They've been hollering about 18 months as the magic number in these earlier cases. Now they'll have to come up with something else. That arrow has been taken out of their quiver.

The plaintiffs already have part of their case established. It's like Merck has conceded the first four rounds of a 15-round fight.

They may try to argue that while there was some risk at 18 months, it was minimal and the real problem came at three years. That would push the bar back further just in time to defend themselves from claims by long-term users.

I don't believe in the kind of magic in my books. But I do believe something very magical can happen when you read a good book.

magic lives in curves, not angles

OK, magic boy, let's see who you really are.