Mountain Views News          Saturday, November 13, 2010

12

THE WORLD AROUND YOU

 Mountain Views News Saturday, November 13, 2010 


Somewhere, over the rainbow… Astronomers Commemorate 50th Anniversary of Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

This week astronomers from twelve countries 
will mark the fiftieth anniversary of the search for 
extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) by beginning a 
coordinated series of observations of several nearby 
stars—including two stars that were the target of the 
first search.

 To demonstrate the advances in SETI over the past 
half century, on November 5, astronomers in Australia, 
Japan, and Korea began coordinated observations for 
radio and laser signals from civilizations circling these 
stars, followed over the next day by SETI searches 
in Italy, the Netherlands, France, Argentina, and the 
United States. More international observations will 
take place later this month.

 The first SETI experiment, Project Ozma, was 
conducted in April 1960 by astronomer Frank 
Drake, now at the SETI Institute in Mountain View, 
California. Project Ozma—named after the book 
“The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”—listened for radio 
signals from extraterrestrial civilizations and started a 
new field of science. To commemorate this first search 
and the advances in SETI science and technology over 
the past half century, astronomer Shin-ya Narusawa 
of Nishi-Harima Astronomical Observatory in Japan 
launched Project Dorothy, named after the heroine of 
the same story.

 “It is thrilling for me to witness the beginnings of 
Project Dorothy, the continuation of my search of fifty 
years ago,” said Drake. “To have so many talented 
people using so many telescopes in this new search, 
with the electronics and computer equipment of 
today, is a joyful thing to me. The equipment of today 
is far better than what we could have fifty years ago, 
and will result in both very much better and very 
much more data than could be obtained then.”

 “Two of the original stars from Project Ozma—Tau 
Ceti and Epsilon Eridani—are the nearest solar-type 
stars visible in the northern hemisphere,” explained 
Narusawa. “Therefore, these two stars were the best 
SETI targets a half century ago. They remain the 
symbol of project Ozma and are two of the target 
stars for Project Dorothy,” he added. “But astronomy 
has improved over the last five decades, and about 
five hundred planets have been discovered around 
other stars. Some of these stellar systems have planets 
located the right distance from their stars to support 
life. We also included such stars among the targets of 
Project Dorothy.”

“ Project Dorothy vividly demonstrates just how far 
SETI has come in the past fifty years,” said the SETI 
Institute’s Douglas Vakoch, who is a member of 
Project Dorothy’s Working Group. “Astronomers 
can now do SETI research at observatories 
from South Africa to the Netherlands, from 
Argentina to India, from Japan to Italy, as well 
as from the longstanding American projects at 
the SETI Institute, the University of California at 
Berkeley, and Harvard University. The lessons 
learned through Project Dorothy provide critical 
preparation for the day we finally detect a signal 
from another civilization,” Vakoch explained. 

 Because of the daily rotation of the Earth, 
many stars are visible for only a portion of the 
day from a single observatory. “By learning how 
to coordinate international SETI observations 
now, we’ll be better prepared to track a signal 
continuously, around the world, after first 
contact,” he said.

 “Over the past fifty years our searches have not 
yet produced the discovery we all hope for,” said 
Drake. “This is understandable—in our vast and 
awesome universe it will take long, painstaking, 
and comprehensive searches before we will have a 
good chance of success. This is the major lesson 
learned from previous searches. Project Dorothy is 
a major step in meeting the challenge created by this 
lesson.”

Contact Bob Eklund at: b.eklund@MtnViewsNews.com.


Ask jai……

The holiday season is 
approaching quickly and many 
of us will be shopping online. 
Estimates are that in one day 
alone last year --Cyber Monday 
on December 1 (the cyber 
version of Black Friday)--$846 
million was spent in online 
shopping. With the increased 
volume of online shopping, 
it’s important that consumers 
understand the potential security risks and 
know how to protect themselves and their 
information. The following tips are provided 
to help promote a safe, secure online shopping 
experience.

Secure your computer. Make sure your 
computer has the latest security updates 
installed. Check that your anti-virus/anti-
spyware software is running and receiving 
automatic updates. If you haven’t already 
done so, install a firewall before you begin your 
online shopping. 

Upgrade your browser. Upgrade your Internet 
browser to the most recent version available. 
Review the browser’s security settings. Apply 
the highest level of security available that still 
gives you the functionality you need.

Ignore pop-up messages. Set your browser to 
block pop-up messages. If you do receive one, 
click on the “X” at the top right corner of the 
title bar to close the pop-up message. NEVER 
click on a pop-up! If you are interested in what 
the pop-up is promoting, go to the website on 
your own, not through the link in the pop-up. 
Legitimate companies do not use pop-ups.

