I’ve had a free AOL account since 1999, when I did a brief stint at a PR firm that had AOL as a client. Despite my pestering the HR girl about nixing my account so I wouldn’t get charged for it, AOL never bothered to take me off the overhead.
So I gave my mom and my friend Jen a screename each. Both still dial-up, but at least it’s free.
Never use the service myself — reminds me too much of “work” — but I can’t get away from their damn CDs. Between me, my roommates, and my mom, we get around 6 a month — which I’d been throwing in the trash till I got an email request for these things from an Eric via freecycle. His “accumulation project” collects AOL CDs, which’ll be used to create a sculptural piece called “Pillars of Decency,” an artistic and wry commentary on wasteful ad tactics.
So from now on, I’ll collect these CDs to send off to Eric — Prolly around May or so (his project ends in September 2006). There these eco-menaces will serve a brief artistic purpose, before getting shuttled over to No More AOL CDs. That’s a lil Cali-based grassroots effort to collect a million of these to dump on AOL’s front door, to get AOL to stop bombarding us and the environment with these unwanted objects. They’ve gotten some good press for their work.
What about those other unused CDs you have lying around? Try Greendisk. For just $5.95, you can send them up to 20 lbs of your “technotrash” — And the more anal greenies will be happy to know that upon sending in your crap, you’ll get a “Certificate of Destruction” — with a bonded guarantee that everything’ll be disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner.
Look, I started my stash (right). It’s a long way to 20 lbs, but I can throw batteries, print cartridges, and other objects in there too.
Thinking of even throwing a technotrash bash — Everyone can bring their junk, unload it on me, then drink organic wine and gloat greenly, self-satisfied in our eco-friendliness.
Keep your eye out for the evite –
Update, 12/14/05: If you’re in the NYC area — Check out the Accumulation Project’s first exhibition, which kicks of with a reception this Friday, Dec. 16, 6pm-11pm at Lunarbase Gallery, 197 Grand St. in Brooklyn.
Update, 9/17/06: Now, a way to turn those damn CDs into spiffy new coasters :)
“…before getting shuttled over to No More AOL CDs. That’s a lil Cali-based grassroots effort to collect a million of these to dump on AOL’s front door”
Wow! I didn’t know people were so pissed about those CDs. I use mine as coasters. We also microwaved one (everyone should try it but make sure you buy a new microwave beforehand). And the CD cases/boxes are very handy, I haven’t bought CD cases for more than 2 years. Also gave some of them to a friend last summer. They were working on some gardening plots and apparently if you hang these CDs from stakes, they shine in the sun and that keeps birds away from the plants!
This techno thrash thing is cool. My lab in the university will be enough for about 2-3 “certificates of destruction”.
Comment by Transmogrifier — November 17, 2005 @ 7:12 pm
Wait — but I have no garden, and one can only have so many coasters, especially if one always “forgets” to use them :(
People have come up with some ingenious uses for these things though :)
I dated a guy once who’d insist on slipping a coaster under my wine glass. For red wine — not even chilled white wine.
Didn’t last –
Comment by Siel — November 17, 2005 @ 11:18 pm
Hey there!
Pictures from the installation are up on the site! Check them out!
eric
Comment by Eric Brown — December 29, 2005 @ 5:59 pm
(I meant to include the url in the body of the email too…)
http://www.accumulationproject.org/
Comment by Eric Brown — December 29, 2005 @ 6:00 pm
nbgj meqwhnf jkef
Comment by geography vocabulary powerpoints which is more in calories and carbs - vodka or guinness — September 26, 2008 @ 1:15 pm