What’s the difference between a plasma screen TV and an LCD screen TV? Consumer Reports helped us distinguish the differences between these TV types:
- There’s no clear winner between plasma TVs and LCD TVs for quality. There are reasons to pick one over the other, though.
- Plasma TVs are generally cheaper than LCDs. They also generally have better contrast, which makes for natural-looking skin tones in your picture.
- Plasma TVs also have an unlimited viewing angle, which means the picture doesn’t lose quality when you aren’t sitting right in front of the TV.
- LCDs, or liquid crystal displays, are generally brighter than plasmas.
- And the screens are less reflective which means they can look better in bright rooms.
- LCD TV’s are also better for playing video games. That's because LCD's don't have the burn-in image problem that plasmas can have. Burn-in images can happen to plasma TVs when fixed images are displayed on a monitor for a long period of time.
What happens to the National Christmas tree after the holiday season?
- Until the 1970s, a tree was transported to DC every year.
- However, now the National Christmas tree is a 40-foot living Colorado Blue Spruce.
- So, the tree is not replaced every year like the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center in New York.
- The decorations are normally removed each year on January second.
- Lighting the National Christmas has been a Presidential tradition since 1923.
Where’s the best place to store coffee beans? The National Coffee Association of U.S.A., Inc. says:
- Turns out an airtight jar is best since exposure to oxygen makes coffee beans go stale.
- Anything airtight, whether a jar or the same tightly wrapped container that the beans came in will work.
- Storing coffee beans in a refrigerator or freezer will NOT help to protect or preserve them.
Got a question for "Ask Liz"? Send any consumer questions to askliz@nbcwashington.com.
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