Secure your transactions. Look for the “lock” 
icon on the browser’s status bar and be sure 
“https” appears in the website’s address bar 
before making an online purchase. The “s” 
stands for “secure” and indicates that the 
webpage is encrypted. Some browsers can 
be set to warn the user if they are submitting 
information that is not encrypted.

Use strong passwords. Create strong passwords 
for online accounts. Use at least eight 
characters, with numbers, special characters, 
and upper and lower case letters. Don’t use the 
same passwords for online shopping websites 
that you use for logging onto your home or 
work computer. Never share your login and/
or password.

Do not e-mail sensitive data. Never e-mail 
credit card or other financial/sensitive 
information. E-mail is like sending a postcard 
and other people have the potential to read it.

Do not use public computers or public wireless 
to conduct transactions. Don’t use public 
computers or public wireless for your online 
shopping. Public computers may contain 
malicious software that steals your credit 
card information when you place your order. 
Criminals may be monitoring public wireless 
for credit card numbers and other confidential 
information.

Review privacy policies. Review the privacy 
policy for the website/merchant you are 
visiting. Know what information the merchant 
is collecting about you, how it will be used, and 
if it will be shared or sold to others.

Make payments securely. Pay by credit card 
rather than debit card. Credit/charge card 
transactions are protected by the Fair Credit 
Billing Act. Cardholders are typically only 
liable for the first $50 in unauthorized charges. 
If online criminals obtain your debit card 
information they have the potential to empty 
your bank account.

Use temporary account authorizations. 
Some credit card companies offer virtual or 
temporary credit card numbers. This service 
gives you a temporary account number for 
online transactions. These numbers are issued 
for a short period of time and cannot be used 
after that period. This is the safest method of 
shopping online.

Select merchants carefully. Limit your online 
shopping to merchants you know and trust. 
Confirm the online seller’s physical address 
and phone number in case you have questions 
or problems. If you have questions about 
a merchant check with the Better Business 
Bureau or the Federal Trade Commission.

Keep a record. Keep a record of your online 
transactions, including the product description 
and price, the online receipt, and copies of 
every e-mail you send or receive from the seller. 
Review your credit card and bank statements 
for unauthorized charges. 


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. 

Online Shopping 

Security 2010

Q: What are the right steps to take when I see a 
position posted on the internet that I would really 
like to do but I do not meet all the requirements? 
I Want That Job

Dear “I Want That Job”,

Ask yourself if this a great position that I would 
like to do or is this a great position that I really 
can do? “Can do” are the operative words. Many 
job seekers make emotional decisions when 
seeking employment rather than logical decisions 
as for which positions they really do have the skill 
sets, education or experience when submitting 
their resume or application. Employers base 
their candidate selections on logic. Their logic 
is to find and hire a person who meets all of 
their requirements and qualifications. I advise 
you to review the job description line by line 
and check off every line that you actually have 
the experience, skills and education that match 
the job description. If you check off over 80% 
of the line items then I would say that you 
might have a good chance of being contacted 
by the employer for an interview. But keep in 
mind the employer is really looking for a 100% 
match. However, nothing is impossible or set 
in concrete. Let’s say you only checked off 50% 
or less of the job description line items and you 
still want to apply for the position, then go for it! 
These are some steps that you could take if you 
really feel passionate about pursuing a position 
for which you do not meet the employers’ entire 
requirements. 

(1) Write a dynamite cover letter that will 
highlight your skills and experience that you feel 
will add value to their organization. 

(2) Telephone the organization and ask to speak 
to the hiring manger for that position or the 
Human Resource Department. Be prepared to be 
really aggressive in telling them why you feel that 
you are the right fit for the position.

(3) Expand your network of contacts and find 
someone who works for the organization and ask 
them for a referral. It takes a considerable amount 
of time to find employment which matches 
your interest, experience, skills and education. 
I highly recommend that you spend your job 
search time effectively seeking and applying for 
positions for which you meet all of the employer’s 
requirements and qualifications. 

Q: What are the best ways to prepare for an 
interview? Marsha

Dear Marsha,

Employers only contact people who they feel 
are the right match for their position. Anyone 
who gets scheduled for interview is already 
approximately 50% in the door. However, this is 
where a lot of job seekers blow it. Prepare for an 
interview by getting to “know thy self”. Review 
your resume and develop talking points that relate 
to your accomplishments and work experience. 
Work on your listening skills so that you answer 
only the questions that the interviewer is asking. 
Research, research, research. Find out all about 
the company, the product or services they 
provide. Relax, focus and be very positive. 

