This is inspired by/taken from this thread: http://www.allegro.cc/forums/thread/603383
The Problem
Assume the user gives you a numeric input ranging from 1 to 7. Input should be taken from the console, arguments are less desirable.
When the input is 1, print the following:
***********
 ********* 
  *******    
   *****   
    ***    
     *     
Values greater than one should generate multiples of the pattern, ending with the one above, but stacked symmetrically. For example, 3 should print the following:
*********** *********** ***********
 *********   *********   ********* 
  *******     *******     *******  
   *****       *****       *****   
    ***         ***         ***    
     *           *           *     
      *********** ***********
       *********   ********* 
        *******     *******  
         *****       *****   
          ***         ***    
           *           *     
            ***********
             ********* 
              *******  
               *****   
                ***    
                 *     
Bonus points if you print the reverse as well.
      *********** ***********
       *********   ********* 
        *******     *******  
         *****       *****   
          ***         ***    
           *           *     
            ***********
             ********* 
              *******  
               *****   
                ***    
                 *     
                 *     
                ***    
               *****   
              *******  
             ********* 
            ***********
           *           *     
          ***         ***    
         *****       *****   
        *******     *******  
       *********   ********* 
      *********** ***********
Can we try and keep it to one answer per language, that we all improve on?