Algorithms and Bicycles

It’s about 10:45AM. I have been digging deep into a nasty condition number issue, an unfriendly, never too far away, companion of every numerical analyst. This unwelcome figure has been mocking me from a tiny matrix  and my arsenal is running low.

The song has been echoing in the deep canyons of the mind since morning. It is a favorite  of my brother and I had called him this morning when the song emerged, for once, from the depths. Then, as the insanity of the problem in front consumed my attention, it faded away.

I sit up, juggling the alternatives in mind. Adding just one equation raises it from 10^11 to 10^21. Why? Should the current continuity be enforced explicitly? Or should I leave the reference undefined?

I don’t know at this point in time. Perhaps, the error is in my mind.

The song emerges from the shadows, again. This time, I don’t resist. It is not hard to find the link in youtube.  The music of Devarajan and the divine voice of Yesudas fill my office. “Sourayudha pathathilengo, sangama poo virinju...”

And, for a few minutes, condition numbers and matrices seem to become abstractions in an alternate reality.

The day is still young.

According to the legend, Buddha attained enlightenment while meditating under a bunyan tree. Well, while riding up the nasty Cedar Mountain recently, I realized the Four Noble Truths of climbing:

1. There is Suffering: every inch of your body is crying out loud “stop!” and yet you continue to pedal.
2. There is a Cause for the Suffering: you chose to ride up the gnarly hill/mountain in the neighborhood to satisfy your own ego and for the bragging rights. You put your Ego ahead of reason.
3. Cessation of Suffering: yes, there is an end to the suffering and you can realize it in this life time.
4. The Eight Fold Path to end the suffering: Before you choose the next ride
   • Know that you are not a Marco Pantani or an Andy Schleck
   • Know that you generate only about 175 watts and not 350 watts, on the average
   • Know that riding up the steepest hill does not necessarily make you a stronger or better rider
   • Ask yourself: what is the purpose of this ride?
   • Know that gears are there to be used
   • Know that the Wind is not really your friend on a long winding climb
   • Know that the pain may not go away even after you stop pedaling

   and the most important of all

   • Forget the Four Noble Truths; Ride Anyway!