




Date: Sat, 03 May 1997 22:45:41 -0300 (ADT)
From: "James M. Sakoda" <James_Sakoda@brown.edu>
Subject: Re: Folding from Non-Square paper

>
>15.  As has so often been said in Origami-L, creative art is arises where the
>constraints are greatest. The accepted constraint in Origami has always been
>that the paper should be a simple square.
>
>16.  To summarise, the square has become the classical shape of paper for
>folding.

>
>                        ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
>Those are some of my random ideas. Other subscribers will no doubt be able to
>add to them. Origami is fascinating, not only from the point of view of
>folding, but also for just thinking about.
>
>David Lister.
>
>Grimsby, England.
>
>DLister891@AOL.com

David Lister covered the ground of many forms of paper being used in
origami today, but seems to reach a one sided conclusion.  In some ways the
square paper has the least number of constraints, compared to folding from
a dollar bill, for example.   One can be called a paper folder and still
fold from dollar bills, use several units and put them together, the units
need not be folded from a square, fold flower stems from a narrow sheet,
use narrow ribbons to do knot folding or tube or pipe folding,  fold hats
from newspapers, fold origami airplanes from letter size paper, cut
nonsquare sheets to fold assymetric bird base figures, use triangles,
pentagons, hexagons where appropriate, cut paper into connected squares to
do a classical sembazuru (one thousand crane) folding.  I have done all of
these things, as well as fold from single square pieces of foil paper, but
have yet to be accused of not doing origami.  The conclusion should be:  to
each his own.  David Lister covered the ground of many forms of paper being
used in origami today, but seems to reach a one sided conclusion.  One can
be called a paper folder and still fold from dollar bills, use several
units and put them together, the units need not be folded from a square,
fold flower stems from a narrow sheet, use narrow ribbons to do knot
folding or tube or pipe folding,  fold hats from newspapers, fold origami
airplanes from letter size paper, cut nonsquare sheets to fold assymetric
bird base figures, use triangles, pentagons, hexagons where appropriate,
cut paper into connected squares to do a classical sembazuru (one thousand
crane) folding.  I have done all of these things, as well as fold from
single square pieces of foil paper, but have yet to be accused of not doing
origami.  The conclusion should be:  to each his own.  James M. Sakoda





Date: Sat, 03 May 1997 22:58:28 -0300 (ADT)
From: steve179@ix.netcom.com
Subject: Re: Drawing

On 05/02/97 21:42:48 you wrote:
>
>At 08:12 PM 5/2/97 -0300, you wrote:
>>I was curious if there's software that many find preferable ( a.k.a.
>>easy,inexpensive)     for drawing origami diagrams.
>>
>>I also own DRAW Plus put out by Serif ( I've used Page Plus from the same
>>company for "Desktop Publishing") but although it is easier to use it
>>doesn't have the same flexibility.
>
>The program I would reccomend (if price is a big factor), would be in fact
>"DRAW" by Serif. There are some other alternatives. Corel has been sellimg
>older versions of its Draw! program at huge discounts. Also, You can get
>Freehand 5 for "free" with the puchase of a JAZ zip drive (I have seen this
>offer in a few catalogs). Canvas is a feature rich program that is often
>cheaper than it's more commercially successful competitors.
>
>If price is not as much of an issue, for a few hundred US dollars, you can
>get programs like Corel Draw!, Freehand, Illustrator, and Designer. I use
>Frehand, but I should note, these progams sgare many features; it is a
>matter of what you get used to first.
>
>Marc
>
>

I did go back and take another look at Serif's DrawPlus 3.0 and in fact it
does fit the bill for me. The difference this time was that I read the
directions !!! Thanks for the input.





Date: Sun, 04 May 1997 00:29:36 -0300 (ADT)
From: jdharris@post.cis.smu.edu (Jerry D. Harris)
Subject: re: books on Dinosaurs

>Actually, just discovered there is another dinosaur book at Sasuga now:
>
>{ Origami no Kyoryu - Dinosaur Origami } Kaji, Takashi
>
>Anyone get this one yet?

        Yes, just today, as a matter of fact.  It's models are, at most,
low intermediate (in my estimation), and several involve cutting.  Of the
dinosaur origami books I've got, it doesn't rank way up there.  8-C

                _,_
           ____/_\,)                    ..  _
--____-===(  _\/                         \\/ \-----_---__
           /\  '                        ^__/>/\____\--------
__________/__\_ ____________________________.//__.//_________

Jerry D. Harris                       (214) 768-2750
Dept. of Geological Sciences          FAX:  768-2701
Southern Methodist University
Box 750395                            jdharris@post.smu.edu
Dallas  TX  75275-0395                (Compuserve:  102354,2222)

"Science _does_ have all the answers -- we just don't have all
the science."
                        -- James Morrow





Date: Sun, 04 May 1997 01:22:49 -0300 (ADT)
From: chall@scsn.net (Carol Hall)
Subject: origami sighting

In the wonderful book, _The Art of Eric Carle_, there is a picture of the
artist wearing a lei of cranes with what looks to be a kusudama added.  The
photo was taken in Japan as Carle plays with schoolchildren, presumably
those who folded the cranes.  Unfortunately, there is not a single mention
of origami in the text or caption...  (Oh well, Carle has made his name as a
collage artist, after all!)

Carol Hall
chall@scsn.net





Date: Sun, 04 May 1997 01:50:48 -0300 (ADT)
From: candice bradley/daniel byrne <candice@samara.co.zw>
Subject: Origami Dreams

You know you're obsessed when . . .

I had an origami dream last night.  I am an academic, so of course the
associate dean at my college back in the US was in the dream.  I was
sitting in a room with a bunch of other faculty and the dean was talking
about origami, and somebody said, "What's origami," and she walked over
to my growing pile of cranes, and picked some up to show the other
faculty.  But here's the catch. She then told them that after you create
them you +crush+ them and put them at the bottom of a brandy snifter!!!!

It took me a while this morning to realize that this was merely a dream.

Anyone else have origami dreams?

Candice in Harare, Zimbabwe





Date: Sun, 04 May 1997 07:03:59 -0300 (ADT)
From: DLister891@aol.com
Subject: Re: Folding from Non-Square Paper

In his posting dated 4th May, James Sakoda wrote:

 <David Lister covered the ground of many forms of paper being used in
 origami today, but seems to reach a one sided conclusion.>

James, I protest!  I haven't reached any conclusion! I haven't tried to
impose any argument on anyone. I have merely presented a random selection of
facets, facts, ideas, arguments and considerations which may or may not be
relevant to the discussion about why square paper before all other shapes is
generally preferred by paperfolders.

