Sometimes the most seemingly ordinary collectible can repeatedly give rise to the same odd question. This has been the case since the publication of our article on salt and pepper shakers in Auctionbytes-Update in the June 22, 2003 issue (http://digbig.com/4hxma). A number of readers have wanted to know, which has the larger (or fewer) holes, the salt or the pepper?

While the traditional answer seems to favor the salt, the debate is quite lively at several sites including Overstated.net (http://overstated.net/03/06/04-salt-n-peppa-debate), Ask Me Help Desk (http://www.askmehelpdesk.com/advice/t-23179.html), and Google Answers (http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=442635).

Decisions, decisions.

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As most collectors of TV Guide must know, the last digest-sized issue, featuring Reba McEntire as "Lucy Ricardo," hit the newsstands early last October. Beginning with the October 17, 2005 issue, the Guide assumed a larger magazine format, with truncated listings.

Now Bangzoom has published the ultimate guide to the Guide with "over 3700 full color pictures" of "all the national and regional digest size covers from 1953 to 2005." It is called, "TV GUIDE: The Official Collectors Guide - Celebrating An Icon," by Dr. Stephen F Hofer, with a foreward by Michael Davis, Senior Editor, TV Guide (http://digbig.com/4hxmg).

The book includes a secondary-market price guide, but its greatest value lies in the memories it conjures while looking through over 50 years of television history.

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For those who collect Wade Whimsies figurines, check out the new Red Rose Tea site at http://www.redrosefigurines.com.

There, you'll find a history of Red Rose figurines, links, newsletter, official club, and a shop offering new and recent items (just in case you weren't able to drink enough tea to collect all the premiums!).

You can also view all six American-market figurine series from 1983 to the present, including their latest "Pet Shop" animals.

Happy hunting!

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If you're a collector of flip books, you might want to take a look at the TCM (Turner Classic Movie) site (http://www.tcm.com). They're offering a set of three books featuring scenes from 1933's "King Kong," "The Wizard of Oz" (1939), and Hitchcock's "North by Northwest" (1959) (http://digbig.com/4hxmd). The pack of three comes in a protective plastic case. You'll also find a wealth of material on Hollywood and the movies, poster reproductions, a monthly contest, and more!

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Our article on Tiki Collectibles (http://digbig.com/4hxme) prompted a reader to suggest several more websites that might be of general interest.

Oogo-Mooga (http://www.ooga-mooga.com) allows a subscriber to create a page for his/her mug collection, while the forums at Tiki Central (http://www.tikicentral.org) appear to cover every topic from history and collectibles values to food and beverages.

Enjoy!