is something else we must remember as a nation though, and this may be the most important point to note after these tragedies. Folks, we must remember who we are as Canadians, and not allow these acts to change who we are as a country, as a people, and as a culture. Canada has been a nation of peace, one to act with clear heads regarding issues at home and abroad, and although we are not one to shy away from a fight, we temper our combat capabilities with the good sense to know when violence is necessary and conversely, when it is not. We are not international cowboys, gallivanting around the globe with guns drawn in a Yosemite Sam fashion. We are not a nation prone to snap judgements and knee-jerk reactions of violence and heavy-handed responses. We must remember that these acts, however heinous, are the acts of individuals and NOT acts indicative of a larger ethnic or religious group. Yes, these men identified themselves as individuals who allied and associated themselves with extreme, and radical ideologies in line with some fringe interpretations of a particular culture and faith, but they are NOT part of a cultural majority, especially not here in Canada.

Undoubtedly we will struggle in the coming months, possibly years, to differentiate between radical Muslims and the peaceful majority as many of us are ignorant to the facts pertaining to the religion and its history, but that ignorance is not an excuse to make snap judgements and to discriminate against a people. In the wake of 9/11, as everyone will likely remember, people who presented as being of Middle Eastern descent were harassed and targeted because of the actions of a niche group, acting on the fringe of Islamic religious fundamentalism. Innocent men, women and children were attacked because of how they dressed, the religion they follow, and the colour of their skin. They were victims of the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks as well, just in a different way. Much the same radioactive fallout can contaminate the area around a nuclear blast for decades following the detonation, the ripple effect of cultural discrimination affected, and continues to affect Muslims around the world.

I have always been extremely proud of Canada as a tolerant and welcoming nation. Unfortunately the freedom that we extend to our citizens and to those who choose to immigrate to Canada can lend itself to a state of vulnerability. It is important to remember however, that this vulnerability it rarely targeted, and that these latest attacks are the first since the FLQ kidnappings and bombings decades ago to bring terrorism to Canadian soil. Have there been reported plots? Sure there have, but there are always people seeking to attack nations the world over. Despite these plots, we have remained relatively untouched as a nation, with the exception of the attacks of the last week. We are not some feeble, vulnerable nation, though some of our domestic institutions are obviously in need of a security overhaul. We are a nation, the true north strong, and free, and we will continue to live on as a free and tolerant nation as long as we stay true to the values that we have lived by thus far.

So I ask you this, dear reader; stay the course. Do not allow these events to sway you towards a radicalism of your own. Do not allow these individuals to negatively colour your perception of Muslims or Islam as a whole, lest your actions serve to create a similarly negative perception of the religion (or lack thereof) that you identify with, or worse yet, of Canada as a nation. The day that we compromise as a nation on the values we've held dear for so long, those who conspire against us will have won.

Remember reader… Remember.

 

Joshua J. Taylor

Paintballing Principles - A Universal Guide

Beware the Opinion:

This is an OPINION piece, obviously not paintballing 'law', but it is something I stand behind 100%. You're welcome to challenge me on any of the points I mention in this article but you will not change my mind.

The Ten Commandments:

Okay, I don't really have ten items to rattle off for you, but I have a few and it's my hope that after reading this, you will take these points, which you likely already follow to some extent in your paintballing endeavors, more seriously.

Safety First:

Before anything else, we need to emphasize the importance of safety to the sport. Over the years the sport has made countless advancements in marker technology, but we've also learned how important it is to protect ourselves while playing, practicing, even doing routine marker maintenance. Everyone's at least HEARD of someone who decided to tweak the rules to their liking, and wound up causing injury to themselves or someone else because they thought, for some reason or other, that the rules did not apply to them... DON'T BE 'THAT GUY'.

Don't figure you can beat the odds, don't assume that no harm will come from your infringing upon the rules. Treat every breach of safety as a Murphy's Law situation wherein whatever CAN go wrong, WILL go wrong.

One of the main concerns people have about paintball is that it is an inherently dangerous sport, and many parents feel that their kids are going to get grievously injured if allowed to play. We know this isn't true, and in fact, paintball has one of the lowest injury rates of any sport around the globe, with about 45 recorded injuries per 100,000 participants each year, but people outside of the paintball community only see the worst when it comes to our sport. We need to change that.

A Fair Shake:

Wipers, overshooters, we've all encountered them, and we're never happy when we see it. 'Honour calls' are a big part of the game to me, honour calls being moments where there isn't a referee present to call you out, or to punish you in the event that you break the rules. In these instances you are confronted with a choice... You can obey the rules and call yourself out if hit, or you can choose to skirt the field's rules whether that means wiping, overshooting someone intentionally, or any other sort of dishonourable play.

"But Noob, I only overshot him because he was wiping!" I've heard this sentiment a lot, but I can't express how much I disagree with trying to justify it. Can you prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt that the person IS indeed wiping? Good! Get a ref over there and prove it. It's not your job to be judge, jury and executioner out there folks, that's what referees are for.

