Mountain Views News          Saturday, November 27, 2010

12

THE WORLD AROUND YOU

 Mountain Views News Saturday, November 27, 2010 


Planet from Another Galaxy Discovered

An exoplanet orbiting a star that entered our Milky Way 
from another galaxy has been detected by a European team 
of astronomers using a 2.2-meter (87-inch) telescope at the 
La Silla Observatory in Chile. The Jupiter-like planet is quite 
unusual, as it is orbiting a star nearing the end of its life and 
could be about to be engulfed by it—giving tantalizing clues 
about the fate of our own planetary system in the distant 
future.

Over the last 15 years, astronomers have detected nearly 
500 planets orbiting stars in our cosmic neighborhood, but 
none from outside our Milky Way has been confirmed. Now, 
however, a planet with a minimum mass of 1.25 times that of 
Jupiter has been discovered orbiting a star of extragalactic origin, 
even though the star now finds itself within our own galaxy. 
It is part of the so-called Helmi stream—a group of stars that 
originally belonged to a dwarf galaxy that was devoured by our 
galaxy, the Milky Way, in an act of galactic cannibalism about 
six to nine billion years ago. The discovery was announced Nov. 
18 in Science Express.

“This discovery is very exciting,” says Rainer Klement of 
the Max-Planck-Institut fur Astronomie (MPIA), who was 
responsible for the selection of the target stars for this study. 
“For the first time, astronomers have detected a planetary 
system in a stellar stream of extragalactic origin. Because of the 
great distances involved, there are no confirmed detections of 
planets in other galaxies. But this cosmic merger has brought 
an extragalactic planet within our reach.”

The star is known as HIP 13044, and it lies about 2,000 light-
years from Earth in the southern constellation of Fornax (the 
Furnace). The astronomers detected the planet, called HIP 
13044 b, by looking for the tiny telltale wobbles of the star caused 
by the gravitational tug of an orbiting companion.

Adding to its claim to fame, HIP 13044 b is also one of the few 
exoplanets known to have survived the period when its host star 
expanded massively after exhausting the hydrogen fuel supply 
in its core—the “red giant” phase of stellar evolution. The star 
has now contracted again and is burning helium in its core. 

“This discovery is part of a study where we are systematically 
searching for exoplanets that orbit stars nearing the end of 
their lives,” says Johny Setiawan, also from MPIA, who led the 
research. “This discovery is particularly intriguing when we 
consider the distant future of our own planetary system, as the 
Sun is also expected to become a red giant in about five billion 
years.”

HIP 13044 b is near to its host star. At the closest point in 
its elliptical orbit, it is less than one stellar diameter from the 
surface of the star (or 0.055 times the Sun-Earth distance). It 
completes an orbit in only 16.2 days. 

The star poses interesting questions about how giant planets 
form, as it appears to contain very few elements heavier than 
hydrogen and helium—fewer than any other star known to host 
planets. “It is a puzzle for the widely accepted model of planet 
formation to explain how such a star, which contains hardly any 
heavy elements at all, could have formed a planet,” Setiawan 
says.

You can 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: I read an article recently that said 
that some employers are only considering 
employed candidates for their positions. Is 
this against the law? Jonathan 

Dear Jonathan:

If this is not a law it should be. This would 
seem to be a form of discrimination. I 
suspect these employers are not actually 
advertising or publicly stating that they 
will only consider employed candidates 
for their open positions. However, what 
employers do behind closed doors in regards 
to how they make their hiring decisions, is 
and will always remain confidential. Do 
not let some article like this keep you from 
seeking employment. Continue to apply for 
positions that match your skills, experience 
and education. Submit an effective resume 
that addresses the employer’s requirements 
and qualifications. Write a dynamic cover 
letter that focuses on your accomplishments 
and states your interest in their company 
and the position. Do not let statements, 
newspaper articles or anyone keep you from 
pursing a position you are interested in being 
considered as a candidate. 

