You may or you may not know, but our Gary Lee Clothier is the real Mr. Know-It-All at Comics.com. Mr. Know-It-All answers readers' questions about everything from movies and television to sports, pop culture and every bit of trivia in between. Take a look at some of his recent questions and answers.
My favorite baseball team, the Atlanta Braves, was once based in Milwaukee. I heard they were in another city before that. Which one? -- Barnesville, Ga.
A: Gary Lee Clothier: Boston. The team was founded there in 1876 as the Red Caps. Through the years, the name was changed to the Beaneaters, Doves, Rustlers, Bees and finally the Boston Braves in 1941. They played their first year in Milwaukee in 1953, and then moved to Atlanta for the 1966 season.
Q: A co-worker claims a 1974 aluminum Lincoln-head penny was recently discovered, and that we should examine pennies before spending them. Is this true? -- J.J., Salinas, Calif.
A: GLC: I found your answer in a recent issue of the journal Numismatic News. Because of the rising price of copper in the early 1970s, Congress was urged to approve a change in the alloy of the cent from copper to aluminum. Some 1.5 million aluminum coins were minted, but they were quickly melted down when Congress refused to authorize the change. However, the Mint now admits that 11 of the coins are still missing.
You can read all kinds of interesting Q&A's from Mr. Know-It-All as part of the Comics Extra subscription package.
It's a good thing Mary Hunt of Everyday Cheapskate is here to answer questions about saving time and money and especially the coffee!
DEAR MARY: My husband likes to buy the large can of coffee because it's a much better price, but it always seems to go stale before we can use it up. Is there a way to "revive" stale coffee? -- Rebecca A., Massachusetts
DEAR REBECCA: Once stale, you're out of luck. To keep your coffee fresh as long as possible, you need a good, airtight container like Tupperware. When you open the can, transfer the contents, apply the lid and then "burp" it to remove excess air. Store it in a cool, dry place, but never in the refrigerator or freezer. Contrary to popular belief, that does not help keep coffee fresh and may actually cause "pre-staling" to occur. The rule of thumb for ground coffee is that you should consume it within 21 days of opening. However, if you are diligent to seal and burp after each use, you should be able to enjoy fresh-tasting coffee at least a week longer. And you can squeeze even more time if you keep a two- to three-day supply in a zip-type bag so you don't have to open the larger container as often.
You can get tons of great time and money saving tips with Everyday Cheapskate as part of the Comics Extra subscription package.