When I was at the PRZ season opener this year, my team was given a spawnpoint that handicapped us, and our team was disadvantaged simply by the composition of the team itself (we had fewer established teams playing on our side, which the field claimed was even because we had the same number of players overall). It was an unfair situation, we were disadvantaged and fighting an uphill battle, but that didn't give us license to disobey field rules. I saw players wiping off hits claiming it was "evening the playing field". I saw people on the other team peppered and heard my teammates justify it with statements like "well they've been wiping and overshooting us, so they deserve it!"

Don't be a part of the vicious on-field cycle folks, playing a fair game prevents giving the other side ANY reason to conduct themselves as anything less than honourable.

Rise of the Noobs:

This one definitely hits close to home.

For most of us, not a game goes by where we don't run into new players on the field. They might be renters, or possibly noobies who've just bought their first kit and are trying to get into the sport in a more committed way. Regardless, new players are what keep the sport alive, and ensure that it'll be around for decades to come.

All too often though, my fellow noobs are targeted and abused by veteran players, or judged FAR too harshly by the rest of the community. These are players who may not fully understand the unwritten codes of conduct that so many paintballers play and live by. They might be anxious and overshoot you because they panicked as you rushed them. Whatever the case, we need to adopt an attitude of tolerance and mentorship with new players, and do what we can to educate them about the sport, how it's played, and what is expected of everyone when they set foot on a field.

Personally I try to bring new people into the sport whenever possible. It's a mission of mine to inspire at least one person each year to give paintball a shot. I may not succeed every year, but that sure doesn't mean I'll stop trying, and neither should you. It's a lot easier to change someone's mind if they can experience something for themselves rather than just be told about it.

Paintball Philanthropy:

This is something I've seen occurring more and more since I first got into the sport in April of 2013, and I'm extremely happy to have been a part of a few charity efforts now.

Last year my heart was warmed by the outpour of support for Camp Trillium, and I was again made proud of the paintball community with the turnout for the Brantford SPCA benefit, "Claws for a Cause". Both events helped to improve paintball's image while doing a great service to two, very worthy charitable foundations.

This kind of thing is EXACTLY what the sport needs in order to distance ourselves from the mental images of idiotic teenagers and young adults shooting each other, or shooting up their neighbourhoods looking to cause harm and havoc rather than helping and healing. Charity work that applies to groups OUTSIDE of the sport instantly changes the perspectives of many, and leaves an indelible, positive mark on paintball's record.

The Wrap-Up:

If we can focus on these goals, and act as a united community against the people who break them, everyone wins. We get to enjoy a more pleasurable paintballing experience, the sport will see increased player numbers, and the global community will come to see us as a legitimate sporting community rather than just another niche interest group.

It's each and every one of our responsibilities to follow the rules and play fair, that's expected of us. However, the things are aren't obligations are what define us as a community. No one NEEDS to give to charity, no one is required to recruit and support new players, but by doing so we improve the sport as well as the world around us... And shouldn't that be the real goal at the end of the day?

Just something to think about.

As always everyone, stay calm and throw paint! And be sure to enjoy your Labour Day (Canadian readers)

Joshua J. Taylor - The Noob Baller

Field Factors - Paintballing Prerequisites

A New System:

I've been to a couple of fields now, and I'm looking to expand my portfolio of fields played even further over the next year.

If I'm going to make this expansion happen, I'm going to need away to write a fair and structured review of the fields I visit, which is where this post comes in.

How It Works:

There are some components that a field simply MUST have, angles that NEED to be covered for a field to make the grade. Knowing that there ARE certain must-haves, but not necessarily what the community feels a fair list of these items would be, I took to social media to get some opinions. These are the features/benefits that showed up most often:

Field Facets:

• Ample playing space: Does the field have the capacity to fit the number of players their events attract?
• Unique/Interesting Field Layout: Is the field's design conducive to an interesting and engaging experience? Does the field have options for both scenario AND speedball players?
• Player Services: Is there a store of any sort? Does the field have washrooms, food/drink available? Are the "soft" stats of the field in order?
• Proper Propellant: Is the field capable of serving all varieties of propellant choices?
  -CO2:HPA
  -4500psi/3000psi
  -Consistent, full filling capabilities
• Quality Paint/Selection of Paints: Does the field stock fresh, quality paint? Do they have multiple options for sale (mid/high grade options) and is the paint priced to provide player value?
• Honourable Owners/Knowledgeable Staff: Are the people running the field doing so in an ethical and responsible manner? Are refs doing their jobs and doing them well?

When you put all of these together you wind up with the ultimate paintball field, however perfection is a rare thing in life [reserved almost exclusively for 1960's cars and attractive, redheaded paintballing ladies ;)] so I'll be giving fields that I visit a rating from 1-5 in each of the above categories based on my experiences there.