Q: Is it OK to go around recruiters and 
directly contact the hiring manager. Would 
it be considered inappropriate or healthy 

assertiveness? Audrey

Dear Audrey:

It would depend on if the recruiter is working 
for you or the employer. There are two type 
of recruiters, agency and in-house. The 
agency recruiter is retained or commissioned 
by an employer to fill a position. The agency 
recruiter recruits, screens and selects a 
candidate to present to the employer. This 
type of recruiter is working on your behalf 
and the employer. Their goal is to recruit 
the ideal person who will eventually be 
hired by the employer. The employer expects 
the recruiter to partner with them in their 
search for candidates. A hiring manager 
might consider it inappropriate behavior for 
a candidate to go around the recruiter and 
directly contact them. This action might 
also reflect badly on the recruiter and hurt a 
candidate’s chances at being hired.

If this is an in-house recruiter, who is 
employed by the company, I would advise 
you to also be cautious. You do not want 
to offend anyone and possibly lose an 
employment opportunity. The right thing to 
do in either situation is to ask the recruiter 
for permission to directly contact the hiring 
manager and state your reasons. If the in-
house recruiter or agency recruiter approves, 
then go for it. If they do not approve, you 
will have to trust and leave it in the hands of 
the recruiter.


Have you suffered a 
concussion, maybe a 
fractured rib or two? I, for 
one, am in a perfect Zen 
state of wholeness in body 
and spirit because I did not 
participate in Black Friday. You realize that 
they call it “Black” Friday because that might 
be the color of your eyes if you dare to venture 
into the shopping mayhem.

I hate to shop, always have, always will. I 
remember in college one 
of my classmates regaled 
us with her yearly tradition 
of hitting the outlets malls 
at 4 am Friday morning. (I 
hear some stores now open 
as early as 11 pm Thursday 
night!) I guess if you’re going 
to do this, you probably 
want to feast light, since the 
only thing I want to do after 
Thanksgiving is sleep for two 
days.

Don’t get me wrong; I 
clip coupons and totally 
appreciate the thrill of getting 
something for a fraction 
of its regular price. Cereal, 
shampoo, granola bars, it’s all 
good!

But for me, the fun stops at the end of the frozen 
food section. I’ve seen footage of women 
trampling each other and degenerating into 
fistfights over designer wedding dresses in 
New York. And every year parents nationwide 
beat each other to bloody pulps over the latest 
toddler fad --talking Elmo’s, Cabbage Patch 
Kids (I’m dating myself!). Sorry, but I’d rather 
pay a few extra bucks and keep all my teeth in 
tact. 

One of my coworkers recently introduced me 
to tag team Black Friday shopping. Apparently 
he and a couple willing friends map out the 
store ahead of time, so that on the big day 
they follow a tightly choreographed strategy 
to efficiently nab their targets. Strength in 
numbers allows them to quickly stack and 
push heavy items. I wish I could harvest their 
organizational skills and stamina.

These days, I need an interpreter just to 
explain what all the popular new gizmos are. 
Excuse my ignorance, but what is a Magnavox 
MBP5130/F7 Blu-ray player? Furthermore, 
what do its features, a Blu-ray profile 2.0 (BD 
LIVE) 24fps, VUDU, Netflix and Wi-fi mean? 
Okay, I admit I know and 
adore Netflix, but is VUDU 
a silicone effigy that you stab 
with a plastic stylus --some 
techie way of vicariously 
mutilating your enemies 
long distance? 

 One increasingly popular 
Black Friday trend I might 
take advantage of is the 
online sales. If I can get the 
same deals sitting in my 
PJ’s from the comfort of my 
swivel chair, why would I 
consider exposing myself to 
the holiday madness?

In my research on Black 
Friday sales tactics I ran 
across an interesting ploy by which retailers 
offer cocktails to prospective customers in 
hopes of loosening their wallets. I guess I’ve 
just never been in the right store at the right 
time, because no one has ever tried to ply me 
with alcohol to get me to buy anything. Maybe 
it’s because I’ve never tried to buy a Magnavox 
MBP5130/F7 Blu-ray player. I noticed that a 
George Foreman Super Deluxe Indoor Grill 
is available from Target for $28. Maybe if I 
go there they might offer me a gimlet, but 
somehow I doubt it. 

