04-04-2004, 06:15 AM
[Not directed at Doc specifically]
Two health notes:
Eggs. Asphalt or Sidewalks. Cook, but don't eat. A "mythbuster" type person (Cecil Adams, i think, of The Straight Dope, but my memory fails) decided to actually try the sidewalk/egg thing. The surface in question IS hot enough to fry an egg-- HOWEVER, the problem is that the egg cools the blacktop or cement enough that the egg does not actually reach the temperature where it actually gets cooked. So, eat it if you must, but be aware that, just like Rocky Balboa, you have risk of salmonella poisoning. (Not to mention damaging your teeth from gravel...)
Poison Ivy. It's never bothered some of you. Well. I've had it explained to me, by someone who wasn't a doctor but said it confidently (heh), that the poison ivy reaction is an allergic type reaction, which means you can be exposed to it for years and years with no problem until one day OY THIS ITCHIN'. As a kid, I just ignored the people who froze up and gasped, "Don't go there! Poison Ivy!" And I never had a problem. Nowadays, tho, PI gives me these stupid little tiny blisters that yes, do itch if exposed to air. Tsk, maybe I should wear at least a loincloth on my nature hikes.
-V
Two health notes:
Eggs. Asphalt or Sidewalks. Cook, but don't eat. A "mythbuster" type person (Cecil Adams, i think, of The Straight Dope, but my memory fails) decided to actually try the sidewalk/egg thing. The surface in question IS hot enough to fry an egg-- HOWEVER, the problem is that the egg cools the blacktop or cement enough that the egg does not actually reach the temperature where it actually gets cooked. So, eat it if you must, but be aware that, just like Rocky Balboa, you have risk of salmonella poisoning. (Not to mention damaging your teeth from gravel...)
Poison Ivy. It's never bothered some of you. Well. I've had it explained to me, by someone who wasn't a doctor but said it confidently (heh), that the poison ivy reaction is an allergic type reaction, which means you can be exposed to it for years and years with no problem until one day OY THIS ITCHIN'. As a kid, I just ignored the people who froze up and gasped, "Don't go there! Poison Ivy!" And I never had a problem. Nowadays, tho, PI gives me these stupid little tiny blisters that yes, do itch if exposed to air. Tsk, maybe I should wear at least a loincloth on my nature hikes.
-V