# Thank you, AOL! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 15, 2000, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-aol/25675 "2000-07-15T15:57:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Montfort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Montfort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montfort)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2000, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-aol/25675/1 "2000-07-15T15:57:30Z")
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! ---
**Author:** ![Tark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@Tark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tark)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2000, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-aol/25675/2 "2000-07-15T16:39:52Z")
Well, AOL’s gotta be good for something. They certainly don’t cut it as an ISP… ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2000, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-aol/25675/3 "2000-07-15T16:58:47Z")
On average, I get one of those AOL CDs in the mail once a month, shrink wrapped. Just takin’ up landfill space . . . ---
**Author:** ![Montfort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Montfort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montfort)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2000, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-aol/25675/4 "2000-07-15T17:10:40Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2000, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-aol/25675/5 "2000-07-15T17:24:16Z")
> [@](#): > > I gotta dig up rubbing alcohol or something to remove them 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. ---
**Author:** ![SwimmingRiddles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SwimmingRiddles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwimmingRiddles)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2000, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-aol/25675/6 "2000-07-15T17:36:29Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Koffing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@Koffing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koffing)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2000, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-aol/25675/7 "2000-07-15T17:38:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SwimmingRiddles \* > \*\*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. \*\* Make a suit of armor out of them. ---
**Author:** ![Hamadryad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6de8d8/32.png) [@Hamadryad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamadryad)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2000, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-aol/25675/8 "2000-07-15T17:57:10Z")
I was thinking about getting one of those styrofoam craft balls, and gluing them (and the ones from Earthlink) and making a huge disco ball. ---
**Author:** ![light\_strand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a6a055/32.png) [@light\_strand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/light_strand)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2000, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-aol/25675/9 "2000-07-15T20:39:55Z")
I use those CD as coasters. I had an entire collection, but I ended up with more coasters than space so I had to throw a couple out. Its pretty cool except they stick to the bottom of a really sweaty drink. ---
**Author:** ![NickyLarson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b2d939/32.png) [@NickyLarson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NickyLarson)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2000, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-aol/25675/10 "2000-07-15T20:45:06Z")
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… ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2000, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-aol/25675/11 "2000-07-16T02:37:23Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Frannie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Frannie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frannie)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2000, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-aol/25675/12 "2000-07-16T05:09:44Z")
To remove those – and any other – stickers, get “Goo Gone,” which is available at any K-Mart,WalMart, etc. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2000, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-aol/25675/13 "2000-07-16T05:16:36Z")
In China they use them on the rear mudflap of motorcycles and scooters as reflectors ---
**Author:** ![little\_bit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@little\_bit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/little_bit)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2000, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-aol/25675/14 "2000-07-16T07:47:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NickyLarson \* > \*\*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… \*\* 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…) ---
**Author:** ![vandal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/858c86/32.png) [@vandal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vandal)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2000, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-aol/25675/15 "2000-07-16T18:32:59Z")
> [@](#): > > **I use those CD as coasters. I had an entire collection, but I ended up with more coasters than space so I had to throw a couple out.** 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. ---
**Author:** ![Commander\_Cyclops](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecc23a/32.png) [@Commander\_Cyclops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Commander_Cyclops)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2000, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-aol/25675/16 "2000-07-16T18:56:13Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![mblackwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5fc32e/32.png) [@mblackwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mblackwell)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2000, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-aol/25675/17 "2000-07-16T19:06:56Z")
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 😉