Mountain Views News          Saturday, May 28, 2011

15

THE WORLD AROUND US

 Mountain Views News Saturday, May 28, 2011 


Searching for Intellignet Life on 86 Earth-Like Planets


Now that NASA’s Kepler space telescope has 
identified 1,235 possible planets around stars 
in our galaxy, astronomers at the University of 
California, Berkeley, are aiming a radio telescope 
at the 86 most Earth-like of these worlds to see 
if they can detect signals from an advanced 
civilization.

This new UC Berkeley search began on May 
8, when the Robert C. Byrd Telescope at Green 
Bank, West Virginia—the largest steerable radio 
telescope in the world—dedicated an hour to eight 
stars with possible planets. Once the UC Berkeley 
astronomers acquire 24 hours of data on a total 
of 86 Earth-like planets, they’ll initiate a coarse 
analysis and then, in about two months, ask an 
estimated 1 million SETI@home (http://seti.
berkeley.edu/) users to conduct a more detailed 
analysis on their home computers.

“It’s not absolutely certain that all of these stars 
have habitable planetary systems, but they’re very 
good places to look for ET,” said UC Berkeley 
graduate student Andrew Siemion.

“We’ve picked out the planets with nice 
temperatures—between zero and 100 degrees 
Celsius—because they are a lot more likely to 
harbor life,” said physicist Dan Werthimer, chief 
scientist for SETI@home and a veteran SETI 
researcher.

Werthimer also leads a 30-year-old SETI 
project on the world’s largest radio telescope, the 
Arecibo receiver in Puerto Rico, which feeds data 
to SETI@home for a detailed analysis that could 
only be done on the world’s largest distributed 
computer (consisting of a million individual 
computer users).

“With Arecibo, we focus on stars like our Sun, 
hoping that they have planets around them that 
emit intelligent signals,” Werthimer said. “But 
we’ve never had a list of planets like this before.”

The Green Bank radio dish in rural West 
Virginia was needed for the new search because 
the Arecibo dish cannot view the area of the 
northern sky on which Kepler focuses. 

The 86 stars were chosen from the 1,235 
candidate planetary systems—called Kepler 
Objects of Interest, or KOIs—with the help of 
Kepler team member Geoffrey Marcy, professor of 
astronomy at UC Berkeley. UC Berkeley’s targets 
include the 54 KOIs identified by the Kepler team 
as being in the habitable temperature range and 
with sizes ranging from Earth-size to larger than 
Jupiter; 10 KOIs not on the Kepler team’s habitable 
list but with orbits less than three times Earth’s 
orbit and orbital periods greater than 50 days; and 
all systems with four or more possible planets.

A coarse analysis of the data by Werthimer and 
his team will be followed by a more thorough 
analysis by SETI@home volunteers. The complete 
analysis for intelligent signals could take a year, 
Werthimer said.

“If you extrapolate from the Kepler data, there 
could be 50 billion planets in the galaxy,” he 
added. “It’s really exciting to be able to look at this 
first batch of Earth-like planets.”

SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) is 
a scientific area whose goal is to detect intelligent 
life outside Earth. One approach, known as radio 
SETI, uses radio telescopes to listen for narrow-
bandwidth radio signals from space. Such signals 
are not known to occur naturally, so a detection 
would provide evidence of extraterrestrial 
technology.

Previous radio SETI projects have used special-
purpose supercomputers, located at the telescope, 
to do the bulk of the needed data analysis. In 
1999, the approach known as SETI@home was 
launched, replacing supercomputers with a 
“virtual supercomputer” consisting of a very large 
number of Internet-connected computers in the 
homes of volunteer participants.

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


Ask jai……

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 
your questions, but I will be totally honest. My objective is to help you achieve your employment goal.

GOOD TO BE GEEK

I am a sales and 
marketing associate with a high tech firm. I have been with the company for 3 years and like my job. However, I feel that 
I am not growing and I do not see any place to advance up the ladder or to increase my salary. Do I tell my manager that 
I am looking for employment outside the company and why? How do I look for a job while currently employed and not 
jeopardize my current situation? Puzzled.

