The Spiral Data Tato is an origami CD or DVD case of the origata or tsutsumi ilk, that is, a complicated presentation model, intended as a gift for an honored recipient. Tato is a Japanese word that means purse or wallet.

The Spiral Data Tato opens and closes, using a charming innovation we like to call The Origami Zipper. It is available in American letter paper and in A4 versions and I have made some .DOC files (editable in MS Word or in OO Writer), in case you want to make a mix CD or display the contents of the disk on the outside of the model.

This is not a quick and simple fold and is not intended to be. There are several quick and simple origami CD holders out there, if that's what you looking for -- I highly recommend Tom Hull's American CD Case . This model is for the discerning hunter of geek chic, the intrepid seeker of cheap thrills and complex beauty for its own sake. It's also for the little nerdy guy who thinks he can get that beautiful blonde in Calculus 102 to talk to him, if he could only get her to listen to his ultimate roadtrip mix CD...yeah, buddy, this will do the trick. But you better have some conversation prepared for when she does talk to you and not just stand there, babbling on and on the way you do. All right? All right, let's fold.

With most origami models, you start with a piece of paper and move from step to step, making landmark creases and folding this part to that. And this model can be folded that way. Trouble is, the American letter paper version starts out dividing the width of the paper into nine even sections; the A4 version needs eleven even sections. I could show you how that works, but it involves math and a leap of logic or two and maybe 90% of the readers will click out at that point. If you want to learn more about this, try here . The rest of you, come with me and download a crease pattern.

The American letter paper version is 8½ inches by 11 inches -- this is the one you want if you live in the US or in Canada.

The A4 version is 210 mm by 297 mm -- this is the one you want if you don't live in the US or in Canada.

Why are they different? It has nothing to do with my wonted (and much vaunted) hostility to the metric system, if that's what you're thinking. No, it's just that the arithmetic works out slightly differently with the change of width. The A4 version has a couple more folds in it and makes a rather prettier model. All part of life's rich pageant.