Fractal visionaries and enthusiasts:

Today's image features a wild spiral, with more nooks and crannies than the maze of the Minotaur.  Perhaps I exaggerated a bit when I named it "Attack of the Spiral", but some of its nooks look absolutely threatening, not to mention its crannies.

The image rates a 6, which is equal to an old rating of a 7.  This is the last day I will list both the new and old ratings.  From now on I will simply list the new rating.  But remember that images with new ratings will usually appear better than expected.

For some reason I tend to avoid spirals, perhaps because they are so trendy, especially with contest participants, but occasionally, as happened today, even I fall prey to the temptation to check a spiral for hidden goodies.  The goodies in today's image are not exactly hidden however.  They are there on the surface for the whole world to see.

The parent fractal came about when I calculated the Z^(1.5)+C Mandeloid as it appears 0.5 levels up the complex logarithmic hyperspiral when no function is applied.  This parent fractal appears as a Mandeloid rotated so that its main bud faces north.  Both its main bay and main bud are squashed, with a lively broad spiral extending from the northeast shore line of the main bay.  Today's scene is located at only a small depth in this broad spiral.

The calculation time of 34 seconds is surprisingly fast.  The finished image may be viewed without the task of calculation, on the active FOTD web site at:

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

The original classic FOTD web site may be accessed at:

     http://www.Nahee.com/FOTD/

My own web site may now be accessed at:

      http://www.crosscanpuzzles.com/Archives.html

but the site is still in the early stages, and today's FOTD will not be posted for a day or so.  Suggestions for improvement will always be considered, so feel free to make helpful comments.  You might also check FL's puzzles on the site.  She deserves a little return for all the work she has done helping to get the web site up and running.

With a high temperature of 81F 27C, Monday was the warmest day of the spring so far here at Fractal Central in central Pennsylvania.  In fact, it was warmer outside than inside.  The fractal cats considered the temperature just right, but their relationship must have left something to be desired.  In the evening they were spotted at opposite ends of the fractal hallway in full sulk posture, their sulks directed at each other.

The day of the humans was busier than expected.  Most of the extra work involved making last minute tweaks to the FOTD web page.  The next FOTD image is due to be posted in 12 hours or so.  Until then, take care, and what will be, will be, but we don't have to sit down and helplessly take whatever comes.

Jim Muth
jamth@mindspring.com


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

Atack_Of_TheSpiral { ; time=0:00:34.77-SF5 on P4-2000
  reset=2004 type=formula formulafile=basicer.frm
  formulaname=MandelbrotBC3 function=ident passes=1
  center-mag=+0.76882629/+0.54538622/266/1/180
  params=1.5/0/0.5/0 float=y maxiter=288
  inside=255 logmap=27 periodicity=6
  colors=200LNUKMTJLSIKRHJQGIPFHOEGNDFMCELBDKADJ9CI8\
  BH7AG69E68D56B44955B57D58F5AH5BJ5DL5EN5GP5HR5JT5KV\
  5MX5NZ5P`5Qb5Sd5Tf5Vh5Wj5Yl5Zn5`p5ar5ct5dt5ft5gt5g\
  t5gt5gt5gt5gt5gt5gt5gt5gt5gt5gt5gt5gt5gt5gt5gt5gt5\
  lt5lt5lt5lt5lt5lt5lt5lt5lt5lt5lt5lt5lt5lt5lt5lt5qt\
  5qt5qt5qt5qt5qt5qt5qt5qt5qt5qt5qt5qt5qt5qt5qt5qt5q\
  t5qt5qt5qt5qt5qt5qt5qt5qt5qt5qt5qt5qt5qt5qt5qt5qt5\
  qt5qt5qt5qt5qt5qt5qt5qt5qt5qt5qt5qt5qt5qt5qt5qt5qt\
  5qt5qt5qt5qt5qt5qt5qt5qt5qt5qt5qt5qt5qtBqt9qt7qt5q\
  t9qtBqtDqtFqtHqtJqtLqtNqtPqtRqtTqtVqtRmtRmtRmtRmtR\
  mtRmtRmtRntRntRntRntRntRntRntQptRotRntRmtRltRltRkt\
  RjtRitRhtRhtRgtRftSesSesSdsScrSbrSarSaqS`qS_qSZpSY\
  pSYpTXoTWoTVoTVnTUnTTnTSmTRmTRmTQlTPmTOmUNmTOmTOmT\
  PmTPmTQmTQmTRmSRmSSmSSmSSmSTmSTmSUmSUmRVmRVmRWmRWm\
  RXmRXmRXmRYmQYmQZmQZmQ_mQ_mQ`mQ`mP_mQ`mQ`mQ`mRamRa\
  mRamSbmSbmSbmTbmTcmTcmUcm }

frm:MandelbrotBC3   { ; by several Fractint users
  e=p1, a=imag(p2)+100
  p=real(p2)+PI
  q=2*PI*fn1(p/(2*PI))
  r=real(p2)+PI-q
  Z=C=Pixel:
    Z=log(Z)
    IF(imag(Z)>r)
      Z=Z+flip(2*PI)
    ENDIF
    Z=exp(e*(Z+flip(q)))+C
  |Z|<a }

END PARAMETER FILE=========================================