The Topic of Great Randomness

[Kathy Li]

Oh, single-sheet. Each crab is made from one square no cuts. These days, most designers consider that a basic requirement. Only Montroll, though, still designs things that can be folded from a single sheet of 10" kami. Most of the designers these days tend to start with much larger sheets (around 30" or so) and special papers created by sizing, laminating tissue paper to foil, etc. And most of them wet fold, too. This is typically where I'd go on to mention crease patterns, but your head's probably already exploding.

If you want to go past the usual abstract crane/box/frog type patterns, I highly recommend John Montroll's books as a jumping off point. Teach Yourself Origami can help you transition from beginning to intermediate folding. And once you're able to do the intermediate stuff, then you can start thinking about the advanced stuff. The best/only book about origami design theory I've seen is Robert Lang's Origami Design Secrets. Fascinating stuff about efficiency of systems with all the math in the back.

[EricG1793]

OK, a couple quick things regarding the forums slowing down....

1. Easier for the admins.

2. If chat were made full-time, more people would come around and post, an it'd be like the "old days" again. Back in the day, we'd come online here at Youngwizards, log in to chat, say hi to everyone, poke around the forums and make a few posts.... Chat was a traffic-bringer, and now that the traffic-bringer's gone, there's not much traffic.

[spyells]

I have a couple of questions. There is this one boy who I believe has had a crush on me since freshmen year and we're juniors now. He was always very shy towards me when I tried to talk to him. But in class he was always messing with me. Throwing things at me and calling me names. I don't have him in any of my classes this year. And regrettably if he did like me I never liked him back. He is one of those bad boys who always is in trouble. He was actually supposed to be in jail right now and I guess the courts or whatever let him off. I always like guys that are really super smart. My problem is those guys turn out to be even more jerks then like the guy I stated above. One of my questions is if he liked me then why couldn't he talk to me? I always would try to at least say hi. I also would like to know how come all of the guys I like (nerds, straight A students) are always jerks? What am I doing wrong?

[Rhi]

What am I doing wrong?

Don't worry, spyells, at this age boys just seem to be weird, it's not our fault. And we girls are pretty weird ourselves, so I guess we just do as best as we can to put up with the jerky high school guys and wait for them to mature a bit In the meantime, not all guys are jerks; there are a few princes out there, you just have to get past all the frogs first Now, what I have trouble with is once I've found a prince, talking to him; I'm one of those people who, the more I like somebody, the more nervous I get when I try to talk to them. It seems like everyone has their own unique way of dealing with romance, and so we just have to remember to be ourselves and make sure we don't let those jerks bother us. Also, those jerks are probably scared to death of a relationship and so they act jerky out of fear; they probably think a relationship might bring down that A Humans are just going to be humans, which means they're going to have flaws.

[Ash78]

Also, those jerks are probaably scared to death of a relationship and so they act jerky out of fear; they probably think a relationship might bring down that A

Rhi, great point about the jerkiness. I have this friend who was always on the outside and away from everyone. My friends and I just thought he was moody or something. That was until we realized that the only people who talked to him were jerks who thought they were popular, and thought it would be funny to pick on him. Anyway, my friends and I(some of whomare just really nice, some who are kinda nerdy, and some who are totally nerdy__I'm that last one, but I just don't show it too much in school) well, we went over to him in our advanced math class (no, I'm not bragging, I'm just trying to get my point across about the kinds of kids I hang out with) We invited him into our group for a project and it was fine. Now he is onne of my closest friends.
Anyway, my point is, that nerdy people are always uptight about their grades, and sometimes thay need to talk about them with other people. Most of the time, they go for other nerds, and I guess they are ALWAYS tense.
Sorry, I guess that didn't help much
Try not to let it get to you, and I know this sounds corny (yay for corniness!! ) but, it's not you, IT"S HIM!
Oh, I almost forgot, have you ever seen that commercial for some croissant things (sorry, I forget their name). Well, the dad points out that this guy who likes his daughter might be acting the way he is because he's "like this roll, flaky on the outside, but warm on the inside" Remember those words, they are soo incredibly true.

[Lazy Leopard]

Kathy, thanks for those links. It's clear Origami has moved dramatically in the 30+ years since I last looked hard at a book on the subject. Crease patterns do make some sort of sense, though I don't think I can quite get my head round going from one to a finished model, even for the simpler ones illustrated. The mathematics I'll leave to folks who grok that sort of thing.

[Kathy Li]

Rick--I've been interested in origami for about 20 years, so to me the shift doesn't look that dramatic, but yup it's come a long way. For a while, Montroll was the only one out there publishing in the US regularly via Dover books, and his work is still the foundation that most American folders start with.

