




Date: Thu, 10 Apr 1997 17:16:24 -0300 (ADT)
From: Nick Robinson <nick@cheesypeas.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Re: reactions to tips

Hudson-Robert <rhudson@netrax.net> sez

>I had a waitress approach me at the counter after I had deposited a
> Neale dragon on the table, asking, "What is this thing?".  Harsh.

Obviously a woman of no finesse or breeding ;) I've had worse though - I
once made (co-incidentally) a Neale Dragon plus a few other treasures -
the waitress came up with her ash-tray brush & promptly swept the lot
into the bin without a glance.

hurts, doesn't it?

Nick Robinson

personal email  nick@cheesypeas.demon.co.uk
homepage        http://www.cheesypeas.demon.co.uk - all new look!
BOS homepage    http://www.rpmrecords.co.uk/bos/
RPM homepage    http://www.rpmrecords.co.uk





Date: Thu, 10 Apr 1997 17:35:16 -0300 (ADT)
From: tabitha@bws.bws.com (tabitha c. whiteside)
Subject: Re: Re; Dollar Bill Shirt Instructions

all these instructions would be helpful but i don't have a u.s. dollar bill.
any canadian instructions?

tabitha     8-p





Date: Thu, 10 Apr 1997 20:51:20 -0300 (ADT)
From: Daddy-o D'gou <dwp+@transarc.com>
Subject: Re: Dollar bills in Canada.

Tabitha 8-p wrote asking for Canadian bill instructions.

US Dollar bill is close to 3:7 in proportions.
Another way to get the right shape is to cut the maximal sized square from
one end of A-series (1:sqrt(2)) paper.  The rectangular strip left at the
other end is US dollar bill proportioned.  (I read this in one of the BOS
convention packets, but I don't know which one or two whom to credit this).

-D'gou





Date: Thu, 10 Apr 1997 20:53:56 -0300 (ADT)
From: Cathy Palmer-Lister <cathypl@generation.net>
Subject: Re: Re; Dollar Bill Shirt Instructions

At 05:35 PM 4/10/97 -0300, you wrote:
>all these instructions would be helpful but i don't have a u.s. dollar bill.
>any canadian instructions?
>
>tabitha     8-p
>

And now that we have coins for twos as well, this bill folding is darn right
expensive!

        I was postponed twice within just a few days.  I wish some of these
subscribers who can't get off the list no matter how loud they scream and
curse would tell me their secret for staying power!

    Cathy





Date: Thu, 10 Apr 1997 21:34:02 -0300 (ADT)
From: Joseph Wu <origami@planet.datt.co.jp>
Subject: Re: Re; Dollar Bill Shirt Instructions

On Thu, 10 Apr 1997, tabitha c. whiteside wrote:

=all these instructions would be helpful but i don't have a u.s. dollar bill.
=any canadian instructions?

The dollar bill shirt works fine with Canadian bills. Some other models may
not, especially ones involving specific diagonal creases or models requiring
the use of some printed feature on the bill. There are two specific Canadian
dollar models that I know of, both by the same Canadian designer (I forget the
name). One is a  pig, and the other is a ???. Someone with a better memory,
please help! 8)

You can also make a rectangle with the same proportions as an American dollar
bill. It's a 3 by 7 rectangle.

 Joseph Wu - origami@planet.datt.co.jp - http://www.datt.co.jp/Origami
> It's your privilege as an artist to inflict the pain of creativity on
yourself. We can teach you how WE paint, but we can't teach you how YOU
paint. There's More Than One Way To Do It.
> Have the appropriate amount of fun.    --Wall, Christiansen, Schwartz





Date: Thu, 10 Apr 1997 22:01:22 -0300 (ADT)
From: Joseph Wu <origami@planet.datt.co.jp>
Subject: Re: Cat people

On Thu, 10 Apr 1997, JESPER LARSEN wrote:

=This is not about origami - it's about cats, but origami people love
=cats - don't they? Anyway - some of you has been talking about this
=subject lately. This text relates to the old "psychological profile"
=topic (originally started by me).

Not true. I don't mind cats, but I much prefer dogs. However, I fit many of
the descriptions you listed. Does that invalidate your list? >8)  I do not,
however, look like a cat (except to a friend's girlfriend who thinks I look
like Garfield).

 Joseph Wu - origami@planet.datt.co.jp - http://www.datt.co.jp/Origami
> It's your privilege as an artist to inflict the pain of creativity on
yourself. We can teach you how WE paint, but we can't teach you how YOU
paint. There's More Than One Way To Do It.
> Have the appropriate amount of fun.    --Wall, Christiansen, Schwartz





Date: Thu, 10 Apr 1997 22:30:33 -0300 (ADT)
From: Joseph Wu <origami@planet.datt.co.jp>
Subject: Re: The Origami Source (OUSA)

On Thu, 10 Apr 1997, Rick Bissell wrote:

=Can someone tell me if it is possible to place
=orders with "The Origami Source" via fax, phone,
=or email?   The order form that I have on hand
=doesn't have any indication that you can.

I don't think you can at this time.

 Joseph Wu - origami@planet.datt.co.jp - http://www.datt.co.jp/Origami
> It's your privilege as an artist to inflict the pain of creativity on
yourself. We can teach you how WE paint, but we can't teach you how YOU
paint. There's More Than One Way To Do It.
> Have the appropriate amount of fun.    --Wall, Christiansen, Schwartz





Date: Thu, 10 Apr 1997 22:51:47 -0300 (ADT)
From: Joseph Wu <origami@planet.datt.co.jp>
Subject: An interesting problem

I received a rather interesting e-mail today from a visitor to my web site.
Here it is, and my initial reply to this person.

==  As far as I have been told you are the closest thing to an expert in this
==field.  The works of your that I have seen are simply amazing, and that is
==why I come to you.

I was laughing at this point. There *are* experts in this field, including
many who are more knowledgeable and skillful than I will ever be.

==  I am an art student at <school name and location deleted>.
==I have a huge project due in which I am to construct out of one sheet of
==cardboard a structure that will hold 1,000+ lbs.  Is there any advice or
==helpful information you could give me?  Thank you for considering my plight.
=
=What do you mean by hold? As in, you place 1000 lbs on it and it doesn't
=collapse? How big is the cardboard? What are you allowed to do to it? When's
=the project due? 8)

My first thought was that the simplest possible solution is to lay the flat
piece of cardboard (whatever size) on the ground and to place the 1000+ lbs on
top of it. Simple and elegant, but perhaps not what the teacher is looking
for. Another good solution is to reduce the cardboard to paper pulp and to
make a hard block out of it. That would also support the desired weight quite
well.

What do you all think about this? Any good origami solutions that someone can
think of?

