Mountain Views News          Saturday, August 6, 2011

14

THE WORLD AROUND US

 Mountain Views News Saturday, August 6, 2011


First “Trojan” Asteroid Discovered Sharing Earth’s Orbit


Astronomers studying observations taken by NASA’s Wide-field 
Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) mission have discovered the first 
known “Trojan” asteroid orbiting the Sun along with Earth.

Trojans are asteroids that share an orbit with a planet near stable 
points in front of or behind the planet. Because they constantly lead 
or follow in the same orbit as the planet, they never can collide with 
it. In our solar system, Trojans also share orbits with Neptune, Mars 
and Jupiter. Two of Saturn’s moons share orbits with Trojans.

Scientists had predicted Earth should have Trojans, but they have 
been difficult to find because they are relatively small and appear 
near the Sun from Earth’s point of view.

“These asteroids dwell mostly in the daylight, making them very 
hard to see,” said Martin Connors of Athabasca University in Canada, 
lead author of a new paper on the discovery in the July 28 issue 
of the journal Nature. “But we finally found one, because the object 
has an unusual orbit that takes it farther away from the Sun than 
what is typical for Trojans. WISE was a game-changer, giving us a 
point of view difficult to have at Earth’s surface.”

The WISE telescope scanned the entire sky in infrared light from 
January 2010 to February 2011. Connors and his team began their 
search for an Earth Trojan using data from NEOWISE, an addition 
to the WISE mission that focused in part on near-Earth objects, 
or NEOs, such as asteroids and comets. NEOs are bodies that 
pass within 28 million miles of Earth’s path around the Sun. The 
NEOWISE project observed more than 155,000 
asteroids in the main belt between Mars and Jupiter, 
and more than 500 NEOs, discovering 132 that 
were previously unknown.

The team’s hunt resulted in two Trojan candidates. 
One of these, called 2010 TK7, was confirmed 
as an Earth Trojan after follow-up observations 
with the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope 
on Mauna Kea in Hawaii.

The asteroid is roughly 1,000 feet in diameter. 
It has an unusual orbit that traces a complex motion 
near a stable point in the plane of Earth’s orbit, 
although the asteroid also moves above and below 
the plane. The object is about 50 million miles 
from Earth. The asteroid’s orbit is well-defined 
and for at least the next 100 years, it will not come 
closer to Earth than 15 million miles. 

“It’s as though Earth is playing follow the leader,” 
said Amy Mainzer, the principal investigator 
of NEOWISE at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory 
(JPL) in Pasadena, Calif. “Earth always is chasing 
this asteroid around.”

A handful of other asteroids also have orbits similar to Earth. 
Such objects could make excellent candidates for future robotic or 
human exploration. Asteroid 2010 TK7 is not a good target because 
it travels too far above and below the plane of Earth’s orbit, which 
would require large amounts of fuel to reach it.

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.

Drawing The Line

I am an administrative assistant with over ten years experience and currently unemployed for the past six 
months due to a lay-off. I am happy to say I have had at least ten interviews during the past three months. 
Everyone says that is a “good thing”. However, I never get a call back or an offer to get hired. My friend said 
it’s probably because of my choice of clothes that I wear to interviews. She believes my clothes could be a 
little intimidating. I feel I dress to impress and my favorite color is red. I wear red suits to all my interviews, 
red pant-suits, and red suits with skirts, red jackets with black or beige pants. I make sure my finger polish 
and lipstick matches the red in the outfit. I also carry a very expense red purse and matching shoes. I read 
somewhere that in order to make an impression in an interview you must dress for success. I believe wearing 
red expresses my lively and high energy personality to the interviewer. Only one interviewer asked me 
a question that had nothing to do with the job. She ask me what perfume scent was I wearing. It was Red, of 
course. Do you think the reason I am not getting called back or hired is because I dress in red? How could 
the way I dress be an issue? Lady In Red

Dear Lady In Red:

Dress for success is the key here, not to dress to impress yourself. First impressions are lasting impressions. In 
your case I could keep on writing these little quips. But, you really need someone to tell you the color red also 
means STOP. Stop wearing all red to your interviews. I am sure the impression you are making on the interviewer 
is ... “see me and hear me”. Sorry, I could not resist another quip. Ask yourself this question: Do you want to dress 
to get and keep a job? My favorite color is turquoise. But you would never see me dressed head to toe in turquoise. 
I am trying my best to imagine someone dressed in red from head to toe interviewing for a position. 