Dear Puzzled

 It’s a balancing act. It can and of course has been done. You will have to keep your current work situation and job 
seeking process separate. I would suggest that you discuss your job performance and career aspirations with your current 
Supervisor and try to glean any future positions that would meet your needs. 

 I would be hesitant about letting your supervisor and company know that you were seeking employment. There are two 
schools of thought about this. One is that you could be coming from a position of strength and that the company might do 
whatever it takes not to lose you. Another is that you could be putting the company on alert that you are ready to leave and 
they might be looking forward to letting you go sooner than you think. I personally would keep the fact that you are looking 
for employment to yourself. I would suggest that you do not let anyone at the company know including your co-workers, 
possibly even those you consider your friends. 

 It is somewhat difficult seeking employment while employed. You will have to be very organized and be able to create a 
scheduling system. When you have made that decision to start seeking a new job, go for it with full force and commitment! 
Because, when you start posting your resume on-line, networking, and applying for positions you are making a statement to 
the universe that you are looking for employment. The inevitable is that your supervisor and company will find out. So, be 
prepared with a great response if they should ask you why you are no longer happy with them and seeking new employment. 

 These are the paramount rules for looking for employment while employed: Do not use your employer’s computer or 
telephone system. Do not use your company e-mail address. Maximize your break and lunch times. Use the time to make 
and return telephone calls or use your personal lap-top computer to communicate. Scheduling interview time can be a little 
tricky. Lunch time is good and you can request a little extra time. This would be a good time to use your personal, vacation 
and sick time. Frequent time-off activity could become red flags to your current employer. 

 This is the right time for you to stay committed to your goal and not to your current employer. Lucky for you some 
employers love to hire people who are currently employed and will totally understand your situation and will do whatever 
it takes to accommodate you in arranging time to meet and interview with them. Be prepared to discuss with the employer 
why you want to leave your current position. Keep your energy high, be very positive and let them know the added value 
you will bring to the table to help make them successful. Be very clear about your career and salary aspirations. Remember 
you have a job so you really have nothing lose. This is the appropriate time and situation to praise your skills, experience 
and education. Keep your job search confidential until you have a firm offer letter from another employer. 

As our lives become more intertwined with the technology we use on a daily basis 
and large groups of us come to define who we are by who we are online, there seems to 
be one group of people who are benefiting from this change in the world is the “Geek”. 
What used to be a term describing a circus performer in the old days has certainly come 
along away from its derisive origins. A recent survey found that while “Boomers” (55+ 
and up) were still likely to view the term “geek” as negative “Millenials” (ages 18-34) are 
more likely to self-identify as geeks and tend to view the label as complimentary and it 
seems as if the world is following the millenials’ lead in the way that geeks are viewed. 
Due to their prowess with technologies of all types, and a public perception that goes 
a long way in reinforcing that image, geeks are typically perceived to be better in jobs 
involving IT, the Sciences, Engineering and deep thinkers in other non-technical fields. 

While geeks are a distinct breed unto themselves, they are closely associated with 
another group that’s looked upon less favorably - “Nerds”. While the nerd’s most 
certainly have their own charms, self-identified geeks and non-geeks preferred the label 
“geek” than “nerd”. Though Americans in general evidently value and respect geeks for 
their smarts and potential for success, many non-geeks consider self-proclaimed geeks 
to be socially awkward. By contrast, only a small percentage of self-identified geeks 
consider themselves to be socially awkward. To a degree, social grace is in the eye of the 
beholder. In wider social circles geeks’ inability to connect with non-geeks (and vice 
versa) could prove to be an obstacle in the workplace and in general life. When asked 
about their interactions with IT Professionals they identified as geeks most non-geeks 
rated mastery of technology was further down the list on skills they most admired in 
their IT geek. The ability explain technology in layman’s terms was ranked first. Third 
on the list: the ability to understand the objectives of the business as a whole. In short, a 
good grasp of social skills and the ability to help their audience understand the solutions 
to their technical problems is what makes these people stand out in an ever-increasingly 
technical world.


WHAT 
HAPPENED 
TO THE TREE?

