# What do you do w/ free AOL CDs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 19, 2001, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-w-free-aol-cds/69378 "2001-06-19T19:58:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Nefarious\_Chipmunk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nefarious_chipmunk/32/1045_2.png) [@Nefarious\_Chipmunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nefarious_Chipmunk)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2001, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-w-free-aol-cds/69378/21 "2001-06-19T22:09:34Z")
I once knew someone who got a whole bunch of them (she was bumming them off of everyone for months) and then she wallpapered the walls to her bedroon with them. Very cool, unless you had to be in there for too long, then it kinda gave you a headache. Oh well. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2001, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-w-free-aol-cds/69378/22 "2001-06-19T22:10:00Z")
I Asia I have seen them used as reflectors on the mud flaps of motorcycles and trucks. ---
**Author:** ![Ad\_Noctum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b19c9b/32.png) [@Ad\_Noctum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ad_Noctum)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2001, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-w-free-aol-cds/69378/23 "2001-06-19T22:20:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tyklfe \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Bubble Girl \* > > \*\*I haven’t been sent any in a while but the last one I used to show my future mother in law how they look in the microwave when you put them in there for a few seconds. Lots of pretty sparkles! \*\* > > This girl has the right idea - If you’ve never put AOL disks into a microwave, then this is something you must try! Watch them though! They only need to be in there for about 2-3 seconds If you’re not careful you could get in a bad place really quick. > > once they’re done, you can use them for extra special wall decorations! \*\* I have to third this, it really does look awesome, and the end result is a funny lookin’ CD (which can be used nicely as a clay pigeon for shotgun practice) ---
**Author:** ![Ross](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@Ross](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ross)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2001, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-w-free-aol-cds/69378/24 "2001-06-19T22:51:33Z")
1. Build a gigantic pyramid in landfill for future generations to wonder at our ingenuity/stupidity/overabundance of plastic. 2. One word: ashtrays. 3. Collect them in their thousands, and simply leave them on the steps of the Supreme Court. 4. Send fake chain e-mails saying that for every old disc returned to AOL, they’ll contribute 5c to the World Wrestling Federation’s legal battle against the World Wildlife Fund for the initials WWF… 5. Compress the human genome code, save it on each one, and insist every disc be considered your legal adopted child. Give them cute names. Take them shopping. 6. Combine with glue and cement to make the eighth wonder of the world - a vast entranceway to Washington DC known simply as the Bill Gates. 7. Recycle - stick them to the cover of your church bulletin/Sunday School newspaper/family Christmas cards and give them away. It doesn’t matter that they’re out of date because no-one uses them anyway, and everyone appreciates a freebie. 8. Offer movie-tie-in “Jolly Meals” in your church cafeteria - a burger, drink, fries and a free lump of plastic. Tell the kids it’s a toy from The Matrix. Avoid litigation by giving the meal free and charging for the “toy”. 9. Save your details on each one and hand them out as business cards. 10. Take them round the zoo till you find an animal that loves to eat electronic media. Buy this animal, breed thousands, and release them into Silicon Valley. Check it out: [110 Things to do with old AOL floppies](http://unhindered.com/insp/humor/index.html?list=49) Coooool. ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2001, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-w-free-aol-cds/69378/25 "2001-06-19T23:17:59Z")
I have heard that if you hang unwanted CDs from a tree the deer wont mess with your garden. Not sure if it’s true as I have no garden, a fenced yard and well frankly I live in the middle of suburbia…not many deer in these here postage stamp sized lots. ---
**Author:** ![AndYrAStar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8edcca/32.png) [@AndYrAStar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndYrAStar)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2001, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-w-free-aol-cds/69378/26 "2001-06-20T00:06:38Z")
> [@](#): > > I’ve also done this with Altoids tins in which I place little goodies. Ooohh… I’ve always wanted to do this, but thought it would be too small (when I was little and bought little valentine’s day cards, they specifically said on the box that the cards were non-mailable). thank you! And I used to go to the mall with my friends, we’d each go to the record store and get a handful of them and go play frisbee. ---
**Author:** ![Verrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/46a35a/32.png) [@Verrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Verrain)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2001, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-w-free-aol-cds/69378/27 "2001-06-20T00:16:46Z")
My personal favorite use for them is as archery targets. They make such a satisifying sound when they crack. ---