 Joseph Wu - origami@planet.datt.co.jp - http://www.datt.co.jp/Origami
> It's your privilege as an artist to inflict the pain of creativity on
yourself. We can teach you how WE paint, but we can't teach you how YOU
paint. There's More Than One Way To Do It.
> Have the appropriate amount of fun.    --Wall, Christiansen, Schwartz





Date: Thu, 10 Apr 1997 23:03:41 -0300 (ADT)
From: Allen Parry <parry@eskimo.com>
Subject: Re: Re; Dollar Bill Shirt Instructions

From: tabitha c. whiteside <tabitha@bws.bws.com>

> all these instructions would be helpful but i don't have a u.s. dollar
bill.
> any canadian instructions?

I first learned the shirt in Canada.  I know they are hard to get, with the
new toonies, but if you follow the same instructions with a $2 bill the
shirt is better than made with US dollars.  The printing on a $2 Canadian
bill causes the shirt to be a ruffled shirt.  Pretty cool!

Allen Parry
parry@eskimo.com





Date: Thu, 10 Apr 1997 23:15:08 -0300 (ADT)
From: Allen Parry <parry@eskimo.com>
Subject: Re: Re; Dollar Bill Shirt Instructions

> From: Joseph Wu <origami@planet.datt.co.jp>

> There are two specific Canadian
> dollar models that I know of, both by the same Canadian designer (I
forget the
> name). One is a  pig, and the other is a ???. Someone with a better
memory,
> please help! 8)

Joseph,

I think the person you are refering to is Joe Wiatrowski.  His Canadian
bill
designs include the airplane (with propellers), the pig, and the cannon,

Eh?

Allen Parry
parry@eskimo.com

And how do Canadians spell Canada?  'C' - eh? - 'N' - eh? - 'D' - eh?





Date: Thu, 10 Apr 1997 23:36:34 -0300 (ADT)
From: Joseph Wu <origami@planet.datt.co.jp>
Subject: Re: Re; Dollar Bill Shirt Instructions

On Thu, 10 Apr 1997, Allen Parry wrote:

=I think the person you are refering to is Joe Wiatrowski.  His Canadian bill
=designs include the airplane (with propellers), the pig, and the cannon,
=
=Eh?

That's the one. Thanks.

=And how do Canadians spell Canada?  'C' - eh? - 'N' - eh? - 'D' - eh?

So, if Canadians say "A" (eh) and Mexicans say "C" (si), why don't Americans
say "B"?

 Joseph Wu - origami@planet.datt.co.jp - http://www.datt.co.jp/Origami
> It's your privilege as an artist to inflict the pain of creativity on
yourself. We can teach you how WE paint, but we can't teach you how YOU
paint. There's More Than One Way To Do It.
> Have the appropriate amount of fun.    --Wall, Christiansen, Schwartz





Date: Thu, 10 Apr 1997 23:54:35 -0300 (ADT)
From: Jean Villemaire <boyer@videotron.ca>
Subject: Re: An interesting problem

Joseph Wu wrote:

> >...you are the closest thing to an expert in this field.  The works of
> >your that I have seen are simply amazing...

Well, I also admire you very much to have made a pig fly...

> >...construct out of one sheet of cardboard a structure that will hold
> >1,000+ lbs.
> ...lay the flat piece of cardboard (whatever size) on the ground and to place
     the 1000+ lbs on top of it.

Just to make it more origami like, maybe fold it ounce...

> ...reduce the cardboard to paper pulp and to make a hard block out of it.

I think it will collapse anyway, due to the internal structure of paper.
You would then be back to you old flat sheet to fold again...

> Any good origami solutions that someone can think of?

In a more serious, but so much more dull point of view, I would suggest the
egg cup that can be found in Dominique Buisson's "Papiers plies. Des idees
plein les mains" (Folded paper sheets. Handfulls of ideas.) [ISBN
2-277-38003-2] on page 62.  It's a step-by-step series of photos that leads
to a geodesic structure.  I used to make it starting with an A-4 or 8 1/2 by
11 sheet folded in thirds lenghtwise.  You should have a long enough
rectangle to fit in successively 6 and two halves of equilateral triangles.
Instructions to obtain the equ. tr. in a rect. can be found in many books.
You then have to insert one end into the other far enough to obtain a simple
octogon with two empty opposite faces.  The upper corners are then pinched to
get a sort of three grips support to the egg to fit in.  If you foldmark the
long rectangle on its half before starting the triangle foldings, the final
pinches will create smaller triangles all the way around the mmodel in a more
geodesic manner.  Testing will be necessary to find the right size of
cardboard for a successfull project.  I hope this makes sense to you.  Good
luck.

                ___________________
                |                 |
                |                 |
                |                 |
                |      }---{      |
                |      |0 ,0      |
                |     /'\   \     |
                |    |'''|  |     |
                |    |'  /  /     |
                |____|  /_ /______|
                    |/-/"-"-|       Le harfang des neiges,
Jean Villemaire     |       |       embleme aviaire
Montreal, QUEBEC    |_______|       du Quebec

             mailto:villemaire@videotron.ca
                Origami-Montreal :
http://tornade.ere.umontreal.ca/~gonzalep/origami.html





Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 00:40:21 -0300 (ADT)
From: Marc Kirschenbaum <marckrsh@pipeline.com>
Subject: Re: The Origami Source (OUSA)

At 12:16 PM 4/10/97 -0300, rick@tridelta.com (Rick Bissell) wrote:
>Can someone tell me if it is possible to place
>orders with "The Origami Source" via fax, phone,
>or email?   The order form that I have on hand
>doesn't have any indication that you can.

I wish I could be more informative, but I forgot to take down the fax #
while I was at the Origami USA office tonight. Yes, a fax machine has been
recently installed, but I guess the new number has not been widley
distributed yet. I know this is a bit of a run around, but I am sure
someone at the office (212 769-5635) could give you the number. No, you can
not place orders with this number, and I doubt phone orders will ever be
taken for The Source. Also, the fax number for OriganiUSA is different from
the one at The Source, so do not mix them up. As for e-mail, this seems
likely to be implemented soon, but with the Convention crunch around the
corner, it had better be done very soon (or it will not be done untill
afterwards).

Marc





Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 00:54:27 -0300 (ADT)
From: Rjlang@aol.com
Subject: Re: [propp@math.mit.edu: Margulis napkin problem]

Jeannine Mosely forwarded to origami-L a query from Jim Propp:

>>>>
Has anyone heard of the "Margulis napkin problem"?  (I don't know whether  it
is indeed due to Margulis.)

This innocuous-sounding puzzle merely asks whether it is possible to fold a
square piece of paper (no tearing allowed!) so that the resulting flat figure
has larger perimeter than the original square did.  Can anyone find a proof
that it can't be done?
<<<<

and Mark Casida suggested:

>>>>
Must the folded figure be convex?  Or can it be e.g. star shaped?
[What if I take an origami sea urchin and (shudder) press it flat
on the table?  Won't that have a very large perimeter?]
<<<<

which is exactly the right strategy. Not only can you make the perimeter of
the star-shaped base larger than the original square; you can make it
arbitrarily large. If you fold an order-N Sea Urchin (from Origami Sea Life),
it has N^2 points, each of length (1/(2(N-1))). If you make the points
arbitrarily thin (using lots and lots of sink folds!), when you flatten it,
you'll get a total perimeter of N^2/(N-1), which is unbounded as N is large.

