Fractal visionaries and enthusiasts:

Today's image is the parent fractal that results when 3 parts of Z^(-2.1) are mixed with 0.9 part of Z^(-4.2) and (1/C) is added.  Actually, it is not accurate to call it a 'parent' because it has not yet produced any children.  But this is no cause for alarm; the fractal is obviously filled with interesting nooks and crannies that hold infinite goodies.

Perhaps the most interesting thing about the fractal is that it appears to be in 2 parts -- the chaotic low-iteration, greenish outer part and the far more organized high-iteration, brilliantpinkish inner part.  The overall impression is that the initial value of Z is not critical, though the abundance of minibrots indicates that it is indeed critical.  Perhaps the generating formula has more than one critical value, but if this is so, I have yet to find the value that would clear away the overlying stuff and bring the ghostly submerged stuff to the surface.

The name of the image -- "The Least of the Beast" -- originally had some meaning.  Whatever it was, I have forgotten it.  The rating of a 6 is above average but nothing to get excited about.

The calculation time of 40 seconds makes running the included parameter file a very small chore.  Those with machine problems such as incompatible operating systems, retarded vesa-impared video cards, or merely spoiled machines that panic at the sight of DOS will find their satisfaction in the form of the precalculated image at the currently active FOTD web site at:

http://www.emarketingiseasy.com/TESTS/FOTD/jim_muths_fotd.html

The original FOTD web site at:

http://www.Nahee.com/FOTD/

is currently inactive, though when Paul recovers, it will be brought up to date.

The first day of the new year started sunny enough here at Fractal Central, but clouds moved in before noon, and rain showers arrived later in the afternoon.  The fractal cats approved of the temperature of 48F +9C but wished there had been more sunlight.  (Actually their greatest wish is for someone to let them go into that immense forbidden area on the outside of the three doors they never get to go through.)

The humans had a peaceful enough day.  The new year arrived on schedule at FC and nothing much changed.  The next FOTD image will be posted in 24 hours.  Until then, take care, and:

        I never saw a Boltzmann brain,
        I hope I never see one,
        But I can tell you anyhow,
        I'd rather see than be one.

(I'll have a lot to say about these strange creatures in a few days.)

Jim Muth
jamth@mindspring.com


START PARAMETER FILE=======================================

TheLeastOfTheBeast { ; time=0:00:40.75-SF5 on P4-2000
  reset=2004 type=formula formulafile=basicer.frm
  formulaname=MandAutoCritInZ function=recip passes=1
  center-mag=0.107083/0/0.6/1/90/0 params=3/-2.1/0.9\
  /-4.2/0/0/0/0 float=y maxiter=22500 inside=0
  logmap=yes symmetry=none periodicity=6
  colors=000FEKFFKFGKFGKFHJFIIFJIFKHFKHFKHFKHFKHFLHF\
  LHFMHLNGLMEMMKMMPNMUNLZPMcULhZLmcKrcKvcJzcKzcKzcLz\
  cNz_dzaczbbzcazd_zeZzgYzhXziWzjUzlTzmSznRzoQzpOzrN\
  zsMztLzuKzyIzwJzvJztJzsJzrJzpJzoJzmJzmJzmJzmJzmJzm\
  KzmKzmKzmKzmKzmKzmKzmKzmKzmKzmKzmKzmKzmLzmLzmLzmLz\
  mLzmLzmLzmLzmLzmLzmLzmLzmLzmMzmNzmOzmPzmQzmRzmSzmT\
  zmUzmVzmWzmXzmYzmZzm_zm`zmazmbzmczmdzmezmezifzjfzk\
  gzlgzmgznhzoizpizqizrjzsjzsjzskztkztkzulzulzulzvmz\
  vmzxlzwmzvmzvmzunztnztnzsozsozrozqpzqpzpozopzoqznr\
  znszmtzluzlvzkwzjxzjyzizzizzhzzgzzgzzfzzezzezzdzzd\
  zzczzbzzbzzazz`zz`zz_zz_zzZzzYzzYzzXzzWzzWzzVzzVzz\
  UzzTzzTzzSzzSzzTzzTzzTzzTzzUzzUzzUzzUzzVzzVzzVzzVz\
  zWzzWzzWzzWzzXzzXzzXzzXzzXzzYzzYzzYzzYzzZzzZzzZzzZ\
  zz_zz_zz_zz_zz`zz`zz`zz`zz_zz`zz`zz`zzazzazzazzbzz\
  bzzbzzbzzczzczzczzdzzdzzdzzezzezzezzezzfzzfzzfzzgz\
  zgzzgzzhzzhzzhzzhzzizzizz }

frm:MandAutoCritInZ {; 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 PARAMETER FILE=========================================