Accessing Deleted Microsoft Access Files
If you have ever lost a Microsoft Access file, check out a way to get it back from Black-YoYo
Sorting text and numbers within an Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet Cell
I was cleaning some data for a project and ran across the “text/number in the same cell” sort problem. I researched the web and found three links that were very useful for sorting text and numbers when displayed in the same spreadsheet cell. Cleaning and organizing data is a big part of what I do to prepare information for analysis. This process is critical since, accurately loading data into a data base requires consistent data type; otherwise data will default to text (unknown), not useful for making calculations. Cleaning data is a great way to begin immersing one’s self in what one actually has in terms of data. This process takes the information into its most basic form.
I have included a link to a sheetsheet that shows the two different formula with comments and links. I have also used the “iserror” function in one of the formula, just in case you have forgotten that one..hmmm!
Statistics and Helmets: Linking Data to Emotion
Recently I had coffee with my past professor and friend Chris Nachtsheim, (PhD. Operations Research) of the University of Minnesota. Chris and I often discuss how the world looks through the eyes of a statistician. Most events that we see or experience can be described numerically. Knowing this is important, since one can remove a degree of speculation and emotion out of everyday “crazy” events we witness, by locating available statistical data to help interpret what we experience. One data group, particularly useful to me, pertains to helmets use. The statistics on helmet use is significant, thus providing quite a variety of statistical method and data-my real interest.
I often see children (just like me when I was a kid) not using a helmet. In the past, I would jump to the conclusion of an inevitable brain injury for one that does not wear a helmet. The statistics however, do not support that emotional speculation. Having said that, this is one of those areas where the statistics show how a $10 dollar helmet produces significant positive results when an accident does happen. The old saying is “the natural state of any two wheeled vehicle is on it side”! All my helmets unfortunately, have indicated that that in fact is true.
I have included a link here to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute (BHSI). These folks have done a great job (on all sides of the issue) of gathering a number of third party statistics that are interesting and informative both from a research and safety perspective.