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

?


Are you a food 
conformist or 
are you a menu 
renegade? Perhaps 
you’ve never spent 
[or wasted] time 
considering it, but 
there’s a definite 
continuum of 
pickiness upon which everyone falls when 
ordering food. For example, some 
people need to know whether 
their chicken was free range, and 
if the vegetables in their salad are 
organic and locally grown. Some 
folks (like me) don’t necessarily 
care about their food’s pedigree, 
but have ideas about how the chef 
could make this dish better… or at 
least better in my opinion. “Could 
I have the almonds on the side?” 
(They’re good, but I have a figure 
to watch.) “And could I please get the onions 
grilled?” (Who wants to be tasting onion for the 
rest of the day?) These are a few of the requests 
I’m guilty of making. 

Other people feel it’s the customer’s duty to eat 
whatever is brought from the kitchen, and to be 
mum about it. These people could walk into a 
restaurant and tell their waiter, “Surprise me.” 
Members of this group get particularly annoyed 
by people in the previous categories, arguing that 
if you want your food “just so,” then you should 
make it yourself at home.

Last week one of my coworker friends was 
telling me about going to dinner at one of the 
restaurants I frequent. “So we were with my 
husband’s friends,” she said. “And the wife had 
all these questions about whether she could get 
the lunch portion, and if she could have brown 
rice instead of the pilaf, and if they could steam 
the vegetables instead of sauté them. I was ready 
to scream!” I nodded sympathetically. 

“And what’s worse,” she 
continued, “is that our waitress 
was tied up on the phone for a 
long time with someone who 
wanted their fish cooked special, 
a bunch of things on the side, 
and a different dressing.” “What 
a nut!” I said, realizing that I 
had ordered dinner from that 
restaurant on the same night she 
was there. 

Well, my friend might’ve 
unknowingly disclosed her status as a “Surprise 
me” restaurant go-er, but I thought it best not to 
mention that it was probably me on the other 
end of the line that night. Good thing she didn’t 
see me when I came to pick it up. 

“By the way, what do you get when you go 
there?” she asked. I tried to think of something 
that didn’t involve fish or dressing. “Just their 
regular burger,” I fibbed. “See,” she said with 
finality, “I don’t understand why people can’t be 
like us and just order off the menu!” 

RICH Johnson

MENU NONCONFORMISTS


More Help For Guys

In my continuing effort 
to improve the quality of 
relationships worldwide, I 
offer some new awareness 
of how men might 
continue to make the significant woman (or 
women) in life happy as clams.

Fellas, there is a point system hitherto 
unknown to most men. Do something she 
likes and you get points. Dislikes subtracts 
points. Something she expects nets you zero. 
Here is a guide to this point system:

Make the bed (+1), forget the decorative pillow 
(0), throw the bedspread over rumpled sheets 
(-1).

Buy her something she wants (+5), in the rain 
(+10), return with beer (-5).

Stay by her side during a party (0), leave to chat 
with an old school friend (-2), if the friends 
name is Tina (-10), if Tina is a dancer (-20). 

You take your wife out to dinner (+2), not to a 
sports bar (+3). If it’s a sports bar (-2), if it’s all you 
can eat (-3), if it’s all you can eat and your face is 
painted the colors of your favorite team (-10).

Take her to a movie (+1), it’s a movie she likes 
(+3), if it’s a movie you hate (+6), if it’s a movie 
you like (-2), called “Death Cop” (-3).

You develop a potbelly (-15), you exercise till 
its gone (+10) you cover it up with baggy jeans 
and Hawaiian shirt (-30), you say, “it doesn’t 
matter cause you have one too.” (-8000).

She asks, “Do I look fat?” (-5) (btw, there is no 
way you can get plus points in this discussion), 
any hesitation in responding (-10), you reply, 
“where?” (-35). Any other response (-20).

She wants to discuss a problem and you listen 
looking concerned (0), you listen for over 
30 minutes (+5), you listen for 30 minutes 
without looking at the TV (+500), you fall 
asleep (-4000).

On a political note, George W. Bush is on 
a speaking tour promoting his new book. 
I want to publicly credit and acknowledge 
him showing class in two areas. First, he is 
openly and candidly admitting to mistakes 
made during his presidency. And second, he 
is refusing to throw stones or make negative 
comments about President Obama. That’s 
classy and a spirit we could all strive to have.