Monthly Statement:
September 2005
59 AOL cd's from 7 folks.

To gather these cd's, I've emailed and talked to all my friends and coworkers. I've created 8 different email addresses to be able to make 8 postings on Craigslist per week in different cities (see below for link).

I've had quite a few people ask me if I was ONLY collecting AOL cd's (Earthlink, and possibly a few other companies send cd's as advertisements too). I think I will accept these other companies' discs, because it's the same kind of advertisement that I find objectionable. I will, however, treat them differently: I'll keep a separate tally and figure out a different destination at the end of this accumulation project.

I'm calling this project "Pillars of Decency" (I'm stacking up all the cd's I obtain into pillars when exhibited).

I've been posting this to Craigslist-->
http://allentown.craigslist.org/wan/100130093.html

There have been two instances where people have responded very negatively to my project, having found my add there.
Here is a transcript of one of them:

THEM: Why don't you get a life!

ME: Thank you for your interest.
I feel that using compact discs (cd's) as a form of advertisement is wasteful.
Here's a useful document put out by the United States Environmental Protection Agency-->
http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/students/finalposter.pdf
It details just how much material and what processes are used to make a compact disc.
I'm quite certain that most advertisements are thrown in the trashcan (this includes cd's from companies such as AOL Time Warner). How long does it take for a cd to decompose in a landfill? I'm not exactly sure, but it's got to be a long time, and we shouldn't be adding more to our landfills than absolutely necessary.
I just feel this type of advertisement is a wasteful practice, and in my own little way, I'm doing something about it.
Thank you for your time, and I welcome your response!

THEM: I'll say it again, Eric. Get a life!!

ME: What do you mean exactly by telling me to 'get a life'?
Do you mean that humorously challenging a giant corporation's advertising
techniques is an uphill battle, that it is impossible to change?
Do you mean that caring enough about life and wanting to change a
destructive practice is a bad thing?
Talk to you soon,
Eric

So if you want to send me any AOL CD's, give me an email!!
eric@dogseat.org

Process: I will accumulate as many AOL cd's over the course of the year as possible. Whenever I see some in a post office, grocery store, on the street, etc., I will keep them. I will enlist the help of friends and strangers through word of mouth, emails, craigslist, and other existing social networks.