Eightfold Path, part 6: Attentiveness

Right Attentiveness

Eigenvectors f l a p

Gladiators clap–a

Healthful sentiment

Takes hold on day the seventh

..

The first word of this acrostic is Eigenvector. It is from linear algebra, the land of matrices, determinants, Fournier transforms and the like. The Vector concept is fairly simple: a Vector is a force with Magnitude and Direction, represented by an arrow whose length is the Magnitude and whose arrowhead points in the Direction. An Eigenvector is a special vector whose direction is either unchanged or reversed when a matrix transformation is performed on it. This is somehow an essential component of facial recognition software.

Meanwhile, when Westerners use the interjection “Darn,” they are being polite and euphemising “Damn.” The Bad Punster in me has a character in my cartoon call this a “faux cuss,” and “faux cuss” is phonetically quite close to “focus,” and “focus’ is quite close conceptually to “attentiveness.”

Attentive readers may have noticed that this post, labeled “part 6,” is actually part 7, and the previous post, “part 7,” is actually part 6. And SUPER-attentive readers may have noticed that there has been some hanky-panky with numbers and numbering from the very beginning of this Eightfold Path sequence. All will be explained in the next and final Eightfold Path post.