You don't have to go to this extreme, however. If you thin the points of a
Bird Base, you can splay the points out into a shape with a perimeter greater
than a square. The trick in either case is to create one or more middle
points.

Robert J. Lang
rjlang@aol.com





Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 01:12:03 -0300 (ADT)
From: Charles Knuffke <knuffke@sirius.com>
Subject: Re: The Origami Source (OUSA)

At 12:16 PM 4/10/97 -0300, rick@tridelta.com (Rick Bissell) wrote:
>
>Can someone tell me if it is possible to place
>orders with "The Origami Source" via fax, phone,
>or email?   The order form that I have on hand
>doesn't have any indication that you can.
>

>From the Winter issue of OrigamiUSA's The Paper:

The Origami Source is now accepting orders at it's new fax number: (718)
762-2177. Fax orders will only be accepted if a credit card number and
expiration date are included. Accepted credit cards are MasterCard and Visa.

Please note that there is no phone number at the Origami Source for
checking prices and availability, so I'd suggest using the latest order
form to minimize potential problems. And I hope Phyliss doesn't get
overwhelmed by all the paper this will generate ;-)

Regards,

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Charles Knuffke       "Amen the Thunderbolt in the Dark Void"
153 Divisadero                                  -Jack Kerouac
San Francisco CA 94104
mailto://knuffke@sirius.com





Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 04:02:17 -0300 (ADT)
From: JESPER LARSEN <940094@udd.aalsem.dk>
Subject: US-dollar bills

US-dollar bills

A few days ago I saw a program on TV with a topic about american
money (coming to think of it, I believe it was Oprah). I saw how
money was made and learned about their lastabillity. Large bills
could last for a long time, but the traditional 1 dollar bill could
only last for about 8 months. With all that dollar bill folding going
on in the states - who wonders? In Denmark (my country) money bill
folding is a rare thing (so is origami in any form by the way). The
smallest money bill over here is 100 kr. (equals to about $ 15). I
don't have that kind of cash. By the way: I think a money bill is
beautiful and interesting - why fold something from a money bill (and
"destroy" it) when you can get hold on so much beautiful paper?
Is it because money paper is strong or what? Apparently I need some
information about this subject from a passionated money bill folder!!!

Best wishes
Jesper





Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 04:51:43 -0300 (ADT)
From: Allen Parry <parry@eskimo.com>
Subject: Re: US-dollar bills

----------
> From: JESPER LARSEN <940094@udd.aalsem.dk>

> A few days ago I saw a program on TV with a topic about american
> money (coming to think of it, I believe it was Oprah). I saw how
> money was made and learned about their lastabillity.

To increase durability, the dollar paper has in it both cotton and
polyester fiber (they had to find some use for those old leisure
suits of the 70's).

>. By the way: I think a money bill is beautiful and interesting -
>  why fold something from a money bill (and "destroy" it) when
>  you can get hold on so much beautiful paper?
> Is it because money paper is strong or what? Apparently I need some
> information about this subject from a passionated money bill folder!!!

1)  Unlike kami paper....you make a model you don't like...hey, spend
        it....leave it as a tip.  Recycled origami!
2)  Hopefully, there is always a ready supply of folding paper near by.
        Waiting for someone?  Reach into your back pocket for some
        origami paper.
3) The novelty of it.  Dollar bill origami is very popular.  Its a great
        entertainment medium without being too pretensious.  In many
        social settings (like at dinner or a bar) it may be considered
        a show-off-ish if you whipped out the kami paper versus
        manipulating the bill you're using to pay the check with..
4)  What I enjoy most, though, is there is an added challenge of
        incorporating the bill's markings into the design.  Steven Weiss
        is famous for this, in several of his animal models, utilizing
        the bill's features for eyes.

Allen Parry
parry@eskimo.com





Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 06:25:51 -0300 (ADT)
From: David Jacobs <daj@powerup.com.au>
Subject: Re: motorcycle model?

Joseph Wu wrote:
>
> On Wed, 9 Apr 1997, Amber Stevens wrote:
>
> =I am looking for instructions on how to fold a motorcycle or a bike or a
> =moped of any kind, but I don't seem to be having any luck.  Does anyone
> =know where I can find such a model?
>
> As Marc has said, there are two great motorcycles in YOSHINO Issei's book,
> "Issei Super Complex Origami", published by Origami House. You can also do a
> search on Alex Bateman's web page for other motorcycle models.
> <http://www.mrc-cpe.cam.ac.uk/jong/agb/origami.html>
>
> =Also, does anyone know of any origami clubs in the Seattle area?  I'm
> =pretty new to origami, but I just can't stop folding!
>
> Yup. It's called PAPER (Puget Area Paperfolding Enthusiasts Roundtable).
> Here's the relavent information from Mark Morden's homepage
> <http://www.eskimo.com/~marmonk/origami.htm>:
>
> A new Seattle-area paper folders group has formed. All are invited to our
> monthly get togethers. The next meeting will be on Sunday, April 6, at the
> University Heights Community Center, 5031 University Way NE.(This is the old,
> yellow elementary school thay closed a few years back) We will meet from 1:00
> to 4:00 p.m. in Room 107. We have scheduled to learn Michael LaFosse's dollar
> bill butterfly, a dolphin from the Tanteidan newsletter and an original fold
> of two cranes in a bird bath. If you need directions to the building or more
> information, please e-mail me at the address at the bottom of the page. We
> look forward to meeting and sharing with you. Come fold with PAPER!
>
> Mark's e-mail address is <marmonk@mail.eskimo.com>. It looks like the April
> meeting has just passed, but there's always May! 8)
>
>  Joseph Wu - origami@planet.datt.co.jp - http://www.datt.co.jp/Origami
> > It's your privilege as an artist to inflict the pain of creativity on
> yourself. We can teach you how WE paint, but we can't teach you how YOU
> paint. There's More Than One Way To Do It.
> > Have the appropriate amount of fun.    --Wall, Christiansen, Schwartz

David J> writes

There is another model of a boy on a motorcycle by Neil Elias, published
in The British Origami Booklet No.35 (Available from BOS very cheaply as
I recall)
 one of Yoshida's models was also published in the Japanese dectective
Mags, a few years ago.
Be warned these models are not for the faint hearted, See thread
corncerning "Ive got a problem" along with related answers.

At an Origami Convention in the UK a few years ago, during a Dave Brill
session, we came up with a few witisims regarding origami they were also
published in the BOS mag:
Origami? isn't that something you put on Pizzas !





Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 06:24:02 -0300 (ADT)
From: David Jacobs <daj@powerup.com.au>
Subject: Re: motorcycle model?