Perhaps my mistaqke was that my last point was:

<16.  To summarise, the square as become the classical shape of paper for
folding>

Perhaps this may look like the coup de grace at the end of an argument. But
as I said at the start of my posting, I did not set out to make a reasoned
argument. My refernce to the square as the classic shape is intended as just
one more facet on the phenomenon of square paper.. Folding from square paper
has, indeed, for better or for worse, become the classic shape for folding.
This does not mean that it is the only shape or the best shape or even the
preferable shape. It merely means that when most people think of folding
paper, the square is the shape that initially comes, consciously or
unconsciously into their minds. They see all other kinds of folding as
derivatives from this.

James also writes:

<The conclusion should be:  to each his own.>

I entirely agree.

I quote the first of the paragraphs from my posting of 3rd May, where I said:

< " A few months ago, I wrote in Origami-L about John Smith's ideas on
"Origami Profiles", which analyses how each individual's preferences in
folding fit into the general scheme of things. The theory accepts that
everyone is entitled to adopt whatever rules for folding he or she chooses".

Doesn't this mean exactly the same as "To each his own"?  Admittedly the
concept of Origami Profiles was John  Smith's, but by quoting it, I was
adopting it and showing my approval of it.

After listing a great variety of paper techiniques, James concludes: < I have
done all of these things, as well as fold from single square pieces of foil
paper, but have yet to be accused of not doing origami. The conclusion should
be: to each his own>.

I should never dream at any time of accusing James, above all people, of not
doing origami! And for the life of me, I cannot see how my posting of 3rd May
should remotely imply this.

 It is not an assertion of my own opinion if I draw attention to the
ascertainable fact that most paperfolders do in practice use square paper.
Perhaps nine hundred and ninety nine out of every thousand paperfolds are
made from square paper. There are reasons why this may have come about and I
tried to set them down, in order to try to find the reasons for this
preference. My suggestions are practical,  historical and psychological
factors and not preferences or dictates of my own. I  certainly did not argue
that the only legitimate paperfolding was from square paper. Or from any
other shape of paper. Far from it. To each his own!

                     +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

If leap to my own defence, I hope that nobody will accuse me of "flaming".
Least of all do I wish to upset James Sakoda, whom I have known for more
years than either of us would care to remember.

I have to  say how much I share the sentiments of Doug Philips (3rd May),
when he writes;

<Even though this discussion recurs from time to time and even though a lot
of the same points are raised each time, I personally find that I learn
something new from each version of it.>

I know that I personally am learning all the time and I have to express my
thanks to Origami-L and all its members for opening up vistas of paperfolding
and theories about the nature of paperfolding that I should never otherwise
have remotely dreamed about.

David Lister.

Grimsby, England.

DLister891@AOL.com





Date: Sun, 04 May 1997 07:16:29 -0300 (ADT)
From: Zachary Brown <zbrown@lynx.dac.neu.edu>
Subject: Re: Origami Dreams

> You know you're obsessed when . . .
>
> I had an origami dream last night.  I am an academic, so of course the
> associate dean at my college back in the US was in the dream.  I was
> sitting in a room with a bunch of other faculty and the dean was talking
> about origami, and somebody said, "What's origami," and she walked over
> to my growing pile of cranes, and picked some up to show the other
> faculty.  But here's the catch. She then told them that after you create
> them you +crush+ them and put them at the bottom of a brandy snifter!!!!
>
> It took me a while this morning to realize that this was merely a dream.
>
> Anyone else have origami dreams?

I just had one last night too! I dreamed I was with my family at some kind
of rummage sale, and I noticed a book with origami diagrams in it. I
couldn't tell what the models were of, but on the cover it said the
author's name, "P. Engel" and a photograph of someone who actually
reminded me of Robert Lang. The book was too thin to be
_Folding_The_Universe_, and the diagrams had all been in bright colors
like pink and green, so I was overjoyed at having found an Engel book I
had known nothing about. My family didn't want me to get it, they wanted
us to get moving, but I insisted.

I find those dreams very frustrating, partly because I now have to ask,
does anyone know what book that was, and if it really exists?

Zack

> Candice in Harare, Zimbabwe





Date: Sun, 04 May 1997 11:40:35 -0300 (ADT)
From: fold4wet@juno.com (Rosalind F Joyce)
Subject: Re: Michael Lafosse & cloth-paper

I've used stick -on cloth (Rubbermaid stuff, I think) on foil, card
stock, and paper too warped to go through the copy machine.  I've also
bonded fabric to different papers.  Mostly I used them for boxes, with
compensation for thickness.  Wild wetfolding, too.  RosJoyce





Date: Sun, 04 May 1997 11:44:47 -0300 (ADT)
From: havener3@delphi.com (geoline)
Subject: L7 2 A4...was Re: Folding from Non-Square paper

One of the notes David Listed:
>11.  Arising out of this , historical inertia takes over and square origami
>paper is square because it always has been square; square paper IS origami
>paper and origami paper doesn't come in any other shapes otherwise it isn't
>origami paper.

Nah.  Square post-a-note paper sucks as origami paper even though it is
square paper. (jus' kidding)

If we are talking about COMMERCIAL historical inertia in supply and demand
trends in the West, then the idea that origami paper doesn't come in any
other shapes otherwise it isn't origami paper makes sense.

Someone mentioned how much more PRACTICAL it is to use origami squares
because that is the standard shape which is widely available.  Specific
origami paper is also available in large sheets and rolls, not only the
prepackaged, precut squares for those of us who NEED to cut our own sizes
and shapes.  Specific origami paper is not widely available everywhere so
it is not always PRACTICAL to design with origami manufactured paper. So,
you make due with the paper supply you have access to or make your own
paper.  (Actually, if ya really can't get precut paper squares for a major
folding project like 1000 or 1001 cranes, and don't have your own paper
cutter, next time you are at some place like Kinkos to xerox newsletters or
other documents, use their paper cutters.)

When folding Japanese geisha, princesses, brides, mikos, poets, I need
traditional kimono patterned origami paper to fold the multiple layered 3-D
paperdoll kimono.  It is a real treat for me to locate specific kimono
patterns because the designs have cultural meaning as do the fabric designs
of Scottish tartans and other fabrics of the world.  The kimono with tabi
fold makes primary use of the triangle and layering of different kimono
papers to mimic the many layered ceremonial kimono costumes.

Unless I am doing kimonos, I use whatever paper is readily available in
whatever shape (square and otherwise).  When I was taking programming
classes at the University of Hawaii in the good old days of the IBM 360 &
370 mainframes and had to use those infernal IBM punch cards, for lack of a
better thing to do while waiting for system repairs or for my que to go
through, I would fold all kinds of cool stuff (modular baskets, thunder
dragon wreaths, A-4 <the attact jet, not the paper size>) with waste punch
cards.

