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Fractal of the Day
by Jim Muth
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Fractal visionaries and enthusiasts: How could I give a fair rating to just another fractal image in the Mandelbrot set? I couldn't. So I let today's image go un-rated. But it's really a rather attractive scene from the eastern environs of the large minibrot on the negative spike. And with its virtually non-existent calculation time of 1-1/2 seconds, it is well worth a glance. In fact, on my fast machine it finishes before the video mode switches. This exceptional calculation speed inspired the name "Faster than Light". Of course, it's impossible for any information-bearing signal to reach a velocity greater than the universal speed limit of light, but fractals are strange things, and I wonder if this limit applies to them. Interesting things might result if it were possible for fractals to exceed the velocity of light. For example, they might go backward in time, and we could see a finished image today that we would not discover until tomorrow. Could fractals possibly go faster than light? Well, fractals are made of numbers, and numbers are human thought processes expressed in symbolic form. We don't know exactly what thought is, but one thing is certain. Thought is not limited by the speed of light. We can imagine ourselves standing on Mars and mentally be there instantly. So maybe fractals in some way actually can move faster than light. But if they can, it is a total mystery what this ability means to us. With its calculation time of 1-1/2 seconds, today's image is one of the rare ones that calculate in less time than it takes to view the finished image on the FOTD web site at: But viewing the image on the web site still saves the hassle of setting up and running the included parameter file. The weather on Wednesday was much more seasonal here at Fractal Central. The high temperature of 75F 24C was still warmer than it should be in mid-October, but far more reasonable than the 91F 33C of the past few days. The indoor fractal cats were more interested in watching the outdoor squirrels gather nuts than in the cooler weather. In my department, the commercial work was wrapped up early, leaving a rather relaxing day. The next FOTD will appear in 24 hours. Until then, take care, and if you take enough care, good things of a fractal nature will eventually come your way. Jim Muth jamth@mindspring.com jimmuth@aol.com |
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END PARAMETER FILE=========================================
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