I played paintball up in the North East ranges. It was a group of guys that do it once a month for fun, and the purposes of doing it without the hassles of playing through a commercial operation.

They bring their own barriers, markers, air tanks etc. One of them found out I had played paintball in Australia and invited me along. I was glad he did, I had a tonne of fun.

I wasn't very good the first few games, I was overly aggressive and careless in protecting myself; leading to several nice welts to remind me that patience is a virtue. By the end of the morning I had picked up the rhythm of the game again and was doing ok for myself. Main benefit was that I was no longer target practice for some of the skilled regulars.

I love the contrast between violence and gaming in the picture above. The black balaclava has become the images of the war on terror. The terrorists use it to hide their identity on training videos and interviews, while the western nations cloak the identity of their special forces for similar reasons. We also have seen the black hood on Saddam Hussein and the inmates at Guantanamo. The incognito aspect of the black hood and balaclava are very much images of the subterfuge of the war on terrorism.

Paintball is inherently dangerous, despite protective clothing and keeping pressures in guns low, you never know. But it is funny to see the black mask on someone wielding a marker and hiding behind a pink splattered barrier.
More reading: Tags, Paintball, Arizona
Cam Riley: South Sea Republic. Freedom, liberty, equity and an Australian Republic.