With newspapers, I've been able to click the drag all triangle to sell them with no problem. 

Trash piles are a bit different, but not as bad as what you've described.  At home, I can click that triangle and drag it to her trash can, but it only drops one at a time.  However it stays lit up and I just keep clicking until the trash disappears.

I've found two Zucabr rocks, and that's the only way I've been able to find them.  Other than that, I found a pink diamond and it seems that everyone on the "rich" block throws out their SimLife goggles because she's found four pairs now.  Seeds and bits of produce (ranging from putrid to perfect) are occasional bits, but the teddybears, candles, bubble baths and rubber duckys are fairly common. 

Does anyone else actually ever let their Sim keep any of this stuff? 

I have the opposite sensation of desiring more quests, but I will look into it. I mean, YAY, A QUEST! Now if only the GOOD ones would show up more.

I want TO RAAAAAAGE! *Hits wife*

I'll make an attempt in calming down.

If you stock a pond, do the fish reproduce and keep the pond going, or do you then just have a pond with 10 fish?  Would he, in other words, have more than 10 fish to eat, if he stocked the pond with his 10 fish?

I am not at home with my computer, but will give you the basics.

My newly built lot in my game.

    * Absent-Minded
          o Absent-Minded Sims get lost in their thoughts and occasionally forget what they are doing, or where they are going.
    * Ambitious
          o Ambitious Sims dream big and are more rewarded when their wishes are satisfied in life. They are driven to move up the corporate ladder more quickly, but fall prey to low mood if they don't quickly receive the promotion they desire.
    * Angler
          o Anglers catch fish better then other Sims. They also like fishing more then anyone else.
    * Artistic
          o Artistic Sims are naturally gifted artists with a paint brush. They also make pretty good writers and musicians!
    * Athletic
          o Athletic Sims are the best athletes in town. They can push themselves harder and longer than others, and will do so to feel the burn.
    * Bookworm
          o Bookworms have a passion for reading that surpasses their other desires. They also tend to become good writers.
    * Brave
          o Brave Sims are fearless individuals that will fight fires, wrangle burglars and work to protect those around them.
    * Can't Stand Art
          o Sims that Can't Stand Art will never appreciate the latest masterpiece of expensive home decor. They are the anti-connoisseur.
    * Charismatic
          o Charismatic Sims love to socialize with others and often know the perfect thing to say in every conversation. They also like to throw parties!
    * Childish
          o Childish Sims find it difficult to ‘act their age'. They love playing with children's toys, see things through the eyes of a child and need to be constantly entertained.
    * Clumsy
          o Clumsy Sims muck up both precious and every day moments in life with shady footwork and poor planning.
    * Commitment Issues
          o Sims with Commitment Issues don't really want to settle down into a long-term relationship or a lifelong career. Marriage is out of the question!
    * Computer Wiz
          o Computer Wizs love spending time on the computer. They are great at tinkering with computers and can even make money as hackers if they choose.
    * Couch Potato
          o Couch Potatoes are perfectly happy sitting on the couch to watch TV and eat junk food. They'll need additional prodding to lead active lives.
    * Coward
          o Cowards are terrified of everything that can and will go bump in the night. They are scared of the dark and will frequently faint in ‘dire' situations
    * Daredevil
          o Daredevils seek the extreme side of life, even if it means taking an everyday chore extreme. They also love fire.
    * Dislikes Children
          o Sims that dislike children do not want to have anything to do with children. No talking, no playing and certainly no reproduction.
    * Easily Impressed
          o Easily impressed Sims are easily astounded by everyday stories and are always pleased with the smallest of accomplishments.
    * Evil
          o Evil Sims love the dark, take great delight in the misfortune of others and prefer to lead a life as far away from goodness as possible.
    * Excitable
          o Excitable Sims get excited about… pretty much everything. They enjoy an extra dose of self-satisfaction when good things happen for them in life.
    * Family-Oriented
          o Family-Oriented Sims make great parents. They have big families and being surrounded by their children.
    * Flirty
          o Flirty Sims are constantly looking for romance and are most often quite successful in this endeavor.
    * Friendly
          o Friendly Sims smile frequently at others and are quick to make friends.
    * Frugal
          o Frugal Sims love to clip coupons to save money, relish a good deal and hate being wasteful.
    * Genius
          o Geniuses are logical thinker, masters of chess and excellent hackers. They saviour pursuit of the mind.
    * Good
          o Good Sims go out of their way to help friends and family in need, are charitable with their money, and frequently comfort those around them.
    * Good Sense of Humor
          o Sims with a Good Sense of Humor tell the best jokes that never fall flat or fail to entertain.
    * Great Kisser
          o Great kissers kiss better then any other Sims. They give kisses that are not easily forgotten.
    * Green-Thumb
          o Green-thumbs are the best gardeners. They find solace and comfort amongst their garden and can revive plants in the worst of conditions.
    * Grumpy
          o Grumpy Sims are rarely in a good mood. It's quite difficult to make them happy because they simply don't want to be happy.
    * Handy
          o Handy Sims are the best tinkerers. They will never fail when repairing or upgrading a household item which makes electrical objects far less dangerous!
    * Hates the outdoors
          o Sims that hate the outdoors despise being outside and will always remain indoors whenever possible.
    * Heavy Sleeper
          o Heavy Sleepers will sleep through any situation, no matter how loud or alarming. They also tend to snore.
    * Hopeless Romantic
          o Hopeless romantics passionately seek their soul mate. They want romance, true love and surround themselves with cheesy romantic television and novels.
    * Hot-Headed
          o Hot headed Sims are quick to anger. Broken household items, conversations gone awry or even the slightest negative mood let will all send them into a boiling rage.
    * Hydrophobic
          o Hydrophobic Sims are terrified of swimming. They loathe every second they have to spend in the pool.
    * Inappropriate
          o Inappropriate Sims talk about the wrong thing the wrong time, never think to dress properly, and never think to apologize when they've wronged someone. They enjoy mocking others with harsh words.
    * Insane
          o Insane Sims respond to events in life unpredictably. They say what they want, do what they want and even wear what they want. Even if it doesn't make sense to anyone else.
    * Kleptomaniac
          o Kleptomaniacs ‘accidentally' end up with things owned by others. They often ‘permanently borrow' items from work, school or even their neighbor's homes!
    * Light Sleeper
          o Light sleepers toss and turn throughout the night and are woken up by the slightest bump in the night.
    * Loner
          o Loners enjoy time spent alone more than time spent with others. Quite shy, they will never approach anyone that isn't a close friend. They prize their solitude and get nervous around large groups.
    * Loser
          o Losers encounter woo and misfortune throughout their lives beginning with school and continuing into their careers. They will fail and fail often. They wont'get mad even when life falls apart. They'll just cry.
    * Loves the Outdoors
          o These Sims love spending time outdoors and find a special joy amidst nature that others do not.

