🚀 go-pugleaf

I think that a mayor Part of the Theme is still not mentioned. OK, first my
.02 to the Points you mentioned ...

Static magnetic Fields: That's hard to use as Erase Mechanism since static
   magnetic Fields are quite limited in Strength. I was told that a "Wed-
   ding Ring" equipped with a Cobalt Magnet can be used to destroy Flop-
   pies, but you have to rub the Floppy (5.25", at that Time) to achieve
   this.

Alternating magnetic Fields: This gets more dangerous. Alternating Fields
   are able to penetrate through Materials which might filter out static
   Fields. See below.

Mailing Floppies: Since there are other Dangers to a Floppy when it gets
   sent by Mail, it is probably wrapped into several Layers of whatever
   Material. This is good enough to ward off static Fields, I think; Those
   famous two Subwoofers maybe excepted. Designated Floppy Mail Enclosures
   often include an Aluminium Plate in Order to require Arnold the Postman
   to bend or fold them. :-) If I'm not very much mistaken, this Plate
   might protect the Disk even if it's on the OTHER Side of the Disk
   since Aluminium "pushs back" magnetic Fields (can somebody please
   check this?). As mentioned by others, 3.5" are generally harder to magne-
   tize than 5.25".

TV Sets and Monitors: POSITIVELY DANGEROUS, properly shielded ones excepted.
   I once put another TV Set to my CP/M Computer and kept wondering why my
   Floppies kept going bad ... Since there was no Hard Disk, I had to sacri-
   fice my Boot Floppies one after the other ... Finally, I had to have a
   Boot Floppy mailed (from some 100km away :-( ) in Order to get my Box
   back to work!

The REAL Dangers:
   a) Temperature. Since I use PC 5.25" Floppies, there was only ONE which
      got damaged beyond Repair; It had been in my Briefcase on a cold
      Winter Day. Others have produced interesting Art Products by leaving
      the Floppy close to a Heating Device.
   b) Bending and Folding, especially for 5.25" ones. There were Guys erasing
      their Data by simply giving the Keyboard a Push.
   c) Office Guys which tend to treat Floppies like Sheets of Paper (with
      Punchers or Staplers). Gotten better with 3.5", too.

Regards,
								J. Bern
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