FOTD -- June 28, 2005 (Rating 4) Fractal visionaries and enthusiasts: I am sometimes asked why I have devoted so much effort over the past eight years to searching for these elusive fractals and writing mediocre-quality discussions about the things I find. Taken together, the FOTD writings consume as much disk space as almost 20 average-length novels. That is a lot of writing. I am also asked why I don't put my writing energies into writing articles or short stories. Well, over the past 30 years, I have written quite a few short stories, once again of mediocre qual- ity. I have also written articles much like those I occasion- ally post on these lists -- of mediocre quality of course. I receive no monetary reward for my efforts, and very little fame. But despite this, something drives me to continue. Fractals are new worlds, and I fantasize about exploring new worlds. I suppose I am a bit resentful that I arrived too late to explore the unknown regions of this world and apparently too early to explore the unknown regions beyond. (I use the word apparently because I am becoming ever more convinced that, other than an occasional lucky astronaut, men will never get into space. Earth simply lacks the resources to send a large number of people into space. Our physical needs are far too many, far too specialized, and far too expensive for mass space travel to ever be practical.) Exploring fractals is ersatz space exploration, which is why I never grow bored with it. Whether it is worth the effort is another story. Sometimes I start to think it is not, but then a great fractal turns up, and my waning enthusiasm is boosted. Unfortunately, today's below-average effort will do little boosting. Today's image is a scene in the fractal that results when (1/Z) and Z^(-2) are combined and (1/C) is added. With its colored disks and patches, the image is very typical of those found in fractals created with negative exponents of Z. For some reason, I named it "Nest of Termites". This is termite season, after all. The rating of a 4 seems justified for an image that impresses me as being just another in an endless series of similar fractals. The render time of under 4 minutes assures that not too much effort will be wasted in rendering the image from the included parameter file. For the convenience of those who would rather not or, or because of over-qualified computers, cannot render Fractint parameters, the pre-rendered GIF image is available on the FOTD web site at: <http://home.att.net/~Paul.N.Lee/FotD/FotD.html> The temperature of 82F 28C here at Fractal Central on Monday was fair enough, but the frequent and sudden rain showers kept the fractal cats confined to the shelter of the porch. When a tough neighborhood tomcat ventured into the yard, Tippy exerted enough effort to chase it back where it belongs, but when the yard was clear of intruders, he returned to the porch to wash himself dry. Thomas watched the action from his cozy nest on the porch chair. Today is starting sunny and warmer. If no showers come up, it should be a fine day for the duo. For me, the work is increasing, so I had best get busy. Until the next FOTD appears 24 hours from now, take care, and if life is rough, take heart. It won't last forever. Jim Muth jamth@mindspring.com jimmuth@aol.com START PARAMETER FILE======================================= Nest_of_Termites { ; time=0:02:55.65--SF5 on a P200 reset=2004 type=formula formulafile=allinone.frm formulaname=MandelbrotMix4 function=recip passes=1 center-mag=-2.20506541471050600/+4.716593110647167\ 00/103.5543/1/-135/-3.19069354270951067e-011 params=-2/-1/-1/-2/0/525 float=y maxiter=750 inside=0 logmap=34 periodicity=10 colors=000OqaOqbOpcOpcMgMLZ4MZBMZIBH9`aVIODKRDMTDO\ WDQYDS`DUbDWeDYgDalQdpbgtofjceaSdTGcK5YQETWNOaWIgd\ Dmm8su7mv7hw6bw6Yx5Sy5Ny4Hz4Cz6Fy7Hx9JxAMwBOvDQvES\ uGVtHXtIZsK`rLcrNeqOgpPipVll_oidqfdpddobaVYcZ_daaf\ ebhidjmfkpgilehhdfdce`bdXabT`aPZ_LYZHXYDWW9VV5UU2T\ OANIIICQD7X88WC9WGAWKBWOCWSDVWEV_FVcGVgHVjLzt47dA6\ cF6cK5cQ5cV5c_4ce4cj3co3ct3cp7flAhiDjeHmbKoZNqVRtS\ UvOXxL_zb8Qd7Oe7Mf6Kh6Ji6Hj5Fk5Em5Cn4Ao48q47r35s33\ t32iF8_RDQaIGmN6xSBpQGiOLbNQWLVOJ_HIdAGi3Fj5Jj7Mk9\ PkASkCVlEZlGalHdmJgmLjmMmfLj`LgVLePKbJK_DKYJJVPITU\ HQ_GOdGMaKM_NMXQMVUMSXMQ_MNcMLfMIiMGlMSglVhgYhc`h_\ chWehRhhNkhJnhFphBoeEnbGn`JmYLmWOlUQlWTkYVk_Yja_jc\ biedigghiihkkdmlaolZqlVslSulPwlLzlIzlFzlGzeHzZIzTJ\ zMKzFLz9Az50z23z46z69z8BzAEzCHzEJzGMzIPzKRzMUzOXzQ\ ZzSazUdzWfzYczXazW_zVYzUWzUUzTSzSQzROzQMzQNzRNzSNz\ TNzUNzVNzWNzXOzYOzZOz_Oz` } 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=========================================