Facebook Graph API: Using the uid modifier removes permissions

Facebook Graph API: Using the uid modifier removes permissions

I'm having difficulty accessing facebook graph information on a
person-by-person basis.
To experiment, I'm using the facebook graph explorer (though the behavior
is the same in my client). When hit this request:
<myIdentifier>?fields=friends.fields(birthday,work,education,first_name,last_name)
I am getting everything back correctly as expected.
I'd like to ask for just the names up front, and then later ask for the
birthday, work, and education info as needed (to speed things up).
However, when I try to add a 'uid' modifier to the request, all i get back
is the identifiers. For example, if i try hitting this url
<myIdentifier>?fields=friends.uid(<friendIdentifier>).fields(birthday,first_name,last_name)
I no longer receive any birthday, work, education, or name information.
Also, if i do this using the explorer tool, those fields become grayed
out, suggesting i don't have access to that data. Anyone know whats going
on?