When I read my first issue of an ezine, if I am instantly totally impressed, I set up a subfolder for that ezine and a message rule that puts every issue in that folder. I generally eagerly read them as soon as I see I have unopened mail in that folder. If I find later that I am not enjoying that ezine as much, I move whole folder to another catagory or I unsubscribe and delete folder.

I also have a subfolder called 'Checking Out'. If I am not totally enamored with ezine, it goes into a subfolder in that file. I have these labeled: 'Daily's", 'Weekly's' and 'Monthly's. I add from address to appropriate message rule and those ezines go to their folders.

I read 'Checking Out' ezines as time allows. Very often, by second or third issue, ezine has graduated it its own folder. I sort by name and read 'Daily's' more often that others but I do at least scan them all.

If I have received 5 or 6 issues of an ezine and it still remains in my just looking folder, I am not very interested in that ezine. I unsubscribe. Ezine editors might want to note that, when they send me 4 or more 'solos' in a day, I am probably only seeing one real issue of their ezine when I'm trying to decide if I want to remain subscribed.

I have to admit that I've recently added a new subfolder called 'Free Ad Subs'. Yep, you guessed it, stuff I don't read unless have extra time or I need an ad code. I will stay subscribed though until I figure out a better way to market.

I don't know, maybe I'm just too new out here to know what canned meat is.

If you'd like some helpful hints on how to manage 400+ ezines in your mailbox, send for my free helpful article "Manage Your E-mail" mailto:wonderclass1@GetResponse.com.

But in your browser just click on 'View Source Code' and search for letters 'http'. That will take you to spammer's affiliate link.

(2) Reporting to Web Hosts

If spam doesn't contain an affiliate link, its likely that it is coming from owner of domain name. In that case you'll have to report it to spammer's web host or their ISP.

To make a report to spammer's web host just go to Whois, directory of registered domain names: http://www.netsol.com/cgi-bin/whois/whois

Type in spammer's domain (the website address that appears in spam) together with extension (.com, .org, .net etc).

The host for that domain will usually be listed as Technical Contact in Whois record and there will be an email address for contacting them.

(3) Reporting to ISPs

To report a spammer to his Internet Service Provider, you'll have to look at spam's 'extended headers'.

Extended headers show servers that message passed through in order to get to you. The instructions for viewing extended headers will vary depending on what email client you are using.

=> In Pegasus Mail, open offending message and then right-click and choose 'Show raw message data'.

=> In Eudora Light, click on 'Tools' in top menu bar, and then 'Options', and then select checkbox option that says 'Show all headers (even ugly ones)' and click OK.

=> In Outlook Express, open offending message, select 'Properties' from File menu and then click 'Details' tab.

Reading and understanding extended headers is quite a detailed subject. Here's an excellent free tutorial on how to decipher extended headers: http://www.doughnut.demon.co.uk/SpamTracking101.html

As an alternative to these reporting techniques, you could use a web-based spam reporting service such as SpamCop (www.spamcop.net). SpamCop deciphers spam's message headers and traces mail back to its source.

However, SpamCop is known to generate complaints about innocent third parties, and as a result, many system administrators ignore complaints received from SpamCop.

There is one kind of spam that techniques in this article probably won't help you with: spam from China.

This is most peculiar spam you're ever likely to receive. For example I regularly get messages from a certain ChenHua of China-Lutong mechanical company asking me if I would like to order hydraulic heads for VE distributor pump.

Spam is not an issue in China so it's unlikely you would stop spammer by reporting him to a 3rd party. However, while doing research for this article I came across a web page that offers a very ingenious (though rather severe) solution to Chinese spam.

The Chinese government recently ordered all ISPs in China to start monitoring email for subversive phrases. This anti-spammer replies to Chinese spam with a message that includes subversive phrases, such as "weapons and ammunition", "Falung Gong" and "Free Tibet".

But I don't recommend you do this - Chinese spammer could end up spending years in a forced labor camp. Even worst spammer in world doesn't deserve that.

Good luck in your fight against spam!