One of the superstitions revolving around square shapes in old Japanese and
Chinese cultures is the compulsiveness to rend a square into any other form
DEATH perfectly.  Crane is so popular because out of a symbol for death,
ironically arises the symbol for longevity, the crane.  Irony is a major
design element in oriental poetry, folktales and other cultural arts.

Paper folding in Asia and the Pacific is very much related to an even older
craft of basket and net weaving.  Some real cool tourist trinket origami
critters can be made with a single strip of palm leaf of which more
practical applications like fish baskets can be folded into.  (I usta do
dis kine' stuffs in Hawaii when I was small kid.)

So after all is said and done, imagination comes in all shapes and sizes.

Geoline Havener-Li
email: havener3@delphi.com
http://www.geocities.com/~jaspacecorp/momsai.html





Date: Sun, 04 May 1997 12:36:47 -0300 (ADT)
From: Lisa Hodsdon <Lisa_Hodsdon@hmco.com>
Subject: Re: Not folding with squares

Doug Phillips ("dwp+" @ transarc.com) responded to me:

>Lisa "Crane Countdown" Hodsdon wrote:
>+And here lies an excellent reason for sticking to squares: A square in
>+the US is the same as a square in the rest of the world. If some
>+designers used A4 and others 8.5 by 11, what a pain it would be to fold
>+stuff by foreign designers.

>Bzzzt.  A4 is the same ratio in the US as it is in England or anywhere
    else:
>   1:sqrt(2)

Yeah, but A4 is not *called* "root 2" paper, so I have to stop and figure
out
which root rectangle it is, and then have to figure out a reasonable
approximation. I *know* I could remember this stuff, but I have enough
trouble remembering the important stuff. I could write it down, but then
I would have to find it. I imagine that some users of A4 have trouble
remembering whether it's 8.5 x 11 or 8.5 x 12 (or worse, 8.5 x 14).
Granted, I live in a place where precut squares are easy to come by.
I'm not a purist, just lazy when it comes to the work involved before and
after the folding.

Lisa (312 cranes to go---had a good day yesterday!)
Lisa_Hodsdon@hmco.com
Boston, MA





Date: Sun, 04 May 1997 14:07:50 -0300 (ADT)
From: halgall@netverk.com.ar
Subject: Re: e.mail

Dear Friends: David, Valerie, Leonardo, Mathias and others,

Thanks to all  for help me with this problem. Thanks to all Origami-L.
I have already finished with the problem, later of  the messages, I wrote
Again, Thanks!!!

Patricia Gallo





Date: Sun, 04 May 1997 14:29:42 -0300 (ADT)
From: Steven Casey <scasey@enternet.com.au>
Subject: Re: Drawing

At 08:12 PM 2/05/97 -0300, you wrote:
>I was curious if there's software that many find preferable ( a.k.a.
>easy,inexpensive)      for drawing origami diagrams.
>

The least expensive and best, I've used is Designworks3(DWks). One feature
DWks has is that you can edit the length and width of objects and locate
them precisely along a grid using X,Y co-ordinates.

Recommended ****

Cheers,

Steven Casey

scasey@enternet.com.au
Melbourne Australia





Date: Sun, 04 May 1997 14:29:53 -0300 (ADT)
From: Steven Casey <scasey@enternet.com.au>
Subject: Re: Not folding with squares

At 09:36 PM 2/05/97 -0300, you wrote:
>At 05:16 PM 5/2/97 -0300, "Shi-Yew Chen (a.k.a. Sy)" <sychen@erols.com> wrote:
>
>>There are definitely some animal models not suitable from squares.
>>e.g. Slender shaped animals (Snake, Caterpiller, Centipede, ...)

Mark Kirschenbaum responded with:
<snip>
>That is the whole fun of starting with a square. If we started with shapes
>that shared the symmetry of our prospective subjects, much of the disign
>element would be lost. To paraphrase Robert Lang, he stated that a good
>portion of the digning proces is mapping your subject's symmetry to the
>very different symmetry of your subject.
>
>Marc
>

 I concur, for some it's the challenge of creating/engineering the seemingly
impossible that attracts them to the square. Other shapes may be more
practical, but not as much fun  as the pursuit of a solution from a square.
It depends on your intention if economy is a prerequisite *maybe* another
shape is more suitable. The main thing is not to close your mind to other
possiblities. Other forms of origami have enriched our artform and broadened
it's appeal.

Cheers,

Steven Casey,

scasey@enternet.com.au





Date: Sun, 04 May 1997 14:17:29 -0300 (ADT)
From: Michel Bartolone <bartolon@execpc.com>
Subject: Pain and inspiration: teaching origami part 2

So, I didn't get any flames from that rather long introduction! Thanks
for that. I also actually got requests to continue with my teaching
stories, so here goes.

Today I want to tell you a tale of real inspiration...inspiration
in the form of a 15 year old girl. Nov. 20th 1996, I was in the
hospital finally taking care of a couple of severly herniated disks
in my neck. I was not in any severe pain, but, I was in danger of
causing some significant nerve damage. I had the surgury on Wednesday
afternoon, and was making a very rapid recovery (the surgeon came to
see me Thursday morning, and I was out walking the floor trying to
cheer up some of the other patients). I was told to plan on being in
the hospital about 3 to 5 days minimum. I was doing so well, the surgeon
actually thought I might be ready to go home Thursday! Well, as it turns
out I was rather lucky to NOT go home Thursday. Friday morning I got
up and decided to do something nice for the 3 nurses and 2 therapists
that I had been under the care of..had to be something simple...so
I decided to make them each a crane as a thank you gift. So, I scavanged
some paper from the floor and made some squares and started folding.
I made the 5 cranes in about 30 minutes and went for a walk to deliver
them. That was when I met Angela. Angela Kuemmel is 15 years old. She
was a student at a local Catholic high school, and a member of the
swim team. Shortly after the first whistle of her first match on the
Freshman swim team, Angela's life was changed forever. She dove at
just the wrong angle and hit her head on the bottom of the pool shattering
several vertibrea. That was Sepember 22, 1996. As I said, I was delivering
cranes...I game in to give one to the physical therapist who was working
with Angela at the time. Angela saw me walk in with a crane in my hands
and her eyes lit up.

   "Paper cranes! I know how to make paper cranes!! We should make paper
cranes for fine motor skills class today!" the young woman bubbled. She
said hi and took 5 minutes to tell me about her swimming accident. I was
quite moved...here was a 15 year old girl..and athlete..and she would
never compete again..and yet life still had a great deal of joy for her.
I told her that I would make an easter lily for her to wear in her hair
and she smiled and said she'd like that. So, I went back to my room and
folder one. I had thought I would deliver it just before leaving.

