Saphire: The following link explains just one of the reasons why you might be getting mail from those you would least expect. That and search engines like Zaba, USA people search, etc. I've heard of search engines that will also list known relatives and neighbors. When we rented, we lived across the hall from someone who didn't pay a debt. We got a call from a collection agency asking questions about him. We told them we didn't know the person and not to call us again. Data breaches 2006 idtheft.about.com/od/dataandstat1/a/2006_breaches.htm I'd be cautious about anyone who called ME asking for information. My sister in law got a call one day from her bank. They knew enough about her that she gave them her checking account number. They started withdrawing 9.99 out of her account each month. When she finally noticed, she went to the bank in person and asked why anyone would be allowed to withdraw funds from her account without written authorization. They told her that because the company (insurance) was an affiliate, they didn't need anything in writing to be able to do this. They wouldn't refund her money so she told them where to go and switched banks. I told her she should report them to the Office of the Comptroller. cathie54: Years ago I went to a big fair, and filled out a ticket for a drawing to win a prize. (I think it for a car). I started getting tons of junk mail and phone calls that just wouldn't quit! Most contests are just a marketing ploy to get your information. I don't usually fill these out, but when I do, I don't include my telephone number and change the way I spell my name so I know where the junk is originating from. This works well with magazine subscriptions. I used to subscribe to Fine Woodworking. I subscribed under the name "Woody Johnson"! If you pay with a money order, it doesn't matter what name you use. That way I could keep track of who was selling my name and to who. Some people use their real name and add a fake middle initial that starts with the name of the magazine. Everyone has their own system. We don't get many telemarketing calls these days. We signed up for the Do Not Call registry and never answer our phone. Our answering machine screens every single call. Family and friends know to say something if they want us to pick up. We don't bother with caller I.D. or privacy manager. It is just another racket. I think it should be against the law for the phone company to charge you for phone service AND be allowed to sell your number to strangers without your permission. I don't mind the solicitations for charity as much as I mind the political calls. What is the worst are the autodialers. They never leave a number to call so you can a) tell them where to go or b) tell them you won't vote for them as long as they use autodialers to harass you! Did you know when you call 800 and 900 numbers from your home telephone number, your number is displayed to the party you are calling? Doesn't matter if you have an unlisted/unpublished number. I was in an auto accident a few years ago. The police showed up and had us fill out an accident report. Within a month I got mail from three lawyers and a chiropractor. Needless to say none of them got my business. mariend: "What is confusing to me is I shop at a store for one item they carry, which I use and that is it. Now I am getting catalogs and emails from that store. One organization I really got into it because they wanted medical information from DH and if anyone had diabeties in the family and I told them first, I subscribe to the magazine, and what they were asking me is not avaiable to anyone but the medical staff." Unless you paid cash, they will send you a catalog and sell your name to other stores (whether you opt out or not). We started donating to charity anonymously when we learned they sell their lists. Not worried about a tax deductions so we use money orders. There are many good causes out there, but we don't want to be hounded for $ by every single one of them.