Allen Parry wrote:
>
> > From: Amber Stevens <AmberS@rosestudios.com>
>
> > I am looking for instructions on how to fold a motorcycle or a bike or a
> > moped of any kind, but I don't seem to be having any luck.  Does anyone
> > know where I can find such a model?
> >
> > Also, does anyone know of any origami clubs in the Seattle area?  I'm
> > pretty new to origami, but I just can't stop folding!
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> ------------------------------
> Amber,
>
> Here's a double answer.  I have a dollar bill bicycle and I go to the
> Seattle Origami Group (Paper)  My bike stands up on it own, it has wheels,
> handlebars, a seat....Come to the Seattle Origami meeting and I'll show you
>
> how to make it.  Bring some crisp new bills.  The next Seattle meeting is
> planned for May 4th.
>
> Allen Parry
> parry@eskimo.com

Any chance of posting the diagrams, as a graphic attachment?
David J.





Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 07:41:19 -0300 (ADT)
From: JESPER LARSEN <940094@udd.aalsem.dk>
Subject: Solution to interesting problem

Somebody wrote to Joseph Wu:

> I am an art student at <school name and location deleted>. I have a
> huge project due in which I am to construct out of one
> sheet of cardboard a structure that will hold 1,000+ lbs.
> Is there any advice or helpful information you could give me?
> Thank you for considering my plight.

Solutions suggested:

> My first thought was that the simplest possible solution is to lay the
> flat piece of cardboard (whatever size) on the ground and to place the
> 1000+ lbs on top of it. Simple and elegant, but perhaps not what the
> teacher is looking for. Another good solution is to reduce the
> cardboard to paper pulp and to make a hard block out of it. That would
> also support the desired weight quite well.

This doesn't work. A hard block is not a very strong structure. What
should be done is this (and it works): Make a cylinder!!! It's the
strongest structure of them all. You can make an experiment with 3
sheeps of cardboard and then build a square shape, a triangle shape
and a cylinder. Use sticky tape to hold them together. Find out how
many books you can place on top of each model. The cylinder can hold
A LOT more than the two others. The leg-bones in elephants and dinosaurs
are hollow cylinders. And what about bamboo? Have you thought about
that? They are also hollow and cylinder shaped. In fact: if you have
a certain amount of material you should construct a hollow cylinder
in stead of making a solid one. The hollow one is the strongest
because of the distance from the centre to the edge (this is also why
the square and the triangle is not so strong - remember: you are
using the same amount of material in all 3 models!

Be well
Jesper Larsen





Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 07:52:38 -0300 (ADT)
From: Steven Casey <scasey@enternet.com.au>
Subject: Re: An interesting problem

At 10:53 PM 10/04/97 -0300, you wrote:

>==  I am an art student at <school name and location deleted>.
>==I have a huge project due in which I am to construct out of one sheet of
>==cardboard a structure that will hold 1,000+ lbs.  Is there any advice or
>==helpful information you could give me?  Thank you for considering my plight.
>=
>=What do you mean by hold? As in, you place 1000 lbs on it and it doesn't
>=collapse? How big is the cardboard? What are you allowed to do to it? When's
>=the project due? 8)

It's my belief that if you pleat the card board (as in corrigated card
board) you'll give the material extra strength. A piece of ordinary bond
typing paper can be made to support a glass or cup in this way. Other
materials like iron, used for roofing are strengthened in this manner.

Cheers,

Steven Casey
scasey@enternet.com.au





Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 10:58:38 -0300 (ADT)
From: richardd@redac.co.uk (Richard Davies)
Subject: Re: OFTC availability?

> In connection with an inquiry about something on
> my web site, a correspondent mentioned in passing that
> "he has Origami Connoisseur on order."
>
> I thought OFTC was out of print?? I know some folks in
> past "ordered it" only to have the bookseller come back
> later and say it was no longer actually available. :-{
> Has this situation changed?

Waterstones in UK told me they could get it, but it would take longer
than usual because of the distributor they'd have to go through. If it
does ever arrive I'll post the Publisher/ISBN etc.

Cheers,

Rich

Richard Davies                Tel:         01684  294161 (ext 328)
Software Engineer             Fax:         01684  299754
Zuken-Redac Ltd                E-Mail:       richardd@redac.co.uk
Tewkesbury. UK                 Home: richard@fionavar.demon.co.uk





Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 11:16:02 -0300 (ADT)
From: Marty Katz <mandrk@pb.net>
Subject: Re: Re; Dollar Bill Shirt Instructions

> all these instructions would be helpful but i don't have a u.s. dollar bill.
> any canadian instructions?
>
> tabitha     8-p

OK here goes...
  1. Fold a bill lengthwise, unfold.
  2. Fold the bottom to the top, unfold.
  3. Fold the bottom about one half inch above the center line.
  4. Turn over.
  5. Cupboard fold the long edges.
  6. Place your finger a little below the center (just at the top
of all layers) meanwhile fold the bottom corners outward as far as
they go. This forms the sleeves.
  7. Turn over.
  8. Fold the top down about one quarter of an inch and then roll it
over again. Crease well.
  9. Unfold the last crease so that only one fold over remains at the
top.
 10. Turn over.
 11. Fold the right and left top CORNERS ONLY to meet the
center of the mountain fold which is about one quarter of an inch
below the top. These scalene triangles should "kiss" at the line
which forms the collar of the shirt.
 12. Finally, lift the bottom edge and tuck it under the collar and
press flat.

It sounds complicated but it really is a very simple fold.

Rachel Katz
Origami - it's not just for squares!





Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 11:55:20 -0300 (ADT)
From: Jeannine Mosely <j9@concentra.com>
Subject: Re: [propp@math.mit.edu: Margulis napkin problem]

Robert Lang wrote:

   Jeannine Mosely forwarded to origami-L a query from Jim Propp:

   >>>>
   Has anyone heard of the "Margulis napkin problem"?  (I don't know whether  it
   is indeed due to Margulis.)

   This innocuous-sounding puzzle merely asks whether it is possible to fold a
   square piece of paper (no tearing allowed!) so that the resulting flat figure
   has larger perimeter than the original square did.  Can anyone find a proof
   that it can't be done?
   <<<<

   and Mark Casida suggested:

   >>>>
   Must the folded figure be convex?  Or can it be e.g. star shaped?
   [What if I take an origami sea urchin and (shudder) press it flat
   on the table?  Won't that have a very large perimeter?]
   <<<<

   which is exactly the right strategy. Not only can you make the perimeter of
   the star-shaped base larger than the original square; you can make it
   arbitrarily large. If you fold an order-N Sea Urchin (from Origami Sea Life),
   it has N^2 points, each of length (1/(2(N-1))). If you make the points
   arbitrarily thin (using lots and lots of sink folds!), when you flatten it,
   you'll get a total perimeter of N^2/(N-1), which is unbounded as N is large.