   I was eating lunch and just killing some time waiting for my official
discharge..I had some time to kill..my ride would not be there until
about 4 or 5pm. At about 1:05pm, one of the nurses came into my room
and asked me to come with her. I thought perhaps they were going to
make sure I knew how to tie my shoes with my neck brace on or something.
It was an ambush. They needed someone that knew how to TEACH origami for
their fine motor skills class. Angela knew how to make them, and even got
her non-functional fingers to cooperate enough to  fold one before class,
but didn't know how to tell anyone else how. So, there I was...in a room
with about 4 therapists, and 8 quadraplegics and I was supposed to teach
them how to fold cranes! I took a couple of minutes letting them know that
I had never tried to teach origami to anyone with the physical challenges
that they all faced, but that I would give it a try, and made sure that
they would tell me to either slow down or speed up if they thought I was
going to fast or too slow. Angela beemed at me from my right. With a litt
ecoaching and experimentation, 45 minutes later, there were 9 cranes
made with various degrees of precision and 13 very happy people. Angela
told the story of Sadako while we were folding...she said she was going
to start her 1000 cranes with the 2 that she'd made that day. I gave her
a hug and told her that I would get her some origami paper as a christmas
present as long as it was OK with her mother. She assured me that it would
be OK. At 5:00pm I stopped by her room to say good bye.

  December 9th, 1996 I had to go back to see my surgeon for a progress
update. That morning we bought a large package of 4 to 8 inch origami
paper. I took one sheet..gold foil and folded a crane. We got to the
hospital about an hour early and went up to the spinal cord injury
ward to see if they could get my package to Angela...as wel were walking
down the hall to the nurses station, I heard a voice say,
   "Mom, that was Michel!"

   We stopped suddenly and made a quick U turn. There was Angela, looking very
happy. I gave her a hug and then gave her the package of paper..she told me
that she had folded about 50 cranes in the 3 weeks since I'd seen her, and
that she thought of me every time she completed one...and that she would
think of me every time she folded anything! Such flattery..and from a girl
young enough to be my daughter! I loved it!

  I have to write to Angela.. I want to see how she is doing. I am still
inspired by that young woman...to have the things you love most in life
taken from you at such a young age, and yet to have the spirit to persevere..to
find joy in the little things that most of us take forgranted...Angela
is a hero to me...I hope that I have that much courage in my life..if I
need it, and I hope I never do!

Sincerely
Michel





Date: Sun, 04 May 1997 19:25:00 -0300 (ADT)
From: Dennis Walker <d_and_m_walker@compuserve.com>
Subject: Rare Animals

Hi,
        I am looking for models of rare animals, i.e. animals not often
used
as subjects for origami. Specifically, does anyone know of any models for
badgers or duck-billed platypuses (platypi?) and where they can be found.

Dennis Walker, UK





Date: Sun, 04 May 1997 21:13:47 -0300 (ADT)
From: Robert Allan Schwartz <notbob@tessellation.com>
Subject: Re: New stuff on my page

>Dear All,
>         I have added some new things for you to try out at
>
>http://www.mrc-cpe.cam.ac.uk/jong/agb/origami.html
>
>1) Cut out and fold tessellations.
>     I have recently written a program for generating crease patterns
>for origami tessellations.  I have put three postscript examples to try.
>I would really like feedback on these.

Hi Alex,

Maybe I'm being dense, but when I downloaded and printed your tessellation
crease patterns, my first question was: How do I start and stop folds in
the middle of the page?

I'd appreciate your help and advice.

Thanks,

Robert

PS - I think your work and designs are very beautiful, and I thank you for
putting them on the web where I can see them.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert Allan Schwartz       | voice (617) 499-9470  | Freelance instructor
955 Massachusetts Ave. #354 | fax   (617) 868-8209  | of C, C++, OOAD, OODB
PO Box 9183                 |
Cambridge, MA 02139         | email notbob@tessellation.com

URL   http://www.tessellation.com/index.html

"Physicists are wrong. The world is not divided between matter and
antimatter. The world is divided between pasta and antipasta."





Date: Sun, 04 May 1997 21:24:38 -0300 (ADT)
From: Marc Kirschenbaum <marckrsh@pipeline.com>
Subject: Re: Rare Animals

At 07:25 PM 5/4/97 -0300, Dennis Walker <d_and_m_walker@compuserve.com> wrote:

> I am looking for models of rare animals, i.e. animals not often used
> as subjects for origami. Specifically, does anyone know of any models for
> badgers or duck-billed platypuses (platypi?) and where they can be found.

Diagrams for a platypus were included in last year's Annual Collection from
OrigamiUSA. I also had one of my own diagrammed for their newsletter a few
years back (do not ask me which one; I forgot). Also, you can search for
specific models via the Oriindex. I do not know the URL off-hand, but Alex
Bateman's papge has a seach facility for it.

Marc





Date: Sun, 04 May 1997 22:02:27 -0300 (ADT)
From: Pam and/or Namir <pgraben@umich.edu>
Subject: Holy crap!

Aaaaaaagghh.  I sorely apologize in advance for a bad, bad thing I may have
done.

I sometimes forward my Digest to my work.  I accidentally sent the digest to
origami-l.
I can only hope it gets caught somehow and nixed.  If not, please accept my most
humble apoligies and assurance that I'll act with less haste in the future!

-Namir
!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-
Pamela Graben:     Thinking... what a concept!
Namir Gharaibeh:  "If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice."
pgraben@umich.edu





Date: Sun, 04 May 1997 22:39:47 -0300 (ADT)
From: Pat Slider <slider@stonecutter.com>
Subject: RE: Origami Dreams

Seems to me I read in a book (Nolan? Engel?) of one of the female model
designers (Pat Crawford?) creating one of her models in a dream. The memory
is vague and perhaps one of those urban myths. Seems quite possible to me.
Anyone know this story?

pat slider
slider@stonecutter.com





Date: Mon, 05 May 1997 00:04:05 -0300 (ADT)
From: "Shi-Yew Chen (a.k.a. Sy)" <sychen@erols.com>
Subject: Re: Rare Animals

Dennis Walker wrote:
>
> Hi,
>         I am looking for models of rare animals, i.e. animals not often
> used
> as subjects for origami. Specifically, does anyone know of any models for
> badgers or duck-billed platypuses (platypi?) and where they can be found.
>

I started wondering why Montroll did not put badger in his North
American Animals in Origami. What's the unique identification people
can easily recognize? Does UK have badgers as well? Maybe someone will
come up with an endangered Origami book. Oops! I meant Endangered/rare
animals...

