Joining the party a bit late - but going through the same issues on our kitchen redesign. Should be easy as I am only dealing with cooking. After a month of reading reviews and playing with ovens and cooktops, I think I decided on the following: Wolf e series oven (was very close to the elux icon as I loved the racks). Final decision - size of the oven, 2 convection fans and on sale! Wolf 36 inch induction cooktop - Ann Arbor building inspectors are following the make up air handling very strictly and need to keep the vent under 400cfm or would have to add a make up air system - which outweighed the benefits. Also considered the miele, thermador, and a late addition - JennAire - but the sleek look of the Wolf won plus it is on sale. GE Advantium Monogram speed oven - This will be over the Wolf oven and I think it will look OK - similar handles and overall appearance. Also considered the Miele and Elux. I have a newer Elux French door fridge and love it - it has the LED lighting.(but no ice/water through the door) It cost a bit more than some others but it has saved me $$ in less wasted food. When I headed out of town for 2 weeks urgently and returned with the milk and lettuce still usable - need I say more? Also, I took my favorite serving dishes and tested the various units -the elux was set up best. I also have a Miele dishwasher. It is several years old and I will re-use it. It is so quiet that I have to put my ear near to verify it is running. The door pops open to assist in drying at the end of the cycle. I also took my favorite dishes to try in the dishwasher - I can put 14 place settings in the dishwasher and run my china and crystal in the dishwasher! Hope I made the right decisions on the new appliances - the posts have been helpful!

You and me both. I go to the Humane Society at least once a week to pick up possums and I see such beautiful dogs of all breeds and mixed breeds. Not long ago, one of the shelters I go to got in many, many small breeds...poms, chihuahuas, rat terriers, yorkies...from a puppy mill. Yes, they are still out there. I think it is almost obscene to buy a dog or a cat when there are so many that need homes. Plus, if you get them from the shelter, having them spayed or neutered and shots are included in the price, which is very reasonable around here...sometimes as low as $25 if you are elderly or taking an elderly dog, and I've never known of one to be more than $65...which is a bargain on the vet care alone. One of my dogs is a mini schnauzer x mini dachshund. I finally traced down her former owner...who is in prison now. I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't pay a big price for her...because she is a "designer" dog. What an idiot. Everyone who wants a dog or a cat should go to their shelters and look at the beautiful pets there. It will rip your heart out.

You could use a pop can with a few pennies in it to shake at the cats when they start up. The loud noise should startle them and at least convince them to take their gripe-fest to another room. I live with 14 of the beasts, so I am regularly dealing with spats, gripes, catfrontations, and assorted other nasty exchanges among the feline troops. I have a well-honed "DO IT OR DIE!" (or "STOP IT OR DIE!") voice that generally suffices to put a quick end to such nonsense. The kids know they've pushed me too far if I actually have to address the issue up close and personal. I rarely have to grab a cat and put him or her into a time-out anymore. Cats (exclusive of lions) may not be pack animals, but they all understand and respect social hierarchy. I think in your situation I'd be inclined to grab Jo by the scruff of the neck when he tries to initiate trouble, yell in his face, and stick him in a room by himself for 30 mins. Yes, I know, I'm a horribly abusive mommy who should never be allowed anywhere near a 4-legged animal. ;-) But as soon as Jo figures out what is in his own best interest (which will happen very quickly), he'll quit being such a pain in the neck. You just have to give him a good reason to adjust his priorities. Cats aren't stupid, as we all know. You might also buy a variety of cat toys, scratchers, window bird feeders and cat seats, and some loose catnip. Jo's behavior is probably born primarily of boredom. He needs distractions that he'll find more interesting than intimidating Fred. He can't shift his priorities and attentions away from Fred if he doesn't have anything else to shift them onto. Good luck! Laurie

Salgal, I understand your rant! Went through the same thing a few years ago. I have a pond in my backyard. For years, Mallard ducks would come and go and swim in the pond, lay their eggs on the shore, etc. I also had chickens at the time and would feed the chickens scratch corn. What ever was left, the (wild) Mallards would eat it. I never fed the Mallards outright. I got a visit from the Florida Wildlife Commission and was wanting to fine me because the wild mallards were residing on my property! I actually laughed in his face and told him to sit here for a few days and watch the comings and going of these wild mallards and I bet there wouldn't be a darn thing he could do about them. He left and I never got another visit again.