Identifying cctalk messages

OK, I am listening, is there a way for me to identify the different messages from two different lists as they present themselves when Gmail is opened. I dont consider sorting them into mail boxes a viable method because then I have to go to each mail box individually and sort them out there. I prefer just taking the list as it appears (usually about 250 to 400 posts), hitting the "Mark ALL" key then going down the left side and unmarking the few that I see where the subject interests me. At the bottom I hit "Delete All" to delete all those still left marked. Then I go back to look at the few I had unmarked. Its simple and does not involve the possibility that I might forget to check a particular "Box" or have to check ALL "Boxes" to see which received mail after the sort.