   You don't have to go to this extreme, however. If you thin the points of a
   Bird Base, you can splay the points out into a shape with a perimeter greater
   than a square. The trick in either case is to create one or more middle
   points.

Not so fast, Robert!  When you flatten the sea Urchin, portions of
each point overlap neighboring points, reducing the total perimeter.
And I can't get the bird base trick to work either, at least not
without little tears appearing in the edges of the paper as the points
spread apart.  Can you check your theory, and give more specific
instructions?

        -- Jeannine Mosely





Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 12:33:18 -0300 (ADT)
From: Mark Morden <marmonk@eskimo.com>
Subject: Re: An interesting problem

At 10:52 PM 4/10/97 -0300, you wrote:

>What do you all think about this? Any good origami solutions that someone can
>think of?
>
All engineered structures have to be reduced to triangles.  That is the most
simple, stable shape that will support loads.  Buckminster Fuller based his
geodesic domes and a large part of his work on triangles.  The pleated
solution will work, but may need to be restrained at the edges so that
cardboard holds the "triangle" shapes and doesn't flatten under the 1000
lbs. load.  The directions to the problem don't specify if cuts can be made
or if tape or glue can be used to secure the edges.  I would suspect that to
fold carboard, score lines may be necessary to get a good, clean folds and
edges.  Depending on the strength of the cardboard, a shape like this may
work (this is a cross-section view):

  /\     /\
 /  \   /  \
/    \ /    \
-------------

The lower corners are folds as are the upper peaks.  The ends of the lines
in the center are the edges of the cardboard folded inward.  With the load
applied, the cardboard should retain its shape, but it may also be necessary
to glue/tape the inner edges to the bottom surface.  This will provide extra
strength to the section.

To carry this further, the following shape would work better, if glue can be
used:

  /\     /\
 /  \   /  \
/ ___\ /___ \
-------------

The new horizontal lines are the edges of the cardboard folded under.  These
new flat areas would provide more surface area to bond to the bottom surface
and provide more strength to the section.

I don't know if this solution is keeping with the spirit of the problem, but
I think it could work if the cardboard was stiff enough.

Mark

Mark Morden == marmonk@mail.eskimo.com
http://www.eskimo.com/~marmonk/
--------------------------------------------------------
I believe in Christianity as I believe that the Sun
has risen; not only because I see it, but because by it
I see everything else.
                       C.S. Lewis, "The Weight of Glory"





Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 12:58:10 -0300 (ADT)
From: HOLMES DAVID MARCUS EXC CH <david_marcus.holmes@chbs.mhs.ciba.com>
Subject: RE: OFTC availability?

>> Waterstones in UK told me they could get it, but it would take longer
>> than usual because of the distributor they'd have to go through. If it
>> does ever arrive I'll post the Publisher/ISBN etc.
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> Rich

When I tracked down a copy last year in England, I eventually bought it
from a company called Biblios.  At the time (June) they said they had 7
copies left.  Here are their details:

    Biblios, Star Road, Partridge Green, West Sussex, RH13 8LD
    Telephone: 01403 710971

    Credit cards, or cheques payable to Biblios.

Give them a ring - you may get lucky.

>--
>David M Holmes           |             Novartis, Inc.
>david.holmes@bigfoot.com | Views expressed are my own
>-------------------------+---------------------------
>Dave's Origami - http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/2162/





Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 13:19:50 -0300 (ADT)
From: "Shi-Yew Chen (a.k.a. Sy)" <sychen@erols.com>
Subject: Re: Solution to interesting problem

JESPER LARSEN wrote:
>

> This doesn't work. A hard block is not a very strong structure. What

I think Jesper means cardboard has better compression strength along
board plane (where most of the fiber align). Joseph's idea could work
but just a waste!

> should be done is this (and it works): Make a cylinder!!! It's the

Are you talking about buckling? It could be right in terms of buckling
theory. It needs to be proved thru the experiments/tests.

The above project is still unclear to me. I would suggest he/she post it
in structural/civil engingeering forum instead of origami-L.

|------------------------------------------------------\
|  _     Shi-Yew Chen (a.k.a. Sy) <chens@asme.org>     |\
| |_| Folding http://www.erols.com/sychen1/pprfld.html --\





Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 14:01:02 -0300 (ADT)
From: burleigh@hackberry.chem.niu.edu (Darin Burleigh)
Subject: Re: Re; Dollar Bill Shirt Instructions

>
> On Thu, 10 Apr 1997, Allen Parry wrote:
> =And how do Canadians spell Canada?  'C' - eh? - 'N' - eh? - 'D' - eh?
>
> Joseph Wu wrote:
> So, if Canadians say "A" (eh) and Mexicans say "C" (si), why don't Americans
> say "B"?
>

Be all that you can be....
 with origami!

==========================================================
 - darin
 burleigh@hackberry.chem.niu.edu
 '2 kinds of green, look out!' - dieter rot





Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 13:57:10 -0300 (ADT)
From: "Backes, Nancy J (MN17)" <nbackes@p04.mn17.honeywell.com>
Subject: OUSA

I just want to thank whomever it was that forwarded my post about not
getting any response from OUSA after I sent in my new membership.  I had
a message yesterday on my answering machine from OUSA saying they were
given my Origami-l message from someone on this list.  She said they DO
have me down as a member but she did not say why I did not receive the
membership materials.    She mentioned to make it clear that the OUSA
office does not normally receive the list messages, and the way to get
hold of them with questions is to call at 212-769-5635.  Unfortunately,
in my case I had called and left a message but never received a reply.
 So I want to thank again the person who forwarded my message.  I will be
calling the OUSA office again on the first afternoon I have off to make
sure that my membership information is sent to me.

Nancy Backes
71623.3676@compuserve.com





Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 15:05:47 -0300 (ADT)
From: JStranzl@aol.com
Subject: Re: Re; Dollar Bill Shirt Instructions

In a message dated 97-04-11 13:32:59 EDT, you write:

<< > Joseph Wu wrote:
 > So, if Canadians say "A" (eh) and Mexicans say "C" (si), why don't
Americans
 > say "B"?
 >
  >>

Or... Why don't Americans say "DC?"





Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 15:18:28 -0300 (ADT)
From: Daddy-o D'gou <dwp+@transarc.com>
Subject: Re: The Origami Source (OUSA)

Charles Knuffke wrote:
+The Origami Source is now accepting orders at it's new fax number: (718)
+762-2177. Fax orders will only be accepted if a credit card number and
+expiration date are included. Accepted credit cards are MasterCard and Visa.
+
+Please note that there is no phone number at the Origami Source for
+checking prices and availability, so I'd suggest using the latest order
+form to minimize potential problems. And I hope Phyliss doesn't get
+overwhelmed by all the paper this will generate ;-)

To help ensure smooth processing, I always write on my order form
(whether faxed or mailed):  "Prices are from the <date> catalog.  You
are authorized to charge the current price if it has gone up since
then." and then I initial that phrase.  Depending on what I'm ordering
and how impatient I am, I usually also write:  "Please ship all in
stock items now and ship back ordered items after they have arrived."
and initial that part too.  Oh, and since I have a tendency to keep
around copies of the order form which are sometimes quite out of date,
I also put in a phrase authorizing the current shipping charges in case
what I have filled in is old.