Research every company’s dress code before your interviews and dress accordingly. The norm in dressing for 
an interview is to keep it simple and professional. Stay in the color zone of black, browns, navy blues and white. 
You can always accessorize with a little red since that is your favorite color and I have a feeling the color probably 
empowers you. Never wear perfume to an interview. Most employers have banned wearing perfume in the workplace 
due to allergies, and some scents are overwhelming. I recommend that you read: First Impressions: What 
You Don’t Know About How Others See You, by Ann Demarais, Ph.D. and Valarie White, Ph.D. A few changes 
to your interviewing wardrobe will probably bring you successful results.

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.resumeandcareerservices.com.

Last May lawmakers in Missouri passed the Amy Hestir Protection Act which was named 
for a Missouri woman who was manipulated into a sexual relationship with a teacher while 
she was still in junior high school. While the aims of the new legislation are widely seen as 
worthy and non-controversial on its face, provisions in the law prohibiting how teachers 
may communicate with students, specifically those dealing with social media, are raising 
eyebrows and concerns all over said social media sites. Many are interpreting the new law 
to mean that teachers cannot become “friends” with students or contact them in any way on 
Facebook or other similar social media sites. Others are adopting a far stricter interpretation 
that suggests that teachers may not even open accounts on sites where their students have 
accounts where they can send and receive messages not open for public viewing. Sponsors 
of the new law contend that they are only seeking to prevent the establishing of a “pathway 
to sexual misconduct” that is often maintained and strengthened through contact on sites 
like Facebook. For all of its lofty aims this legislation is sure to be challenged on many legal 
fronts and enforcement of this law will be difficult to say the least. Regardless of which side 
one comes down on in this debate this issue does raise the age-old question of just how 
friendly an adult professional should be with the underage charges in his or her care. Even 
when both parties are “of age” there are boundaries of professional decorum that are not to 
be breached under any circumstance and in these instances contact in social-media-sphere 
can only serve to undermine the structure of proper social order. The answer to this question 
was probably far simpler in a simpler time but we do not have the luxury of time-travel 
in order to avoid dealing with our modern problems. Personally, I can’t think of any of my 
teachers that I would’ve “friended” back in the day. Not one. We weren’t on those kind of 
speaking terms, not even with the teachers that I liked. I would’ve felt a little weird talking to 
an adult in the same manner as I talked to my friends or even hanging out in the same place 
other than a classroom and even then, it was clear to me that we weren’t friends or equals. 
Every once in a while one of these authority figures would have something to say to me in 
private but in those cases private meant right outside the classroom door or sometimes in 
the principal’s office. It was a pretty public “private”. It wasn’t after-hours or outside the confines 
of the school campus and it certainly wasn’t something delivered to my inbox at 2am 
and meant to be kept just between “us”. Everyone isn’t meant to be “friends”.

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


SIERRA MADRE BY THE SEA

Happy Tails

by Chris Leclerc.

Canyon Canine Dog 

Walking & Pet Sitting Services

ANIMALS WITH ALLERGIES

Well, my husband and I just got back from Cambria! Actually, we 
haven’t left yet, but by the time you read this we will have returned. 
If you don’t know Cambria, it’s a tiny coastal town roughly halfway 
between here and San Francisco. But I suspect you’re familiar with 
it, because it seems everyone in town has been there. My husband 
fondly refers to it as “Sierra Madre by the Sea.” A few years ago, 
my parents and I were exploring one of Cambria’s scenic back roads 
leading to farms and other hot spots. A couple on bikes stopped and said to me, “Hey! 
Did you work at Howie’s?” It was a very singular experience, my one taste of celebrity. 

