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[BlueHeron]

(Psst.. Andrew, what's next?)

[Andrew Jensen]

Ah, right. Plastic Grocery bags. They'll be around forever, they will.

[heyvictor]

Grocery bags,
Cut into strips, my wife crochets with them and I've made cordage.

What can you do with Treadmills?

[Matt]

Hook them up backwards and use them to generate small amounts of electricity. The running strip might be useful for making light armor (if you could find something to cut it, or tough pieces for work gloves. Running strip could be boat lining or durable mat for all kinds of work that involves pounding - a flexible cutting board?

Okay, how would you use a computer?

[Andrew Jensen]

On grocery bags, you can also cut them flat and iron them together to make plastic cloth, which you can then also iron together at the seams rather than sewing for truly watertight seals.

A computer is filled with wires for short lengths of cordage, and really cool shiny bits for decoration. The magnets from the hard drive are powerful things, people make generators out of them for home scale electric generation. Tis takes dozens if not a hundred hard drives, though, you'd need a lot of computers. The metal frames can be used like any other metal frame. The casings, with their high heat tolerance and many vents, might be good for making ovens or meat smokers.

Next: CDs

[starfish]

Finally, someone proposed an object easy enough for me .

You could use them for wall decorations, or a signaling mirror, or for starting a fire if you had a lens.  You could make a nice set of saucers if you cover the hole.  You could break a whole bunch of them and make a mosaic.

Next object: a ballpoint pen

[jhereg]

more info on crocheting w/ grocery bags (aka "plarn"): http://www.myrecycledbags.com/category/plastic-bag-crafts/

i made a decent plarn ball yesterday, thinking about making a messenger bag for when i ride my bike.

anyway... didn't want to hijack the thread, just found this link, and thought i'd add it for anyone interested in more info.

[Hypnopompia]

Oh! Fun is happening here. I'm late, so I have catching up to do. I'll try not to repeat anything.

TV Antenna:

Already had good suggestions for the ones on the TV. But I remember antennas on the roof too. Those are already designed to do well outside in the elements. I'm thinking drying racks.

Above-Ground Swimming Pools:

Could also be used for transportation or as a part of the bottom, waterproof layer in a living roof.

Sofa:

You can use it as a sofa...that's always a winner. The stuffing can be used to insulate a home. If leather it can be used to help seal windows in winter. A cloth one could be used for carpeting.

Toaster Oven:

The power cord can be used to hang things or as a garrote.

light bulb:

melt the glass to make bottles.

ipod:

Keep it in mint condition for trading to someone with a fetish for antique technology in a couple decades.

PA Speakers:

Use the magnets and copper coil to generate electricity.

household plumbing:

Bastinada. Can be used for plumbing in a cob house or some such.

window unit air conditioning:

The cloth screens can be used for bellows.

upright piano:

entertainment

empty AK-47:

drill holes in the tube for use in a forge

home water heater:

fill with sand and install tube and bellow above to make forge

road signs:

homoerotic fraternity initiations.

chain link fence:

fishing traps, climbing plants, a building component of walls.

plastic grocery bags:

holding stuff. water proofing. killing my enemies.

treadmills:

killing my enemies. the poles that connect the conveyor belt to the consul can also be used for torches.

computer:

conversation piece. the gold can be extracted for jewelery. the cables can be used as rope.

cds:

heat sink for a stirling engine.

ballpoint pen:

small blow gun.

Ok...next item: crappy flatware (low-quality metal).

[BlueHeron]

road signs:

homoerotic fraternity initiations.

I knew I forgot one.

[BlueHeron]

Crappy flatware:

A windchime?

Helping forge a sense of tribal unity by recalling high school cafeteria days.   (We called ourselves "the crew".) 

Spoon heads as spinners for fishing.

Splints.

Next up:  a bocce ball set.

[eost]

Bocce ball set  Depends on what they're made of. The metal ones could be melted and shaped into knives, arrow heads, etc. Metal pieces are also good for attracting birds during hunting, to get them within range.

Plastic balls could also be melted and used as coating/paint, knife handles, cordage, string for instruments(CDs make nice picks/plectrums!), maybe fishing wire? If they float and are brightly colored they can be used for holding up fishnets.

Wooden balls can be carved into cups, containers, etc.

Plus, of course, ammo for slings.

Now, what useful could be done with that evil invention money?

[green]

Coins will make great jewelry and the paper could be used as fire starter.Next   vinyl records

[mirandavivian]

coins could also be melted down to be made into other things. 

Vinyl records, well given the right technology, you could listen to them!  Without it though, vinyl can be used in construction.  The record, at the right heat, can be made extremely pliable and I have read that they can even be made into bowls. 


Okay um....how about....plastic ID cards and credit cards?

[pagan48]

Highly pliable ID cards can be stitched together to form a poncho when covered with tree sap or other water proof solutions. Credit cards can be sharped on one edge to make a scrapper or soft skin cutter. In a pinch they can be both used to dig in soft dirt and also as a reusable form of small wound cover on the larger body parts. last but not least they can also be used as scarecrows when strung together over crops.


Flat Panel TV Sets anyone

[BlueHeron]

Flat Panel TVs... hmmm... a surface for cutting/drying/processing food.  Making jewelry and ornaments from the electronic components.  Using it for structural support.

Next: styrofoam.