I pay by credit card, so the extra amount isn't a problem.  If ever I were to
pay by check, I would probably add on and extra $10 and ask for a voucher for
any overage.

But that is just me.

-D'gou





Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 15:30:54 -0300 (ADT)
From: casida@ere.umontreal.ca (Casida Mark)
Subject: Re: Re; Dollar Bill Shirt Instructions

> So, if Canadians say "A" (eh) and Mexicans say "C" (si), why don't Americans
> say "B"?

Because they say "K" ('kay) ?  'prolly somethin' like that, right?

                             Take it easy,

--
*-------------------------------------------------------*
|          Mark E. Casida                               |
|          e-mail: casida@chimcn.umontreal.ca           |





Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 16:05:32 -0300 (ADT)
From: Maldon7929@aol.com
Subject: Re: (NO) Cat People

>This is not about origami - it's about cats, but origami people love
>cats - don't they? Anyway - some of you has been talking about this
>subject lately. This text relates to the old "psychological profile"
>topic (originally started by me).

Excuse me but my back is arching. Please put "NO" for non-origami in your
subject line or move this discussion to the Kitty Connection.
Thank you,
Maldon

P.S. Any subsequent catty flames will be doused with my delete button.





Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 16:21:36 -0300 (ADT)
From: Penny Groom <penny@sector.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Dove Model

Can anyone help me out? I have been asked to make a Dove to suspend over
a red & white floral display at our church flower festival.

All I can find in my books is a very un-dovelike pigeon!

I can read gif, jpg & tif so if you have anything you can send me I
would be very grateful.

Thanks

Penny

------------------------------------------
Penny Groom                Membership Secretary
                           British Origami Society
penny@sector.demon.co.uk
Stairwell's homepage.
http://www.sector.demon.co.uk/index.htm
BOS homepage    http://www.rpmrecords.co.uk/bos/





Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 16:50:58 -0300 (ADT)
From: Perry Bailey <pbailey@mtayr.heartland.net>
Subject: Re: Re; Dollar Bill Shirt Instructions

Joseph Wu wrote:
>
> On Thu, 10 Apr 1997, Allen Parry wrote:
>
> =I think the person you are refering to is Joe Wiatrowski.  His Canadian bill
> =designs include the airplane (with propellers), the pig, and the cannon,
> =
> =Eh?
>
> That's the one. Thanks.
>
> =And how do Canadians spell Canada?  'C' - eh? - 'N' - eh? - 'D' - eh?
>
> So, if Canadians say "A" (eh) and Mexicans say "C" (si), why don't Americans
> say "B"?
>
because the French allready used it, at least around Marsailles,
bon, ban....

Common exclamation, I even used it when searching for the right words.
--
>From pbailey@mtayr.heartland.net

***************************************
* Your Life is only what you make it. *
* so make it good. :?)'               *





Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 16:47:10 -0300 (ADT)
From: Perry Bailey <pbailey@mtayr.heartland.net>
Subject: Re: An interesting problem

Joseph Wu wrote:
>
> I received a rather interesting e-mail today from a visitor to my web site.
> Here it is, and my initial reply to this person.
>
> ==  As far as I have been told you are the closest thing to an expert in this
> ==field.  The works of your that I have seen are simply amazing, and that is
> ==why I come to you.
>
> I was laughing at this point. There *are* experts in this field, including
> many who are more knowledgeable and skillful than I will ever be.
>
> ==  I am an art student at <school name and location deleted>.
> ==I have a huge project due in which I am to construct out of one sheet of
> ==cardboard a structure that will hold 1,000+ lbs.  Is there any advice or
> ==helpful information you could give me?  Thank you for considering my plight.
> =
> =What do you mean by hold? As in, you place 1000 lbs on it and it doesn't
> =collapse? How big is the cardboard? What are you allowed to do to it? When's
> =the project due? 8)
>
> My first thought was that the simplest possible solution is to lay the flat
> piece of cardboard (whatever size) on the ground and to place the 1000+ lbs on
> top of it. Simple and elegant, but perhaps not what the teacher is looking
> for. Another good solution is to reduce the cardboard to paper pulp and to
> make a hard block out of it. That would also support the desired weight quite
> well.
>
> What do you all think about this? Any good origami solutions that someone can
> think of?
>
>  Joseph Wu - origami@planet.datt.co.jp - http://www.datt.co.jp/Origami

The whole thing depends on the size of carboard as you suggested and the
rules of the project, which I notice the student failed to supply you,
the the cardboard is to small then yours aRE THE ONLY PRACTICAL
suggestions I see, on the other hand if the student is allowed a large
enough peice, there are possibilities, if allowed I would suggest
scoring the carboard and then pleating it tightly to increas the
strength by layers, the optimun size of pleats and so forth takes more
math than I can handle, but I seem to remember a similar project and
that was the solution, sorry I can't remember more but my memory isn't
what it used to be.

--
>From pbailey@mtayr.heartland.net

***************************************
* Your Life is only what you make it. *
* so make it good. :?)'               *





Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 17:38:24 -0300 (ADT)
From: Mark Morden <marmonk@eskimo.com>
Subject: Re: Dove Model

At 04:21 PM 4/11/97 -0300, you wrote:
>
>Can anyone help me out? I have been asked to make a Dove to suspend over
>a red & white floral display at our church flower festival.
>
>All I can find in my books is a very un-dovelike pigeon!
>
Kashahara's Origami Omnibus has diagrams for a very good dove in flight.  I
say diagrams, because he purposely left out text to "challange"? readers to
figure out the folding sequence.  The dove is folded from a triangle or a
square folded along the diagonal.  You can e-mail me directly if you have
questions.

Mark

Mark Morden == marmonk@mail.eskimo.com
http://www.eskimo.com/~marmonk/
--------------------------------------------------------
I believe in Christianity as I believe that the Sun
has risen; not only because I see it, but because by it
I see everything else.
                       C.S. Lewis, "The Weight of Glory"





Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 17:48:58 -0300 (ADT)
From: Cathy Palmer-Lister <cathypl@generation.net>
Subject: Re: Dove Model

At 04:21 PM 4/11/97 -0300, you wrote:
>
>Can anyone help me out? I have been asked to make a Dove to suspend over
>a red & white floral display at our church flower festival.

There is a lovely dove, quite easy, in the Omnibus by Kasahara.

