Yours is made in June 2008.

These things are dangeruss. I have had a few where the ballast has gone with a right bang.

Not so much. Most of the CFLs in my mother (Osram usually) and my father homes (Osram, Sunlight) and in my hostel (Eurolux, LUXTEN, Hyundai and other generics), died peacefully. Also in my father and my mother home, I replace immediately every CFL that flickers with the mains.
I had one time a Philips Genie 8W which lasted very short. Today I have Osram Duluxstar 8W instead, which last very long, since I ensures that it burns base up in free air (My spotlight in my father home mounted upward to the ceiling, my table lamp that used as the computer desk lamp, is without its lampshade).

@ rjluna2: thanks

@Liam: that's really frightening! I've been hearing about CFLs going out with a bang or catching fire from YouTube videos! I'm so glad that I don't have any Philips Genies running in my house- just my Philips Master PL electronic in my bedroom and the rest are OSRAM and MEGAMAN, plus some unbranded Spirals that I got from B&Q a while ago

@dor123: I had one CFL failure from an unbranded spiral CFL which I got in B&Q a while ago. It then died peacefully after 2 years of running almost 24/7 without any smoke or fire.
My OSRAM DULUXSTAR CFL which has lasted for 3 years roughly (and still going) has its base down because I use it for one of the ceiling rose fixtures in my house, but it is properly ventilated

I've witnessed a few CFLs exhibiting violent failure .. one in the pub started flickering then failed with a bright flash and loud bang, tripping the breaker and I've had several at home which evidently did the same (no escaping sparks or flames though). I now remove them when they show signs of failure.


BG

@BG101: oh my goodness, lucky that there was no sparks or fire what was the brands of the CFLS that exhibited violent failure in your house

i'm using the edison based 18w daylight version in my room since 2011 without any problems. It's modified with a PTC thermistor to prheheating the cathodes before ignition

Good idea with this modification, Adam

Daylight CFLS give out a much better light for when you need to do work but I must admit they can look ghostly when contrasted with warm white

Lol my house is practically full of Genies... well, less than it was but still a few in daily use. One of them even makes a "tzzzt" sound when I power it up so it probably needs taking out of service (read: taking apart and being destroyed on a 400W SON ballast).

In all honesty I find them ok so far. I'd rather provide general lighting for the house with mass produced non-rare stuff and save the golden oldies for occasions or special effect lighting.

Good idea- use up all of the mass produced stuff for general everyday use and keep the oldies for special lighting effects, I'm following this idea too

I have a couple identical, but with the E14 base attack.

Ah yes these do come with E14 bases

I prefer these rounder U tube bends on these ones