Several varieties of over the counter pain meds, on the other hand, are pointless. I may as well be swallowing Tic Tacs for all the good Aleve has ever done me.

This type of inaccurate reporting explains why people are so misinformed and why scientists are blamed for not doing a better job of informing the public. (Don’t blame the NYT. I followed the link they provide, and so can you.)

I have Ehlers-Danlos, which makes me less susceptible to the ‘caines. I have to get shot up an hour ahead of time at the dentist. And I have no cocaine receptors. I could snort a cup of it and not get any buzz.

That makes sense. My toddler is a redhead, and is completely and utterly fearless. He lasts maybe a day or two a month without a fresh bruise on his forehead, and when he smacks it he cries for ten seconds and then tries to climb the same damn thing. He seems to be oblivious to any but the sharpest most immediate pain.

First off, please stop with the “Gingers” stuff. We all know you saw the South Park episode. It’s not funny, I don’t appreciate being called a ginger or told I don’t have a soul all the time. Would you say the corresponding things to a black person or a jew? Don’t say it’s different. It’s not.

I haven’t seen the Southpark episode, but I know a thing or two about history. Blacks and Jews have both gone through periods of dramatic persecution. Putting those periods in the right perspective is an ongoing process, but it is at least arguable that those groups of people have a basis for being mindful of their portrayal. I’m gonna say something you’re not gonna like, but here goes: IT’S DIFFERENT.

I am so glad that study is getting attention–maybe now people won’t think I’m joking when I say my fondest post-lottery wish is for a set of dentures.

Second, I’ve had a lot of fillings over the years, and generally have to use quite a lot more novocaine than is apparently common (according to my Dentist). I still feel a good bit of pain, but I’ve mostly gotten used to it.