Hurricane Sandy Recovery This link has a lot of information Get Help Register for Assistance: Survivors in declared counties in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut can register for assistance. Learn more information and FAQs before you apply for assistance. Business Loans - Your business may be eligible for disaster assistance from the Small Business Administration. Government Contracting - The General Services Administration helps federal, state, and local governments get supplies, equipment, and services needed to support disaster relief. USDA Offers Food Assistance to Those Affected by Hurricane Sandy State of New York, USDA is working with the state, the Food Bank of New York City, and partner agencies to distribute approximately 1.1 million pounds of USDA Foods. Food will be distributed through nearly 1,000 designated emergency feeding outlets to affected households in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester and Rockland counties New Jersey, USDA worked late last week with the State of New Jersey and the Community Food Bank of New Jersey to coordinate the delivery of 39,000 pounds of USDA Foods to support congregate feeding efforts. The food bank will combine USDA Foods with existing food stocks to produce 15,000 meals per day for 5-7 days to be distributed in cooperation with the Red Cross and Salvation Army at shelters. USDA is working closely with states and industry partners in affected states to remind Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) retailers of the procedure for manually processing SNAP transactions during power outages, in order to ensure that SNAP recipients living in areas affected by power outages continue to have access to food. In certain areas in New York, USDA has granted a waiver to allow SNAP recipients to purchase hot foods using SNAP benefits. Under normal circumstances, SNAP benefits cannot be used to purchase hot, ready-to-eat foods. USDA has granted this waiver to accommodate individuals that have lost homes, are affected by power outages, or are otherwise unable to prepare food due to damage caused by the hurricane. USDA has approved requests from the states of Connecticut, Maryland, New York, Rhode Island and Virginia and to issue automatic, mass replacements of benefits to SNAP households in certain areas affected by the hurricane. USDA has also approved requests from the states of USDA has approved requests from the states of Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia and West Virginia to extend the time SNAP recipients have to report loss of food purchased using SNAP benefits and to request replacement benefits. *or more information about disaster nutrition assistance, visit direct PDF link. Visit this link for the latest Hurricane Sandy Response information and resources available from government agencies.

I don't use bookmarks. I made myself an "intranet." (The local-drive version of an internet.) I got that habit from work, where I used an intranet to store all the links and priceless info such as tried-and-true procedures, contact information for suppliers, etc. That was how I documented my job responsibilities. As I left each job, I told my replacement to "read the intranet." I was leaving him/her with established procedures and much more information than I had when I started the job! I used Netscape's HTML editor to make my intranet. I update it whenever I find new info. (It's not just quilting. It has info for all my hobbies and interests, and info I need to run the household such as: local government, the different insurance we carry, etc.) My intranet is simple. The frame on the left is for navigation. It contains all the categories, in alphabetical order. When I click on a category, the frame of the right displays all links and notations for that category. I find this very handy, because instead of just a single URL, I can store my login and password right next to the link that takes me there. I can store links to multiple pages of a large website. I can store any other info relating to the website or blog, with notations such as "she does a lot of applique." Lately, I have been visiting the blogs of quilters, to see photos of their projects. I don't think I'm ever gonna have a blog of my own. I like our little forum much better. Instead of post after post about me, it's a threaded discussion, and I get to learn sooo much from everyone else.

Preface/A Piece of Advice: When you post a layout for comments, please do not take the comments you receive personally. Everyone here is trying to help, not criticize maliciously. We want you to have a kitchen that, in the end, functions wonderfully well and looks nice overall. This may mean that some of us may tear apart your layout and rebuild it to what we think will work better, but it is done with good intentions. We are not the best at just "validating" someones layout, we are best at critiquing! I will warn you that most of us here are "function over form" (or "function first")...meaning we strive first for a functional layout and then fit the form or look around it. It is far easier to make a functional kitchen look nice than it is to make a nice looking but dysfunctional kitchen functional. So, if you are a form/looks over function person, be sure to state that when you post. Some people here think "function over form" means we want all kitchens to look the same....not true! What we do want is all kitchens to function well...which means that in 99% of the cases, the workflow is the same...and that will mean some similarities due to workflow. However, as each kitchen is unique, each will have its own unique quirks, etc. In the end, remember this is your kitchen. You do not have to make any of the recommended changes if you do not want to! [Note: If you are just posting for validation of your layout (i.e., you do NOT want comments that suggest changes), explicitly state that as well. If you do not, people will comment on it! Warning: People may comment anyway, it is tough to let a kitchen go that you think is dysfunctional and will cause angst later...especially if it is not yet installed and we think we can help. Bear with us, we are just trying to help!] ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Layout Help We often get requests to help with layouts. Many of us enjoy doing this but it would help if you can post a copy of your floorplan or layout, preferably to-scale. The best place to start is to draw up your kitchen (to scale, if possible) either without cabinets & appliances if you do not know where to start or with your proposed new layout if you have something to start with. Regardless, measure and label everything...walls, ceiling height, widths of doors/doorways & windows, distances between windows, walls, doors/doorways, etc. If you cannot move plumbing or gas, mark them on your drawing as well. Mark all doors/doorways & windows (with dimensions) and label them as to where they lead. If they are actual doors, mark how they swing. It also would be helpful to see the connecting rooms, even entire first floor layouts (or whatever floor your kitchen is on), so we see how they interact with the kitchen and/or extend the kitchen feel and flow. Make note of traffic flows in and out of the kitchen Sample Layout Make a list of things like: What are your goals? E.g., more counter space, more storage, seating in the kitchen (island? peninsula? table?), etc. What is your family composition? Adults? Children? Age ranges of children? Current? Future? How many kitchen workers are there? Cook(s)? Cleanup? Helpers? Now? Future? (E.g., if you have young children, plan for them as teens for both "sizing" of seating as well as helping in the kitchen in general) Do you or anyone in your home cook? (No, this is not a facetious question. Some people do not cook and their kitchen is a show place only. If that is what works for you & your family, that's fine! We just need to know that.) How do you see your kitchen used? Just for cooking/cleaning up? Children doing homework while you cook? Party place? Do you entertain a lot? If so, formal? Informal? Do you want your kitchen to be a "hang out" place? Parties only? Everyday? Do you have a separate DR? Do you use it frequently? Infrequently? If infrequently, do you want to begin using it more frequently (e.g., for daily/nightly family meals)? Would you like to open up the kitchen to adjacent areas? Close it up? Do you plan to merge two rooms/areas (e.g., Nook and Kitchen into a Kitchen only) Where are you flexible? Can windows or doorways change size? Can they be moved or eliminated? Can windows be raised/lowered? Can any walls come down? Does the sink have to be centered under a window? Does it have to be under a window at all? Note: The more constraints you put on a space (e.g., sink centered under a window, not willing to move plumbing, electric, or gas lines), the fewer options there are. So, be sure any limitations/constraints you mention are true constraints. You could say you would like something to not be moved/changed or placed in a certain location, but if it is not a must or truly impossible, then mention it is a preference but that you would consider something different. BTW...do not assume something is "too expensive" to do...check around b/f assuming, you may be pleasantly surprised at how little it costs! (E.g., if you have a basement, moving water, etc. is generally relatively inexpensive.) If one can be fit... Do you bake a lot and do you want a Baking Center? Do you want a coffee/tea/beverage center? Do you want a snack center? What appliances do you plan on having (helps to figure out work flow, work zones, and types of cabinets...upper/lower vs full height, etc.) Range or Cooktop or Rangetop? Single or Double or no Wall Oven? Warming Drawer? MW? (Advantium, MW Drawer, OTR MW/Hood, countertop, built-in, shelf?) DW? Standard or drawers? If drawers, 1 or 2? Refrigerator (Top/bottom freezer, SxS, or all-fridge/freezer? Counter-depth (CD), standard-depth, or built-in?) Ventilation Hood? Other? Sizes of desired appliances (e.g., 30" or 36" or 48" cooktop; 36" or 42" or 48" wide or other Refrigerator? etc.) Pantry: Walk-in or cabinets? In the Kitchen or outside the Kitchen (e.g., Mudroom or hall)? ***** Very Important ***** Is there anything you: Cannot live without? Definitely do not want? Would like if you can find a way? This information will be valuable to not only you, but also any Kitchen Designers you may hire or talk to. Additionally, if you have been haunting the site, you will have noticed that we also help with almost all aspects of a remodel. If you do ask for help, then all of the above information will help us help you. Sometimes we stray from what you think you want to give you some ideas that you might not have thought of, but this is your kitchen and you can veto anything...we may argue for something (we are very good at that!), but in the end it is what you want. And remember, we are just giving you ideas and layout options, in the end when you finalize your design it is whatever you want and decide on! After all, this is your kitchen! [Keep this advice in mind if/when you use a Kitchen Designer or when dealing with a contractor--again, this is your kitchen, not his or hers...do not let them talk you into anything unless you are sure it is what you want!]