Mountain Views News          Saturday, September 17, 2011

16

THE WORLD AROUND US

Mountain Views-News Saturday, September 17, 2011 


“STAR WARS” PLANET DISCOVERED ORBITING TWO STARS

The existence of a world with a double sunset, 
as portrayed in the film Star Wars more than 
30 years ago, is now scientific fact. NASA’s 
Kepler mission has made the first unambiguous 
detection of a circumbinary planet—a planet 
orbiting two stars—200 light-years from Earth in 
the constellation Cygnus the Swan. The findings 
are described in a new study published Sept. 16 in 
the journal Science.

Unlike Star Wars’ Tatooine, this planet is cold, 
gaseous and not thought to harbor life, but its 
discovery demonstrates the diversity of planets 
in our galaxy. Previous research has hinted at 
the existence of circumbinary planets, but clear 
confirmation proved elusive. Kepler detected 
such a planet, known as Kepler-16b, by observing 
transits, where the brightness of a parent star dims 
because of a planet crossing directly in front of it.

A research team led by Laurance Doyle of the 
SETI Institute in Mountain View, Calif., used data 
from the Kepler space telescope, which measures 
dips in the brightness of more than 150,000 stars, 
to search for transiting planets. 

“This system is so fascinating since it is viewed 
edge-on, and all three bodies—the two stars and 
the planet—are all eclipsing each other,” said 
Doyle, who is lead author of the Science paper.

When the smaller star partially blocks the larger 
star, a primary eclipse occurs, and a secondary 
eclipse occurs when the smaller star is occulted 
(completely blocked) by the larger star.

Astronomers further observed that the 
brightness of the system dipped even when the 
stars were not eclipsing one another, hinting 
at a third body. The additional brightness-
dimming events, called tertiary and quaternary 
eclipses, reappeared at irregular intervals of time, 
indicating that the stars were in different positions 
in their orbit each time the third body passed. 
This showed that the third body was circling not 
just one, but both stars, in a wide circumbinary 
orbit.

The gravitational tug on the stars, measured 
by changes in their eclipse times, was a good 
indicator of the mass of the third body. Only a 
very slight gravitational pull was detected, one 
that only could be caused by a small mass. 

“Most of what we know about the sizes of stars 
comes from such eclipsing binary systems, and 
most of what we know about the size of planets 
comes from transits,” said Doyle. “Kepler-16 
combines the best of both worlds, 
with stellar eclipses and planetary 
transits in one system.”

Kepler-16b is an inhospitable, 
cold world about the size of Saturn 
and thought to be made up of about 
half rock and half gas. The parent 
stars are smaller than our Sun. 
One is 69 percent the mass of the 
Sun and the other only 20 percent. 
Kepler-16b orbits around both stars 
every 229 days.

“Working in film, we often are 
tasked with creating something 
never before seen,” said visual 
effects supervisor John Knoll of 
Industrial Light & Magic, a division 
of Lucasfilm Ltd., which created the 
Star Wars films. “However, more 
often than not, scientific discoveries 
prove to be more spectacular than 
anything we dare imagine. There is 
no doubt these discoveries influence and inspire 
storytellers. Their very existence serves as cause 
to dream bigger and open our minds to new 
possibilities beyond what we think we ‘know.’”

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


Ask jai……


STILL THE CHAMP

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.

Microsoft debuted its newest OS, Windows 8 Live, this week at BUILD conference 
and so far the reviews have been pretty positive. That’s saying a lot considering the jaded 
audience that normally attends these types of conferences, and it also hints loudly that 
Microsoft may have gotten things right with this new release and it is ready for prime-
time very early on this time around. Windows 8 Live is being marketed primarily as 
a tablet OS, intended to compete with the iPad and other big players in the mobile 
computing market, and it appears to be making positive waves from the start. Windows 
Live 8 will also function effectively as a PC\Desktop OS which ensures that the existing 
Windows customer install-base will be able to take advantage of the new features as 
well.

In short, it appears that Microsoft will more than likely hold onto its dominant 
position in the marketplace. Today’s computer user has many alternatives to Microsoft 
offerings for most situations, from the personal to the professional and everything 
in between. Both Apple and various versions of Linux have proven themselves to be 
stable (and popular) computing platforms but to date neither has made much dent in 
Microsoft’s significant market share. It is estimated that nearly 90% of the computers 
in the world have some version of a Windows Operating System and it’s been that way 
for a very long time. There are many reasons why this state of affairs persists and here 
are just a few:

1. “The Enterprise” wants it that way – Big Business buys lots of computers and 
they tend to buy the same types of computers when they work. So if Small Business wants 
to do business with Big Business, their computers had better be able to communicate 
and compute on the same level.