I don't claim to be an expert on any of these categories, however I do know what feels right to me. I shouldn't NEED to leave this disclaimer but I will anyway. This is a SUBJECTIVE rating system based on the experience that I have on any given day. I may have a uniquely poor or amazing experience which is out of character for the field but as I visit a field more often, their average rating will change. Fair enough? Well if not, that's just something you'll have to live with.

Who's Next?:

The next fields I hope to test out are:

1. Sector 57
2. Camp X
3. Wasaga
4. Flagswipe

I don't know when I'll be able to get out to these fields, but they're the next on the list for sure (in no particular order).

That's all I've got for today everyone, but there are a few other articles in the works so be sure to stay tuned! And, as always...

Keep calm and throw paint!

Joshua J. Taylor - The Noob Baller

Action Cameras - Blindshooting Buts

The Question:

Does using a live-feed device from a marker-mounted action camera count as "blindfiring" your marker?

The Arguments:

Attaching an action camera to your paintball marker can give you some amazing video footage and still photography media, that much is indisputable. However, the use of the newer live-feed systems as a way to shoot from behind cover without actually exposing your mask has become flamewar fodder in a lot of MagFed groups and it's a point of contention in scenario paintball circles as a general community.

Anti-Cornershot:

Now by this point I would think most MilSim enthusiasts will be familiar with the Cornershot system, which allows the operator to fire from a position of cover with a considerable level of accuracy. It's currently used by military and law enforcement units around the world to keep their people safe, or safer while in the line of duty so it can be established that the proof of concept is there in spades.

The issue here comes primarily from the argument that using an action camera as a jury-rigged Cornershot makes scenario play, specifically your CQB engagements, into a pay-to-win game where those who can afford cameras with a live-feed unit have an unfair advantage over the rest of the players on the field.

Pro-Cornershot:

Of course the arguments in support of the allowance of action camera Cornershots are as plentiful as their are benefits of using such a system. At a field or in a game where marker hits do not count (see: Skirmish Paintball) you have the distinct ability to return fire without any risk of actually getting shot out by opposing players barring the odd hand shot by a lucky marksman. Even in a situation where marker hits DO count, you're still presenting a smaller target since your mask, shoulder and arm are still behind cover. You may suffer from some slight video feed lag but it's something you accept as a trade-off when leaving a much smaller profile, especially while using a MagFed marker as there's no hopper hits to be concerned about.

The picture featured here (above-left) is from the Cornershot website, depicting the NLS or Non-Lethal System which advertises a Cornershot unit that has been modified specifically by the company to fit a Tippmann A-5 paintball marker. If the company's making a specific unit I think it becomes safe to say that the system IS effective and would function properly on a paintball field.

My Feelings:

Technology is a crucial part of our sport. Electronic markers and battery-operated force-feed hoppers combine lightweight units with heavy firepower. We have camera systems that some ballers already use to augment their scopes for easier viewing and more accurate shooting.

Does the Cornershot NLS count as blindfiring in my opinion? Absolutely not. It counts as "shooting from behind cover", but it allows you to view your target, and reliably aim your marker at said target. To me this negates the main blindfiring concerns where payer safety is involved. If you blindfire at a field (without visual assistance in the form of a live video feed and a SIGHTED video feed) then you cannot be sure if you're hitting your target, and you can't be sure WHERE you're hitting your target if you hit them at all.

This GIF (which I made at www.imgflip.com) really puts the final nail in the coffin, or bullet in the target of the "does using a camera still count as blindfiring" debate. To me, if your camera is a live feed, and you have it sighted properly with your marker, then you are eliminating the safety concerns which necessitate the "no blindfiring" rule. Once those safety concerns are addressed, and you can both see your target and aim your marker, you are good to go.

This won't sit well with everyone but that's okay, I like discussion. With that said, please keep any comments under this post (and I LOVE reading the comments I get) polite and on-topic. We can have a civil discussion about this can't we?

With all that said, whether you're pro or anti-Cornershot in paintball, I still advise you to keep calm, and throw paint!

Joshua J. Taylor - The Noob Baller

Claws for a Cause - The Good, The Bad and the Kitties

The Good:

Okay, I had a blast today and that can't be argued. A ridiculous amount of donations were made in the forms of food, animal toys, and cold hard cash which all went to helping provide for animals in need. It's days like this where I'm truly proud to have gotten involved with the paintball community, and with coverage from CTV, I'm POSITIVE that this event will have a long-lasting, beneficial effect on the way that the public views the sport of paintball, the people that play it, and of course what it means to rescue an animal in dire need of a home.

