When I was a kid, the gold standard for consumer products
dependability was the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. Consumer
Reports magazine would soon eclipse that "seal" in importance to
consumers, since it not only approved, but also ranked and recommended
consumer products by category. Consumer Guide followed and then J.D.
Powers & Associates. My questions are these:

1) Whatever happened to the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval?! Is it
still extent and, if so, what are the criteria for its granting?

2) How is Consumer Guide able to compete with Consumer Reports, given
the latter's unassailable reputation as an objective organization that
even prohibits using its rankings in ads?

3) Are J.D. Powers & Associate's criteria as stringent as those used
by Consumer Reports?