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





Date: Mon, 05 May 1997 00:32:46 -0300 (ADT)
From: Marc Kirschenbaum <marckrsh@pipeline.com>
Subject: RE: Origami Dreams

At 10:39 PM 5/4/97 -0300, Pat Slider <slider@stonecutter.com> wrote:

>Seems to me I read in a book (Nolan? Engel?) of one of the female model
>designers (Pat Crawford?) creating one of her models in a dream. The memory
>is vague and perhaps one of those urban myths. Seems quite possible to me.
>Anyone know this story?

I checked the caption in Engel's book, and it stated that Crawford gets her
ideas in  dreams, but does not bother to write them down while in that half
awake state (unlike Alice Gray, who would have). Crawford figured her ideas
would surface in her consious state when she was ready for them.

I can relate to Patrica Crawford in this. When I am confronted with a
difficult problem (origami or otherwise), I will "sleep on it." Almost
invariably, the solution will present itself the following morning. It
would seem to me that my mind was doing some sort of problem processing
during this interum. Apparently, I am not alone in this ability.

Marc





Date: Mon, 05 May 1997 04:58:21 -0300 (ADT)
From: DLister891@aol.com
Subject: Re: Rare Animals: Badgers  [NO]

Sy Chen asks if there are badgers in the UK as well as in North America.

Yes, we have badgers.  Although they are considered to be endangered, they
are  not terribly rare and, in fact, we have some in the woods close to where
I live.  Of course, they're nocturnal animals and we never see them.

They are not the same as American badgers. The badger in Britain and Europe
and extending into Asia is known to the scientists as Meles meles, whereas
the American badger is Taxidea taxus. So they have been placed in separate
genera. Despite this, they don't look so very different and one would
instantly recognise both species as badgers.

In England we have some terrible people who seek to dig out badgers from
their setts.They will even travel hundreds of miles across country to do so.
When they catch the badgers they "bait" them by setting dogs on to them. What
on earth they see in this, I just cannot imagine and how they can indulge in
such sadism is beyond belief.

Rupert the Bear, of paperfolding fame, has a friend called Bill Badger.

David Lister.

Grimsby, England.

DLister891@AOL.com





Date: Mon, 05 May 1997 08:24:54 -0300 (ADT)
From: Matthias Gutfeldt <Tanjit@bboxbbs.ch>
Subject: Origami-L popularity

Hi all,

While reading through the "recipients" list I just
noticed the following: On January 17, 1997 there were
459 subscribers. On May 5, 1997 there are now 520
subscribers. What a change! I just wonder what made
origami-l so popular in the last few months?

Matthias





Date: Mon, 05 May 1997 09:21:28 -0300 (ADT)
From: rita <rstevens@philly.infi.net>
Subject: gifts

Anyone know an easy way to attach origami to birthday gifts?  I usually make
cranes, etc. to accompany a gift and have the hardest time securing it.
I've tried a tying a ribbon around it but it looks like I am strangling the
crane.  I've also tried taping the bottom of the crane to the gift but
because its not flat, it doesn't work well. I've even tried piercing the
bottom of the crane using a colored toothpick as a stand.  Nothing seems to
work!  Any suggestions?

Thanks.
Rita
Philadelphia, PA





Date: Mon, 05 May 1997 09:59:08 -0300 (ADT)
From: Zachary Brown <zbrown@lynx.dac.neu.edu>
Subject: Re: gifts

> Anyone know an easy way to attach origami to birthday gifts?  I usually make
> cranes, etc. to accompany a gift and have the hardest time securing it.
> I've tried a tying a ribbon around it but it looks like I am strangling the
> crane.  I've also tried taping the bottom of the crane to the gift but
> because its not flat, it doesn't work well. I've even tried piercing the
> bottom of the crane using a colored toothpick as a stand.  Nothing seems to
> work!  Any suggestions?

Use one or more bent paperclips. Bend a paperclip so that you have a
flat shape with a prong sticking out. Before wrapping, poke the paperclip up
from under the paper, so the base remains out of view and all you are
left with is the prong. Stick the prong into the hole in the bottom
of the bird. Tape the bird to the paper. The prong should hold it up. If
not, try arranging two or more paperclips along the sides of the bird
instead, taping the bird to the paperclips themselves. That will give it
stability.

Alternatively, use a coat-hanger. Untwist the hanger and make a base with
a long prong, as in the paperclip idea. Poke the prong through the paper
as before. Now bend the prong into the shape of a tree. Hang birds from
the tree. The person will not know which is the present and which is the
decoration for the present.

Zack

> Thanks.
> Rita
> Philadelphia, PA





Date: Mon, 05 May 1997 10:27:25 -0300 (ADT)
From: David Jacobs <daj@powerup.com.au>
Subject: Re: gifts

rita wrote:
>
> Anyone know an easy way to attach origami to birthday gifts?  I usually make
> cranes, etc. to accompany a gift and have the hardest time securing it.
> I've tried a tying a ribbon around it but it looks like I am strangling the
> crane.  I've also tried taping the bottom of the crane to the gift but
> because its not flat, it doesn't work well. I've even tried piercing the
> bottom of the crane using a colored toothpick as a stand.  Nothing seems to
> work!  Any suggestions?
>
> Thanks.
> Rita
> Philadelphia, PA
Thought of blue tac?
If that doesnt work use a blob of pva glue, it can be easily removed
without trashing the model.
David J.





Date: Mon, 05 May 1997 11:10:47 -0300 (ADT)
From: havener3@delphi.com (geoline)
Subject: Re: gifts

>Anyone know an easy way to attach origami to birthday gifts?

A touch of hot glue at the bottom of crane maybe secure enough if you are
not using foils.  Also,you can try a small,  stiffer paper base rectangle
(perhaps made of construction paper or excess Xmas gift tags or card paper)
folded something like:
__^__

with the ^ glued to the bottom inside of the crane and the tabs either
glued or taped to the gift.

Geoline Havener-Li
email: havener3@delphi.com
http://www.geocities.com/~jaspacecorp/momsai.html





Date: Mon, 05 May 1997 11:16:22 -0300 (ADT)
From: Daddy-o D'gou <dwp+@transarc.com>
Subject: Re: Not folding with squares

Lisa "Crane a minute!" Hodsdon, in reply to my response to her message,
wrote:

+>Bzzzt.  A4 is the same ratio in the US as it is in England or anywhere
+    else:
+>   1:sqrt(2)
+Yeah, but A4 is not *called* "root 2" paper, so I have to stop and
+figure out which root rectangle it is, and then have to figure out a
+reasonable approximation. I *know* I could remember this stuff, but I
+have enough trouble remembering the important stuff. I could write it
+down, but then I would have to find it. I imagine that some users of A4
+have trouble remembering whether it's 8.5 x 11 or 8.5 x 12 (or worse,
+8.5 x 14).  Granted, I live in a place where precut squares are easy to
+come by.  I'm not a purist, just lazy when it comes to the work
+involved before and after the folding.

