Mountain Views News          Saturday, November 6, 2010

13

THE WORLD AROUND YOU

 MountainViews-News Saturday, November 6, 2010 


STUDY SAYS SOLAR SYSTEMS LIKE OURS MAY BE COMMON

Nearly one in four stars like the Sun could have Earth-size 
planets, according to a University of California, Berkeley, study 
of nearby solar-mass stars.

UC Berkeley astronomers Andrew Howard and Geoffrey 
Marcy chose 166 G and K stars within 80 light-years of Earth 
and observed them with the powerful Keck telescope for five 
years in order to determine the number, mass and orbital 
distance of any of the stars’ planets. The Sun is the best known 
of the G stars, which are yellow, while K-type dwarfs are 
slightly smaller, orange-red stars.

The researchers found increasing numbers of smaller 
planets, down to the smallest size detectable today—planets 
called super-Earths, about three times the mass of Earth.

“Of about 100 typical Sun-like stars, one or two have 
planets the size of Jupiter, roughly six have a planet the size of 
Neptune, and about 12 have super-Earths between three and 
10 Earth masses,” said Howard, a research astronomer in UC 
Berkeley’s Department of Astronomy and at the Space Sciences 
Laboratory. “If we extrapolate down to Earth-size planets—
between one-half and two times the mass of Earth—we predict 
that you’d find about 23 for every 100 stars.”

“This is the first estimate based on actual measurements of 
the fraction of stars that have Earth-size planets,” said Marcy, 
UC Berkeley professor of astronomy. Previous studies have 
estimated the proportion of Jupiter and Saturn-size exoplanets, 
but never down to Neptunes and super-Earths, enabling an 
extrapolation to Earth-size planets.

“What this means,” Howard added, “is that, as NASA 
develops new techniques over the next decade to find truly 
Earth-size planets, it won’t have to look too far.”

Because the researchers detected only close-in planets, there 
could be even more Earth-size planets at greater distances, 
including within the habitable zone located at about the 
same distance as the Earth is from our Sun. The habitable, or 
“Goldilocks,” zone is the distance from a star neither two hot 
nor too cold to allow the presence of liquid water.

The researchers’ results conflict with current models of planet 
formation and migration, Marcy noted. After their birth in a 
protoplanetary disk, planets had been thought to spiral inward 
because of interactions with the gas in the disk. Such models predict 
a “planet desert” in the inner region of solar systems.

“Just where we see the most planets, models predict we 
would find no cacti at all,” Marcy said. “These results will 
transform astronomers’ views of how planets form.”

Howard and Marcy report their results in the Oct. 29 issue 
of the journal Science.

“One of astronomy’s goals is to find ‘eta-Earth,’ the fraction 
of Sun-like stars that have an Earth,” Howard said. “This is 
a first estimate, and the real number could be one in eight 
instead of one in four. But it’s not one in 100, which is glorious 
news.”

Twelve possible planets also were detected, but they need 
further confirmation, Marcy said. If these candidate planets 
are included in the count, the team detected a total of 45 
planets around 32 stars.

You can contact Bob Eklund at: b.eklund@MtnViewsNews.com.


Ask jai……

“How Strong Is Your 
Schmooze?” was the 
open invitation line for 
some of cyberspaces’ 
best hackers to test their 
Social Engineering skills 
at the “Capture The Flag” 
competition hosted at 
DEFCON 18 earlier this 
year. DEFCON bills itself 
as one of the longest-
running and largest annual hacker conventions in the world. Due to the concentration of 
high-powered hacking intellect assembled at these get-togethers, there is plenty of attention 
paid to the displays, seminars, endorsements and pans coming from this gathering and this 
year was no exception. While the high-tech exploits and sophisticated techniques used by 
hackers to attain their ends are often the stuff that grabs headlines and comprises movie plots, 
it is most often the low-tech skillset that comprises what is known as Social Engineering that 
gets the ball rolling in network penetration efforts. Social Engineering is most simply the act 
or compounded acts of getting the user of a computer system to divulge information about 
that system or network to an unauthorized third party. The Social Engineering attack vector 
owes much of its success to the fact that, for any number or reasons, people don’t always 
do what is right or smart when it comes to the use of computers. SE attacks rely on human 
interaction exclusively.

 In the “Capture The Flag” competition hosted at DEFCON 18 each participant was assigned 
a target company and given the task of and given various assignments that consisted mainly 
of gathering as much data about the target company as possible in a given amount of time. 
The contestants’ main challenge was to wade through the many entry vectors available and 
secure the objective in as few hops as possible. This challenge was made all the more easier 
due to the innate human tendency to be helpful, especially if employed in a service capacity, 
when interacting with the public at the workplace. If the “tendency to be helpful” premise 
seems a bit far-fetched consider the fact that no employee wants to be fired in these tough 
economic times over something as trivial as being rude to a customer or higher-up for no 
good cause. 