Left-Right: Noob, Omega, Cashman

Pre-Departure Selfie :p

The main positives of today were the above-mentioned benefits to the sport and the SPCA Animal Shelter, but it also came with an amazing air of camaraderie and good will that you always seem to find at charity events. No one's competing for a trophy, no one's gunning to buffer their 'rep' or this, that, or the other damned thing. This was a day to enjoy getting out, throwing a rainbow of paint and having a great time with even better friends. I got to spend my trip there and back, and much of my time on field and in the pits with my good buddy Ben Wilson, and my new friend Johan Scheepers and that was a daymaker in itself however I also got to meet a few familiar names from the Noob Baller Facebook page which is a treat since I finally get to put names to faces rather than just paintball mask profile pictures.

A short list (though I'm definitely going to forget some people and I sorely apologize) of the people I caused today's trouble with goes as follows:

Shout-Outs:

BigDave Kingboat (Always shenanigans... ALWAYS)
Bobby Weaver (Dude's got some epic flow going on... Check out dat hair!)
Brian Bates (Don't be a sap, don't double wrap)
Chris Hazard (Always giving me a hard time... But it's all just tough love :p)
David Charles (Snuck up on me and scared me sh*tless)
The entire Dead Men Walking crew 
"Grumpy" George Bel (Doesn't give a DAM, but will lend his out to deserving ballers)
 Jonathan "Bumbler" Basilious (GO FISH!!!)
Lindsey Pike (Always lookin' snappy out there)
The Magical Commando Squad (I freaking love you guys... And if you ever try to distance yourself from the MCS name I'll make you regret it... But friendship is still magic :p)
Mike Sutherland (Don't see you nearly enough man)
Omega's Curse (Get me on camera THIS time guys? :p Always a pleasure OC)
Phil Abraham "Twitch" (Anytime you need a hand brother)
Shaggy Pb (Battleaxe-wielding medical madman)
Tom Poh (Oh no it's the Poh Poh!)

There's totally a tonne of other people I got to see, meet, shoot at and be shot by but I just can't recall everyone's names. I'm exhausted and suffering from the beginning warning signs of a poutine coma (I reimbursed Ben and Johan for the value of the drive and their fantastic company with Smoke's "Shwasome" poutines... ALL THE CARBS).

The Bad:

Unfortunately it exists folks... It's inescapable.

I can't release a fair article without covering negatives of an event or venue if they pop up. You may remember that I was very critical of the PRZ Season opener's spawn system (which has since been re-worked and made much more fair and balanced), and that I was none-too-impressed with Skirmish Paintball gouging paint prices on a 3700+ person 'event-paint-only' event with I.O.N 2013, so you know I won't pull punches even with my favourite fields... I just can't do that and claim to be fair so... Here's the shake...

I was suffocating... And by that I mean air was in terribly short supply.

Shooting paint,
With no propellant at all...

There were only three air filling stations in operation today. I was hoping to find out that they had more than just the three 4500psi lines but no, even at their Bowser's Revenge big game, people I know who've played the event said that there were still only 3 lines in operation at any given time and they were all 4500psi fill lines. When I asked about a 3000psi fill line (as I run a 3000psi steelie) I was told to just "be careful" and "watch your gauge"... I'm sorry folks but if I'm heading to a field to play, and they can't safely accommodate my needs (which aren't extensive... 3000psi tanks are still pretty common) without me having to be that hawk-eyed with my tank gauge, I'm not going to be a happy camper just based on the lack of options.

This was made worse by the fact that the air station was completely shut down for stretches of time and when it WAS operating past a certain point you were lucky to get 2500psi in your tank before the compressor just plateaued and left you wanting more. My Etha's not some top of the line, super-light-weight bolt speedball marker, it's an entry-level paint slinger and I completely understand that. However when I can't get through a 120rd hopper and three 140rd pods with the air in my tank, it's BEYOND frustrating. It's one thing for me to get through ~560 shots, but that's with my Etha. If I was using a cyclone-fed marker or another, heavier pneumatic marker, I don't think it would be worth the trip out. I don't like giving such a poor recommendation but that's just the experience I had today.

The Freaking Hilarious:

Okay there were some SERIOUS saving points to this day that I haven't mentioned yet... And they come with some adult language so lil' kiddies? Plug your ears and close your eyes from here on out (keep calm and throw paint if you discontinue reading here... Gotta give my sign-off regardless :p)

On behalf of Jonathan "Bumbler" Basilious and the Magical Commando Squad... Let me say this loud and proud... NO FUCKS GIVEN!



Freaking love them... It's that simple. When you're having a rough day like I was and then you see a couple of unicorns and their bros rockin' a good ol' game of "Go Fish"... Things just seem to snap back into perspective. It says "remember not to take life TOO seriously... No one gets out alive anyway" :p Gotta live it up while you can and the MCS is DEFINITELY guilty as charged on all counts of paintball shenanigans, livin' the life, and showing everyone how to have a good time.

