http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/02/06/sl-letter-of-the-day-desensitizing-or-damaging Comments On: SL Letter of the Day: Desensitizing or Damaging? by Dan Savage en-us Copyright 2013 The Stranger. All rights reserved. This RSS file is offered to individuals, The Stranger readers, and non-commercial organizations only. Any commercial websites wishing to use this RSS file, please contact The Stranger. webmaster@thestranger.com (The Stranger Webmaster) Mon, 20 May 2013 00:00:01 -0700 Mon, 20 May 2013 07:45:00 -0700 Foundation http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Posted by DRF]]> Thu, 07 Feb 2013 21:01:21 -0800 The Stranger
@24 Sorry I am not crazy, though some of the commenters might disagree.
Posted by Spike1382]]> Thu, 07 Feb 2013 19:29:41 -0800 The Stranger Posted by jeccat]]> Thu, 07 Feb 2013 13:01:58 -0800 The Stranger Posted by cpt. tim]]> Thu, 07 Feb 2013 10:02:30 -0800 The Stranger Posted by debug]]> Thu, 07 Feb 2013 09:43:15 -0800 The Stranger
If anyone out there hasn't tried a polyisoprene based condom yet, you're missing out.
Posted by Westlake, son!]]> Thu, 07 Feb 2013 09:13:48 -0800 The Stranger
rosaceabehandelen rose
Posted by rosaceabehandelen rose]]> Thu, 07 Feb 2013 09:10:05 -0800 The Stranger OMG an actual letter writer! Finally someone who wrote one of these classic letters weighs in! coool. I'm glad you sound normal, though I can't help wishing one of the crazier OP'rs would write in the comments.

Also, @22 made me go back and lol at @11!

Posted by dccc]]> Thu, 07 Feb 2013 07:06:13 -0800 The Stranger Posted by xjuan]]> Thu, 07 Feb 2013 03:45:27 -0800 The Stranger
@ Spike1382 no offense...

Posted by EricaP]]> Wed, 06 Feb 2013 23:36:21 -0800 The Stranger
Posted by Supreme Ruler Of The Universe]]> Wed, 06 Feb 2013 21:46:51 -0800 The Stranger Posted by ML48]]> Wed, 06 Feb 2013 19:42:51 -0800 The Stranger
As for the catalyst, these polymerizations use radical initiators that don't contain heavy metals and are either bound to the chain or removed during purification.

Lastly, it's worth noting that if this gel did have a toxicity issue, it wouldn't be approved for use in someone's mouth, as ingestion is generally riskier than surface contact.
Posted by ML48]]> Wed, 06 Feb 2013 19:41:47 -0800 The Stranger Posted by ML48]]> Wed, 06 Feb 2013 19:30:33 -0800 The Stranger
Also, re: 8, virtually any polymerization reaction still leaves some monomer lying around. Possibly related, possibly not: scientists often use polyACRYLamide gels to analyze and separate mixtures of proteins. They make these gels by mixing a monomer solution with a catalyst. People who handled the polymerized gels regularly without wearing disposable gloves often developed numbness in their fingertips, because acrylamide monomer is a neurotoxin. It kills nerve cells.
Posted by rob!]]> Wed, 06 Feb 2013 19:22:32 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Tor]]> Wed, 06 Feb 2013 19:02:13 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Spike1382]]> Wed, 06 Feb 2013 18:52:52 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Spike1382]]> Wed, 06 Feb 2013 18:50:33 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Max Solomon]]> Wed, 06 Feb 2013 18:48:23 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Spike1382]]> Wed, 06 Feb 2013 18:48:14 -0800 The Stranger
Cells are programmed to undergo apoptosis when they are damaged, cancerous or infected with certain viruses. In the case of damage, this is so their component parts can be cannibalized by the new cells that will, if possible be grown to take their place. If the cells are undergoing abnormal apoptosis, it is because this gel is damaging them, and not all tissue damage can be repaired.

So in this case, apoptosis is only healthy in that it's healthier to have dead cells with their parts neatly stacked in the basement than having crippled zombie dick cells shambling around in this guy's equipment going nucleeiiiiiiii.
Posted by DRF]]> Wed, 06 Feb 2013 18:35:54 -0800 The Stranger Posted by mikethehammer]]> Wed, 06 Feb 2013 18:06:28 -0800 The Stranger Posted by beccoid]]> Wed, 06 Feb 2013 17:51:16 -0800 The Stranger Posted by AlchemistAmoebia]]> Wed, 06 Feb 2013 17:39:49 -0800 The Stranger Posted by seandr]]> Wed, 06 Feb 2013 16:57:48 -0800 The Stranger