http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2009/07/12/dumb-cane-new-to-be-feared Comments On: Dumb Cane: New to be Feared! by Jen Graves en-us Copyright 2009 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) Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:00:01 -0800 Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:30:00 -0800 Foundation http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Posted by mr. herriman]]> Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:07:11 -0700 The Stranger
It was a pretty rad little story. I miss those, and those Alfred Hitchcock and Ellery Queen magazines you used to be able to get at the grocery store.
Posted by Sherlockette]]> Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:52:16 -0700 The Stranger Posted by Gurldoggie]]> Mon, 13 Jul 2009 10:19:14 -0700 The Stranger go into any houseplant section of any nursery anywhere, and you'll find em.
Posted by onion]]> Mon, 13 Jul 2009 10:07:12 -0700 The Stranger
It's the same with rhubarb leaves - the stem part that you make pie out of is fine, but the leaves can kill you.
Posted by fletch]]> Mon, 13 Jul 2009 06:32:42 -0700 The Stranger
Articles in the NYTimes are frequently full of the same wide-eyed sound --- "I lost my job but discovered cooking at home is cheaper than eating out! Here's how....."

Sorry about that extra 's' Lindy --- I swore I took it out before I posted! Your posts always make me laugh......
Posted by hartiepie]]> Mon, 13 Jul 2009 06:28:44 -0700 The Stranger Posted by is that a word filter? m u h d i k]]> Mon, 13 Jul 2009 02:56:33 -0700 The Stranger Posted by Lindy West]]> Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:55:53 -0700 The Stranger Posted by Supreme Ruler Of The Universe]]> Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:19:23 -0700 The Stranger Posted by eclexia]]> Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:03:53 -0700 The Stranger
Frankly, I was responding to what seemed like just a petty and sour attempt to belittle Jen and others that you see being inappropriately surprised by things you've already heard of.

As for my question, I apologize if it was invasive. My point stands, however, that this could be a regional issue rather than having anything to do with age or generational plant fads. The fact that a plant was introduced long enough ago to have given it time to spread doesn't address that possibility.
Posted by Lee]]> Sun, 12 Jul 2009 21:39:33 -0700 The Stranger
Posted by Amelia]]> Sun, 12 Jul 2009 21:00:23 -0700 The Stranger
If the plant was brought to the US 150 years ago, it wouldn't matter where my grandparents are from. It's been here a long time.

Kids at Slog who are just going out in the world are often AMAZED at what they encounter out there (Hi Lindsy, Hi Paul!).....you know, like what my grandparents had.
Posted by hartiepie]]> Sun, 12 Jul 2009 20:52:01 -0700 The Stranger Posted by Lurleen]]> Sun, 12 Jul 2009 20:50:06 -0700 The Stranger Posted by Lee]]> Sun, 12 Jul 2009 19:43:20 -0700 The Stranger Posted by sirkowski]]> Sun, 12 Jul 2009 18:29:27 -0700 The Stranger Posted by quarkster]]> Sun, 12 Jul 2009 17:46:33 -0700 The Stranger Posted by hartiepie]]> Sun, 12 Jul 2009 17:32:02 -0700 The Stranger Posted by pointy]]> Sun, 12 Jul 2009 17:21:03 -0700 The Stranger
Wikipedia says they contain calcium oxalate/oxalic acid, but the plants rarely cause poisoning severe enough to require drastic intervention.

Other common plants with oxalic acid: rhubarb (tons in the inedible leaves; enough in the stems to require cooking before consumption), spinach, chard (that's what gives you the puckery sensation and the squeakiness on the teeth). Supposedly chronic consumption of lots of spinach and chard puts enough oxalic acid in the blood to gradually leach calcium out of the bones, enough to cause or aggravate osteoporosis.

(Sorry to geek out. Plant biochemistry and ethnobotany are long-standing interests of mine.)
Posted by rob!]]> Sun, 12 Jul 2009 17:06:32 -0700 The Stranger Posted by jimmy]]> Sun, 12 Jul 2009 16:57:57 -0700 The Stranger Posted by Lee]]> Sun, 12 Jul 2009 16:52:22 -0700 The Stranger
These were very common houseplants in my grandparents homes....
Posted by hartiepie]]> Sun, 12 Jul 2009 16:44:16 -0700 The Stranger Posted by Vince]]> Sun, 12 Jul 2009 16:29:59 -0700 The Stranger Posted by Lindy West]]> Sun, 12 Jul 2009 16:08:29 -0700 The Stranger