Puttin' The Claws Away:

It's time for me to go to bed folks... I've gotta wind down after an energy-draining day of paintball, socialization and shenanigans. I spent a LOT of time pushing what people were calling "bad bunkers" (people who obviously don't know that I take a "bad bunker" as a challenge rather than a warning) and holding that ground (despite plopping balls out of the barrel as my air supply died... Seriously that was absolutely killing my already mediocre flow lol). I'm the kind of guy who pushes the button when told not to push it, so being told that I can't hold a bunker, or that I shouldn't give a maneuver a shot? Pfft, I'm gonna spend the next hour trying different approaches until I make something fly (air and ammunition permitting).

With that said I had a fantastic day overall, more for the socializing than the paintball but hey, if you spend all your time out on the field, you don't really get to spend face-time with the people you're shooting at/with and that means you're losing out on some spectacular moments and not making friends in the best way possible... Y'know talking? Like humans? :)

Keep calm and throw paint as always everyone!

Joshua J. Taylor - The Noob Baller

Claws for a Cause - Battle of the Toms

Paintball With Heart:

This is my second fundraiser event in a row and I'm glad to see the prevalence of paintball events being organized to benefit a greater good. As I've said time and time again, paintball has suffered from some serious PR setbacks in the past, and many people still look down on the sport and the community as a whole.

These charity-minded events are a major part of proving to the rest of the world that paintball is something positive, and that stands to benefit society as a whole. Remember that you are an ambassador to our sport and to always play safe, play fair, and play for something bigger than yourself whenever possible.

CATFIGHT!:

Oh yeah folks, it's goin' down. Toms Poh and Cunnigham are facing off in a feline fight for the ages and it's all taking place later on today at Crazy Bill's Paintball in Brantford, ON. Here are the event basics:

Field: Crazy Bill's Paintball
Entry: $35.00
Paint: BYOP or $65.00/case
Start Time: 10am

Donations of materials and money are being taken to benefit the Brantford SPCA Animal Shelter, and $15.00 from each entry goes straight to the shelter... Seriously folks, Crazy Bill's is giving 42% of their entry revenue to charity for this event. If you ask me that's pretty damned generous, not to mention hold the event in the first place.

#PohcatArmy2014:

Yup, all this :p

In the event that you were wondering which Tom I'd be supporting at the game, I'm proud to say that I was recruited into the Pohcat Army. Tom shot a message over to me on Facebook asking if I was able to make the event and if I'd support his side if I could be there. After some fanaggling to arrange a ride and Tom agreeing to lend me a loader for the event I was finally able to confirm myself as going.

Tomcat, if your catlike reflexes had been a little quicker, ALL THIS could have been part of the Tomcat Army... But alas, I'll be gunnin' for you buddy.

Regardless of what team you're on, this event promises to be one hell of a lot of fun and a great boost to the efforts of the Brantford SPCA Animal Shelter and isn't that the REAL objective here? It's not about painting your opponent every colour of the rainbow... Well... It's a BIT about tuning them up in technicolor but it's MORE about raising money for a worthy cause.

Brantford SPCA Animal Shelter:

If you're looking to adopt a pet, or just get some information about the Brant County SPCA, here's their contact information and address. I hope that if you're an area resident looking for some pet companionship you'll look here first.

Brant County SPCA
539 Mohawk Avenue
Brantford, ON N3T 5M8
http://www.brantcountyspca.com/Pages/contact.html
Phone: (519) 756-6620
Fax: (519) 756-6910

Seriously everyone, rescuing animals in need rather than buying from breeders is something I'm quite passionate about. Maybe it strikes a chord with me because I'm adopted, who knows? But what I DO know is that there are always going to be people who are picky enough, and who would rather pay ridiculous amounts of money on an animal based on 'pedigree' rather than saving the life of an animal without a home and who stands to be put down if a home can't be found.

Just imagine this... If you're going to go to a breeder, that means you'd rather force an animal to bring another life into this world (and pay STUPID amounts of money in most cases to do it) rather than to have mercy on some poor, shelter animal who wouldn't love you any less, and who'd likely love you MORE because whether you want to admit it to yourself or not, these animals DO know that they're on the chopping block. Just walk into your local animal shelter and look at how they react to you... Those little eyes are going to melt your soul in an instant and you'll feel the longing they have to be taken away and given a good home.

Time For A Catnap:

Well folks that's about it. It's time for this baller to lay down and get a couple hours of rest before I'm up and at'em for the big game. I can't wait to see everyone at the field especially considering the greater cause involved with this one.

Until next time folks, keep calm and throw paint!

Joshua J. Taylor - The Noob Baller

Conquering For a Cause - The Purple Knights

For a Great Cause:

So rather than the usual hyperlink-in-text linkage to important sites, Facebook pages and the like, I'm changing this up.