    * Lucky
          o Lucky Sims are closely followed through life with a comforting sense of luck. They win often and they win big.
    * Mean
          o Mean Sims love to fight, mostly because they never lose in a brawl. They take satisfaction with every new enemy made and dream of new ways to be nasty to others.
    * Mooch
          o Moochers can mooch food and money from their neighbors who for the most part just go along with it.

    * Natural Cook
          o Natural Cooks are able to kick any dish up a notch, making their food the most delicious to eat. They learn to cook more quickly than others, and never burn down the kitchen in the process!
    * Neat
          o Neat Sims always find time to clean, regardless of their mood. They are easily devastated by filthy surroundings, but will never leave a mess behind.
    * Neurotic
          o Neurotic Sims will freak out at the most minor of provocations. They can become stressed easily and can be difficult to mellow. Luckily they take solace in sharing their worries with others.
    * Never Nude
          o Never Nudes despise nudity and will never, ever, completely remove all of their clothing.
    * No Sense of Humor
          o Sims with No Sense of Humor tell terrible jokes, so they tend not to tell them. They also don't enjoy the jokes of others. Humor is simply wasted on them.
    * Over-Emotional
          o Over-Emotional Sims experience greater mood swings than other Sims when both good and bad things happen to them. They are constantly shedding tears of joy whether it's of a wedding or just on their couch watching romantic television.
    * Party Animal
          o Party animals love to party, and others love to party with them. When a party animal hosts a party, everyone comes and has a great time. Woo!
    * Perfectionist
          o Perfectionists spend more time cooking, writing or even painting, but what they eventually finish is noticeably better than something created by other Sims. Perfectionists accept nothing shy of perfection.
    * Slob
          o Slobs constantly leave messes in their wake. To make matters worse, they won't offer to pick up or clean! Luckily common filth won't offend their senses.
    * Snob
          o Snobs are very hard to impress though they love hearing about themselves and will never turn down a compliment. They dream of owning only the finest things and being associated with the highest echelon of neighborhood Sims.
    * Technophobe
          o Technophobe Sims hate television. They will never watch television except in dire circumstances and will always look for an alternative source of entertainment.
    * Un-flirty
          o Un-flirty Sims do not appreciate the romantic advances of others and will be difficult to woo. It's not that they don't want to love, just that it's difficult for them.
    * Unlucky
          o Things rarely go right for unlucky Sims. They often lose at everything they touch. Though some do take pity on their misfortune.
    * Vegetarian
          o Vegetarian Sims never choose to eat meat, and doing so causes them to quickly become ill.
    * Virtuoso
          o Virtuosos have a natural gift with musical instruments and are often considered the best musicians. As such, they earn more as musicians when playing for tips and learn more quickly.
    * Workaholic
          o Workaholics love to work and rarely become stressed from working. Their mood stuffers when they miss work, but they are able to make it up by working from home. Workaholics make the best employees.

Remember, you can't contradict the traits for Ex…: You can't be a coward and brave at the same time. That's silly.