Monthly Statement:
August 2006
3520 TOTAL cds accumulated as of 07/31/06
102 - non-AOL cds (including, but not limited to, Earthlink, Juno, Excite and Peoplepc.)
3 - 3.5 inch AOL floppy discs

216 gathered in this last month. Received a few packages in the mail, and did a pickup in Harlem.

How many AOL cds have been created and sent out into the world?
More than 660 million, according to Jonathan Miller, head of the Time Warner Internet division http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-5891229-7.html
Fun statistic taking that number into account...

Over this year, I've gathered about .00000517878787% of the total amount of AOL cds ever made. A special thank you to everyone who helped contribute to these Pillars of Decency!

LATER: Thoughts on preparing for the 2nd exhibition--
Since I've started this project-- Time Warner (now parent company of AOL Inc.) has since ceased their distribution of these cds, and thusly, "No More AOL CDs" has stopped gathering them. Great for the environment, but bad for my project (haha?) This has put a kink in the conclusion of my accumulation project.

What to do with the cds now? I may keep the pillars for a time, and try to get them included in environmentally themed exhibitions. I might look for a person/group to take them to reuse them in some artistic endeavor. Recycling them is a huge pain in the butt...perhaps I'll send them to AOL Time Warner myself!

For more information on what it takes to make a cd, see this document put out by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Process:
I will accumulate as many AOL cds as possible until September 2006. I will enlist the help of friends and strangers through word of mouth, emails, craigslist, freecycle, and other existing social networks. The CDs are accumulated from where they are forced upon the public; primarily from people who have received them in the mail, or from publications where the cds are inserted as advertisements.

I will stack them and build "Pillars of Decency" (a funny comment on the wastefulness of this form of advertisement). The more I get, the taller the "Pillars" will be!

When the year is over, I will donate them to --> http://www.nomoreaolcds.com/

What I would like from you is the following:
1. Your AOL cds! - The ones you and your friends, family and neighbors receive in the mail! Whenever you find some, keep them and think of me.
2. Get the cds to me. - If you live in the New York City area, I can probably pick them up, if you have a bunch, or you can mail them to me (sorry, I have $0.00 budget for this project, so I can't reimburse you for postage. However, I will offer you fame and good feelings by mentioning your name in thanks when the project is exhibited. If you send them "Bulk Mail" it will be cheaper!)
-OR- Send me an email, and we'll figure out how to get the CDs to me. (see below for addresses)
3. Tell your friends! - Talk to, or email your friends, family, coworkers, strangers, etc. about this project. The more the better!That's it.
I very much appreciate your time and effort in making this project a success, and welcome you to check out the website frequently, as it grows every month!

Eric Brown
93 Bright St.
Jersey City, NJ 07302
eric@dogseat.org