 The results of the contest were compiled in a report and analyzed. Probably the most 
alarming find was the fact that it didn’t take a seasoned or experienced hacker to make 
significant penetration into most of the companies targeted. With today’s social media 
saturated Internet environment, a great deal of information about the various companies 
targeted and their inner-workings are available through Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, 
Google Search and Google Street. Add Call Centers and Customer Service departments that 
are typically focused on customer satisfaction to the mix and there were ample resources 
available to gain valuable information about all of the companies targeted in this years 
competition. Any resistance encountered could easily be overcome by hanging up and 
calling back until a more compliant employee could be reached. No sensitive information 
was targeted during this competition but enough insight was gleaned to show the very real 
threat that SE attacks pose to corporate users. Companies in the age of the Internet would 
do well to ensure that all phases of their workforce that interface with the public are well-
trained in keeping confidential information, confidential.


Ask jai is a weekly column that will strive to honestly answer your job search 
questions relating to job searching techniques, networking skills, resume writing 
and interviewing. The employment situation is getting better, however, it is still a 
challenge finding were the jobs are located and how to get pass the “gate-keepers”. 
As an Executive Recruiter I was privy to working directly with Corporate Recruiters 
and understanding their process in selecting which candidates to interview and 
hire. I will candidly answer your questions, possibly bluntly answering you 
questions, but I will be totally honest. My objective is to help you achieve your 
employment goal. 

“How Strong Is Your 
Schmooze?”

Q: I recently graduated with a M.B.A. with no experience as a supervisor or manager. I expected that I 
would find employment in management since I have a M.B.A. But, I am being told by employers that I 
have no supervisory experience. So how do I get management experience if no one will hire me? Aspiring 
Manager

Dear Aspiring Manager:

Most companies will not hire you, even with a Masters Degree, directly into a management position if 
you have not supervised or managed a staff. I would suggest that you apply for Management Trainee 
or Junior Management positions. You will find a lot of these positions posted with major corporations 
in various industries. These positions are fantastic because the company will train new graduates in 
their corporate culture, sales, marketing and management style. As a trainee this will give you time to 
learn about the company and them about you. When companies hire you into management trainee 
positions you are consider a corporate investment and they will usually assigned you a mentor to 
insure your success. The Trainee or Junior Management position is a great track to management level 
positions and typically very short, between 1-2 years after your start date. 

To apply for a Management Trainee or Junior Management position you should decide on what is your 
professional category (i.e., accounting, marketing, computer, etc.) and industry (i.e., medical, public 
relations, technology, education, etc.). Write a dynamic cover letter that clearly states: why you are 
writing to the company, your field of expertise, reason for choosing the industry, your goal and that your 
career path is senior management. Be sure to include what valuable skills and experience you would 
bring to their company. Next, write a great resume to include any accomplishments that exemplify 
any of your leadership or supervisor qualities. This can include any volunteer or community activities, 
part-time or internship experience. Starting salary ranges for Management Trainee positions are not 
going to be what you expect but future advancement or promotions will eventually result in financial 
reward.

Q: I am trying to get a part-time job at a large retail store to supplement my income. Do I have to disclose 
that I have a Masters Degree? Need Extra Income

Dear Need Extra Income:

Yes. Retail stores usually will require you to complete and answer all questions on an application 
form. At the bottom of the Application form you will be ask to sign a statement and agreement that 
everything that you have written on the application form and the resume you have submitted is true to 
the best of your ability and that if anything is discover to be untrue that the company has the right to 
terminate your employment. Do not risk termination. I would suggest that you enclosed or attached a 
cover letter explaining why you are seeking a part-time position with the retail store. Do not disclose 
in the cover letter any personal reasons or details for seeking employment. Be sure to include the skill 
sets that you have to do the job. 

KATIE Tse ..........This and That

LOS ANGELES – As temperatures cool down, 
Southern California Gas Co. (The Gas Company) 
is advising customers to inspect their home-
heating appliances and perform any needed 
maintenance necessary to avoid any health or 
safety hazards. 

“Now is the right time to perform maintenance 
on your home-heating appliances to check that 
they can be operated safely and efficiently,” said 
Bret Lane, vice president of field services for The 
Gas Company. “Customers are beginning to turn 
on their furnaces for the first time in months. 
Heating appliances should be serviced annually 
to confirm that they are functioning properly. A 
licensed heating contractor, plumber or The Gas 
Company can provide this service for you.”

Failure to perform annual maintenance on 
gas appliances may result in exposure to carbon 
monoxide, which can cause nausea, drowsiness, 
flu-like symptoms, and even death.

Since home heating typically accounts for more 
than half of the monthly winter gas bill, the best 
way to keep bills lower is to get gas appliances 
serviced, Lane said. 

The Gas Company offers customers the 
following tips to promote the safe and efficient 
operation of their natural gas furnace:

Have gas furnaces checked at least once a year 
by a licensed heating contractor, plumber or The 
Gas Company.

