I was reminded today how useful a SAS log can be, even when it doesn’t give you any errors. I’m analyzing data from a study on educational technology in rural schools. The first step is to concatenate 10 different data sets. I want to keep the source of the data, that is, which data set…
I know people who are so obsessive about testing and validating their code to the point they spend more time on testing it than actually writing it and analyzing the output. I said I know people like that, I didn’t say I was one of them. However, it is good practice to validate your SAS…
Some people believe you can say anything with statistics. I don’t believe that is true, unless you flat out lie, but if you are a big fat liar, I am sure you would lie just as much without statistics. However, a point was made today when Marshall and I were discussing, via email, our presentation…
According to that source of all knowledge on the interwebz, Wikipedia, “Gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation that seeks to sow seeds of doubt in a targeted individual or in members of a targeted group, making them question their own memory, perception, and sanity.” Have you ever had a brilliant, super-competent friend who doubted her…
About ROUND(100) years ago, I took a couple of COBOL courses. I never coded anything in COBOL after the classes, but the concept of a table look up has stuck with me. Just like it sounds, this is used when you want to look something up in a table. For example, if I have ICD-10…
“I don’t document my code because if you really understood the language, it should be obvious.” – Bob Bob is an arrogant little prick. Here are just a few reasons to document your code. Other people may need to modify it because, despite your assumed brilliance, there may be other people in the universe…
I’m back with another SAS Tip of the Day. Like a lot of people, I work with dates very often. How many days is it from when a client applies to when he or she is determined eligible? How many days until the average client is employed? You get the idea. Inconveniently, in this particular…
Contrary to appearances, this is not an abandoned blog. I’ve been super-busy with 7 Generation Games, where we released two new games and a customized app for a client this month! At the same time, I’m in Santiago, Chile piloting games for our Spanish language brand, Strong Mind Studios, you can read some of my…
Are you still re-ordering your factor pattern by sorting columns in Excel? Well, do I have a tip or two for you. The cool thing about some large conferences is that even the things you hadn’t planned on attending can be worth while. For example, during one time slot, I didn’t have anything particular scheduled…
The first time I went to SAS Global Forum, over 30 years ago, it was actually called SUGI (SAS Users Group International) and it was in Reno, NV. I was a just-divorced single mom and there was no such thing as a Working Mothers Room (which I noticed signs for here in Denver). I paid…