FOTD -- May 20, 2011 (Rating 9.5) Fractal visionaries and enthusiasts: Today's image is not new. It is an updated version of a FOTD that I first posted over 10 years ago. For the image's second appearance, I did a slight outzoom and slightly intensified the colors. The result rates a 9.5, (at least IMO), with the extra half point honoring the coloring effort. The parent fractal is more a scattering of bits and pieces than a single large bay surrounded by interesting details. But there is one prominent element, and today's image lies in a valley of a bud in this large element. The name "Celestial Banquet" was inspired by the heavenly effect of the turquoise surroundings, where the angels are almost visible dancing on the gossamer clouds. I guess the saints are watching from the sidelines. The spiky arms shooting off in all directions give just enough impression of gateways to infinity to complete the transcendental experience. Actually, such a heaven, at least IMO, would be more of a hell than a reward. What could be worse than being stuck in a boring church service that would never end, lacking even the ability to escape into sleep. I have heard it said that when Casanova, having lived a life of sin, finally arrived at the golden gates, he was met by Saint Peter, who took no time in consigning him to the other place. Hearing the expected bad news, Casanova turned and saw before him two doors, one leading to a very solemn church service where the saved souls were forever praising God, singing unending hymns and listening to unending sermons; the other leading to a place of unending fun feast and sinful frolic, where the con- demned souls were wallowing in their own debauchery, eating and frolicking without the need to ever take a rest break. "It's not as bad as I feared," Casanova said as he turned toward the door leading to the place of debauchery. But before he could reach the door, Saint Peter called out and warned him that he had made a mistake and was going toward the wrong door. The 3-1/2 minute wait while the image cooks may be avoided by visiting the FOTD web site at: <http://www.crosscanpuzzles.com/Archives.html> and viewing the image, already calculated, there. The high-definition version is posted at: <http://www.emarketingiseasy.com/TESTS/FOTD/jim_muths_fotd.html> The classic FOTD web site may be accessed at: <http://www.Nahee.com/FOTD/> Heavy clouds and occasional rain prevailed here at Fractal Central on Thursday, with occasional rumbles of thunder thrown in for good measure. The temperature of 63F 17C kept thoughts of imminent summer far away. The fractal cats seemed not to notice the outdoor conditions. They were more concerned with being properly fed. The humans had an average day with the usual frustrations. The next FOTD will be posted in 24 hours. Until then, take care, and why look to the sky for the light when the light may lie at your feet? Jim Muth jimmuth@earthlink.net START PARAMETER FILE======================================= Celestial_Banquet { ; time=0:03:31.68-SF5 on P4-2000 reset=2004 type=formula formulafile=basicer.par formulaname=MandAutoCritInZ function=recip passes=1 center-mag=+0.1110932127946931/+0.0666019942450076\ /2.9199e+012/1/-52.5/0 params=1.1/-5/-1.1/1/0/0/0/0 float=y maxiter=3000 bailout=25 inside=0 logmap=405 periodicity=10 mathtolerance=0.05/1 colors=0009biAbhCckDdiEdlGfjHfjJhkKhkLilNjlOjmPjmR\ knSknTkoVloWlpYmpZmq_mqanrbnrdnrensfnshotiotjotkpt\ kptkptlptlptmptmptmptnqtnqtortortpstqstrttstttutuu\ tvvtwwtxxtyzzzzzzzzzzzzztzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzznlrgiq`\ epUbnNZmGVl7Rl8RlARkBRkDRjERjFSiHSiIShKShLSgNSgOSg\ PSfRSfSSeUSeVTdWTdYTcZTc`TbaTbbTbdUceTafTahTaiT`jT\ `hUZgWWeXUcYRa_P``MZaKYcHWdFUemTfURg8cu2Qh6SXAUKEa\ 5F_7GY9IXBJWEKVGLUINTKORMPQOQPRSNTTMVULXVKZXK`YJcZ\ Ie_HhaGjbFmdFoeErhDtmCwrByvAyzAyz6mV2cE4MG5NH6OI7P\ J9RLASMBTNCUODVPEWQFXRGYSI_UJ`VKaWLbXMcYOe_Pf`QgaR\ hbSicWncUkcSgcPddN`dLYdIUdGRdEOdCLmAHz8EzDDzHDYMCV\ QBRVBNZAKcAGm9Dz1AzmAzHA`PAYXAVdAWn0WmAXlKXkUYkcXj\ bWjaWi`Vi_Vi_UhZTiYTiXSiWRhVRhVQhUQgTPfSOeRNcQNbPM\ aOLbNLbNKaMJaLJaKIaJIbJHcKHdMGfNIhPLjQOlSRnTUoUXpW\ _qXbrZes_htakubnvdqwetxfwyhzzizzkzzlzzmzznzzczzUzz\ KzzHzzJzzKzzLzzMzzNzzOzzY } 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=========================================