FOTD -- December 10, 2003 (Rating 7) Fractal visionaries and enthusiasts: Today's venture into Fractal Land takes us to the fractal created when one-half part of Z^(-7.5) is added to 5 parts of Z^(-1.5) before (1/C) is added. The resulting fractal consists of two separate parts -- a main part with several large bays and a smaller area of non-critical stuff located some distance to the southwest of the main part. I have examined this cut-off area for over an hour without finding signs that midgets might lie there. It does have some striking tree-like elements however, which I might use in some future FOTD. Today's scene is located rather deep in the southern branch of the valley that cuts off the prominent bud at the eastern end of the string of bays comprising the main part of the parent fractal. The image is named "Your Highness", which is a term used when addressing a person of very high rank, such as a king. The name was inspired by the royal blue color of the midget at the center. This color extends to the arms radiating from the midget, giving them an unusually sharp, royal definition. Before deciding on the standard 'equal-iteration-band' version of today's scene, I tried the other outside options, and also the various 'evaporated' inside options. The other outside options create an image that is too busy. The inside options applied to the 'evaporated' version are either too busy or too simple, the lone exception being the bof61 option, which creates an exaggerated, rather hectic variation of the standard version. If I had been in a different mood, I might have chosen this variation. I rated today's picture an above-average 7, a rating that might be a bit more than it deserves. But I do like the deep-blue color of the midget and its arms, and I decided to reward myself. The render time of 11 minutes is getting to be a habit. Relief is at hand however on the FOTD web sites, where the GIF image may be found, already rendered. Those sites are at: <http://home.att.net/~Paul.N.Lee/FotD/FotD.html> and at: <http://sdboyd.dyndns.org/~sdboyd/fotd/index.html> I am currently reading the NovDec issue of 'Skeptical Inquirer' magazine, a publication of CSICOP that I have been reading for many years. Ever since I came to realize that its main agenda is to promote the materialistic philosophies, and that it uses science chiefly to add validity to its claims, I no longer take it as seriously as I once did, but I still find it quite entertaining and informative, often containing much to ponder. If I have time, I'll do some public pondering in the philo- fractal version of tomorrow's FOTD, when, depending on one's point of view, I will spread either wisdom or superstition. Tuesday brought partly cloudy skies and a temperature of 43F 6C to Fractal Central. The fractal cats were neutral about the conditions, and did little of note while they were outside. When they came in, they asked for tuna, but when they got none, they settled for their regular food, Today, I fear the next rain area is moving in. Hopefully, the cats' indifferent mood will continue through the rain. As for me, I'm about 1/3 of the way through the day's work. If I'm lucky, I'll finish before the rain arrives. Until next time, take extra care and then a bit more care. Jim Muth jamth@mindspring.com jimmuth@aol.com START 20.0 PAR-FORMULA FILE================================ Your_Highness { ; time=0:11:24.43--SF5 on a p200 reset=2002 type=formula formulafile=allinone.frm formulaname=MandelbrotMix4 function=recip passes=1 center-mag=+2.12998426754146700/-0.194913908321507\ 00/4.144484e+008/1/59.999963718102002/3.7033972414\ 5712923e-005 params=5/-1.5/0.5/-7.5/0/525 float=y maxiter=1500 inside=0 logmap=238 periodicity=10 colors=000FDAHEAHFAKGAKHANIANJAQKAQLATMBTNCWQCWTCY\ WCYZCabCaeCegCehCiiCijCmkDmlCqmCqoCtqBtsBwuBwwAzyA\ zzAzy9zx9zw9zu8zs8zq8xoNwmQukTsjWqiVohUmgWkfYie_gd\ afecededcgcbibaka`m``o_aqZ`sYcuX`wWexV`zUgzT`zSXzJ\ ZzIUzGXzFUzDVzCUzBSzARrAQw9Ph8Ns8Mc7Li7KX6Ic5HT5GY\ 4FQ3DO3CM2BK2AJ2AJ2AI19H19H18G18F18F17E17D17D16C16\ B15A15A159100048048047036036025024024013012F12P01U\ 00UK9UK8UK8UK8UK8UK7UK7UK7UK7UK6TJ6SI6RH6PG5OF5NE5\ ME5LD4KC4JC4IB4HA3GA3F93E83C82B72A6296285174164153\ 1420m20m10m00hUzhUzhUzhUzhUzhUzhUzhUzLBgKAeJAcJ9aI\ 9_H8ZG8XF7VE7TD7RC6PB6NA5M95K94I84G73E63C52B429317\ 215103001PcnOamOalN`kN_kNWjM_iMZhMZhLYgLYfLXeKXeKW\ dJVcJTbJTbIRaIR`IQ_HQ_HOZHOYGNYGMXFLWFLVFKVEKUEJTE\ JSDISDIRDHQCHPCGPBKOBPNBUMAZMAcLKhKUmJcrJmwIuzHzzH\ zzGzzFzzEzzEzzDzzCzzBzzBzzAzzWzzUzzTzzSzzRzzPzzOzz\ NzzMzzKzzJzzIzzHzzMzzRzzW } 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 20.0 PAR-FORMULA FILE==================================