                                        Cathy





Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 17:45:10 -0300 (ADT)
From: Cathy Palmer-Lister <cathypl@generation.net>
Subject: Re: (NO) Cat People

At 04:05 PM 4/11/97 -0300, you wrote:
>>This is not about origami - it's about cats, but origami people love
>>cats - don't they? Anyway - some of you has been talking about this
>>subject lately. This text relates to the old "psychological profile"
>>topic (originally started by me).
>
>Excuse me but my back is arching. Please put "NO" for non-origami in your
>subject line or move this discussion to the Kitty Connection.
>Thank you,
>Maldon
>
>P.S. Any subsequent catty flames will be doused with my delete button.

Oh, don't be such a sour-puss!

                                        0 | 0
                                          U

                                Cathy(dog person)





Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 18:08:57 -0300 (ADT)
From: "MARGARET M. BARBER" <mbarber@welchlink.welch.jhu.edu>
Subject: NO -- Am I still on the list?

I'm sorry to bother the list with this, but I haven't gotten any mail from
the list for four days.  I can't remember how to find out if I've been
set to postpone somehow...  Could someone please e-mail me directly please?
Thanks,
Peg Barber
mbarber@welchlink.welch.jhu.edu





Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 19:43:51 -0300 (ADT)
From: Daddy-o D'gou <dwp+@transarc.com>
Subject: Re: Origami Publishing (was:Re: Tuyen)

Tom "signature boy" Hull writes:

+We do.  OrigamiUSA has self-published many books, including our ever-
+popular Annual Collection every year.  However, we (with other small
+independent publishers) have no way to distribute our books to
+the mass market.  Thus our books can only be purchased at conventions
+or via mail order.

I would suggest that the Internet is a great distribution channel.  I can see
that OUSA is still gettings it's feet wet, and might not jump into this right
away.  In fact, there are already two origami vendors on the web that OUSA
could partner with.  And both of those also probably have other outlets as
well.  And there are many ways to set up that partnership.

But, getting into Barnes and Noble would probably require a volume
beyound what OUSA is currently set up to handle.  In addition, the
finishe products will have an quality issue, since they aren't
"professionally" manufactured.  Since Dover is known for quality books
and reasonable prices (and so far all of OUSA's publications have had
reasonable prices IMHO), I'd be curious to know if a Dover/OUSA venture
couldn't also be considered.

+was working on _Origami, Plain and Simple_ with Bob Neale, we were
+tickled to learn that St. Martin's had hired the legendary * Sam Randlett *
+to do the copy editing for our book, and I have since learned that
+they ask Sam to copy edit all of their origami books before they
+are published.

Whoa, WAY COOL!  (So when is HIS next book coming out? (Generic question,
not just to Tom))

+are published.  Also, recently my editor cared enough about the
+quality of the origami books they produce to ask me if I knew
+of any other origamists who would be willing to "beta test" books
+for them.  I thus gave her a list of names, and later learned that
+these people were contacted to do just this, for a modest honorarium,
+at that!

Wow!  Hey, does St. Martin's Press have a web site?   I haven't been able to
find it (so far) by searching.

Does St. Martin's Press produce non-English books?  Who proofs and edits
those?

To play devil's advocate a bit, lets say a publisher like the stellar St.
Martin's Press decides to put out a foreign language edition (foreign relative
to the USA that is) of a good origami book.  If the author(s) don't know that
language, then someone has to translate it.  The author(s) may or may not have
any way to tell if the translation is reasonable or not.  And even if they do,
they may have no control over what is going out in their name!
So, I am STILL not ready to roast Tuyen, since I don't know that he is
responsible for the English text that Joseph finds objectionable.

-D'gou





Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 19:54:23 -0300 (ADT)
From: Daddy-o D'gou <dwp+@transarc.com>
Subject: Re: Origami Philosophy (Was: Re: non-convex paper)

Brett (brett@hagerhinge.com) wrote:

+Also when you start with a square and then fold a triangle for example, you
+have extra paper to work with that can become some other part of the model.
+ If you had started with a cut triangle this extra paper would not be
+present, and the model would appear different.

Agreed.  Depending on the model, the extra paper may be useful, or it may
simply get in the way and make the model inelegant.  May models, of stars and
snowflakes and flowers for example, that start from a hexagon do not benefit
from the extra paper, it is detrimental.

Off the top of my head I can't think of any models with start with a square
that move to another regular polygon, and then later pull out the extra paper,
but I'm sure there must be some.  Can anyone name (and provide a pointer to
diagrams) for some?

-D"gou





Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 20:10:13 -0300 (ADT)
From: Daddy-o D'gou <dwp+@transarc.com>
Subject: Re: Origami Publishing (was:Re: Tuyen)

Matthias wrote:
+Glad to be of assistance. My services as a spokesperson
+are available at a pay-per-line basis <g>.

Ouch.  I'll try not to quote you too much!

I wrote:
+> name.  I seem to recall Jay Ansill writing about being unable to get
+> things in his book changed, and I'm sure other authors have had
+
+This sounds quite bad. But how about "serious" literature from
+authors like Patricia Highsmith, Jack London, or Hemmingway (sorry;
+I don`t remember any more contemporary english writers; guess
+I shouldn`t read so much computer magazines); did they have their
+books re-written/remodeled/changed almost beyond recognition too?
+I can`t imagine this happening. Maybe it only happens to books
+about some craft or hobby?
+Could it be that Origami Authors are simply too modest, or
+inexperienced, in dealing with publishers?

I may regret this, and my intent is not to rehash any painful memories for
anyone.

I went back to the archives and found the following which Jay Ansill himself
posted on July 25th, 1996 and I have excerpted and reformatted
the relevant portions:

    ... The entire process of doing both of my books was extremely
    frustrating and left me feeling used and unapreciated.

    No, wait. Correction: Dealing with the artists themselves was
    great! I got to see some great work and everyone I dealt with who
    contributed was helpful and generous. The highlight for me I think
    was suggesting casually over the phone to Robert Lang that he
    create a Three headed dog and the Hindu God Shiva. A few weeks
    later I got a package containing Both!!

    But as far as the company who did them, (Running Heads, who sold
    them to HarperCollins in the US and Cassell in the UK) it was
    horrible! without going into great detail, I'll say that the
    biggest problem was that because it took so long for them to pay me
    and the diagrammer, (Over seven months in one case!) he refused to
    turn over the manuscript, and by the time it got worked out, it was
    too late to make any corrections, and there were several that were
    sorely needed! To them, the look of the book is more important than
    little details like readability.

So, I doubt this kind of thing happens to any famous authors, because they
could just go to a different publisher.  But when you are not a famous author
(or even if you are), you may not have the market-pull to wield such clout.
So I doubt that it has anything to do with modesty or experience, and
everything to do with the power politics of publishing.

Perhaps John Montroll and Robert Lang could add a word or two about their
publishing experiences, if not too painful.

-D'gou





Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 21:58:15 -0300 (ADT)
From: Ronnie White <ronew@mindspring.com>
Subject: Origami on QVC

Michael LaFosse will be on QVC Thursday April 17th. He doesn't know the
exact time, but it will be sometime during the 2:00pm hour. On the show they
will be selling a revised edition of his video "Origami Square One". This is
a great opportunity to see on TV one of the best friends a piece of paper
ever had.