Check these folks out. Right now... As in "before you read any further at all" now:

Purple Knights:

Their mission? Raising awareness about epilepsy, dispelling the myths and stigma that surround the condition and helping out local support centres.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/purpleknights
Email: purpleknights911@gmail.com

Guys these are seriously important issues. I didn't have an accurate concept of what epilepsy really was before this past weekend or how badly so many people are affected by it. My only encounter with the condition before was when a girl in my elementary school had a seizure and she was taken away by an ambulance. The teachers all kept it very hush-hush instead of educating us about it which, looking back, I wish they had. Don't take your viewpoint from me though, take it from Phil Abraham aka "Twitch" the Purple Knights organizer.

"People die from seizures everyday think of it like this, when someone is having a seizure it's like holding the power button on your PC until it restarts. We just hope that we wake up but sometimes people have seizure and... the PC doesn't reboot."

I can only imagine what it must be like to lose control and feel as helpless as the condition can make people feel. I picture being in a nightmare, unable to wake myself up and just waiting and hoping that it ends quickly but people with epilepsy don't get to just 'wake up' from the nightmare as it's something that becomes and ever-present concern in their lives. 

Again, from Phil, "sometimes I'll shed a tear, its very hard to go through life not doing things like everyone else and have to rely on rides to places like paintball". Understandably Phil can't risk driving as he's affected by seizures four to fives times each day. You might get in your car and dread the boredom of a commute to work, where many people simply wish they were able to drive themselves regardless of the time or traffic. Epilepsy can rob you of so many of the freedoms that we take for granted.

So I'm asking all of you to head over to the Purple Knights page and give them a like, post to the page and ask them how you can help. 'Twitch' (and yes it's a reference to his epilepsy) makes and sells a number of different items such as car decals, Purple Knights t-shirts, paintball air tank decals and more to raise money for the cause. All funds are split 50/50 to cover the production costs and the profits go directly to aiding epilepsy support centers.

Purple Paintballers:

I the good in the hearts of my fellow paintballers last year at the Erin's Army Die Glocke event, and again at this year's Conquer the Asylum where Purple Knights fundraisers were held. I'm asking you all now to head over to the page and help them out so that they can continue helping others who so dearly need the assistance.

Think of it this way folks, but for the grace of God (or whichever power you do or do not believe in) there goes you. Anyone could be diagnosed with epilepsy folks, it doesn't play favourites so if just as a form of karmic repayment in thanks that you're fortunate enough to not be directly affected by it, send some help the way of those who are, and the people working to help them.

Having a sick paintball decal from the Purple Knights doesn't just say "I love paintball", it says "I"m a paintballer with heart".

Remember folks, it's good to give back :)

And remember, when the going get's tough, the tough keep calm... And throw paint!

Joshua J. Taylor - The Noob Baller

PRZ's Conquer The Asylum - A Weekend of Firsts

Storm Warning:

So there was a storm warning for much of the Picton / Prince Edward County area when my buddy Carden and I departed from Oshawa on Friday morning. We're not sure what happened, but I'm happy to say that despite the insane weather here in the Shwa and in parts around, Picton (and PRZ) were spared any such conditions with sunlight and ~30 degree temperatures all weekend.

Now to the good stuff!

Setting Precedents:

This was a BIG game for me on a number of levels. First off, my buddy Jay "Monk" Hebert from WCP Canadian Corps was signed up for his first-ever role as a general and he honoured me by picking me as one of his 20 lieutenants.


Off the break of a major PRZ game it's the lieutenants who're sent in as a first-strike group (action, not the ammunition) to compete against the opposing team's Lt's for control of the ever-critical warehouse slapstick and the territory around it. This position lead to two more 'firsts' for me in that I switched the warehouse flag (my first contested capture) and I shot out three players attempting to gain entry into the warehouse and its sniper tower (my first eliminations with my new Etha nicknamed "Lily").

My luck didn't last long however, as the hopper I was using took a shot from a weird angle not too much later into the game and snapped the clip that holds the lid down. I spent the vast majority of the event without a marker but still managed to thoroughly enjoy myself as I took on the role of a field commander, organizing players and calling out enemy positions.


The game itself started getting a bit one-sided with our side taking a decisive lead which was when the Dead Men Walking agreed to switch sides and support the Punishers. This act of amazing sportsmanship won them the "Most Sportsmanlike Team" award from BOTH sides. Yup, DMW set a PRZ Paintball first by being the ONLY team thus far to have been award the Mo-Spo title from both of an event's generals. In my opinion it was well-earned. The Dead Men Walking are a group that focused first and foremost on growing the sport through responsible, fair play and they pride themselves on making sure that every team member conducts themselves with the paintball community's best interests in mind. Keep an eye on them folks, I know you'll be hearing a LOT more about their exploits in the years to come.

Another couple of firsts that came about over the weekend were my first melee 'kill' and my first (successful) flag rush which both came about due to a focus on stealthy play and more importantly, a LOT of luck. I managed to commando-crawl my way to within 6' of the cemetery flag before signalling the 2nd story window gunners to open fire and cover my vault over the long 'n low concrete slab on the border of the cemetery's flag area. If it weren't for the covering fire there's no way I'd have made it to the flag much less switching it without taking any fire from the enemy team. My melee 'kill' came from patience and again, more dumb luck as I advanced alone (after my backup was eliminated) commando-crawling through some long grass before a player ran past me and slid into the bunker I'd just left which is when I jumped up and pod tagged him. The funny part? It wasn't even my pod... I'd scavenged it only seconds earlier.

