FOTD -- December 31, 2006 (Rating 7) Fractal visionaries and enthusiasts: Today's fractal image was created by an innocent formula that subtracts 1.5 parts of Z^(-1.5) from 1.5 parts of Z^(1.5) then adds C to create a parent fractal that lies beyond the southern edge of the opening screen. This parent fractal appears as a small but fairly typical Mandelbrot set, with a rudimentary M-set still farther south. Countless smaller bits of fractal bric-a-brac lie scattered around the scene. Today's image is located in the vague East Valley of the rudimentary M-set. I named the picture "Last but not Least". After all, today's FOTD is the last one to appear in the year of 2006, and there certainly have been lesser images during the past year. After a moment or two of careful consideration, I rated the image at a 7. The 'tdis' inside outside option adds enough oomph to the image to raise it to the 'above-average' category. Actually, I was considering a rating of an 8, but could not quite justify it. The render time is a very speedy 2-1/4 minutes, which will save precious computer time. Even more precious time may be saved by going to the FOTD web site at: <http://home.att.net/~Paul.N.Lee/FotD/FotD.html> and viewing the finished product there. The day started cloudy, drizzly and chilly here at New Fractal Central on Saturday, but by afternoon the clouds were swept away by a southerly breeze, the sun appeared, and the temperature shot up to 50F 10C. Had the fractal cats been outside, they would have enjoyed it, but someone found a left-over decorative bow, and Nico spent the afternoon batting it around the living room and chewing at it, while Cassie watched with curiosity. My day was peaceful enough. Now if only every day could be as peaceful. I am still somewhat slowed down by the ankle I sev- erely sprained over two months ago when I jumped from a chair without looking and landed on a cat toy, but the worst of it is over and I can now walk without aid, at least on a flat level surface, though not yet at full speed. Luckily, a full-speed walk is not necessary to explore the virtual land of fractals, which can be explored with a very minimum of physical effort. The next in the long series of FOTD images and discussions will appear in 24 hours. BTW, the year 2007 will mark the tenth year of the FOTD, which first appeared in April of 1997. Until next time, take care of yourself and be as happy as possible all year long. Jim Muth jamth@mindspring.com jimmuth@aol.com START PARAMETER FILE======================================= Last_but_not_Least { ; time=0:02:17.97--SF5 on a P200 reset=2004 type=formula formulafile=allinone.frm formulaname=MandelbrotMix4 function=ident passes=1 center-mag=-0.98410062597809290/-3.080214191660223\ 00/144497.4/1/-142.5/2.09827939745554914e-010 params=1.5/1.5/-1.5/-1.5/0/0 float=y maxiter=1500 inside=255 outside=tdis periodicity=10 colors=000cFmZDgTBaO9XI6RD4L72F000kCc_9W000D3Hzyxq\ nogdgXVZNKRCAIxzonpiegcWXYPPSHGM98G7qE6iD5aC4UC4NB\ 3FB27A5Cc4AZ48U36P34K22FS_zOUrKPjGKcDFW9AP55H`BzW9\ uR7mM6eH4YC3Q71ITJzPGvMEoIBhF9aC7V84O52HI2zC1j70SW\ FFRCEMADH7CC5B72AcxTGDiB8Y64MqOgdIZSCRF6IlNebIZUDT\ K9MB4GrGfjDabBXW9SO6OH4J92EI6kA3TqSdiO_bKWVGROCNG8\ I94EWzDHVBMJ_JGWGDSDAOA8L75H42D`sVP`ODIH4Mz3Jv3Go3\ Dh3Ba28V25O22HgDcaBZW9VQ7RK5ME3I81EH0zGDzB8m64Up`z\ iWucRnXNgRI`LDUE9N84GnZUYNNpUzjRtdNlYKeSGYMDRVL_bT\ hk`pshyzpzvizrczmXyiRwdKu`ErW7pS1nO8iKEeGLaCRY9XUD\ SWHNXLJYPE_T9`W5a`PVegOinXltemshnrkpqnqpqroteZvTJw\ H3xNUoTtfNnjHhnCbrGdtJfuMhwPjxSkyPczNWzLOzJHzPMsVR\ d_VRWPeTJtQEzUamYxTyYTToQOfNKYKFQIBHF68COHcD8PmWDa\ OCQGBE8Ac0usfChYBYPBNHAC8ARHpIBaA5OWG`SEXOCUKAQH8N\ D6K94G52Dd_NSOIFCEBBzJeiDSY7EMXnzTguPanLVgHP`DJU9C\ N56GcMI47R35N34K22G21Dzzz } frm:MandelbrotMix4 {; 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, k=real(p3)+1, l=imag(p3)+100, c=fn1(pixel): z=k*((a*(z^b))+(d*(z^f)))+c, |z| < l } END PARAMETER FILE=========================================