The advent of the 'net brought about another level of communication and innovation, and the international level of communication increased, most specifically the European, Japanese, and American folders kicking around ideas together.

We can't read the captions, but we can read the diagrams. Folding from crease patterns is something I don't think I'll ever try, but they do reveal the structure of the model in a way that diagrams don't, and they do fascinate me.

If you wanted to just flit about the web, a couple of organizational links you might like would be BOS, Design in Origami, OUSA, Joseph Wu's website and the Origami Board.

[Lazy Leopard]

The last time I did any serious Origami was to help decorate the National Theatre in Nairobi for a production of Mikado when my kid brother was five or six. He's now 39. It was all pattern books and fold-by-fold instructions then. I think that computer assistance also seems to have had some effect on the complexity of models. Certainly some of those illustrated in those links are mind-bogglingly complicated...

[Emi]

Ahhh I haven't been on in so long and there's so many new posts!! I'm glad though because for awhile there has been none.

Anyway, basketball try-outs have started and I have to say I'm really out of shape. I have exercise induced asthma, so that causes a lot of trouble for me... Stupid asthma!! haha...

I really hope I make at least on JV because the coach said "if you're juniors (which is me) and I don't put you on varsity this year, but I place you in JV then you should know that I believe you'll make it on varsity next year.. But for those of you who get cut don't get discouraged.." Let's hope I'm not the ones who get cut.

Craziness has been going on!! I got my license last friday!! I'm super excited! My dad's store got flooded but everything seems to be fine . I'm not doing so well in Chemistry, which totally stinks because I pay attention and stuff but the tests really get me AND I get to have note cards for my tests!! I always end up not having the stuff I need on my notecards.

Sorry for ranting everybody.. I just needed to get some stuff out....

Oh and there's this guy who is like starting to talk to me now, we used to talk like in elementary school and stopped... but he's talking to me now, and I feel bad because he mumbles. I have a hearing problem (hearing impairedness) so I use hearing aids, but it's hard to hear people when they mumble. I hate asking him to repeat himself all the time so I always end up laughing or smiling when he says something.... and hope to God he was saying something funny. Is that wrong? Is it rude of me to ask him to repeat himself??? Because when I do it's always like three times later I actually understand what he's saying.

Life is crazy...

Dai

[Angel_Star]

I have friends that I can never understand when they talk. Usually, after just smiling and nodding for a while, I end up saying, "Look, I'm pretty much deaf; could you speak up a bit?" and start laughing at myself or something corny like that. lol.

While AP Chem is definitely my favourite class, it's such a beast. My gracious, for the first time in my life, I feel totally overwhelmed in a class. I've just accepted the fact that I'm lost. Hopefully I can find my way before the next test.

I sort of jumped into this without getting my thoughts in order. It's been a while since I posted here. Color guard/marching band is finally over. I think we had an amazing season for our first year in competition. I'm glad that I have my life back, though.

On the other hand, now that I *finally* have free time, mum's forcing me into a job. Yeah, I could use the money...but...heh. I'm afraid that I'm going to get myself all stressed out again and completely lose my social life. *le sigh* Oh well.

That origami is super cool. I've never been able to figure out stuff like that, lol.

My group of friends...I dunno. We're not really nerdy. I mean, we _are_, if you go by the advanced classes, band, finding wordplay to be incredibly fun, etc. However, we're not nerds in the clique-y sense of the word. I have some friends who are the exact opposite of nerdy. And to be honest, one of the most popular girls in my grade is in my AP Chem class...and so is her uber-popular/adorable boyfriend. My school has turned stereotypes and normal highschool class systems upside down.

Our drum major this year for marching band used to be a cheerleader. She quit so she could march piccolo as a sophomore. We have another freshman cheerleader in the flute section of band, and a smattering of football players (pretty much ALL freshman...silly things...) throughout the low brass section. There are really preppy, "popular" people in my AP and honors class, like honors precalc.

*shrug* Some people are just jerky. Or, they come across that way because they don't truly realize how they're acting. Heh. I make no claim at understanding guys, because they have me totally confused. I've just sort of decided to accept it as a fact and move on. I still like my ex from freshman year, but...right now, I'm just glad we're talking again...even though it's not always exactly *nice* talk...lol.

Those were perhaps the most meandering, senseless paragraphs I've ever written. I don't even know what my point was.

I better go do my homework, but I just thought ya'll should know that Angel Brains hadn't been abducted by aliens or anything.

[nitafan211]

Hola all!

Well I have not been here in like seriously FOREVER! so whats new with everyone?

Things are pretty good for me. I have a new job (ice cream place! ) School is just... school. And my boyfriend and I just had our 2 year anniversary so that was pretty cool.