The Scenario:

What is there to say that hasn't already been said about Kyle Lecuyer's scenarios at the PRZ Asylum Series events? The guy knows how to create a story and how to work that dramatic backdrop around the field which, in my opinion, is second to none.

It sure doesn't hurt to have a field unlike any other to design your scenario around, but Kyle seems to understand the pivotal concept of balance in scenario design. Missions are challenging but not impossible, scoring is dramatic but fair, and there are enough independent missions to make it possible to still be a contender if you don't manage to accomplish the linked objectives. Have there been fumbles? Sure, the season opener was pretty rough but that's going to happen as a simple part of growing and developing as an organizer. I have to give Kyle and PRZ a solid 8/10 for the overall playability of the Conquer the Asylum scenario event. There are little tweaks and changes that could be made (having two days of objectives would definitely bring out more players for the second day, especially since it was a long weekend) but overall it was a very solid scenario and I had an absolute blast.

Awards:

Every Asylum Series event concludes with awards being handed out to the players and teams that earned them that day. Here's a quick summary of the awards from Conquer and the recipients:

Most Valuable Player:

Dylan James Swann
Tanya Langlois of Omega's Curse

Most Valuable Team:

Shadow Wolves
Citrus Connection (Who later dedicated it to Omega's Curse for their efforts)

Most Sportsmanlike Team:

Dead Men Walking (Awarded by BOTH generals)

Most Formidable Opponent (MoFo):

WCP Canadian Corps
Punishers

The Wrap-Up:

Alright folks that about does it for this article. I know I haven't been on here with any new material in a long time and I apologize for the hiatus. I'll be covering as much as I can from now on as long as school allows me the time with the upcoming semester fast approaching.

It's been a pleasure writing another article and I hope you all enjoy it. Please remember to leave your thoughts in the comments section and to head over to the team pages (they're all hyperlinked and just a click away in the article) and give those guys some 'likes' on Facebook. They all play hard, with a TONNE of heart and they deserve the recognition. If you've come across this article from somewhere OTHER than my Facebook page, head over to The Noob Baller and 'like' the page for immediate updates whenever a new article is posted and to keep up with my paintball adventures.

And as always folks, until next time...

Keep calm and throw paint!

Joshua J. Taylor - The Noob Baller

About Advertising - Some Serious Symbolism

Disclaimer:

1. My opinion is not your opinion, and we my never see eye-to-eye on anything. In reading this blog you will have to accept that as a universal human truth so please keep any/all comments respectful. Just because you may disagree with someone does not warrant a personal attack on them.

2. I do not support the ideals of the historical regime in question. I am simply putting forth my view on the use of certain symbols in scenario paintballing media. I understand that this topic is a very sensitive one to a lot of people and I mean no disrespect.

Onto the Article:

     I recently became part of a rather heated discussion revolving around the use of certain images in paintball advertisements such as posters, flyers etc. One symbol in particular took center stage as the debating point for the question of "what is appropriate for scenario advertising?"

     The polarizing symbol was that of Nazi Germany's swastika.

     Now, I know what many of you will  be thinking... "Josh, the use of a swastika is never acceptable under any circumstances" and I can understand your concern in the matter but I would ask you read on and hear me out while I speak from the standpoints of historical accuracy and 'symbolic equality'.

Historical Accuracy:

This should be seen as...

     First comes the historian in me saying that it is just another in the long line of controversial history references made in the modern day, no different than the debates as to whether books should have offensive terminology removed from them or altered to be 'politically correct'. This campaign has long been waged against literary works such as To Kill a Mockingbird and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn for their use of "nigger" and other racial epithets or against Salinger's Catcher in the Rye or Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four for inciting rebellion or encouraging poor habits. In these cases the majority decision has been that to censor these works would be to effectively attempt to censor history and that doing so would remove a level of legitimacy or period-accuracy from the book.

...no different than this.

     

     The fact of the matter here is that the swastika WAS the national flag of Nazi Germany whether we like it or not. On a much-diluted tangent, the use of a swastika to denote the German side in a historically-based scenario paintball match is nothing more than the use of an NHL team's crest to indicate their planned appearance in an upcoming hockey game. As you can see, the image posted to the right was a Facebook event cover photo for an event at PRZ Paintball which was later changed after criticisms were received for the use of a Swastika. Some individuals felt that it was in poor taste and others did not want to play on a team that could be labelled as being the 'Nazi side' as opposed to the correct 'German side'.

