Laser quasar is a very modern game that is popular throughout Europe, Scandinavia, Australia and in the US, (though in the US it is known as Q-zar). Despite it being bang up to date, the original version of it was invented some years ago in Australia, so we will take a look at how it began and how it developed into what is now a popular pastime for all the family and one of the more popular corporate team building sports.

The game was devised in 1987 by an Australian named Geoff Haselhurst. He is a very interesting man, a kind of self styled philosopher and scientist with some fairly bizarre ideas on the nature of space, matter and time; apparently all matter is really a wave. Fortunately for us he took time out of his philosophical and metaphysical musings to do some real work and create Quasar which, when you think about it, is also all about waves.
Essentially the game involves players who are equipped with a gun that fires beams of infra-red light and a combat vest in which is incorporated several sensors that detect infra-red light. The objective is to shoot an opponent with the gun and to avoid being shot oneself. When the vest sensors detect that they have been hit, they trigger a counter that knocks one life off the player’s current count and sounds an alarm and vibrator built into the vest. The player is temporarily knocked out of the game.

There are numerous formats of the game. Generally it is played with two opposing teams though it can also be a free for all where everybody is everybody else’s enemy. Naturally the latter variation can be fairly chaotic.

Of course technology has moved on somewhat since 1987. In those twenty five years electronics has taken huge strides forwards. In the early days the vests were cumbersome and uncomfortable and the guns were very basic, but with the miniaturisation of microelectronics, modern vests are light and comfortable and the guns are very sophisticated and incorporate most of game control systems.

The gaming environment is also complex and exciting. Set in the future, there are ramps to navigate, gangways and flashing stroboscopic lights with swirling fog. There are hiding places where you can stalk the enemy without being seen and plenty of opportunity to take him by surprise. But you too much always be on the lookout as you are also being stalked. It can be a very fast paced game and it is always very competitive.

There are Laser Quaser venues all over the UK and there is almost certainly one not too far away from you.

Poker has always been very popular throughout the country, and one of the most convenient ways to enjoy the game is to host your own poker party.  When you play party poker, you can set the rules, the gambling limits, even who sits at the table with you.  You can even have the other players bring the food and drinks!

Planning

To organize the poker party you must first decide how many people you want to invite.  Will everyone be playing poker?  If not, be sure to have other activities available, like board games, television, and perhaps kids’ activities.  Having 8-10 players is excellent, so start by inviting about double that number.  While you can have good hands with just four players, the game is much more exciting when more people participate.  Call people one or two days beforehand to remind them, and apply a little pressure – or bribery if needed – to make sure they will show up.

Poker party day

Have several good tables available for play, and enough chairs for everyone to be comfortably seated.  If you don’t have enough tables and chairs, swing by a local rental company and pick up what you need. With the popularity of poker parties, many rental centers now carry actual poker tables, which can add a sense of authenticity to your party.

Don’t forget the chips and money (if betting with real money is allowed where you live).  Hopefully you set the ground rules when inviting people so everyone knows if they will be playing with real money or chips.  If you will be using chips, double-check that you have enough and that the chips are good quality and are not chipped or broken.  It is often easiest to write down the house rules and have them available on paper as everyone arrives.  That way there is no doubt later in the night about who wins which hands.  If any of your players are relative newcomers to the game, a “cheat sheet” showing the order of poker hands will be helpful, as well.

Food and drink

What’s a party without food and drink?  You can suggest things for people to bring to help keep your costs down or just provide the food and drink yourself.  Either way, try to keep things reasonably simple.  There is less setting up and cleaning up for you that way, and the serious players can concentrate on their game.  Pizza delivery is a favorite for poker parties because it’s easy, filling, and almost everyone loves it.

Style your party

For a little added pizzazz, add a theme or style to your party.  For example, you can decorate like old Las Vegas, when the Rat Pack ruled the town with entertainment and gambling.  Or try a Roaring 20’s theme or a western theme if Texas hold ‘em will be the game of the night.  Plan ahead for a selection of music that goes along with the theme, perhaps some food and drink from the era, and even some old-fashioned card decks if that fits in.  Then sit back and enjoy the play!

Life is much simpler with a credit card. While it is not impossible to go through life without one, having a credit card does make life simpler in a variety of ways. For one, credit cards make it easier to book travel and to shop online. Online shopping is far more secure with a credit card; should someone still your identity your credit card company will issue you a refund of any funds spent on your credit card after you report it stolen. Additionally, when you book travel, you have to present your credit card to hotels and rental car agencies for incidentals; when you use a debit card to do these things a hold is placed on your card for up to 30 business days. The amount of that hold is then unavailable for you to spend until it is refunded to your account. This does not happen with a credit card.

Knowing how much easier it is to go through life with a credit card, it is time to figure out for which one you should apply. With so many hundreds of cards available for you to apply, it often becomes confusing and difficult to choose the perfect card. When it comes to choosing a credit card to apply for, there are several things you should look for in a card to help make the most informed decision; the best card is the one that costs the least and offers the most benefits.

The first thing you should look at when you apply for a credit card is the interest rate. The interest rate is one of the most important aspects of a credit card because it determines how much interest you will accrue on outstanding balances. Outstanding balances on any credit card are subject to the interest rate that is agreed to when you apply for the card. The only way to avoid hefty interest rates is to pay the balance of the card each month, in full. A zero balance cannot accrue interest. However, leaving a balance on the card by only making the minimum payment will result in interest charges. The lower the interest rate, the less you will have to pay over the long haul.

If you are looking to transfer a balance from another card that you hold, you should look at the interest rate for balance transfers. Many cards offer a zero per cent interest rate on an initial balance transfer and a much higher rate for subsequent balance transfers. It is important to read the fine print and the terms to determine whether or not an initial balance transfer offer is really as good as it seems. Some credit card companies offer new cardholders a low rate for life on purchases, outstanding balances and balance transfers as long as the cardholder makes at least the minimum payment on time each month. If you opt for a card such as this, be aware that making even one payment late by as little as an hour will cause your interest rate to go up significantly and there is nothing you can do to lower it afterwards.

Less important, but still important to many cardholders are the rewards that cards offer. Many credit card companies offer incentives to cardholders in the form of points or airline miles or cash back. When choosing a card, it is wise to consider your lifestyle. If you do not go on many holidays, the card with airline mile rewards may not be the best option for you; however, the card with a cash back offer for purchases may be exactly what you need.

Going through life without a credit card is difficult; having one makes life much easier, which is why choosing the right credit card to have is essential to living a financially savvy life. Before you commit to choosing a credit card, check out all of the possible aspects of the card by reading the fine print. Compare credit cards that seem like good ones for your lifestyle by using an online credit card comparison site. Comparing cards makes it easier to see which one has the best features and is the most beneficial card for you to have. Card comparison sites will help you to make the best decision.