Slashdot posted an article about what two guys are doing about the problem of all the AOL CDs that get delivered to our mailboxes — you know, the little shiny discs that say “1000 Hours Free!” or “Sign up NOW!” — plastic wrapped with identical passwords. They appear in mailboxes and newspapers, magazines and at the checkout counters of our least favorite stores. Two guys are going to collect a million of them and put them in about 20 trucks, drive them across the US and then drop them at the doorstep of AOLs headquarters in a wash of media frenzy. Id’ like to be there for that one. On the other hand, I have some useful ideas for extra CDs — AOL, CDRs, or whastever — that happen to be lying around the house:

:::- Two words: Lethal Frizbees!

:::- By scrapping the gold foil off with a sharp object you can find a cheap alternative to glitter.

:::- Everyone’s favorite: Coasters, or course.

:::- Communicating with aliens by reflecting lights into the sky (SETI at home)…

:::- Build a clock; the hole is just the right size for the little mechanism.

:::- The new threat gift for kids: “Be good or Santa will bring you an AOL CD!”

:::- Labels for your tool rack: they hang so flush on the little hooks.

:::- A cheap alternative to post-it notes.

:::- Pocket mirrors for preening on.the.go…

:::- A cheap alternative to Spirograph: use a hole punch to make your own spinners!

:::- Gifts for foreign tourists.

:::- Birdfeeders, windchimes, or other hangy things…

:::- Wallpaper.

:::- Bookmarks.

:::- Plates for tapas or other small foods at parties.

:::- Disposable tap shoes: clickity-clackity-click!

:::- And, most importantly: blocking spy signals from MLB satellites!