Q: Are poinsettia plants poisonous to people?
— Judy Brooks, Mableton
A: Poinsettia plants are not poisonous, according to the Mayo Clinic, but eating the leaves or stems might "cause a mild stomach ache, vomiting or diarrhea," according to the clinic's website. If eaten, severe signs and symptoms are unlikely. Also, the plant's sap might cause a "mild, itchy rash." The Mayo Clinic warns that some people might have allergic reactions to poinsettias.
Q: When U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton travels, does she fly by private plane?
— Doris Moseley, Atlanta
A: Clinton travels in a reconfigured U.S. Air Force Boeing 757 that functions as a mobile office, according to the U.S. Department of State's website (www.state.gov). It includes a cabin for Clinton, seats for her staff, security and a communications section for "continuous information anywhere in the world." Members of the press and foreign dignitaries also travel on the plane, which was described as "not fancy, nothing like Air Force One" by a BBC News reporter last year. This year, Clinton had taken 18 trips to visit 71 foreign countries and traveled 261,042 miles through Dec. 17, including a trip to the Czech Republic, Belgium, Ireland and Northern Ireland earlier this month. In 2011, she visited 46 countries and flew 269,292 miles, including one six-day stretch in which she flew nearly 20,000 miles during a crisis in Libya. Clinton has said she wanted to serve only one term as Secretary of State and is expected to step down next month.
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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