FOTD -- December 29, 2001 (Rating 4) Fractal visionaries and enthusiasts: Today's FOTD image takes us once again into the bizarre world of exponents of Z between 1 and 2. This sub-two world is an unpredictable place of infinite branch cuts and midgets that become ever more difficult to find. Today's scene is located in a valley of the Z^1.8+C Mandeloid, at a level a little below ground level. (Ground level is rendered when the real(p2) parameter of the MandelbrotBC1 formula is set to 3.14159...). The exponent value of 1.8 draws fractals in which it is not too difficult to locate midgets, and the midgets can be of any shape. The midget in today's image is too small for its shape to be clearly seen, but an in-zoom will reveal an irregular lake, not quite fully resolved, with three broad bays roughly evenly spaced around its perimeter. I have named the image "The Secrets of Time". I've forgotten why. And I have rated it a slightly below average 4. These sub-two Mandeloid midgets do seem to become boringly similar after a while, though I constantly search the fractals in this range, hoping to find something unexpected. On my tired old machine, the parameter file runs in just under 10 minutes. The completed GIF image downloads from the internet in even less time. To find the download go to: <http://home.att.net/~Paul.N.Lee/FotD/FotD.html> or to: <http://sdboyd.dyndns.org/~sdboyd/fotd/index.html> But before visiting their web sites, give Paul and Scott a chance to render and post the image. The fractal weather Friday at fractal HQ was not what the cats wanted. There was too little sun, too much wind, and too chilly a temperature. Without wind and in full sun, the temperature of 44F 6.5C would have been acceptable, but the wind and lack of sun made things just too uncomfortable for the intrepid pair. Thomas passed the afternoon under the decorated tree; Tippy chose the floor by warmest radiator. One of my favorite things about the holiday season is the great music. But as I listen to the music, I cannot help but notice that so much of it is from times long past. We all enjoy the older traditional music at this time of year, but why, I wonder, has no great music been written in recent times? Where is the 'Messiah' of the 20th century? Where is the 'Beethoven's 9th' symphony or the 'Nutcracker' ballet of the 20th century? What great grand opera has been composed since 'Turandot'? (Musical shows are not operas.) Some will argue that great music *is* still being composed, and that it is only one's particular taste that makes them prefer older music, but if this is so, why do programs of older music consistently draw the largest audiences to classical concerts? Why does older music sound harmonious and beautiful? Why does older music move us in a way nothing else can? And why does so much modern music sound discordant and even downright ugly, even to the point of annoyance? Is it because we ultra-moderns need a course in music appreciation, or is it because there is nothing in the music to appreciate? Is it because the world has cast aside the things of spirit that for so many centuries were the source of artistic inspiration? Spiritual thoughts inspire beautiful art that brings peace and contentment. Secular thoughts -- thoughts of a world without meaning -- inspire ugly despairing art -- art that expresses anger and hopelessness -- art of the kind preferred by so many of our present-day youth. Can the blind, meaningless, unknowing and uncaring physical universe of science, vast and complex as it is, ever compare with thoughts of God and angels, heaven and hell, salvation and damnation, in the ability to inspire great works of art? If the secular world cannot inspire us as the spiritual world once did, has the era of great art ended? I fear this may be the case. But there is yet a spark of hope. Both Atheists and believers enjoy fractals, which are not the highest form of art, yet somehow bridge the gap between the sacred and the profane. Where fractals may take us, I shall not speculate. Perhaps more along these lines in a day or two; perhaps not. Glancing up at the clock, I see that midnight is drawing near. It's well past the time to shut down the fractal shoppe, and time to call it a night. Until next time, take care, and keep striving. Jim Muth jamth@mindspring.com START 20.0 PAR-FORMULA FILE================================ The_Secret_Of_Time { ; time=0:09:52.49--SF5 on a P200 reset=2002 type=formula formulafile=allinone.frm formulaname=MandelbrotBC1 function=floor passes=1 center-mag=-0.3290480331308/-0.6702011404115/5.112\ 165e+007/1/-57.5/-2.1509544216591348e-007 params=1\ .8/0/0/0 float=y maxiter=3000 inside=0 logmap=252 colors=000YEX`FYcGZfK_iO`lSaoWbr_cucdxgezkfzogzsgz\ wfzzfzzbww_rqXkiVfbS`WOVQLOIJJBGC4D74BI4CS6Da8D`48\ `43Y41V40S40Q40N40L40I40F40C40A4074044044044044044\ 0eWBbUA`S8ZR7WO6VN4SM3RL1OI0MH0LF0IE0HB0EA0C80A707\ 406404404404404404404QB4M74J44F14C04A0460440zRfzOc\ yM`uLZrJWoITo4Vi4Wf4Wc4ZY6_VB`RHXQIWYRfWWgW`hVekUj\ lSonSuoRzrQzsOzsOzsMzsLzpJvnIqlHjjEegCZfBUcAN`8I_C\ HXHFVLETOERSCOWBN`AKcAJfFKgJLiNNjSOkWQm`RneSoiTqmV\ rrWsvXuzZvz_wz`yz`szcnvfinhcfkZZnURpOJsJBsE4s84sA4\ sB4sBApCEnCJkENhFSfFWcHa`HeZIjWInTLkWMjZNi_OgbQfcR\ efScgUbjW`lYZnZYp`WraVsbUscSseRs`OrWMjSJbOHVLEOHBG\ C888604404404404404404cR4bO4`L4ZK4WH4VF4SC4RBASAFU\ ALVAQVAVWAaY8fZ8kZ8q`8va8za8veJqgSmk`gnkbrsZuserrj\ qgqnWvmLunKsoJrqJqqHorHnsGmsFkuFjvDivDmyJozOrzTuzZ\ wzczz_zzXzzVzwSzsOzqLznJzkGzjDzjBzj8zj6zj3zi0zi0zi\ 0zi0zi0zi0zj0zk0zm0iVpkRp } frm:MandelbrotBC1 { ; by several Fractint users e=p1, a=imag(p2)+100 p=real(p2)+PI q=2*PI*fn1(p/(2*PI)) r=real(p2)-q Z=C=Pixel: Z=log(Z) IF(imag(Z)>r) Z=Z+flip(2*PI) ENDIF Z=exp(e*(Z+flip(q)))+C |Z|<a } END 20.0 PAR-FORMULA FILE==================================