 My husband’s a good sport to go with me, since a couple days of staring at the water 
is not his idea of a swinging time. Even though “enjoys long walks on the beach” has 
become the sappiest description for one’s self, I do like walks on the beach! We already 
went on his vacation to Vegas, which was nice --except I don’t gamble, hate shopping 
(see previous articles), and am too cheap for shows. Vegas is perhaps the most antithetical 
destination to Cambria I can think 
of. Vegas: the city that never sleeps, versus 
Cambria: the town that hits the hay at nine.

 I pity the Cambria visitor who doesn’t 
enjoy reading. Because if there’s nothing 
on TV, you’re left with a lot of time on your 
hands after dinner. The condos we’ve rented 
have been well stocked with novels (of a 
surprising range of interests!), board games, 
and even a mounted spotting scope. This 
makes you wonder if the other condos have 
similar optic devices, so you make sure to 
close all the bed and bathroom drapes and 
to never enter the big main dining room in 
anything less than total decency.

 Besides the sea and pines, Cambria’s 
a good place for the great American pastime of eating. Linn’s Restaurant is widely 
known and beloved. It burned down once, but triumphantly rose from its ashes to 
create an even more extensive eatery. Making small talk in the waiting area, another 
customer explained how his family structures their entire vacation around Linn’s meal 
schedule. So, they can’t travel too far during the day, because they have to make it back 
for lunch etc.

 Since Cambria is near Paso Robles, it’s also a great place to go wine tasting. My parents 
have broadened their tastes in recent years, but when I was growing up, my mom’s 
drink of choice was Blue Nun or Mogen David. My dad and I tease her that both are 
spiked Kool-Aid. My dad’s all about economy, so his vintage is usually in a box. I’m 
not a wine snob (it’s just that I won’t order white zinfandel). Despite their disinterest, 
my parents agreed to visit Fermentations, a casual and diverse tasting room. As our 
server poured the first of our flight, I could tell my dad was suppressing snickers at 
descriptions like “a creamy nose and a bright finish... with notes of grapefruit.” My 
mom, however, instantly advanced her level of wine appreciation with the discovery 
of muscato and port.

 You meet all sorts while wine tasting. Last year, my husband and I were sitting 
outside, when Chloe, a rotund and greasily sleek cat, befriended us by kneading her 
claws into my stomach (I guess she thought it looked soft). A dog scared her away, and 
we called her name a few times before entering a tasting room. Somewhere between 
the viognier and syrah, two of Chloe’s twins appeared and leapt onto shelves holding 
expensive glassware. For being large, they were amazingly nimble. We kept looking in 
vain for Chloe afterward. Perhaps we’ll see her this time. Either way, there’ll be good 
food, good wine, and a good book for when they roll up the sidewalk at nine.

 
Most of the dogs I have owned throughout my life have 
been “mixed breeds” or what some like to call “mutts”, 
which is actually quite appropriate considering the fact 
that I myself come from a very eclectic genetic line of 
ancestry. I do not have a problem with so-called “mutts“, 
because more often than not mixed breeds are less apt 
to have the physical conditions and inherent diseases 
that seem to prevail with the pure bred. However, it just 
so happens that my current canine companion, “Tatertotts” 
is indeed an extremely pure bred bloodhound, 
born of parents who come from a long line of “blue-
blood” hounds, with a tight English family tree that 
traces all the way back to the turn of the 20th century. 
In jest, I call Tater an “in-bred re-tread”, mostly because 
of her behavioral traits. It is a term of endearment and 
by no means do I mean it as an insult, because I love her 
with all my heart. Let’s put it this way, that girl thinks 
she is the only dog on the face of the earth, so she is not 
the most social creature you’ve ever met! 

