The Previous and Coming Darkness

Maps and data from the eclipse last year and the coming eclipse this year, as visualized by the folks over at NASA.  The most recent is interactive, enabling a better view into what time to be where.

NASA SVS | The 2023 and 2024 Solar Eclipses: Map and Data

"This map illustrates the paths of the Moon’s shadow across the U.S. during two upcoming solar eclipses. On October 14, 2023, an annular solar eclipse will cross North, Central, and South America creating a path of annularity. An annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth while at its farthest point from Earth. Because the Moon is farther away from Earth, it does not completely block the Sun. This will create a “ring of fire” effect in the sky for those standing in the path of annularity. On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will cross North and Central America creating a path of totality. During a total solar eclipse, the Moon completely blocks the Sun while it passes between the Sun and Earth. The sky will darken as if it were dawn or dusk and those standing in the path of totality may see the Sun’s outer atmosphere (the corona) if weather permits."

Annoying DisplayLink Update

A recent update to DisplayLink driver (version 10.3.6400.0) causes Dell Docking Station D6000 to completely ignore power settings in Windows 11.

The result is that the docking station no longer connects monitors, not just after locking the screen, but when the device goes to sleep.  This is usually after about 10 minutes.

This forces a person to disconnect and reconnect power to the docking station to get it to recognize the monitors again.  An alternative is to disconnect the docking station from the laptop.

A better alternative, is to change power settings to NOT turn off the screen, when plugged in.

Benford's Law in M for Power BI

On first glance, this seems a little raw, with several steps that are wholly unnecessary.  However, it works.  Hopefully, I can revisit this and clean it up a little.

Begin in Power BI, transforming the data.  Do not rename columns, until specified.

1. Add Column -> First Characters
1. Extract the first digit of the numbers to be analyzed.
2. Sort Lowest to Highest
3. Click Column Title for First Characters Column
1. Add as New Query, which will appear as a list.
2. Convert List to Table [COLUMN1]
4. Sort [COLUMN1] Lowest to Highest
5. Group By (no change to default screen)
6. Sort [COLUMN1] again, if needed to order
7. Create Index Column beginning with 1
8. Create Custom Column [COLUMN]
1. List.Sum(List.Range(#"Added Index"[Count],0,[Index]))
9. Create Custom Column [COLUMN.1]
1. [Count]/List.Sum(#"Added Custom"[Count])
10. Change [COLUMN.1] to %
11. Add Column from Examples for Benford’s Law [COLUMN.2]
1. 0.301
2. 0.176
3. 0.125
4. 0.097
5. 0.079
6. 0.067
7. 0.058
8. 0.051
9. 0.046
12. Change [COLUMN.2] to %
13. Rename
1. [COLUMN.1] = Actual %
2. [COLUMN.2] = Benford %
14. Graph

Yellow Signs of Spring

Stumbled upon these yellow Crocus poking up out of the leaves the other day.  Spring is here very early again this year.  If it is coming now, the summer will undoubtedly be another scorcher.

Sunday Trail with the Parkville Girls

Out on the trail again, these guys really like to roam about this location.  Getting to the waterfall is only half the fun.  The other half belongs to hopping across the old water shoot at the foot of it.  Not this time though.  Things were a little slicker than usual in that area.