FOTD -- May 05, 2003 (Rating 8) Fractal visionaries and enthusiasts: Yesterday's FOTD image took us to the place where the right edge of the large fan-like element of the parent fractal merges into the 'East Valley' area of an obvious Mandel-like feature. Today's image takes us to the place where the left edge of the symmetrical fan-like element merges into a less-Mandel appearing feature. The 'fan' itself is filled with tiny holes, which are disconnected from the main body of the parent fractal but are rich with fractal detail nonetheless. Since the area in which today's scene lies is disconnected, the midget at the center is disconnected also. This isolation gives the midget, with its surroundings, the appearance of a star in a dark sky. The obvious 8-pointed star-like feature completes the effect of stellar glory and justifies the name "Starry Mandelbrot". I am quite satisfied with the appearance of today's image, and feel the rating of a much-above-average 8 is fully justified. Unfortunately, as is so often the case, something worth having must be waited for, and the 1/2-hour render time of today's image on my machine must be considered a wait, even when reduced to a fraction of that amount on a faster machine. Now, I suppose it is only fair to admit that I am no expert, at least in the field of math and fractals. (Despite the occasional dissension of critics, I am an expert in philosophy however, ;-) but my modesty prevents me from discussing it here.) In these fractal discussions, I often make statements that I think are true, but the fact that I think these things are true does not necessarily make them actually true. So the things I write in these discussions (other than my well-pondered philosophy) should be taken as entertainment rather than proven fact. Those with much patience can see today's image in 1/2 hour by running the attached parameter file. Those with better ways to fill their time will pick up the completed GIF image from: <http://home.att.net/~Paul.N.Lee/FotD/FotD.html> or from: <http://sdboyd.dyndns.org/~sdboyd/fotd/index.html> Well, I survived Sunday's trip to the antique emporium. In fact, I actually found a picture that I liked at a price I liked even better. The dynamic duo meanwhile remained on guard, pro- tecting Fractal Central from intruders. If any wrongdoer had dared to break in, the draft behind the dynamic duo as they dashed for cover would have knocked the intruder flat. The weather was cloudy and 64F 18C, but the rain held off again. This was irrelevant however, since the dynamic ones were alone by themselves indoors most of the day. Today is starting cloudy again, and the forecast is for rain by afternoon. I hope the duo stays happy. Until next time, which will be here in the wink of a fractal, take care, and be kind to your fractal -- it could be somebody's mother. Jim Muth jamth@mindspring.com jimmuth@aol.com START 20.0 PAR-FORMULA FILE================================ Starry_Mandelbrot { ; time=0:29:37.98--SF5 on a P200 reset=2002 type=formula formulafile=allinone.frm formulaname=mandelbrotmix2 function=recip passes=1 center-mag=+1.25085078864374300/+3.023813723474635\ 00/4.386769e+009/1/-82.5/0.00713534581712483434 params=-10/-1.1/-1/-11/0/525/0/0 float=y maxiter=2700 inside=0 logmap=479 periodicity=10 colors=000307407406405404403503502501cn_cnZdoYdoXd\ pXepWeqVfqUfrTfrTgGacAc`5eb7Wc9MdBCeD3`F4WH4RJ4ML4\ HN5CP57R53T5LSGbSQsS_oSbkSdgSfcSh_SjWSlSSnUVjWXfY_\ b_aZadVcfReiNgkJinFkpBlr8ms7ns7os7ps7qs7rt6st6st6t\ t6ut6vu5wu5xu5yu5zu5zu5wo8ujAreCp_EmVGkQIw26r78nC9\ jGBfLCbQEZUFVZHRbITcLVcOXcRZcU`cXbc_ccaef`gh_ikZjm\ YlpXnrWotWnoUnjTneSm`QmWPmSOnRRpQUqPXgpfikbjgZkcWm\ _SnWOoRLpNHrJDsFAtB6u73pA8kDDfGIaINXLSTOXORaJTfEWk\ 9Zp4au0czH`zYYznVzoXrpYkqZdr_Ys`RtaKubDvc6oa8o`9kZ\ BhYCfXEaVFYUHVSIRRKOQLKONHNOEMPFOMGRJITGKVDNXAQZ7T\ a8Wd9ZfAaiBdkCgmDjoEmqEmsDmvDmwCmxCmyBmzBPnAQoAQpA\ Qp9Qq9Rr9Rs8Rt8Rt8_fEhTJqFOz1Tr2Uk3Ud4UX5UQ6UJ7UC8\ UKAVSCVZEVfGWnIWuJWmN1kP4iR6gT8eUAcWCaYE_ZGZ`IXbLV\ cNTePRgRPhTNjVLlXKmZJiWIeUHaSHaQGcOFeMFgKEiIDkGDmE\ EoEEqEEsEEuEEvEEwEFxEFyEFzEFzEFzEFzEDzICzLBzOAzR8z\ U7zX6z_5zb3zehzOfzTdzXbz` } frm:MandelbrotMix2 {; Jim Muth a=real(p1), b=imag(p1), d=real(p2), f=imag(p2), g=1/f, h=1/d, j=1/(f-b), z=(((-a*b*g*h)^j)+(p4)), k=real(p3)+1, l=imag(p3)+100, c=fn1(pixel): z=k*((a*(z^b))+(d*(z^f)))+c, |z| < l } END 20.0 PAR-FORMULA FILE==================================