Vacuum and clean regularly in and around 
the furnace, particularly around the burner 
compartment to prevent a build-up of dust and 
lint.

Never store items in, on or around the appliance 
that can obstruct airflow.

Most forced-air units have a filter that cleans the 
air before heating and circulating it throughout 
the home. The filter should be checked monthly 
for lint build-up during periods of furnace use 
and cleaned or replaced, if necessary.

When installing a new or cleaned filter, be sure 
to re-install the front panel door of the furnace 
properly so it fits snugly. Never operate the 
furnace without the front-panel door properly 
in place because doing so may create the risk of 
carbon monoxide poisoning.

Check the appearance of the flame. If the flame 
is yellow, large and unsteady, the furnace needs 
to be inspected immediately by a licensed heating 
contractor, plumber or The Gas Company to have 
the condition corrected.

For more information on furnace safety or to 
schedule a service appointment, please visit The 
Gas Company’s website at www.socalgas.com.

Southern California Gas Co. has been 
delivering clean, safe and reliable natural gas to 
its customers for more than 140 years. It is the 
nation’s largest natural gas distribution utility, 
providing safe and reliable energy to 20.5 million 
consumers through 5.7 million meters in more 
than 500 communities. The company’s service 
territory encompasses approximately 20,000 
square miles in diverse terrain throughout 
Central and Southern California, from Visalia 
to the Mexican border. The Gas Company is a 
regulated subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: 
SRE). Sempra Energy, based in San Diego, is a 
Fortune 500 energy services holding company. 
To learn more, go to www.socalgas.com. 

FUND RAISER

Cooler Weather Means It’s Time For A 
Furnace Check, Says The Gas Company

 Tis the season 
of nippy air and 
the infestation of 
gift catalogs which 
multiply daily in 
mailboxes across 
the land. Like 
mold, you think 
you’ve cleaned it 
out, but as soon 
as you turn around 
it’s sprouted up 
again. Everything 
from cheese and 
sausage baskets to 
monogrammed dog pillows, they’re 
all laid out across glossy pages that 
are lucky if they see the light of my 
kitchen before taking a dive into the 
trash. When I have nothing better 
to do, I sometimes get a kick out 
of looking at all the ridiculous or 
purely useless items being sold in 
the name of holiday festivity. 

 It’s easy to scoff at electric carol-
singing stockings in the privacy of 
your home. But we all know the 
dread feeling of entrapment when 
a coworker corners us in the break 
room with a catalog from their 
children’s school. Most of them are 
nice, and correctly interpret hints 
like, “Hmm, all my friends hate to 
cook, so I can’t think of anyone to 
give a Santa casserole dish to.” Occasionally 
there’ll be a pushy one who asks not if you 
want to contribute to Johnny’s school, but 
whether you want the reindeer potpourri 
holder or the Frosty the Snowman cookie 
jar. Of course, parents of girl scouts are 
the exception to my overall attitude toward 
fundraisers. I seek them out. “Yes, please 
put me down for two boxes of the Samoas 
and Tagalongs –that’s two boxes each.” 

 When I was in grade school I wondered 
why anyone would want to buy chocolate 
called “Hell & Grace.” I also remember flim-
flam fundraiser folks coming to my school 
and inciting us little tykes to go out and 
hawk magazine subscriptions in order to 
earn a successive collection of cotton ball 
characters (I kid you not!). After we had 
amassed a large enough cotton ball army, 
our class would earn the ultimate prize 
--an ice cream party –Ooh! These people 
used blatant tricks to brainwash our young, 
impressionable minds. 

 They stretched out a string of 25 dollar 
bills taped side to side across the auditorium 
to illustrate how much money we could earn 
selling $75 worth of orders to our unsuspecting 
relatives and neighbors. 
Another mean-spirited ploy 
was when they brought what 
looked like a plastic elevator 
booth and filled it with dollar 
bills. They then got some poor 
soul who had sold a sufficient 
number of subscriptions and 
put him in there for one minute 
while they blew the bills around 
with a high-powered fan. The 
victim was literally “grasping 
for the wind.” Needless to say, 
I became cynical of school 
fundraisers at a young age.

 These days, my husband 
buys frozen cookie dough and 
lava cake mixes to support 
our nephew’s school. I must 
admit those cookies saved me 
once when I needed to bring something for a 
potluck at work. They were already shaped 
into uniform discs, so all I did was slide 
them onto a cookie sheet and pop them in 
the oven for 10 minutes. Brainless baking 
–I love it! At least that’s more useful than 
an eight-piece set of nutcracker napkin rings. 
And I think my nephew’s labors are going 
toward a camping trip to Catalina --a heck of 
a lot better than a cotton ball collection. By 
the way, can I interest you in some lava cake 
mix? It’s for a good cause!