Ok, so my memory is not too much better than yours ;-), but it has
captured the factiod about A-series papers.

And to switch tangents (this isn't directed specificly at Lisa, but
since it was her writing that prompted me to write this next, I'm
putting it here)

As to purism versus lazyness... Hmmm...  That is kind of like a similar
division amongst other hobbies, though usually they are more mechanical
ones... for example, model airplanes.  Many (if not the majority) of
the practicioners model airplaning spend more time "tinkering" and
"tuning" and futzing and BSing than they do actually FLYING their
airplanes!

Personally, I'm on your end of the spectrum in general, though with
origami I find I will fold a model several times from Kami and then if
I want to make an "exhibition class" version, I will hunt down (or make
if I have the time and place, which I haven't recently) paper for it.
After changing papers, I find that I still have to fold the model a few
more times because the new paper responds differntly from the Kami
(esp. if I switch to foil ;-))

Presentation of the finished model is important too.  (After all, you
aren't just going to dump out a paper bag full of 1000 cranes, right?)
So most of the time I would rather start from a precut piece of paper
(notice that I did NOT say square) than to have to first make it.

-Daddy-o "Parenthetically speaking..." D'gou





Date: Mon, 05 May 1997 11:28:56 -0300 (ADT)
From: Daddy-o D'gou <dwp+@transarc.com>
Subject: Re: L7 2 A4...was Re: Folding from Non-Square paper

Geoline Havener-Li, in response to David Lister's recent notes on Non-Square
folding, wrote:

+Nah.  Square post-a-note paper sucks as origami paper even though it is
+square paper. (jus' kidding)

;-)  Ha!  Actually, Valerie Vann has a neat triangular dish unit which uses
the mildy-sticky-notes paper's stickiness to good advantage.  And if you fold
a crane with the sticky side out, you can leave it as a "I stopped by but
you weren't in" note on a coworkers desk or computer screen. ;-)

+Someone mentioned how much more PRACTICAL it is to use origami squares
+because that is the standard shape which is widely available.  Specific
+origami paper is also available in large sheets and rolls, not only the
+prepackaged, precut squares for those of us who NEED to cut our own sizes
+and shapes.  Specific origami paper is not widely available everywhere so
+it is not always PRACTICAL to design with origami manufactured paper.

I have long wanted to find ROLLS of KAMI, but haven't been able to
locate a supplier of such in the USA.  There are no local suppliers in
Pittsburgh PA that I can find, and none that do mail order (or even
walk ins!) anywhere else either.  If you have a source for KAMI rools,
please  post it to the list, I _know_ I am not the only one who would
be interested!

The rest of your note was very interesting, but I do not have any specific
comments to make in response, except Thanks!

-D'gou





Date: Mon, 05 May 1997 12:58:17 -0300 (ADT)
From: John Abbott <john@nombas.com>
Subject: RE: So Called Processed Cheese "SQUARES"

>>But think of the advantages of folding with cheese:

>You've forgotten the essential one. If you're unsatisfied with your model,
>no need to trash it.... just open your mouth, close eyes and swallow.... No
>waste, no mess around, and a clean environment :-)

I think I'd rather eat paper.





Date: Mon, 05 May 1997 13:58:39 -0300 (ADT)
From: havener3@delphi.com (geoline)
Subject: Re: L7 2 A4...was Re: Folding from Non-Square paper

>Geoline Havener-Li, in response to David Lister's recent notes on Non-Square
>folding, wrote:
>
>+Nah.  Square post-a-note paper sucks as origami paper even though it is
>+square paper. (jus' kidding)
>
>;-)  Ha!  Actually, Valerie Vann has a neat triangular dish unit which uses
>the mildy-sticky-notes paper's stickiness to good advantage.  And if you fold
>a crane with the sticky side out, you can leave it as a "I stopped by but
>you weren't in" note on a coworkers desk or computer screen. ;-)

I was telling Valerie that I have a nasty habit of folding butterflies with
those post-a-notes.  So if I get left in someone's office by myself, and
they have a post-a-note cube sitting on desk, they are likely to come back
to a butterfly invasion stuck all over the place.

By the way, Jan Polish (Jan_Polish@colpal.com) mentioned in email that:
     We are importing about 200
     full sheets of fancy chiyogami paper to sell at the convention this
     year (we'll be selling full, half or quarter sheets), and we will have
     other interesting papers available. In addition, there are several
     shops in New York City that sell unusual papers...

I know where in Hawaii I can get rolls of kimono paper, but not locally in
the Memphis, Tennessee area or in the continental U.S.  If there were
enough interest in Memphis in origami, than I could have an Asian importer
friend to order origami rolls.

Geoline Havener-Li
email: havener3@delphi.com
http://www.geocities.com/~jaspacecorp/momsai.html





Date: Mon, 05 May 1997 15:09:47 -0300 (ADT)
From: havener3@delphi.com (geoline)
Subject: RE: So Called Processed Cheese "SQUARES"

John Abott responded to the cheesy menu:
>I think I'd rather eat paper.

There is thin, melt-in-you-mouth rice paper used to wrap some Japanese
candy.  I forget what name of candy was, cause it's been years since I was
a five year old. (Something like Tomoe...)

Speaking of edible origami, wonton wrapper squares and perhaps some types
of nori (seaweed wrap for sushi) might work.  Then there is crepes and
burrito tortilla (which I call Mexican sushi).  I wonder if Fruit Roll-Ups
can be used for simple origami edibles...

Geoline Havener-Li
email: havener3@delphi.com
http://www.geocities.com/~jaspacecorp/momsai.html





Date: Mon, 05 May 1997 15:09:06 -0300 (ADT)
From: Kenny1414@aol.com
Subject: Re: gifts

(1)  Try hanging the crane
like an upside-down Xmas tree ball.
Break off a piece of toothpick,
wider than the hole in the base,
but not too wide to fit inside,
tie a thread to the middle,
then slip it completely inside
the crane thru the hole,
but don't let go the thread.
Now, you should be able to tie
the crane onto the ribbon,
so it is sitting on the ribbon.

If the thread is too flimsy,
maybe string or ribbon
would work, too.

You could use a wad of paper
instead of the toothpick.

(2)  You can tape the wingtips
down, leaving the crane
sitting on the package.

Aloha,

Kenneth Kawamura
kenny1414@aol.com





Date: Mon, 05 May 1997 15:35:47 -0300 (ADT)
From: Nick Robinson <nick@cheesypeas.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Re: Rare Animals

Dennis Walker <d_and_m_walker@compuserve.com> sez

>models for badgers

Peter Lillington (now sadly a lapsed folder) made a great badger,
stylised, yet easily recognisable. It was in the Spring 85 BOS
convention pack.

