You can take your protests to the manufacturer, Mars. They also make a bunch of other products, including M&Ms, Skittles and Snickers (complete list here: http://www.mars.com/global/Mars+Directory/United+States/Company+Search+Results.htm), so be sure you're not rewarding them by buying other products they manufacture. I don't ordinarily resort to this, but I finally sent them an email pointing out how their commercials are having the exact opposite of the desired effect, and asking them to cease and desist. Whether they even respond to the email or not, we'll see. I'll keep y'all posted if they do. Here is a link that might be useful: Give them a piece of your mind

My favorite has been Fine Gardening. I have every issue since the first. The second favorite was Country Living Gardener, but they stopped and will be publishing specialty issues twice a year. I loved the garden writing. GreenPrints is a garden writing publication, with essays and stories. I haven't seen Garden Gate in 8 years. It seemed to be a great mag for beginners, though, back then.

At least these people seem to be honest. Crazy, but honest. Unfortunately, many charities are not what people think. Actually, very little money trickles into the hands of the needy. Most charities only give 15% to the actual cause. It's sad, but true. The administrative costs are very high. Most people who set up charities mean well, but the truth is different. I worked for a non-profit, charity-like entity. Supposedly we were one of the best/most honest ones out there. I'm very idealistic, so I really believed in the bologney the management were feeding their employees. The truth was that the company did some things borderline scamming in order to get more money from the STATE (our tax dollars). Too much to go into their tactics, so I won't. Also, they would send out mailings/solicitations to people, crying poverty. When money came in, the management got the raise first. They paid the ground employees bare minimum what the STATE would make them do, or else the state would not give the charity any money. Yes, there were kick backs from United Way etc. Sick,I tell you. The ground employees worked hard & for peanuts. The management had very nice jobs, the best health insurance, benefits, worked only 32 hours etc. They always complained that "the industry" doesn't pay much. I thought they(management) got paid very well. They hardly worked. Most of their work consisted of making it look like they were doing something & shuffling paperwork. They came in when they pleased. Left when they pleased. They only worried about how to get more money funneled into the facility. I didn't see ANY of the management care about the people they were supposedly helping!!! I worked in Human resources so I had access to lots of information. It bothered me to see some things. I left the facility. It gave me a bad taste for charities in general. I actually did a paper in college on charities. When 15% goes to the actual cause, that is a GREAT percentage! Yikes! That gives you some food for thought... I believe in DIRECT giving to the needy. DH gives to a couple of his favorite ones. He's still in denial. Now, the only charities "I" help out are animal charities, because somebody has to take care of the animals. I have not met anyone working with animals who was rich or didn't love animals. However, most people charities are borderline scams. You always read in the paper how someone is hauled away to jail for misappropriating funds. I believe, that's only a tiny glimps into the real picture. There are many LEGAL ways of getting & appropriating money from the public for charities & "the management" have themselves nice jobs with benefits. The grunge workers defend the charities because they are really in it for the right reasons. They see the happiness in the needy eyes. However, the mangement only worries about getting more money for their nice jobs...

Thanks, ladies! :o) Well, Kelly...I just got my originals back in the mail today. It came with the following: - a basketball template from PuzzleMates - 3 page toppers - a small sheet of stickers (say cheese/camera theme) - scrapable scribbles cupid pattern - a pkg of clear/silver/gold/white/black photo corners from 3L - a pkg of large memorabilia pockets from 3L - quilt pieces from cut-it-up (green/yellow/green checkered die cuts...they look like they are flower petals?????) - 2 sheets from Bits & Pieces (one with titles about big brothers and one about winter stuff) - a Disney Mickey & Friends book of Christmas papers (Hot off the Press) - a journaling genie (Funky) - a key chain (says "Scrappers are Lil' Angels with Scissors") - 2 copies of the issue I'm thrilled about some of it and don't have a clue yet about what to do with the rest of it. I'm glad to finally get my originals back though. Those were the goodies I was really waiting for! :o) Leah