Yesterday in the mail I got two CDs from AOL, begging me to join their service (yeah, right). One of them is probably for my roommate, but he’s on vacation this week, so what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him. Mine all mine!
But, instead of shrinkwrapping the CDs against a piece of cardboard, they sent them to me in DVD keeper cases (the plastic ones, not the cardboard ones with the plastic snaps). These suckers are great cases, and cost almost a $1 each individually.
So, I’d like to publically thank Steve Case. Thanks Steve!
Okay, a follow-up. I just tried to extract the mailing label and the promo sticker on the front of the case and they’re not easily removable. So, I gotta dig up rubbing alcohol or something to remove them so I can use them for other purposes.
Back in the day, they used to send me free floppy discs, which was nice, but their CDs have very little use.
Unless, of course, you want to risk fire/ruining your microwave and putting them in there for two or three seconds. The result is very cool. But, caveat nuker – there WILL BE sparks. However, I now have some great conversation piece coasters on my coffee table.
Lighter fluid works well for removing sticky labels. Just put a squirt on the label and wait half a minute.
There’s also a spray product used by graphic artists. I think it’s called “Bestine”, but I don’t remember. It works very well for removing labels, but be sure to wear gloves. I think there are some medical side-effects if you expose skin to it.
I was saving the CDs for a while, I was going to make a post-modern mobile. Then I realised I’d have to buy a drill and get someone to weld me a frame, and decided against it. But the idea is still up for grabs.
My wife is saving them (and collecting all sorts of other CD’s from people) to make a dress, like the one made of American Express gold cards at the Oscars a few years ago.
She’s making the dress, but I’ll wind up drilling all the holes…
Back in the day, when AOL sent out floppy disks, I had my friend go to the “Send your friend an AOL Disk!” Thing on AOL and send me a shitload of disks. I think he was able to send 12 every month. I never bought a pack of floppies after that.
There’s a drag queen here in Detroit who has a CD dress. Her name is Trixie Delux & I believe she was on a Jenny Jones reunion show. It’s a great idea & I’m sure it will look better on your wife than a rather large man who bears a striking resembelance to Divine. (maybe it’s just the make-up…)
I used to use them as coasters too, but for the really “sweaty” drinks, the liquid that came off the cup usually overflowed off of the CD, since the CD couldn’t absorb the liquid. I still use them occasionally for coasters, but now, I’ve found that they make great wheels for R/C cars.
Maybe someone should think up a game that uses them. How aerodynamic are they? Can you throw one like a frisbee? How about “Three Disk Monty” using two AOL’s and one Earthlink?
Or maybe I could make them into helmets and sell them to people who have problems with aliens controlling their brains. It would last a lot longer than tin foil.
They can be thrown like frisbees but they dont fly well. Its kinda fun to throw 'em at brick walls and break them. You can also play tricks on people by showing them a good CD, switching it for an AOL CD while they aren’t looking, and thenbreak it and make them think you’re nuts. Which in my case is true