I can recommend anyone to invest in every old conpack they can from BOS
supplies, since they contain a selection of quality unpublished folds at
a very low price. Once they have sold out, it's unlikely they'll be
repressed, so get yourself off to the BOS website & check out those tht
are still in stock. Dave Petty has released a booklet indexing every
conpack from '79-'91, also at supplies.

all the best,

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: Mon, 05 May 1997 15:42:16 -0300 (ADT)
From: Nick Robinson <nick@cheesypeas.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Re: Rare Animals: Badgers  [NO]

DLister891@aol.com sez

>In England we have some terrible people who seek to dig out badgers from
>their setts.

Foxes too, as you know. We had a family living 20 yards from the foot of
our garden, until a gang from Barnsley way came with dogs & spades at
6am a few weeks ago. The cubs were killed by the dogs, the adults by
baseball bat. A neighbour phoned the police, who came an hour later,
escorted them off the (private) land & let them go. He said there was
"no evidence".

Sorry for the NORM (non-origami-related-material, acronym fans!) but
it's worth reminding ourselves of the depths some people sink to in
pursuit of "entertainment". Let's hope the new Government will take a
tougher line in defense of foxes & badgers.

off the soapbox,

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/





Date: Mon, 05 May 1997 16:11:36 -0300 (ADT)
From: jtweres@lucent.com
Subject: Re: Not folding with squares

Doug Philips writes:

> Touche!  My only response is that the paper sold as "copier/office/notebook"
> is not consistently the same shape.  I have found that the width can vary by
> +/- 0.25 inches!  Which is why I suggest cutting to 7.75x11 to approximate
> A-series paper, rather than suggesting you just lop off 0.75 inches!

instead of approximating A-series paper
from a 8.5x11 (american) sheet of paper

you can obtain A-series by cutting off 11/16 of an inch
i.e. cut it to be  7 13/16 x 11

all one needs to do is write 7 13/16 x 11
in the letter fold section in biddle's book
or other A-series instructions for that matter

  /-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-///plieur de papier\\\-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-\
 /=-= jack thomas weres                         jtweres@lucent.com =-=\
/=======================\\\================///=========================\
"Let Go and Let Fold"                             "One Crease At A Time"





Date: Mon, 05 May 1997 16:43:04 -0300 (ADT)
From: DRAPY1@aol.com
Subject: Re: gifts

What I have done to decorate gifts with cranes is to pierce the peak at the
crane's back, usually during the preliminary fold stage, and run a loop of
metallic thread through it.  The loop's knot usually isn't large enough not
to come through the hole, so I anchor it with a bead or little bit of paper
glued about the knot.  This is how I've made cranes into Xmas ornaments, hung
them from rear-view mirrows, light fixtures, etc., or suspended them on
mobiles, as well as substituted them for gift bows.

Hope this is a useful suggestion!

Dana





Date: Mon, 05 May 1997 18:15:00 -0300 (ADT)
From: Cathy Palmer-Lister <cathypl@generation.net>
Subject: Re: gifts

At 09:21 AM 5/5/97 -0300, you wrote:
>Anyone know an easy way to attach origami to birthday gifts?  I usually make
>cranes, etc. to accompany a gift and have the hardest time securing it.
>I've tried a tying a ribbon around it but it looks like I am strangling the
>crane.  I've also tried taping the bottom of the crane to the gift but
>because its not flat, it doesn't work well. I've even tried piercing the
>bottom of the crane using a colored toothpick as a stand.  Nothing seems to
>work!  Any suggestions?
>
>Thanks.
>Rita
>Philadelphia, PA
>

I like to use butterflies, they lie flatter and so are easy to attach.

                                                                Cathy





Date: Mon, 05 May 1997 20:15:06 -0300 (ADT)
From: "MARGARET M. BARBER" <mbarber@welchlink.welch.jhu.edu>
Subject: RE: Origami Dreams

On Mon, 5 May 1997, Marc Kirschenbaum wrote:

> When I am confronted with a difficult problem (origami or otherwise),
> I will "sleep on it." Almost invariably, the solution will present
> itself the following morning. It would seem to me that my mind was
> doing some sort of problem processing during this interum. Apparently,
> I am not alone in this ability.
>
> Marc
>
 Although this technique doesn't work for me all the time, I have found the
answer to some origami puzzles that have kept me stumped for some time...
I am always astounded when this happens.  Engel has a whole section in his
book, _Origami from Angelfish to Zen_ (or previously known as _Folding
the Universe_) on how people come up with creative ideas or solutions to
tricky problems.  I think it's pretty cool that the mind can work on
something "in the background" while either sleeping or processing daily
stuff!

Peg Barber
mbarber@welchlink.welch.jhu.edu





Date: Mon, 05 May 1997 21:53:50 -0300 (ADT)
From: Kim Best <kim.best@m.cc.utah.edu>
Subject: Re: Folding from Non-Square paper

After reading the debate about Square vs Non-square paper, it occurrs to
me that its is very simular to the  Intel vs Macintosh debate in
personal computers.

It doesn't really matter why the square is more popular, it just is.
The books have mostly diagrams using squares.  The bases were developed
for squares.  Most prepackaged paper comes in squares.  So when someone
designs a new model, they will most like use a square.

So you argue all you want about the superiority of your Mac-ngon.
People don't want to throw away all thier old stuff and buy new stuff.
They want to find newer and better ways to fold the old stuff.  So deal
with it!  Big Blue squares rule.

(The the above was a joke, I didn't really mean to insult anyones
computer.  Or their origami for that matter....)
--
Kim Best                            *******************************
                                    *          Origamist:         *
Rocky Mountain Cancer Data System   * Some one who thinks paper   *
420 Chipeta Way #120                * thin, means thick and bulky *
Salt Lake City, Utah  84108         *******************************





Date: Mon, 05 May 1997 22:51:34 -0300 (ADT)
From: Pam and/or Namir <pgraben@umich.edu>
Subject: Monthly Posting: Hints & Dimensions

Hey all you netters.  I just wanted to make a small posting
telling all you new folks out there, and anyone else who may find
the information useful, about some documents I now maintain.
Zach Brown is housing these at his web site:
http://lynx.dac.neu.edu/home/httpd/z/zbrown/origami/
and they are posted in full on the origami newsgroup
alt.arts.origami monthly.  The items that are being referred to are:

"Origami Book Errata & Hints"
    A document that lists typos, diagrammatic error, and hints
for difficult or hard-to-interpret instructions.
http://lynx.dac.neu.edu/home/httpd/z/zbrown/origami/origami.errata

"Origami Model Dimensions"
    A document that gives the size of a finished model in
comparison to the starting size.  The measurements are
scaleable.  This is useful if you need a particular size
model, and are unsure of what size paper to start with.
http://lynx.dac.neu.edu/home/httpd/z/zbrown/origami/origami.dimensions

If anyone cares to contribute to either of these articles, please
feel free to drop me a line.

