Consumer Reports: For certain items, their advice is good (things like digital cameras, cordless phones, some appliances, etc.). The advice seems unbiased and reliability data is gathered from consumers. But for things like cars, I believe the editors have a strong bias against US manufacturers and the "scores" in their ratings include subjective categories like how the car feels and its styling---things that don't mean a hill of beans. Somehow, someway, an imported car (typically Japanese) will always "perform" the best in their tests, even if objective data like 1/4 mile times and braking distance is better on the domestic. The overall score ends up lagging if the GM product is "long in the tooth" or has "shiney plastic on the interior trim" or other nonsense. Honda somehow does everything perfectly as far as CR is concerned. It cracks me up to read their ratings of wine and ice cream---things that they have no business rating since it's all a matter of personal taste. Then for something like a mattress---part of it is comfort but part is price and how well it's made---they seem to have no opinion at all. Decking? Well, I think they pretty much admit that they don't know it all. I evaluated a bunch of them for a deck and screened porch I'm having built. For a variety of reasons, I wanted composite on the deck portion instead of wood (wood in the porch). In the end, I settled on Fiberon Professional Series with the slots to accommodate hidden fasteners. The contractor I hired seems most comfortable with this particular material as he has specified it many times before and seems to have satisfied customers. I liked the darker brown color enough to go with it. I tested it against the Fiberon "Tropics" which looks nicer to me, but I didn't like how easliy "Tropics" scratched. Pro Series took harder keying before showing gauges. Also, he gave me a better price on Pro Series. One material I liked is Pro Cell which I guess now is called Azek Deck. It's lighter weight and I think all plastic with no wood fill. The colors were a little light in shade---like pastel---but the material was nice looking, like painted wood. Evergrain was nice, but not reversible. I heard good things about Geo Deck, but didn't like the look as much as the Fiberon, and it didn't feel as substantial. I might regret not picking the Azek Deck because over the long haul, it probably ages better than the Fiberon, but I do think the Fiberon is a good product in its own right. "Veranda" is made by Fiberon and appears to be the same product but with the HD label on it. Fiberon is 2nd to Trex in Sales, but has not had nearly as many issues reported as Trex has.

Moire black is probably the most popular color in the Landmark shingle. Very well received and looks good when installed.

We have polished Absolute Black Premium throughout our new kitchen and love it! Yes, we would do it again! Scratching...I think Weissman is referring to me! I scratched my counter with my diamond ring...it was, unbeknown to me, under a book on the counter. When I dragged the book toward me, I heard a scratching sound. When I picked up the book & saw my ring, my heart sank...sure enough there was a scratch about a foot long on my counter. Luckily, the scratch is so fine that I have to really search to find it...I'm sure no one else sees it! Our counters look as good today as the day they were installed (spring 2008)...no "wear & tear", etc. other than that scratch, but no one can see it but me (and I see it only if I search for it). As to "streaks"...if you wipe your counters in a circular motion you rarely see streaks...unless you have too much detergent on your dishcloth/sponge. If you do, you will probably see streaks and/or a haze...but they wipe right off with a rinsed cloth. When I want my counters to look "pristine" and shine their brightest, I use Method Daily Granite Cleaner (found at Target, BB&B, and other stores) and a microfiber cloth. Note: The microfiber cloth is a great item...it works on granite, stainless steel, etc. better than even cotton materials. There's no lint. [FYI...my ring would have scratched any surface, so any counter I had would have been scratched!]

I am in a much different zone than you are. I grow several DA roses and have for years. I grow on own root as my grafted roses pretty much reverted to root stock and I had to dig them out earlier this year. Princess Alexandra of Kent One of my favorites. Gets to be a monster and I think she would rather be a climber in my hot, hot weather. She keeps pumping out blooms even when she get reflected sun and it is 114 degrees outside. I love her huge beautiful blooms. One of Austin's best. She has canes over 8 feet now and I just cut her back a bit to keep her in line. I am expecting great blooms on her until I prune her in late December. I had Sharifa Asma. I loved that rose but she was in the same area as the root stock invasion so she had to go. I probably grew her for about 13 years or longer. She takes a long break between blooms. She doesn't seem to like our heat all that well either. I have no issues with black spot or other diseases where I live so I can't answer any questions re: how she does with them. I also don't spray and grow organically (for what that is worth) She stayed rather small for an Austin here. She was about 3--4 feet wide and about 3 feet tall. The first time I saw her in bloom, I was ready to pull out all my other roses and grow nothing but her. She is that beautiful. Scent to die for too. I miss her a lot. Other DA roses I highly recommend (and remember I am in a very different zone than you are) would be Brother Cadfael (grows very tall and upright), not a great rebloomer and prefers cooler weather than where I live. However, big, beautiful flower and a scent to make you swoon! I would also second Munstead Wood. One of Austin's best. Gets to be big in my climate. Canes are about 5 feet long or so. Blooms when it is hot. He is just something else. Flowers will go from florescent dark pink to maroon depending on how old they are and the time of the year. I am looking at a big bouquet of them as I type and they are the deepest maroon, practically black. Gorgeous! I also love Pretty Jessica. She stays about 4 feet tall and about 2--3 feet wide. Very upright. Great blooms and does well with heat. Good rebloom as well. That is her in the far left in the picture. I have also grown other Austins. I have Lady of Shalott. Not too wild about her, yet. Hasn't really done much of anything, however this is her first year, so I will patiently wait for her to grow up a bit. Very bright orange flowers that I hope will tone down with time. Lady Emma Hamilton couldn't take the heat here and died. Alnwick has not done much of anything, but again, first year, own root. I wish his flowers were bigger. Sister Elizabeth--not much of anything. Looks like she will stay small for an Austin. Again, first year, own root so we will wait and see. Just got Mary Magdalene, so can't say much about her as of yet. Emily--really can't get that rose here anymore. Very small for an Austin. About a foot high and a foot wide. Not good repeat. I keep her for sentimental reasons. Mary Webb--very few nurseries carry her. Small for an Austin. About 3 feet tall and wide. Very pale yellow flowers that fade to white immediately. Not great rebloom either. Ambridge Rose--reverted back to rootstock after 15 years of so. Smallish for an Austin. About 3 feet tall and wide. Great blooms. Not wild about the scent. Fair rebloom. Evelyn--gets to be a bit of a monster here. Tall (about 6 feet or so). Upright. Poor rebloom. Beautiful flowers and a scent to die for. I do miss her as well. She reverted back to rootstock after having her for 10 plus years. Jude the Obscure--is now very obscure. I did not like that fickle rose. Rarely bloomed here. Nothing to write home about. Never did see what the hoopla was all about for that rose. He is out of my garden. Peach Blossom--a nice pink semi double. Always the first to bloom and the last to bloom in my yard. Makes great hips and a great rose. Loved her. A bird decided to plant another plant in the middle of her so unfortunately, she also had to go this year. She was very pretty. So those are my run down. Heritage was also beautiful but couldn't take my heat. Good luck with whatever roses you decide to get.