777

that's the number displayed on the counter. it is also the 7th month since i started this blog. and yes, it is now 7pm. perfecto? absolutely.

i have been trying to analyse the most common and obvious effects of alcohol consumption. time travels faster. the ability to concentrate is greatly impaired and this in turn affects the ability to walk/talk/drive/ejaculate.

also, as with any psychoactive, alcohol does provide the temporary gift of alternate perception: you might look at something...anything...in a different light. you might be able to consider different opinions and possibilities.

quiet people become quieter. other quiet people become boisterous. boisterous people become more boisterous. i once knew this dude who itched for a fist-fight as soon as he's "there"; his tolerance then hangs by a thread. certain individuals tend to long for physical intimacy...i believe the term is "horny".

some tend to dwell in their emotions. unknowingly, they start pouring out whatever it is they have been suppressing within. pent-up hurts, anger and hate. in contrast, some become overly joyous and cheerful. i have heard of the possibility that someone's "true" personality is revealed in intoxication. creepy thought, that. then, happy is he who maintains his mask after downing a litre of good old russian vodka.

the following is from an article i found in the vaults of Erowid:

How Alcohol Works :
Alcohol is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream from the small intestine, and less rapidly from the stomach and colon. In proportion to its concentration in the bloodstream, alcohol decreases activity in parts of the brain and spinal cord. The drinker's blood alcohol concentration depends on:

• the amount consumed in a given time
• the drinker's size, sex, body build, and metabolism
• the type and amount of food in the stomach.

Once the alcohol has passed into the blood, however, no food or beverage can retard or interfere with its effects. Fruit sugar, however, in some cases can shorten the duration of alcohol's effect by speeding up its elimination from the blood.

In the average adult, the rate of metabolism is about 8.5 g of alcohol per hour (i.e. about two-thirds of a regular beer or about 30 mL of spirits an hour). This rate can vary dramatically among individuals, however, depending on such diverse factors as usual amount of drinking, physique, sex, liver size, and genetic factors.

Effects :
The effects of any drug depend on several factors:

• the amount taken at one time
• the user's past drug experience
• the manner in which the drug is taken
• the circumstances under which the drug is taken (the place, the user's psychological and emotional stability, the presence of other people, the concurrent use of other drugs, etc.).

apparently,it is the amount of alcohol in the blood that causes the effects. that explains why certain individuals worship the toilet bowl all night with their puke after only 6-7 pegs.

another interesting fact about alcohol lies in the common rule that prohibits minors from consuming alcohol. this is because one's liver has not fully developed before he/she turns 18. once 18, the liver is said to be fully developed and is "ready" to face alcohol abuse. so kids, it's wise to listen to the law. for now.