"Does anybody know...?"

[birdy]

Since there are so many knowledgeable forumites, this new thread deals with questions we'd like answers to without going to the trouble of looking it up ourselves.  An example would be "What is the origin of Groundhog's Day?"   This is more for fun and to explore all our collective knowledge than for exploring our research skills, though if we get stuck, I'm sure a citation or two will follow.

The only "rule" is - as if anyone around here follows rules - that it's a reasonable question about factual information, not opinion, and that it's answered from what someone already knows without doing any research. 

[pat]

Watch out world - here comes Chikipedia!

[Binkie]

I'm in .....but don't blame me if I never manage to answer any query at all!

[greenone]

Binkie - my sentiments exactly 

[Binkie]

I know a VERY little about a lot of things. It's not quite the same as knowing a LOT about a few things, is it ? 

[birdy]

Ah!  An opportunity to learn, Binkie.  I'm like you - I have a vast fund of broad but shallow knowledge.  But nobody has asked a question yet, so we haven't been tested.

[Toni]

I'm a complete idiot, except in a few things that I happen to be interested in, but I sure like the idea of asking all you brainy hags when I have a

[birdy]

okay, I'll start.  Why is it I can't have any ginger or garlic for 2 weeks before my projected gum surgery?

[Linda]

Well, perhaps garlic for obvious smelly reasons and I think ginger has anti coagulation(?) properties ... I may be wrong (I was once!!)   

Just read your question properly ... don't know why you can't have garlic for 2 weeks before unless it too has anti coagulation properties ... well, at least I'm trying to give you an answer! 

[birdy]

I thought that might be it - I'm also off aspirin etc. and am not supposed to have Vitamin E.  I think there are more restrictions, but I can't find the scrap of paper I wrote them on - have to go back to the dentist today to get her to rewrite my prescription for Valium (it expired because I dawdled about filling it), so I'll find out if I'm right about not having coffee or other caffeine products for three days before...  All I can say is that nobody better bother me in those three days or they may end up playing Headless Horseman next Halloween.

[birdy]

Talked to the periodontist today - coffee is okay.  Thank goodness!

[technomc]

You just want the valium to get you through our visit Birdy.....i'm not as green as i am cabbage looking you know...
Valium from the dentist.....yeah yeah yeah!!!!!

If that is the case can you get an appointment for friday please....

[Binkie]

You were right, LL, you clever clogs.........I had to look it up, and found that "Ginger, Garlic, Cayenne, Bilberry: inhibit the formation of platelets. Platelets affect bleeding and coagulation time"

[Binkie]

Since you're in this thread T......have a truly wonderful trip and bring back lots of photos!

[technomc]

Cheers mate....