Lesse my friends are cool. I have friends in so many diffrent cliques its not even funny. Im friends with the "nerds", "popular" kids, "emo" kids (which is not very fun in some cases) im just friends with every one in every clique and it is awesome!

As for guys, I just consider myself lucky i found such a nice guy cause every guy i know there is just stuff that i could not stand if i dated them. *Nita thanks god for her boyfriend*

I hate when people mumble! Although I mumble sometimes lol so i guess i cant say anything!

Anyways, I hope everyone is doing well.. Feel free to PM me if you want to!

*huggles all*

Nita

[smile]

Umm... Hi everyone!

I don't really know who you are but that's ok - I'll learn. I could reread the posts, but that would take ages. I figured there was no point in waiting until I figured everything out.

Anyone ride horses? - I have a bunch of stuff I could say, deciding is the problem.

[EricG1793]

Originally posted by smile:
I have a bunch of stuff I could say, deciding is the problem.

That's what this topic is for; type-talk 'till your fingers fall off if you want to! Well, maybe not THAT much.... You should see some of the excessively long posts that all of us members have made at some point.... I haven't made an excessively long one in a while; it's about time for one, but I'll spare you all, <STRIKE>for now.</STRIKE>.

Let's see, four day weekend this weekend. Saturday, Sunday, as usual, Monday Veteran's Day, and Tuesday PTCs (Parent/Teacher Conferences). I have no clue what I'm going to do.... At some point I'll be golfing.... At some point I'll be doing a sleepover with a friend.... At some point, I hope, my dad and I will go to Home Depot and get the materials to finish our house.... (My family has lived in it for fifteen years, and there are still 3/4 of a dozen light fixtures and switches to be installed... "Naked" light bulbs hanging down from the ceilings don't look nice! So I'm trying to convince my dad so we can get it done BEFORE Thanksgiving.)

And Sunday late morning/afternoon I'll be going to my grandfather's, as usual, for church.

Both feeds Saturday and the morning feed Sunday, I'll be feeding the neighbor's horse, Gypsy, again.

OK, now, smile, this seems very long, but that's NOTHING compared to some of the messages in this very topic, and some others....

[smile]

I get the point - I will use that for an example (and thanks).

You are lucky - I only have a three day weekend.
I think most of my weekend will involve finding a book (just reread wizard series). I will probably visit my Grandma - she is in good enough shape, apart from the usual memory, physical things - she can't do much though - we try to see her once a week or more.

I don't have much homework (yay!) - I t is a shame that my pool is closed though.

My weekend is mostly relaxing - so riding lessons. I have ridden horses since the summer before 1st grade. I ride western, at a woman's house. It is not formal, but the family has numerous ribbons and ride in shows. I do not go to shows because I care most about the pleasure end of it. My favorite is a horse named Taffy, but I love all the horses there.

That seems like it - I could, of coarse describe numerous lessons to you in amazing detail, but I can spare you as you did me (though you don't have to). If there are any book suggestions, though I do have a few waiting...

I don't play golf, but I'm thinking of learning - have fun! (and good luck on convincing).

If there are any typos, sorry - I usually have a bunch of those, it seems.

*edits - the typos do bug me* : )

[A Traveller with Magic]

Hmm. I should get more sleep. I really should. Especially for crunch weekend (how is it that I have four classes a day and- well, if this keeps up I might need a chiropractor soon).

Math: IB portfolio for Tuesday, practice for circle trig exam on Wednesday, practice limits (Those graphs make me too happy. Discontinuous!)
The class average is around 60%, which scares me a little because these are sixty of the smartest kids in the school. (Sometimes I think I got lucky, other times I wish I was smart enough to stay out of IB.)

Chem: lab and bonding assignment, indeterminate due date. This class isn't too bad, but a little boring for a few bits.

SS: Rewrite a more focused answer to "Why are kings like gods according to King James I?". The class average on that was around 3/5.

Physics: My favourite class, now that we've done simple harmonic motion and our teachers helped us fake through a mech wave lab (all our labs go towards an IB portfolio, and some get sent off to unknown parts of the world to be evaluated) while drawing oohs and aahs for three classes straight. Once you get into the good stuff, well...it's indescribably cool. Got shivers down my spine, for sure. And I've had a huge urge to play with tuning forks since.
There is the simple harmonic motion unit exam on Tuesday though. Which I've done nothing for, yet. Ah, crap.

Remembrance Day assembly, today. Sometimes I just want to strangle some people. I wish there was a musical theatre skit like last year though; that was quite poignant. And I remind myself that next year in SS 30/35IB we'll be getting into the causes and practices (and consequences, I presume) of war; they promise to really shovel and dig into the dirty stuff, and I don't doubt that at all. Meep.

Seems I drop in, only to leave again *sigh* Dai, anyway. And 50 posts a year- what a charming record.