Although I would never breed dogs intentionally, 
I do appreciate what you might call the “art form” of 
breeding the “perfect specimen” of a given species and 
I enjoy seeing a dog whose traits, marks and characteristics 
were successfully bred for a specific purpose. Furthermore, 
most pure bred dogs seem to enjoy pleasing 
their masters by performing the “job” for which they 
were bred. In spite of the social challenges I have with 
my dog, when I look at her I can’t help thinking how 
gorgeous she is and how fortunate I am to have her. I 
adopted Tater from a breeder/handler who bred her for 
the show ring. One of 4 siblings, Tater’s brothers and 
sister were apparently quite successful at show, however 
at the age of 1 ½ years, when Tater proved less-than-
promising for winning “best-in-show”, the owner was 
forced to give her up. Lucky me! Tatertotts is different 
from any other dog I have ever owned. Like I said, most 
pets of mine have been “ combo-spawn”; the result of a 
neighboring dog jumping the fence and having his way 
with the dog next door, or an adoption through a local 
SPCA agency. 

I have never before owned a dog that required so 
many trips to the vet, but Tatertotts is a major part of 
my life, so she is definitely worth it. Fortunately, I have 
an excellent veterinarian whom I trust with regard 
to Tater’s health needs. Dr. Sylvia Domotor (Animal 
House in Monrovia) has been a godsend. She is knowledgeable 
about the unique needs of a bloodhound, and 
she cuts right to the chase with what must be done to 
keep Tater healthy. What surprised me most was to find 
out that the majority of Tater’s symptoms are nothing 
more than allergic reactions! At first I had a hard time 
understanding that the dark goop growing in her ears, 
and the odd blotchy spots that sometimes appear on 
the surface of her under belly and between the massive 
folds of skin beneath her neck are the result of allergies. 
It seemed so foreign a concept to me. However, now 
that I know what the problem is, I can get proper treatment 
to control it, and avoid more chronic conditions 
that may occur otherwise. 

What I have also come to know is that allergies are 
apparently very common among dogs, skin reactions 
are the most common symptoms, and certain breeds 
are more susceptible than others. Many allergens that 
effect dogs are the same ones that effect humans. To 
help identify and control symptoms, dog allergies are 
often categorized as inhalant, food, or parasite-related. 
Like humans, dogs can be allergic to air-borne particles 
that cause reactions such as sneezing, coughing, runny 
nose and watery eyes. Allergic reactions to certain 
foods are also common for the canine, and as most of 
us know all too well, parasites such as fleas and mites 
can cause chronic skin problems for our beloved pets. 
There are some home remedies for dog allergy symptoms, 
and fortunately veterinarians are well prepared 
to treat symptoms that cannot be remedied at home. 
Antihistamines found in the pharmacy aisle of our local 
grocery store can be efficient in treating some dog 
allergies. Common sense also tells us that when an allergen 
is removed from the dog’s environment, symptoms 
will decrease, so keeping the dog indoors when 
airborne pollen is potentially high can make a huge difference. 
Laundering the dog’s bedding and bathing the 
dog on a regular basis also helps. Be sure to use a mild, 
non-caustic soap product and take dry the dog off well 
afterwards. As for food allergies, most reactions are due 
to wheat or gluten ingredients used as fillers in dog food 
products. Check the label on the package, and try to 
stick with products that show meat as the main ingredient, 
versus grains or other fillers. If your dog continues 
to show symptoms of allergic reaction, consult your 
veterinarian in a timely manner. The good side of the 
story is the fact that when a pet is not feeling well, it 
doesn’t mean he is actually sick. It may just be a reaction 
to an allergen in his environment, and something 
that is easily remedied. Keep a close eye on your canine 
companion, and if you do detect symptoms, hopefully 
you will be as surprised as I was to find out it’s just an 
allergy that can be easily treated!