     Unfortunately, if you're going to attend a scenario game taking its base from any engagement in World War Two, you're technically going to be "Hitler's Nazi Germany" on one side just as much as you'd be "Roosevelt's United States of America" on the other. This is an inescapable fact, and the only way to avoid this would be to never use WW2 as a basis for a scenario game, or to only use the Pacific theatre which was equally bloody and tarnished by the mistreatment of prisoners of war.

The original (top) and edited (bottom) versions of PRZ's Facebook event page's cover photo.

     So, through the eyes of historical accuracy, there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with the original event cover photo as listed above. The image provides you with scenario-accurate information about the nations who were engaged in the game's historical reference point alongside information about the event's date, location and miscellaneous information.

Symbolic Equality:

     Onto talking point number two...

     Speaking ONLY of the two flags in the above images, the leaders of these nations were both (in my opinion) equally brutal. On one side you had Adolf Hitler, an anti-Semitic dictator who held his own people above the laws of the rest of mankind and slaughtered peoples he held as inferior with a death toll estimated at around 10 million over his time as fuhrer. On the other side was Joseph Stalin a tyrant whose military policies remorselessly sent millions of his own people to die in waves and then went on to murder what has been estimated up to another 1.2million people in just two years during a series of "purges" within the USSR. To me? Neither of these nations can be considered a 'good guy' in the fight.

     If neither nation can be considered a 'hero' in the conflict, and both leaders authorized the slaughter of millions to advance their agendas (honestly folks, Hitler and Stalin weren't all that different), how can we say that the Nazi 'tilted' swastika is any more a sign of evil or hatred than the USSR's hammer and sickle? Before you jump on your keyboards and bombard me with comments please note that BOTH nations:

• Imprisoned the own, and other nations' citizens unjustly.
• Murdered MILLIONS of people.
• Conducted campaigns of ethnic cleansing.
• Opposed democratic political systems.
• Opposed free-market economics.
• Tortured civilians and POWs.

     The tilted swastika on the white circle and red flag represents Nazi Germany every bit as much as the hammer and sickle have represented the likes of Stalin's Russia and Mao Zedong's China. By this method of thinking, both symbols should be held as equally offensive and yet they are not. Why is this? Because China is extremely tight-fisted regarding information control and until the end of WW2 Stalin was a 'good guy' to the Allies and well... To the victors go the spoils along with the rights to write the history books.

Food for Thought:

     So why hold the event you may ask, why conduct a game where both sides were extensions of murdering tyrants? Why? Because:

1. It is an easily identifiable winter conflict in an urban environment.
2. The destroyed buildings of WW2 Stalingrad are an easy fit with the field layout of PRZ Paintball.
3. Modern videogames have seen a growth in the references to the past, specifically to Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union while paintball has seen an influx of players coming from the videogaming subculture.

     There are scenario games of all different types held every day, with different historic or futuristic foundations held on fields worldwide. Some of these games have become quite famous like Skirmish Paintball's Invasion of Normandy held each July where there is even a judged competition of period-accurate costumes the day before the games begin and yes, this means military uniforms of ALL nations involved in the Normandy invasion.

     What I am trying to say here is that squabbling over the use of one historically accurate symbol based on the governing party and principles that party represented while ignoring a second symbol used by an equally vicious ruler is pointless. Both flags are historically accurate and if we attempt to censor history then we're going down the same roads taken by both of these tyrants. Using the flags SHOULD amount to nothing more than the listing of opposing teams and (obviously) has NO say on the thoughts, beliefs or opinions of the players on either team. If you would refuse to play for the German side with ANY justification other than "I'm of Russia heritage and wish to play on the Russian side" then you have to acknowledge that the other team's leader (speaking historically, not of the paintball game) was just as much of a murdering bastard as the other.

My Suggestion:

     Here it is folks, the last paragraph of the article. I know it's been a wordy one so I'll try to wrap things up quickly with a list.

1. The use of the official German and Russian flags should be seen as an appropriate choice for adverts pertaining to a scenario game based on and Russo-German conflict in WW2. (Historical accuracy)
2. The use of swastikas or the hammer and sickle on player apparel, markers or gear should be strictly forbidden. (Symbolic equality)
3. Game props like intelligence folders, briefcases, ammo crates etc for BOTH sides may be marked with the aforementioned symbols by event organizers but only in such a way as similar items would have been marked by the military forces involved in the scenario's inspiration battle (Historical Accuracy)
4. No hate speech of any sort is to be tolerated (Simple human decency).

     By following these four rules it is my opinion that a scenario game can be promoted and conducted with professionalism while maintaining historical accuracy. It is also my opinion that holding a historically-based scenario game demands a certain level of period-accurate representation to lend an identity to the event since we're playing with air-propelled, paint-filled, less-than-lethal projectiles which means that gaining some in-event legitimacy could use all the help it can get.

     And on that note I will leave the article to the mercy of the masses and say to everyone...

     Until next time keep calm, and throw paint!

Joshua J. Taylor - The Noob Baller