Have fun, and I hope these prove useful in extending your joy of origami!
-Namir
!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-
Pamela Graben:     Thinking... what a concept!
Namir Gharaibeh:  "If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice."
pgraben@umich.edu





Date: Mon, 05 May 1997 23:13:37 -0300 (ADT)
From: dcunning@netcom.com (Dave Cunningham)
Subject: Dreaming

Responding to Pat Slider's post:
> Seems to me I read in a book (Nolan? Engel?) of one of the female model
> designers (Pat Crawford?) creating one of her models in a dream. The
> memory is vague and perhaps one of those urban myths. Seems quite
> possible to me. Anyone know this story?

I have a similar recollection.  I believe the passage is in Nolan's
_Creating Origami_ and he refers to Pat Crawford.  She dreamt of a model
(was it her Unicorn?) and upon waking, folded it complete on the first
attempt.

I think.





Date: Tue, 06 May 1997 01:51:30 -0300 (ADT)
From: Valerie Vann <75070.304@compuserve.com>
Subject: Re: Attaching cranes the origami way

Attaching cranes to things the origami way :-)

Tomoko Fuse has done a number of kusudama and boxes with
cranes attached or incorporated (her book "Cranes and Fans"
f'rinstance). She makes use of the slot down the middle of
the underside of the crane's wings. Then she makes a diamond
or triangular squash or petal fold, say 4 of these radiating
out from the center of a square (this is a common device
already in cube or cuboctahedron based kusudama). The
clever part is then inserting the "petal" inside the slot
in the crane wing. Thus you can attach 4 cranes to a relatively
flat square, each by one wing, so they are flying around the
square. The attachment is quite secure actually.

I've not put one on a package, but if you didn't just want
to attach the square with double side tape or glue, it might
stay put on a squarish package with ribbon going around it
both ways over the square and meeting with a bow at the center.

A little experimentation with squares, petal folds and cranes
could yield something quite elegant.

Or a lot of crumpled cranes and squares :-) (maybe that's where
Tomoko-san got the "fans" ideas...)

This same technique of opposing petals and slots, fitting one
inside the other also occurs in Fuse's "Origami Quilt" patterns...

--valerie
Valerie Vann
75070.304@compuserve.com





Date: Tue, 06 May 1997 07:58:56 -0300 (ADT)
From: "I.Harrison -Ian Harrison" <I.Harrison@open.ac.uk>
Subject: RE: Not folding with squares

Hello!
 Jeannine wrote about obtaining an angle of close to 72 degrees from an
8.55x11 rectangle.  One can do quite well with a square, although the
error is greater!

  A   B
  ....................................
  .      .               .   .
  .              .      D   .      .
  .                      .      .
  .        .          . .
  .   .            .. C
  .         .   .
  .     .   .
  .  .   .
  .....................................

     E
If C is the mid-point of BE and D is where AC cuts the diagonal, then
angle BDC is 71.57 degrees.
  Ian

I.Harrison@Open.ac.uk

 ----------
From:  origami-l[SMTP:origami-l@nstn.ca]
Sent:  03 May 1997 11:55
To:  Multiple recipients of list
Subject:  Re: Not folding with squares

Doug Philips wrote:

   As far as convenience goes, you are right, in the US finding precut
   A-ratio paper is very hard.  But at least it has interesting
   properties, unlike the 8.5x11 paper (which, by the way, it isn't
   always).

I beg to differ.  8.5x11 has some very interesting properties.

Divide each of the long edges in quarters.  Add creases connecting A
to B and A to C.  The angles CBA and BCA are so close to 72
degrees, you couldn't hope to do better (72.06).  Add two more creases
bisecting the angles CBA and BCA.  Then fold the point A down to touch
the intersection of the last two creases.  Voila, a perfect pentagram!
Add creases connecting the points of the pentagram for a perfect
pentagon.  (Sorry I can't draw the diagonals in ascii.)

              A
     ____.____.____.____
    |                   |
    |                   |
    |                   |
    |                   |
    |                   |
    |                   |
    |                   |
     ____.____.____.____

         B         C

Another consequence of these proportions is that you can cut off one
quarter of the rectangle, and the remaining piece is nearly perfect
for making modules for the first and third stellations of the
dodecahedron, as described on Jim Plank's web site:
http://www.cs.utk.edu/~plank/plank/pics/origami/mosely.txt.
The remaining strip can be used to make a different dodecahedral
module that I'll describe another time.

Another, purely coincidental property of 8.5x11 is that it's ratio is
extremely close to the ratio sqrt(3):sqrt(5). (8.5/11 = .7727,
sqrt(3)/sqrt(5) = .7745)  What is this good for?  Two things.

Fold opposite corners of a sqrt(3):sqrt(5) rectangle to touch.  The
crease will cross the long edge of the rectangle at a distance that is
exactly 1/5 the length of the edge from the corner.  (The proof is
left as an exercise for the reader.)

Also, the first stellation of the icosahedron, as detailed by the
mathematician Coexeter in his famous monograph "The Fifty Nine
Icosahedra", has faces which are shallow isoceles triangles who base
angles are 1/2 Arccos (1/4) = atan (sqrt(3)/sqrt(5)).  This is just
the angle between the long edge of the 8.5x11 rectangle and its
diagonal. So these rectangles lead to an easy and natural construction
of a module to make this polyhedron.

I believe that any rectangle has interesting properties, if you will
take the trouble to look for them.  There is a joke among
mathematicians that no number is uninteresting.  The proof is as
follows:  let N be the smallest uninteresting number.  The fact that
it is uninteresting makes it interesting!  Hence, we have a
contradiction.  Q.E.D.

        -- Jeannine ("comedically challenged") Mosely





Date: Tue, 06 May 1997 07:58:40 -0300 (ADT)
From: Maarten van Gelder <M.J.van.Gelder@rc.rug.nl>
Subject: Re: Not folding with squares

Arjan Welles wrote:

m> (Theoretically there is only one limit of paper and that is its thickness.
m> Just imagine what you can do with paper that has almost no thickness at all!)

I do. And then I see the rectangle coming from a square just by making a
bookfold in a square. When you repeat this you can make smaller strips.
And when you don't make the bookfold in the middle you may make whichever
proportion rectangle.
As you imagine there was no thickness, so the rectangle has no thickness also.

So in my opinion the only extra facility you get when folding from rectangles
instead of from squares is that you have less thickness.

Maarten van Gelder,           Rekencentrum RuG,  RijksUniversiteit Groningen
M.J.van.Gelder@rc.rug.nl                            Nederland
