I'm not inadequate, just over-evolved....

[terribleturnip]

It was with great relief a few years back when I read that scientists had figured out why some people are so sensitive to hot foods, crying out "whoa, easy on that Tabasco, Bobby" and others can pop entire habaneros in their mouths without breaking a sweat. Turns out that people like me are not giant wimps, but simply have more tastebuds per square millimeter of tongue. So we get a bigger bitch slap of heat than the rest of you. You insensitive bastards. Thank you science for taking sting of inadequacy out of "ooh, ooh, pass me a piece of bread, my mouth is on fire, jee-zuz, how can you even put that in your mouth". Which doesn't seem to keep the chiliheads from making fun of me, but as I sit eating my "mild", at least I can nurse my sense of superiority.



Many animals (especially birds) have perfect/absolute pitch. But not us humans. Perfect pitch with us is rare, we mostly work with relative pitch. Animals on the other hand, cannot use relative pitch at all. So....(brace yourselves for giant assumption) that means that it's my big brain that keeps me from having perfect pitch. And those of you who do have perfect pitch...birdbrain. (Inside joke: Thank goodness pregnant women can't run very fast, or I am so going to get my butt kicked this weekend.)

Please note: science has not delivered an excuse as to why I can hear it, but can't make my voice keep to it. So, you won't be hearing me belting out tunes in public any time soon.

Internet slut that I am, I don't have a link to the articles on either one, but I am a Science Daily junkie, so...if you really want to follow up, start there.

(And before you start lecturing me on some obscure point of pitch or capsaicin tolerance, realize that my oversensitive tongue is tucked firmly in my cheek.)

Comments

[dawntreader]

i just like the term "chiliheads!"

i also think the more "tolerance" you build up, that means you're really killing off the precious taste buds you have left. hehehehe.

[pyllgrum.livejournal.com]

Was there an explanation as to why anyone would EVER attempt to eat Manhattan Clam Chowder?

[madam-macaw.livejournal.com]

Thanks for explaining this. My husband can eat some of the spiciest foods like they were bread. Me, my "hottest" spice is pepper. I always thought there was a coorelation between his ability and his allergies. He is normally all stuffed up and has problems smelling things.

I'm confused...

[skivee.livejournal.com]

... So if you eat alot of chili peppers your pitch will go up?

Re: I'm confused...

[terribleturnip.livejournal.com]

Yes. If someone goes into labor, expect to see a marked and HOT change to the Pyrate mess. Someone's got to hit those high notes....

Re: I'm confused...

[skivee.livejournal.com]

high notes... That's what the testicular capo is for, but I REALLY hate using it.

Re: I'm confused...

[thatliardiego.livejournal.com]

That's okay. We LOVE watching you use it. Not often do we get to see a mezzo-soprano with a beard and a ponytail.

Re: I'm confused...

[skivee.livejournal.com]

Maybe we could ask you to sit in for a few songs...as many as you could stand.

Re: I'm confused...

[thatliardiego.livejournal.com]

Oh no—remember? I'm just a simple clownmimemeatsmokingdangertoourchildren magician.

You go right ahead. And keep those high notes tight.

Re: I'm confused...

[skivee.livejournal.com]

clownmimemeatsmokingdangertoourchildren? Of course you know that I was using the phrase only in the good way, right?

[lowlandscot.livejournal.com]

If you are really really interested (like interested enough to read 400 pages) in the neuroscience of music, Oliver Sacks's latest book, Musicophilia, is a fascintating read.

For instance: in some linguo-culture groups, like the Mandarin-speaking Chinese, perfect pitch is much more common than in the West. He investigates some research into why that is.

[ferlonda.livejournal.com]

Great book... but I had to stop reading when I got squigged out by the "my musical life is done since the head injury" section.