FOTD -- May 25, 2010 (Rating 8) Fractal visionaries and enthusiasts: Today's super quickie image is super quick only when calculated with the type=julia formula on my 2000mhz machine. When this is done, it finishes in a stunning 35 seconds. The image is a Julia set, or rather a merging of two separate Julia sets related to Seahorse Valley of the large minibtot on the west branch of the filament extending from the large north bud of the Mandelbrot set. This merging may be seen in progress by changing the initial C-value of the image. But this value is extremely critical, so change only the least significant digits. The merging of separate Julia sets was hinted at in yesterday's image, but I have never actually seen it before it appeared while I was searching for today's image. The name "Merging Julia Sets" is self explanatory. The rating of an 8 is based mostly on the mathematical interest. The artistic value is closer to a 6. And do not be surprised if the image requires quite a few minutes to calculate. The time of 35 seconds is true only on my 2000mhz fractal-optimized unit. The 200mhz machine chugs away for over 9 minutes. Of course, the finished image is available as always on the FOTD web site at: <http://www.Nahee.com/FOTD/> While reading the May 31 issue of the struggling 'Time' magazine at lunch today, I came upon a short article on page 15 about the results of the latest study of the possible connection between cell-phone use and brain damage. The study proved inconclusive. Surprise, surprise. This is exactly what would be expected from a team of investigators who cannot honestly say the phones are safe, and at the same time are under heavy political pressure not to declare them a risk. My opinion is that the continuing inability to find the phones safe for unlimited use is an implied admission of the risk of cell-phone radiation. I, for one, consider the phones to be devices mainly for emergencies. I'm also thankful I have no children worrying me for a __________. (Fill in the blank with whatever wireless on-line device is the current fad among the kiddies.) Monday turned out better than expected here at Fractal Central. There were more clouds than would have been ideal, but no rain fell and the temperature reached a very comfortable 79F 26C. The fractal cats kept their eye on the activity at the nearby hawk's nest most of the time. For me the day was about average, and with any luck, tomorrow will be the same. The next FOTD will be posted in 24 hours. Until then, take care, and maybe the cell-phone situation is a plot of the evil aliens from Arcturus who want to turn us into brain-dead zombies. But wait a minute . . . Why do we need aliens when the public schools are already doing the job? Jim Muth jamth@mindspring.com jimmuth@aol.com START PARAMETER FILE======================================= Merging_Julia_Sets { ; time=0:00:35.37-SF5 on P4-2000 reset=2004 type=julia center-mag=0/0/36910/1/127/0 params=-0.1613440487151149/-1.036047040470627 float=y maxiter=250000 inside=0 periodicity=0 colors=000NB6NC6OC6PD6QE6QE6RF5SG5TG5TH5UI5VI5WJ4W\ K4XK4YL4ZM4YL3ZM4_N5`N6`O6aO7bP8bQ8cQ9dRAeRAeSBfSC\ gTCgUDhUEiVEjVFjWGkXGlXHlYImYInZJoZKo_Kp`Lq`MqaMra\ NsbOsbSsbQsbPsbOraMp_LoYKnWImVHkUGjUEiUDiUBhUChUCh\ UDhUDgUDgUEgWEgYEg_FfaFfcFfdGfeGffGegHehHeiIejIdkI\ dlJdmJdnJdoKcpKcqKcrLcsLft8iuDfvHcwL`xPYyTVzXRzaOz\ eLziIzmFzqCzu9zyCzvEzsHzqJznMzkOziRzfTzdWzaYzZ`zXb\ zUezRgzPjzMpzHozInzJmzKlzKkzLjzMizNhzNgzOfzPgzQhzQ\ izRjzSkzTlzTmzUnzVozWpzWqzXrzYszZtzZzz_zz`zzgzzmzz\ gzwcwtdtqdqpdnodkmchkcekbbjb_jaXiaUi`Rh`Oh_Lg_KfZK\ fZKeYKeYKdXJcXJbWJbWJaVJ`VJ_UJZUJYTIXTIWSIVSIURIUR\ IUQIUQEUSFUTGUSHTRISQJRPKQOLPNLPMMOLNNKOMJPLHQKGRK\ FRLESLDTLCULBVLAWL9XL8ZN6YN7XN7XM7WM7WM8VL8VL8UKTU\ KTTKTSKSSJRRJQRJPQIOPINPHMOHLOHKNGJNGIMGHLFGLFFKFE\ KEDJECCABEBAGCAIDAJEALFANGAH6AIAIJAAKAALAAMAAMAAMA\ AMAAMAANAANAANAANAANAANAA } END PARAMETER FILE=========================================