Ron White
ronew@mindspring.com

"Never underestimate the incredible destructive power of origami"

                                                  Earthworm Jim





Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 22:08:16 -0300 (ADT)
From: Joseph Wu <origami@planet.datt.co.jp>
Subject: [NO] American/Canadian Jokes

On Fri, 11 Apr 1997 JStranzl@aol.com wrote:

=<< > Joseph Wu wrote:
= > So, if Canadians say "A" (eh) and Mexicans say "C" (si), why don't
=Americans
= > say "B"?
=
=Or... Why don't Americans say "DC?"

Huh? How's that supposed to fit the pattern?

 Joseph Wu - origami@planet.datt.co.jp - http://www.datt.co.jp/Origami
> It's your privilege as an artist to inflict the pain of creativity on
yourself. We can teach you how WE paint, but we can't teach you how YOU
paint. There's More Than One Way To Do It.
> Have the appropriate amount of fun.    --Wall, Christiansen, Schwartz





Date: Sat, 12 Apr 1997 02:23:36 -0300 (ADT)
From: hull@MATH.URI.EDU
Subject: Re: Origami Publishing (was:Re: Tuyen)

Yo yo yo!

D'gou "eat my saber, Rebel" Philips wrote:
>>>
I would suggest that the Internet is a great distribution channel.
>>>

OUSA is currently exploring that option, and hopefully in the near
future (like, a year or so?) we'll be there!

>>>
Whoa, WAY COOL!  (So when is HIS next book coming out? (Generic question,
not just to Tom)) [in regards to Sam Randlett]
>>>

Bob Neale told me once that Mr. Randlett has been working on a book
for the past 10+ years.  The problem is that Sam is a perfectionist,
as well as letting himself be distracted with other projects.
So I wouldn't expect any new books from Sam.

>>>
To play devil's advocate a bit, lets say a publisher like the stellar St.
Martin's Press decides to put out a foreign language edition (foreign relative
to the USA that is) of a good origami book.  If the author(s) don't know that
language, then someone has to translate it....
>>>

As far as I know, St. Martin's doesn't publish non-English editions.
However, they will sell the translation rights to interested "forgein"
publishers.  This, in fact, happened with _Origami, Plain and Simple_.
After the book had been on the shelves for a year, I got a letter
from my editor at St. Martin's stating that they had sold the
translation rights to a Russian publisher.  This was nice because
it gave me some more money (Bob and I got a cut of the sale),
*** however *** I had no control whatsoever of how the book
was translated.  Further, I was promised a copy of the Russian
translation, and after 2 years I still haven't received it.  I
am very curious about what this book looks like in Russian.  I
am especially curious to know how they translated things like,
"Funky Swan", "Kiss me, I'm origamish", and "Da Wabbit Wewised".
(I sure hope the translator had fun trying to figure all this out!)
        So the moral of the story is that when you sign a
publishing contract, you usually waive things like control over
translation rights.  St. Martin's went ahead and sold the translation
rights without checking with me first, but also made sure that
Bob and I got a cut of the deal.  The trade-off is that Bob and I
have no way of knowing if the Russian publisher who translated
the book had it translated/edited by an origami expert. Is
there anyone out there who has seen the Russian version and who
can comment on this?

---- Tom "still dizzy from my dissertation" Hull





Date: Sat, 12 Apr 1997 04:38:33 -0300 (ADT)
From: Rjlang@aol.com
Subject: Re: [propp@math.mit.edu: Margulis napkin problem]

To recap: Jeannine posted a query about whether it's possible to fold a shape
with a perimeter larger than the original square; Mark Casida suggested
squashing a Sea Urchin; and I observed that:

..you fold an order-N Sea Urchin (from Origami Sea Life).
It has N^2 points, each of length (1/(2(N-1))). ****If you make the points
arbitrarily thin**** [emphasis added] (using lots and lots of sink folds!),
when you flatten it, you'll get a total perimeter of N^2/(N-1), which is
unbounded as N is large.

and

You don't have to go to this extreme, however. ****If you thin the points****
[emphasis added] of a Bird Base, you can splay the points out into a shape
with a perimeter greater than [that of] a square.

Jeannine takes me to task:

>>>>
Not so fast, Robert!  When you flatten the sea Urchin, portions of
each point overlap neighboring points, reducing the total perimeter.
And I can't get the bird base trick to work either, at least not
without little tears appearing in the edges of the paper as the points spread
apart.  Can you check your theory, and give more specific instructions?
<<<<

I added the asterisks to my original comments to emphasize an important
point; if you're really going to try this, you definitely have to thin the
points, or as Jeannine points out, you'll lose perimeter due to the regions
where the points overlap. The thinner you make the flaps, the less you lose.
And in fact, as you'll see below, you have to thin them a _lot_ just to reach
break-even.

To quantify this and to provide a specific example in the case of the Bird
Base, take a unit square (I get these from OUSA Supplies) and fold a Bird
Base in the all-flaps-down position (kite-shaped). Denote the height of the
top triangle by z (z is (Sqrt(2)-1)/2, but that's not important to the
argument). Now narrow all four long flaps (and the top flap) by sinking the
_sides_ in and out on parallel creases, dividing each side into nths. After
sinking, spread-sink one flap on each side, so you end up with a real skinny
thing with one flap pointing upward and two flaps on the left and right
pointing down. Reverse-fold two of the downward-pointing flaps out to each
side, and spread the two remaining downward-pointing flaps slightly so there
is a gap between them.

Now, your shape lies completely flat and has four long flaps and one shorter
one. Because of overlapping layers, each of the long flaps, which ideally
would have a perimeter of slightly more than (1), has lost (2z/n) in length.
The top flap has a perimeter slightly over (2z). So the total perimeter of
the shape is 4(1-2z/n)+2z = 4 + 2z(1-4/n) (actually a teensy bit more because
of some angled edges, which I'm neglecting for now).

So if you compare this to the perimeter of the original square, you see that
for n=4, you've just about broken even; but if you divide into 5ths or more,
you'll come out ahead. And if you make the points "arbitrarily thin", which
only occurs in pure mathematics and Origami Insects And Their Kin, the
perimeter of the Bird Base shape approaches the value 4+2z, or about 4.414.
Similar arguments (and many more sinks) apply to the Sea Urchin.

Robert J. Lang
rjlang@aol.com





Date: Sat, 12 Apr 1997 10:27:33 -0300 (ADT)
From: Robby/Laura/Lisa <morassi@zen.it>
Subject: Re: Re; Dollar Bill Shirt Instructions

Joseph Wu wrote:

>So, if Canadians say "A" (eh) and Mexicans say "C" (si), why don't Americans
>say "B"?

Ehm... you mean those people living in the Bunited States of Bamerica ? :D :D

Roberto