I was a little 
embarrassed the other 
week when, driving 
down Baldwin to the 
Sierra Madre Post Office, I sailed past it and 
had to go around the block. “How could I 
miss the Post Office?” I asked myself. And 
then coming round the corner I saw it –a 
pathetic blond stump marking the spot 
where a majestic Ficus stood just days 
before.

I love trees and I love Sierra Madre. Part 
of the reason I love Sierra Madre is its trees. 
Have you ever Google-Earthed Sierra 
Madre and seen how green with trees it is 
compared to surrounding areas? Barbara 
Streisand might worry about people seeing 
her property from above, but in Sierra 
Madre you could have a nudist colony in 
your back yard with no fear of outsiders 
seeing you! So you can imagine my dismay 
at the loss of our postal tree! After wiping 
my eyes, I emailed James Carlson to inquire 
further into the tree’s disappearance. 
James is the Management Analyst for 
City Hall and is a great resource for local 
information! (See past article “What 
Happened to the Horn?”) I’m thinking of 
writing a series of 
“What Happened 
to the…?” featuring 
James’ observances 
around town.

 James told me 
that sometime in 
the later hours of 
April 28th, a big 
branch fell from 
the Ficus without 
warning! (Ficuses 
are so mean - not 
warning people 
about these things). 
The fallen limb 
spanned the street and was later estimated 
to weigh 40% of the tree’s total volume. 
We can all be thankful that this happened 
in late April, at night, rather than at noon 
sometime in the week before Christmas.

Apparently the “crotch” where the 
branch connects to the trunk had rotted 
out and couldn’t bear the weight of the 
branch any longer. A colleague of the city’s 
contract arborist examined the tree and 
found that it was extremely out of balance 
and would be unable to recover from the 
loss of the branch. Further investigation of 
the wound revealed that the center of the 
trunk had also rotted, indicating rampant 
decay throughout other parts of the tree. 
The ficus would have to go.

Although I’m glad the decision to 
remove the tree was for safety rather than 
aesthetics, it’s a little sad to hear that a tree 
I’ve admired so long had become “rotten to 
the core.” As you’ve noticed, the Ficus has 
been reduced to a small stump, wearing 
an orange caution cone like a dunce cap. 
It will be removed, but James explained 
that stump removal is expensive. So 
for that reason, the city will most likely 
wait until there are other public stumps 
around town in order to maximize their 
stump grinding opportunity. It’s kind 
of sad to think that more trees must be 
cut down before progress can be made 
on the postal site. But if it’s between that 
and saving someone (or their car) from 
getting squashed by a branch, I’ll take it! 
And hope springs eternal! James informed 
me that at a recent meeting of the Tree 
Advisory Commission, they said they hope 
to consider a replacement species at their 
June meeting. Most likely it will be years 
before the new one provides the ample 
shade that the ficus gave, but that’s okay –I 
don’t plan on leaving soon. In the mean 
time I’ll just have to get used to identifying 
the new tree when driving down Baldwin 
to the P.O.

*Footnote regarding images: Well, this 
is a little embarrassing. James sent me 
this dramatic picture of the tree and all its 
rottenness, and I wanted to superimpose 
the rabbit to make it look as if he was 
peeking out from behind the tree. But I 
didn’t realize the graphic editing involved 
would take several hours. Let this be a 
lesson to my fellow procrastinators! So, 
please use your imagination to combine 
these two images. 

Everything you ever wanted to know about how to get a job ….but did not know who to ask. ASK jai. Send your 
questions to: jai@resumeandcareerservices.com or visit website www.resumeandcareerservicesc.


“Dogs are amazing creatures; they give unconditional 
love. They are the role model for being alive.” 

~ Gilda Radner

“There is no psychiatrist in the world, like a puppy 
licking your face.”

 ~ Ben Williams

“Dogs are not our whole lives, but they make our lives 
whole.” 

~ Roger Caras

Numerous accounts of physical and mental health 
benefits resulting from canine interaction have been 
documented throughout history. It pleases me to know 
that I am not alone in my recognition and appreciation 
of the physical, psychological and even spiritual benefits 
of spending time with a cuddly canine. Loving and being 
loved by a dog is not only a heart-warming, comforting 
experience, but the fact is that dogs can play a part in 
prolonging and enhancing the quality of life for the 
human being. I would be hard-pressed to understand 
and try to explain just exactly how it works, but I believe 
in my heart that dogs are God’s gift to mankind, and I 
take it for face value based on my own experiences and 
those of many others. 