Because 
Apple just released our quotes 
IPhone app UpElevator, my 
writing partner Lisa, and 
I, were recently asked who 
comes to mind when we think 
of our favorite funny people. 
Well, of course, Groucho Marx, 
Will Rogers, Mark Twain, and 
Oscar Wilde. Along with them 
I have to include Paul Lynde, Charley Weaver, George 
Gobel, Joan Rivers and Rose Marie. If those names ring 
a bell it’s probably because you were a fan of Hollywood 
Squares. 

Fortunately through the miracle of the internet I could 
compile a list of some of the best Hollywood Square 
questions and answers. They were all asked by game 
show host Peter Marshall.

Paul, do female frogs croak?

Paul Lynde: If you hold their little heads under water.

Charley, which of your five senses tends to diminish as 
you get older?

Charley Weaver: My sense of decency.

Charley, when a couple has a baby, who is responsible for 
its sex?

Charley Weaver: I’ll lend him the car. The rest is up to 
him.

Paul, you’re on your first visit to Japan and you head right 
for the Kabuki. Why?

Paul Lynde: It was a long plane ride.

Charley, if you’re going to make a parachute jump, you 
should be at least how high?

Charley Weaver: Three days of steady drinking should 
do it.

Paul Lynde, according to the World Book, is it okay to 
freeze your persimmons?

Paul Lynde: No. You should dress warmly.

Joan, your baby has a certain object that he loves to cling 
to. Should you try to break him of his habit?

Joan Rivers: Yes. It’s daddy’s turn.

Paul Lynde, in what state was Abraham Lincoln born?

Paul Lynde: Naked and screaming like the rest of us.

Paul, can you get an elephant drunk?

Paul Lynde: Yes, but he still won’t go up to your 
apartment.

George, what are “Do It,” “I Can Help,” and “Can’t Get 
Enough”?

George Gobel: I don’t know, but it’s coming from the 
next apartment.

George, if you find someone lying unconscious in the 
street, should you do anything?

George Gobel: I’d probably crawl around him I guess.

Paul, why do Hell’s Angels wear leather?

Paul Lynde: Because chiffon wrinkles too easily?

Paul, it is considered in bad taste to discuss two subjects at 
nudist camps. One is politics. What is the other?

Paul Lynde: Tape measures.

George, true or false: A pea can last as long as 5,000 years.

George Gobel: Sometimes it sure seems that way…

Paul, when you pat a dog on its head he will usually wag 
his tail. What will a goose do?

Paul Lynde: Make him bark.

Peter Marshall: According to Ann Landers, is their 
anything wrong with getting into the habit of kissing a 
lot of people?

Charley Weaver: It got me out of the army!

Peter Marshall: Back in the old days, when Great 
Grandpa put horseradish on his head, what was he trying 
to do?

George Gobel: Get it in his mouth.

Peter Marshall: Who stays pregnant for a longer period 
of time, your wife or your elephant?

Paul Lynde: Who told you about my elephant?

Peter Marshall: Why do sheep sleep huddled together?

Paul Lynde: Because Little Boy Blue’s a weirdo!

My friend, singer Jane Fuller is performing here in 
Sierra Madre, on the next two consecutive Saturdays. 
December 4th, she is performing at Corfu Restaurant just 
west of Baldwin on Sierra Madre Blvd. If Mediterranean 
and Greek food are your passion come enjoy music and 
a great meal. If Italian food floats your boat, Jane will be 
performing one week later, December 11th, at CafÈ 322. 
Just east of Lima also on Sierra Madre Blvd.

And finally, we are now officially in the pre-Christmas 
frenzy. Along with the gifts you plan on blessing friends 
and relatives with this season, include the gift of your 
time and attention. Your time is very reasonably priced 
and may be the most valuable gift you can give.

Hollywood Squares

RICH Johnson

FRIDAY 
FROM HELL