Masquerade connotes to concealing your appearance and persona to make it intriguing and mysterious with the help of a veil

or mask. The masquerade masks have been significant right from the twelfth century era. They were initially used in Venetian carnivals to conceal a persons appearance. Used for disguising They were used by wealthy and the affluent for disguising and to get liberated from their own personality traits in the parties. It was a medium to evade the glaring social eyes, due to the stigma attached with wealthy socials, socializing with the commoners at a party. In the era of Italian Renaissance, the festivities marked a touch of elegancy, luxuriance, and regality; the masquerade masks were used in social balls, grand parties, and festive celebrations. Used for freedom of speech People from highly affluent social strata and congregations joined these carnivals. It gave them freedom of speech inside their social circle, as the masked person could not easily be recognized in the circuit. They had the liberty to vent out their truest feelings, wildest emotions, and controversial opinions, just about anything without being worried about the consequence. The Real disguise At the backdrop of these parties, all kinds of human emotions and characters were being displayed and enacted. These included secret or illegal financial interactions, undue sexual favors, and anonymous transactions. There were two types of base masks over which ornamentation and designing was done as per the theme to decorate these pieces. black masquerade masks white masquerade masks Men and women folks wore these deliberately designed masks and highlighted the theme of the party or carnival. There were many types of designs to select from and gradually these masks and masquerade party got trendy with the work of art put in them. The main types of masks included:

The mass with a stick: The stick styled mask was used for casual occasions when masquerade was just a theme and the party did not entail hiding the identity. These could be easily removed but it was cumbersome for eating, drinking, and dancing with them. Now, these masks are merely used as decorative pieces at homes or as a welcome souvenir for masquerade. The head mask: The head design masks bore resemblance to a helmet. The designs for head masks were graceful and accessorized elaborately to give the real camouflaged look. On the hindsight, these masks were colossal and intricate, difficult to open and not flexible for the users. It caused hindrances in eating and drinking.

The full-face mask: The full faced black or white masquerade masks were ostentatiously accessorized and bejeweled heavily. These were used more conveniently for a real veiled appearance. The real authentic Venetian masks can be collectible pieces for generations! The half face mask: The most practical and trendy out of all mask designs were the half faced white or black masquerade masks to give a cloaked facade. The base masks were embellished in a myriad of styles and designs to reveal an ethnic, regal persona.

In the modern times, masquerade parties are a rage. They are presently available in a wide variety of designs, types, colors, and prices to select for the occasion. Making Masquerade Masks with Paper or Card 1. Choose or create your mask design. The standard mask goes a bit above the eyebrows and ends at the top of the cheekbone, but yours doesn't have to. A basic masquerade mask is an elongated horizontal oval with a curved hump for the nose. More elaborate masquerade masks can cover more of the cheeks and forehead with exaggerated points at either end. Look for ideas on the Internet or a costume shop. You will also need to decide the type of materials to use in your mask construction. 2. Sketch or print out the basic outline of your design on a piece of paper. For a sturdier mask, use cardstock. You could also take several pieces of paper to make it even stronger. You want the outline to be plain with plenty of inner white space. Use letter-sized paper -- anything smaller wouldn't work and anything bigger would be a waste. 3. Add details to the outline. Doing this now will help you see if you like the shape of your mask -- you can adjust it as necessary or add a detail as part of the shape of your mask. Attaching flames or swoops onto the outline can make it more interesting and even change its shape entirely. Consider flames, swoops, hearts, stars, and geometric shapes. 4. Cut out the mask. Be careful! Use a good pair of scissors to prevent any snags or tears. Leave a little extra room on the sides if you are attaching a band or some type of holding device. Trim your eyeholes much larger than the size of your actual eyes. Having more visual space is safer, more comfortable, and it tends to look better. 5. Mark your mask for painting. You'll be very glad you do this -- you won't end up painting your mask and having it turn out poorly or not to your liking. Make your marks light; you don't want to see them through your paint. Creating a design for the surface of the mask might include multiple colors and textures. Sketching those outlines ahead of time will allow you to maintain symmetry. 6. Paint your mask. Take care as you hold it; if your fingers touch the wet paint you could smear it (or get it on your clothes). Paint on several coats to get a rich hue. The choice of color is a personal one, but traditional colors include deep reds and metallics. Use a small paintbrush to ensure clean lines.

