I'm curious what the new ones look like- the only photos that seem to pop up look like the old single-wire version that I replaced. Haven't used any of the recent ones I bought yet, but they were $40 for 6 vs $20 each (best I can tell for OEM ones). I also have already put crimp spade connectors on the wires to mate up with the ones I replaced the original with. That should make replacing again not a big deal- except for the state of the threaded holes in the bottom of the burners (TBD). I like the pie-shaped top to the igniter b/c I think it's a little more forgiving for placement than the single wire. Our most used burner has become a little twitchy to light, but I think that's expected with 12 years or so of runtime- need to take it apart and probably just replace the igniter. [edit- in case it doesn't jump out, stove was purchased/installed in 2006]

I am a long time CU subscriber who is currently trying to buy an 18,000 BTU AC. Aside from the fact that CU doesn't rate anything that size, what I find, time and time again, is that user reports don't match the ratings. The same is true on refrigerators. So let me talk about what I we going on - CU has often used oddball criteria to evaluate products. Back in the 70's, water usage was key to a washing machine's review. I am sure this sill goes on. They are, after all, engineers. -no one looks at the long term. If you think this is a problem with appliances, think about what has been going on with pharmaceuticals. - CU doesn't realize that style or design exist, therefore, you cannot sort refrigerators by counter depth or near counter depth - you can select by size though. For stoves, you can't sort by slide in. This is really annoying if you need a specific design. -Perhaps the most famous example of CU calling a product wrong was a top ranked American Standard toilet, which became a class action law suit and which on, I think, Terry Love's plumbing site, there are an unbelievable number of negative reviews and criticisms. None of these guys could figure out why CU doesn't ask plumbers for their experience. I can pros and cons to this, but they have a point. - there is no question that appliances are made more cheaply than in the past, so they don't last anywhere near as long. Parts that were formerly metal are now plastic, often cheap plastic. Add to this the fact that appliances often aren't packed with sufficiently strong materials so they often arrive damaged. Repairs of any type are out sourced, so they are not do e properly and are a major source of hassles. - It is hard to evaluate user reports, because of all the fake reviews, positive and negative on sites. Also, many products have few or new reviews on line. In the end, I found it impossible to figure out which AC to buy because the reviews and the rankings didn't agree. I planned to go to some privately owned stores, but THEY all had reviews that were as bad as the big boxes. So I went into the ONE store that had good reviews and bought what the salesman recommended, a GE, despite all the comments about the quality of GE products. One review said the store pushes cheaply made GEs - but everything is cheaply made. So I decided to trust what the salesman said "In this neighborhood, we wouldn't dare sell anything that isn't good." Now THAT is true - Park Slope, Brooklyn is famously whiney, entitled and quick to complain. It is also quite affluent. Did I make the right choice? No idea. But I need an AC and this is as good a way to decide as any. Good luck!

I dunno - when it comes to the online stuff on paint/color websites I think there's only 'so much' they're good for. Because color does not render true on monitors. Monitor color is additive which means you see color because of emitted light and real paint chips are subtractive color. Subtractive means you see color because of reflection/absorption. Not sure what you use the planner for exactly, but it'd be no great loss for me if I couldn't get in. I do not stick with one brand for various reasons. As a DIYer/homeowner tho, I think it's best to follow the color and buy the best grade you can afford. Meaning when you find the color you want, it's easier and better to buy it from the store you got the chip -- it's 'home brand' if you will. You can get crappy grades of paint at the name brand signature paint stores the same as you can at the discount big box around the corner. There's just no two ways about it, you get what you pay for when it comes to a can of paint. The more you spend, the more features and benefits you get. Now, the necessity of all those features and benefits are debateable. My list of 'must haves' in a can of paint could differ from someone else's list. And that's the reason there are so many grades to choose from. There is something for everyone.

BTW, has this article on the best time to buy appliances in the Boston area. https://blog.yaleappliance.com/best-time-to-buy-kitchen-appliances-in-boston Best Times to Buy a Kitchen Appliance Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Any holiday with a Monday off is in play. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is usually in the middle of January. President's Day: Without question, after Black Friday, the next major holiday is President's Day in February. Memorial Day: At this point, I need to explain that appliance buyers "buy" twice a year in late April and late August. Warehouses are the fullest after that. Memorial Day has been a big holiday simply because it is the first after a buying show. July 4th: It is huge everywhere else but Boston, mostly because nobody is around. This year with price increases, it may be more important Labor Day: Circle this day on your calendar. Labor Day is the closest holiday after the Summer buying show, and many stores and brands will have a tough time without a Tax Holiday to sell products. Black Friday: Black Friday is the biggest promotional time of the year. It is the last time for factories to move products. Once again, some major companies, like Samsung and LG, have used Black Friday to obtain share by discounting their products.