Linear regression is a great tool when your outcome variable is test scores or loan amounts or another continuous variable. But sometimes, your output is a Yes or a No. That type of outcome is known as dichotomous.

You still can do something similar to linear regression because some super smart stats dude awhile back came up with a way to mimic linear regression with a dichotomous outcome variable.

To do logistic regression SPSS, you need to have the “regression models” add-on program. You also have to understand your data and do a little prep work on it.

The other day, I was talking to one of my colleagues about how I rarely use ArcView anymore. Since becoming a full-fledged Linux jockey, I've found so many tools that process GIS data better than Arc ever has. Sure, it still provides a pretty graphical interface, which definitely comes in handy, but most of the time I don't need it. The green and black of the Linux terminal window line suits me just fine.

One of the biggest hurdles we all face for trying new software or utilities is the lack of a sandbox, a machine we can just use when we want to without having to worry if something goes wrong.

This is particularly true for new open-source technologies, like the fast-growing field of open source GIS software. Sure, it would be great to try out OpenLayers or other mapping utilities, but it's not like we can just turn our main computer into a development box overnight.

So, a tipster has just shown you the document you need to nail a story.

Problem is, she can't give it to you, there's no copy machine in the diner where you met and you need to show it to your editor before the story runs.

What to do? What to do?

Enter Qipit, a free service that turns pictures from your cell phone into searchable PDFs.

Using Qipit is as simple as taking a picture of a document, white board or even handwritten notes with your

In most cases, when you want to match data from one table in a database to another, a common approach is to use a JOIN clause in your query.

For example, if you had a list of candidates in one table, and a list of donations made to candidates (with one field having a candidate ID in it), you'd probably either use JOIN clause or a WHERE clause to match them together:

(pseudo-code)

SELECT * FROM candidates, donations where candidates.candidate_id = donations.candidate_id;


Sometimes we need to get information from a database where the information is, for whatever reason, not stored in one table but broken into smaller tables with an identical structure. A good example of this is our Social Security Administration Death Master file.