**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2001, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-w-free-aol-cds/69378/28 "2001-06-20T00:41:41Z")
> [@](#): > > I crochet covers for them and use them for coasters So do I. I’ve made dozens of them, and give them as gifts, along with other stuff I crochet. People LOVE these things. The CD makes them very sturdy, and the crochet covers make them very decorative. And they are SO FREAKING EASY to make, if you know how to crochet. Less than an hour. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2001, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-w-free-aol-cds/69378/29 "2001-06-20T00:45:12Z")
We intend to use some as signal mirrors when we sail… they’re bigger than the mirrors you buy in survival kits and they’re free, so if they get lost - who cares?? Unless, of course, the boat sinks and we’re bobbing in the ocean without signal mirrors… hmmmmm… ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2001, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-w-free-aol-cds/69378/30 "2001-06-20T04:01:02Z")
But someone out there is using them to make tesla coils or some other high voltage stuff. I’ve seen the site, and they’ve done some pretty need stuff with them and have lots of pics. I’ll try and find the site and post it here tomorrow unless someone else turns it up first. ---
**Author:** ![AwSnappity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a3d4f5/32.png) [@AwSnappity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AwSnappity)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2001, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-w-free-aol-cds/69378/31 "2001-06-20T04:07:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ross \* > **2. One word: ashtrays.** ??? How does this work? This seems even more unlogical than a coaster. I know a guy who wrote “Jesus Saves” on the shiny side, then strung a piece of yarn through it and wore it as a necklace every day to school for a few weeks. I personally write my name on them and then hang them on my door. ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2001, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-w-free-aol-cds/69378/32 "2001-06-20T04:29:22Z")
Me and someone else in my fraternity used to collect junk CD’s from others in the house (usually the result of a failed attempt to burn a CD) and throw them around the house until they broke. The normal plan was to stand at opposite ends of a hallway and bounce them off the floor at each other. The big, fire-hazard, staircase was fun as well. Once we wanted more, so we requested copies of AOL for everyone in the house. If you know where to look, you can see a couple little dings in the walls, but the floors seem to have withstood the abuse (they withstand a lot of abuse). [phil hartman voice] good times, good times. [/phil hartman voice] ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2001, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-w-free-aol-cds/69378/33 "2001-06-20T05:31:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AndYrAStar \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > I’ve also done this with Altoids tins in which I place little goodies. > > Ooohh… I’ve always wanted to do this, but thought it would be too small (when I was little and bought little valentine’s day cards, they specifically said on the box that the cards were non-mailable). > > thank you! > > You’re welcome. 🙂 > In my experience, you can mail darn near anything that acts as its own packaging as long as you put enough postage on it and it isn’t dangerous, sharp, or perishable. > Just be sure to put clear tape over the addy labels and tape the box shut too. > I got the idea from a pen pal who received a plastic frog through the mail that had several stamps on it. She then sent me a plastic squeaky snowman through the mail with 3 first class stamps on top of its hat; her address on the bottom of the shoes, and my address written across the back. Amazing! > So, get busy and mail out those CD ROM postcard and Altoids tin goodie boxes! 😉 > —Viva > > And I used to go to the mall with my friends, we’d each go to the record store and get a handful of them and go play frisbee. \*\* ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2001, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-w-free-aol-cds/69378/34 "2001-06-20T09:45:17Z")
I take 'em to our garage, turn on the power sander, and mutilate the surface so that they may never provide data to anyone, ever. Then I break them into four pieces and nail 'em to my wall (I have five right now… each one a different type). ---
**Author:** ![Neidhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Neidhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neidhart)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2001, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-w-free-aol-cds/69378/35 "2001-06-20T12:38:37Z")
Originally posted by jadailey: > [@](#): > > I miss the floppies. What better thing than recycling them for data you could actually USE? But the floppies that AOL sent out were the cheapest, crappiest kind you could get. It was even odds that you’d get a bunch of disk errors when you tried to reformat them and use them again. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-w-free-aol-cds/69378.md?page=1)