I read about this (obscure) little trick the other day and I have to say that I have found it very useful already.

To your gmail address, add +XXXX when you use it to register somewhere online or buy something, or give out for raffles, etc. Number of +chars does not seem to matter.

You would do: [email protected] for example (not that I'm saying the NYT would sell your email).

Mail will get seamlessly routed to your gmail inbox. If you ever start getting major spam to +NYT, you can automatically route all +NYT mail to the trash or spam folder and change it to something else at the site. You also know who sold your email ID!

Same goes if you have a blog w/ an email contact there: [email protected].

It saves keeping up w/ numerous Hotmail or other accounts -- all you have to do is manage one now. Very slick! ^