Archive for July, 2007

A couple of quotes from William James, The Meaning of Truth
“The state of mind which shudders at the idea of a lot of experiences left to themselves, and that augurs protection from the sheer name of an absolute, as if, however inoperative, that might still stand for a sort of ghostly security, is like the mood of those good people who, whenever they hear of a social tendency that is damnable, begin to redden and to puff, and say ‘Parliament or Congress ought to make a law against it,’ as if an impotent decree would give relief.”
C. III, Humanism and Truth
and then
“Anti-Prag.:–It seems to mean more than the bare being of the facts. It is a sort of mental equivalent for them, their epistemological function, their value in noetic terms.
Prag.:–A sort of spiritual double or ghost of them, apparently! If so, may I ask you where this truth is found.
Anti-Prag.:–Where? where? There is no ‘where’–it simply obtains, absolutely obtains.
Prag.:–Not in any one’s mind?
Anti-Prag.:–No, for we agreed that no actual knower of the truth should be assumed.”
C. XV, A Dialogue

Another new update.

Flam3 2.7.4 by Scott Draves and Erik Reckase

Features List:
+ Fixed bug in split variation, now compatible with both versions of Apo.
+ Added insert_palette option.
+ Switched density estimation kernel from Epanichnikov to Gaussian.
+ Genetic cross now crosses palettes rather than selecting one of the parent palettes.
+ Remove noisy variations from random generation if use_vars or dont_use_vars not specified.
+ Fixed metrics calculated on small test render for genetic operations.
+ Reduced memory requirements for density estimation filters.
+ 64-bit linux distros now supported.
Release 2.7.4 – 07/12/07

Home Page: http://flam3.com/

Here it goes the second part of Temper those Fiery Particles set.
Nothing more nothing less.

Just a very humble try in visualizing some Hume‘s thoughts as reported in the conclusion of his “A Treatise of Human Nature”.
This is the first set’s part; next ones will follow during the next days.

“They do well to keep themselves in their present situation; and instead of refining them into philosophers, I wish we could communicate to our founders of systems, a share of this gross earthy mixture, as an ingredient, which they commonly stand much in need of, and which would serve to temper those fiery particles, of which they are composed. While a warm imagination is allowed to enter into philosophy, and hypotheses embraced merely for being specious and agreeable, we can never have any steady principles, nor any sentiments, which will suit with common practice and experience. But were these hypotheses once removed, we might hope to establish a system or set of opinions, which if not true (for that, perhaps, is too much to be hoped for) might at least be satisfactory to the human mind, and might stand the test of the most critical examination. Nor should we despair of attaining this end, because of the many chimerical systems, which have successively arisen and decayed away among men, would we consider the shortness of that period, wherein these questions have been the subjects of enquiry and reasoning. Two thousand years with such long interruptions, and under such mighty discouragements are a small space of time to give any tolerable perfection to the sciences; and perhaps we are still in too early an age of the world to discover any principles, which will bear the examination of the latest posterity. For my part, my only hope is, that I may contribute a little to the advancement of knowledge, by giving in some particulars a different turn to the speculations of philosophers, and pointing out to them more distinctly those subjects, where alone they can expect assurance and conviction. Human Nature is the only science of man; and yet has been hitherto the most neglected. It will be sufficient for me, if I can bring it a little more into fashion; and the hope of this serves to compose my temper from that spleen, and invigorate it from that indolence, which sometimes prevail upon me. If the reader finds himself in the same easy disposition, let him follow me in my future speculations.”
David Hume, A Treatise of Human Nature, PART III OF THE OTHER VIRTUES AND VICES, SECT. VII CONCLUSION OF THIS BOOK

A new release is available here: RenderFlam3

Another small update.
The Script properly checks for Apophysis versions: Apophysis 2.06 beta, Apophysis 2.05 beta 2, Apophysis 2.06 beta Z+, Apophysis 2.05 Z+ beta 2 and Apo 2.05 beta2 Z+ C++.

Apophysis 2.06 beta Z+ preliminaty support:
Variations list will not be checked against Flam3 supported one.

Apo 2.05 beta2 Z+ C++ preliminaty support:
Only “Apophysis 2.05 Z+ beta 2″ compatible Variations Variables are supported.
Variations list will not be checked against Flam3 supported one.

A couple of minor small bugs (typo errors) are fixed; thanks to Fred E.

Download the new Beta12 and replace the previous one.

Download here: RenderFlam3_Step_1.2.b12 (Right click – Save As)

Recursive whirls set, adding and removing (fading) details.

“Men like Ivanov do not solve difficulties but collapse under their weight. They lose their heads, gesticulate, become nervous, complain, do silly things, and finally, giving rein to their flabby, undisciplined nerves, lose the ground under their feet and enter the class of the “broken down” and “misunderstood”.”
Anton Chekhov, Letters of Anton Chekhov to his Family and Friends

Just another swirl setup; I’d better stop… but I can’t!