# Time for another current projects thread! What are you up to? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 12, 2006, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-for-another-current-projects-thread-what-are-you-up-to/352432 "2006-04-12T20:54:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e56c9b/32.png) [@Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mirror_Image_egamI_rorriM)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-for-another-current-projects-thread-what-are-you-up-to/352432/21 "2006-04-14T04:53:24Z")
I’m making a pair of puppet arms out of handmade paper. It’s for my sculptural papermaking class ([other things I’v made](http://flickr.com/photos/egamirorrim/sets/72057594095408217/) ) and we’re collaborating with the choreographing class to make a dance involving paper sculpture. I took plaster casts of my partner’s arms, then used sheets of abaca paper that we made together (she’d never done anything like that before, being a dancer, not a visual artist. She was so excited) to make paper arm sections. I dipped them in paraffin wax to strengthen them, but I want to melt off the excess wax so they look more like rawhide than paper dipped in wax, but our heat gun broke, so I’m currently out of luck on that. When I do get the extra wax melted off, I’m going to put the arm sections on a framework made of wooden dowels (the “bones”) and vinyl tubing (the flexible joints). Our dance (she wants me to dance, which will be interesting, as I’m as much a dancer as she is a papermaker) will incorporate papermaking motions, and it’s going to be really awesome if we can finish in time. It’s due next Thursday, so it’s kind of a rush, but I’m still really excited about it. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-for-another-current-projects-thread-what-are-you-up-to/352432/22 "2006-04-14T09:25:21Z")
Man, you all are so productive and industrious! I’m a lazy sod who likes to work/play at my computer. I started and maintain a [MySpace page](http://www.myspace.com/happyrhodes) for an indie artist I like, free of charge, of course. It takes up a lot of time, but it’s my choice. I don’t request adds from individuals or companies (with very few exceptions), but I do request adds from bands/solo artists of many different genres, partially to find new music to listen to, and partially because I think my artist should be known among other musicians, if only just as an FYI entry in their brain’s musical encyclopedia. I listen to the music on their page and read the profiles before I request an add. I keep track of everyone I’ve ever requested an add from (including those who turned down my request), and everyone who’s requested an add. I leave Comments and write people introductory letters, and answer e-mail. It’s a lot of fun. More people have discovered her since I put up her page on MySpace than have discovered her in the previous 10 years. I love my computer. Now if I could only find a way to make a living from sitting at home being on the Internet that didn’t involved spam, spyware or porn. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-for-another-current-projects-thread-what-are-you-up-to/352432/23 "2006-04-14T09:30:08Z")
I am doing some very preliminary writing on an idea for a popular history of this decade. I reread _Only Yesterday_ and _Since Yesterday_ and thought the only way to duplicate the effort for this decade would be to start now. Nothing much will come of it I bet. Anyone want to see my beginning of a beginning? ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-for-another-current-projects-thread-what-are-you-up-to/352432/24 "2006-04-14T13:00:12Z")
I’ve spent the last couple days removing all organic debris from my rock garden. When I’m done with that, I’m planning on grouping my stones by color, and maybe making some [Andy Goldsworthy](http://ea.pomona.edu/goldsworthy/Pebbles%20With%20Hole.jpg) style rip-off that the local kids will destroy, but it’s all good. I’m also planning on trying to make a shirt. I’m not sure if I’ll get to that until October. ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-for-another-current-projects-thread-what-are-you-up-to/352432/25 "2006-04-14T13:28:14Z")
> [@Podkayne](#): > > It’s very loosely inspired by a sweater that Simon wore in _Serenity._ Sadly, [this is the best picture I can find online.](http://www.angelfire.com/realm2/deofan/images/serenity/trailer/sertrail_simon2.jpg) (Try [here](http://www.angelfire.com/realm2/deofan/serenity.htm) if anglefire doesn’t permit hotlinking . . . scroll to the very bottom. It’s the second one labeled “Simon.”) Weird. That second link took me to two different pages the two times I clicked it. I’m knitting [this sweater](http://dogsstealyarn.com/yoda.htm) for some friends’ baby due in October. Then, I will either make a [knitted Nautilus](http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring06/PATTnautie.html) or a [knitted cat doll](http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter05/PATTkate.html) for my nephew. ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-for-another-current-projects-thread-what-are-you-up-to/352432/26 "2006-04-14T14:25:26Z")
> [@FilmGeek](#): > > Then, I will either make a [knitted Nautilus](http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring06/PATTnautie.html) or a [knitted cat doll](http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter05/PATTkate.html) for my nephew. How exciting! Spring knitty!!! And there’s another [sock from Cookie](http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring06/PATThedera.html)! Clearly that will have to be my next project. I just finished [Pomatomus](http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter05/PATTpomatomus.html), and they are looking very handsome after their first washing! ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-for-another-current-projects-thread-what-are-you-up-to/352432/27 "2006-04-14T14:28:46Z")
I’m organizing a _Civilization_convention in Baltimore, MD this summer, one featuring Sid Meier, Brian Reynolds, and representatives from their companies (Firaxis and Big Huge Games). That’s my big project for the year (well, my big non-work-related project). Next year I’m thinking of building a MAME arcade cabinet. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-for-another-current-projects-thread-what-are-you-up-to/352432/28 "2006-04-14T14:29:49Z")
I’m organizing a _Civilization_ convention in Baltimore, MD this summer, one featuring Sid Meier, Brian Reynolds, and representatives from their companies (Firaxis and Big Huge Games). That’s my big project for the year (well, my big non-work-related project). Next year I’m thinking of building a MAME arcade cabinet. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-for-another-current-projects-thread-what-are-you-up-to/352432/29 "2006-04-14T15:01:27Z")
Doing some landscaping to prepare for building a shed in the back yard. Then to do something about those weeds in the front yard, and hopefully lay a paver walkway along the side of the house. But the real project is figuring out when to squeeze in all of this work in a spring/summer in which the weekends are already filling up quickly. ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-for-another-current-projects-thread-what-are-you-up-to/352432/30 "2006-04-14T16:10:02Z")
I’m in the very last stages (waiting for paint to dry) of assembling two model kits. They’re caricatures of '60s-era hep cats and rockers, put out by Testors. The parts fit together fine, and the poses are cool. But I’m having the devil of a time getting one of the seams puttied over, and the oil paints I’m using take forever to dry and don’t cover very well to boot, so there’s a little frustration here at the end. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-for-another-current-projects-thread-what-are-you-up-to/352432.md?page=1)