One example of how a canine can positively impact 
the health and well-being of the human is clearly shown 
by the work of a certified health-care therapy dog. The 
first documented therapy dog was a Yorkshire terrier 
named “Smoky”. Smoky had been abandoned on the 
battlefield in New Guinea during WWII, when Corporal 
William Wynne took him in, cared for him and gave him 
his name. Smoky proved to be a major asset to Wynne’s 
military outfit, lending comfort to the troops and playing 
a part in saving their lives by running a telegraph cable 
through an underground pipe, completing in minutes 
what would have been a 3-day, very dangerous operation 
for the soldiers responsible for the project. Dr. Charles 
Mayo (of the famed Mayo Clinic) was Corporal Wynne’s 
commanding officer who allowed Smoky to go with him 
on hospital rounds, to visit injured troops. The little pup’s 
popularity grew so strong; that he became the troop’s 
mascot and eventually continued his work for 12 years, 
even after WWII had ended. Who knew that Smoky, a 
would-be abandoned mutt, would become a famous 
fore-runner for a prolific program that makes a major 
positive impact on the lives of so many people today?

Last weekend, I had the privilege of participating in 
the American Cancer Society Bark for Life of Arcadia 
event where I met Marianne Cortland, who greeted 
me with warm smile at the “Lending a Paw Therapy 
Dogs” information booth. Marianne and several 
other volunteers, as well as a group of therapy dogs 
accompanied by their owner/handlers, were there as a 
team to help support the event. The fact that dogs are 
often used as health-care therapists has been common 
knowledge to me for years, but this was the first time I 
had the chance to meet real-life therapy dogs in person, 
and I have to say it was the highlight of my day! Marianne 
is absolutely delightful, and she was kind enough to share 
the details about how their program works. I thought it 
would be an excellent topic to share with my readers.

Lending A Paw Therapy Dog’s objective is to form a 
network of caring individuals who are willing to share 
their animals in order to bring happiness to all whom they 
serve. They are responsible for training and certifying 
the dogs that make their mission possible. Their therapy 
dogs must be at least 1 year old, and must meet the 
criteria of the required obedience training and be capable 
of consistent harmonious interaction with humans and 
other dogs. Their volunteer animal assistance activities 
include, but are not limited to hospital visits, special 
needs centers for seniors and home visits.

Requests for dog therapy services can come from 
patients, family members or facility staff members. Often 
times, a dog therapy team will even go from room to 
room, to see who is up for a visit. Interestingly enough, 
there are times when the therapy dog will let the handler 
know who needs their brand of therapy by pulling toward 
the door of their room! Group sessions are the typical 
scenario at retirement homes, where patients or residents 
gather together in one room to enjoy the presence of 
the therapy dogs. Whatever the circumstances may be, 
therapy dogs always bring big smiles and renewed hope 
to those whom they visit. One stroke victim patient, 
named Dorothy, had not spoken for a year, but after a 
therapy visit from Maggie and Marianne, she somehow 
found the energy and desire enough to speak. When 
she did finally speak, amazingly enough, it was to say 
the name of the therapy, “Maggie”! That is what a caring 
canine can do for a stroke patient who may have never 
otherwise spoken again.

In addition to the American Cancer Society Relay for 
Life events, Lending a Paw Therapy Dogs also participates 
in other community activities with the local fire 
departments and libraries. For more information about 
Lending a Paw Therapy Dogs, and to participate in their 
activities or events, please contact Marianne Cortland 
via e-mail at: twokuute@gmail.com. I personally benefit 
in many ways from my dog’s company each day, but I 
also think there may be a time when I will be the one in 
need of a therapy dog, and it comforts me to know that 
organizations such as Lending a Paw will be there for me. 
Thank you for all your efforts in bringing life and hope 
to those in need, Marianne and the other volunteers at 
Lending a Paw Therapy Dogs. God bless you.

Happy Tails

by Chris Leclerc.

Canyon Canine Dog 

Walking & Pet Sitting Services

Calming Cure of the Canine