7. Allow the paint to dry fully. Be patient -- this could take a while. Set it on a covered surface in an open area and leave it be. Depending on the type of paint you used, this could take up to 4 hours. 8. Glue on your extras. This is totally up to you, but do consider weight, bulk, and tackiness. Too many embellishments will leave your mask looking overdone. Masquerade masks are traditionally loud and flashy, so adding materials such as rhinestones, glitter and colorful feathers is normal. Stick with your originally planned theme and don't overcrowd the surface. 9. Paint and adorn your dowel to match your mask. If you don't have a dowel, you can use chopsticks, a firm straw, or a very carefully rolled up piece of card. Feathers are the traditionally adornment to a dowel, but you can use strings of pearls, leaves, or any embellishment you see fit. 10. Adhere the handle to the backside of the mask. The easiest way to do this will be with a hot glue gun, though other methods will work, too. The position of the handle is unimportant. Some masquerade masks have handles coming from the middle, others have it from either side, and some masks have no handle at all. 11. Allow the glue to dry fully. Hold the dowel in position for 30 seconds to make sure it's secure and in place. If it moves at all, apply more glue. Wave around your mask a bit -- if it seems sturdy, you're done!

Alcohol is a Drug Beverage alcohol (ethyl alcohol) is a drug. But exactly what is a drug? A drug is simply Any substance which when absorbed into a living organism may modify one or more of its functions. In reality, "any substance that by its chemical nature alters structure or function in the living organism is a drug. . . . Pharmacological effects are exerted by foods, vitamins, hormones, microbial, metabolites, plants, snake venoms, stings, products of decay, air pollutants, pesticides, minerals, synthetic chemicals, virtually all foreign materials (very few are completely inert), and many materials normally in the body." This means that foods, vitamins, hormones and the other substances described are all drugs. Practically everything is a drug including the oxygen we breathe. Nevertheless, there is a continuing effort by temperance-oriented groups and agencies to emphasize that alcohol is a drug. Their intent appears to be to stigmatize alcohol by associating it with illicit drugs. In modern usage, drug has become shorthand for illegal drug or street drug. People still go to the drug store, but they go there to buy medications, not drugs. By equating alcoholic beverages with illegal street drugs, anti-alcohol activists attempt to create negative attitudes toward such beverages. That makes it easier to promote higher alcohol taxes, more stringent restrictions on the times and places alcohol can be sold, censorship of alcohol advertising, and similar policies to reduce alcohol consumption. Effects 1. Speed of Drinking - The more rapidly the beverage is ingested, the higher the peak blood alcohol concentration (BAC). The liver metabolizes about 1/2 ounce of alcohol per hour. 2. Presence of Food in the Stomach - Eating while drinking slows down the absorption rate. When alcoholic beverages are taken with a substantial meal, peak BAC may be reduced by as much as 50%. 3. Body Weight - The larger person has more blood and requires greater amounts of alcohol to reach a given BAC. 4. Drinking History/Tolerance - Increasing amounts of alcohol are needed to result in the physical and behavioral reactions formerly produced at lesser concentrations, if there is a long history of drinking. 5. Environment - There may be differences in alcohol's effects, depending upon where one drinks (e.g., local bar, with family, hostile environment, etc.). 6. The Drinker's Expectations - Many people become intoxicated on less alcohol merely because they have that expectation before they begin drinking. 7. General State of Emotional and Physical Health - Many people seem more susceptible to the effects of alcohol when they are extremely fatigued, have recently been ill, or are under emotional stress and strain. The usual amount of alcohol may result in uncomfortable effects. 8. Sex Differences - Given the same amount of alcohol and proportional body weight, females will generally have a higher BAC than their male counterparts, due to less body fluid to dilute the alcohol and more body fat. 9. Females are generally more affected by alcohol just prior to menstruation. 10. Females taking birth control pills or medications containing estrogen may remain intoxicated longer than those who do not, due to the liver's function of metabolizing both. 11. Other Drugs - Prescription, over-the-counter, illicit and unrecognized drugs all have potential reactions with alcohol. One should be aware of the additive and synergistic effects when these drugs are mixed with alcohol.

Atin Cu Pung Singsing

Kapampangan is another language in the Philippines that's very distinct from Tagalog. The most popular folk song from the province of Pampanga is Atin Cu Pung Singsing (I Have a Ring). KAPAMPANGAN LYRICS Atin cu pung singsing Metung yang timpucan Amana que iti Quing indung ibatan Sancan queng sininup Queng metung a caban Mewala ya iti E cu camalayan. Ing sucal ning lub cu Susucdul king banua Picurus cung gamat Babo ning lamesa Ninu mang manaquit Quing singsing cung mana Calulung pusu cu Manginu ya caya. ENGLISH TRANSLATION I had a ring With a beautiful gem I inherited it From my mother I kept in very well In a chest But it just disappeared Without my noticing. The heartache within me Is as high as the sky My crossed hands Are upon the table Whoever can find That ring I inherited My poor heart Shall forever worship.