2. Install-Base Inertia – It would take something fairly significant for 90% of the 
computer users of the world to switch to another OS and apparently, that significant 
event hasn’t happened yet.

3. Windows “works” – All kidding and opinions aside, Windows is the most 
usable and capable OS on the market today and none of the other contenders come 
close. Yet.

 Yeah…I can hear Mac fans already calling ‘BS’ already but in reality you don’t have 
the numbers on your side. That’s what the ‘Yet’ is for.

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 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 a management trainee position, you are consider a corporate investment and will be assigned 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 your professional category is (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.

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 enclose or attach 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. 

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.


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

Surprise Ingredients!

It will probably not come as a shock to you, but it isn’t always 
easy coming up with “this and that” to write about each week. 
(Actually, it is, but I couldn’t submit those stories.) This was one of 
those weeks. Sure, I could’ve written about “Back to School,” but I 
did that last year, and my thoughts on the subject haven’t changed 
much since then. (If you want to relive the magic of that article 
you can find it archived online from last September.)

So... “What to write about?” I wondered. As if in answer to my thought, I received 
a text from my mom titled “You’ll never believe what I almost ate!” (For all you 
weak-stomached readers out there, this is your cue to skip to another section of the 
paper. Come back next week and I’ll have something 
that won’t ruin your appetite.) We’ve all come across 
things in our food that shouldn’t be there. Sometimes 
they’re animal, sometimes human. They can be whole, 
or they can be partial. Hopefully they’re not still 
living! Everyone has experienced this in some degree 
of grossness. If you think you haven’t, it’s just because 
you’ve never looked hard enough.

I’m reminded of a time when I almost scooped up a 
segmented worm with its bed of spinach in a NEWLY 
delivered tray at a buffet. Granted, buffets aren’t 
your safest bet for uncontaminated food due to their 
communal nature (see my buffet article in the January 
archives). On the human side, one of my friends took 
me to her favorite burger joint. Everything was hunky 
dory until I found a hair (thick) AT THE BOTTOM of a plastic container of salsa. I 
was just thankful my eyes found it before my tongue did! Needless to say, that is no 
longer my friend’s favorite burger destination.

Hair in food is always nasty, but my husband and his friend have what I consider 
to be one of the nastiest hair encounters. They ordered a sushi roll and there was 
a hair --in the first, second, and no doubt all each eight pieces! Somehow that just 
seems planned.

On the animal side, I ordered a scone that came with a fish bone. This was interesting 
because there wasn’t any fish on the menu. Maybe it was a free range scone. I once 
got a salad to go from a popular eatery in Eagle Rock, only to find an unidentified 
green bug scurrying across the Romaine. Hey, at least it was fresh! Which brings 
up the question --just how nasty does the food infraction have to be for you to reject 
the whole dish? I’m not one of those people who has the guts to call their waiter over 
and demand a redo (besides, I think that probably increases your chances of having 
something unwanted land in your plate). 

Obviously, cost, logistics, and fault factor in. Regarding cost, I wouldn’t feel too 
cheated if I had to toss a wormy fundraiser candy bar. But if a $40 steak from an 
expensive restaurant had an eyelash on the outer rim, I think I could live with just 
brushing it off. (I’m making this up because I don’t frequent those places. Visit 
Peter Dills’ column for a more accurate analysis.) Regarding logistics, sometimes 
it just isn’t practical or possible to return your order. In my bug situation, I had 
already driven home with the thing, and the establishment was closed by that time 
anyway. (They were probably saving their buggy salads for the last-minute diners.) 
Fault can also influence one’s feelings about infested food. If my scone has a small 
femur, that’s not my fault. But if I discover a long forgotten canister of Quaker Oats 
that has by now housed several generations of kitchen moths, that’s my fault, so I 
can’t complain. At the end of the day, all I can recommend is to steer clear of places 
you know have dealt unwanted animal or human elements. And sometimes it’s 
better to be blissfully ignorant.


Cognitive Capacity of the Canine

Happy Tails

by Chris Leclerc.

Canyon Canine Dog 

Walking & Pet Sitting Services


It is no secret that the average 
domestic dog is capable of learning 
and responding to a wide variety 
of verbal commands. Particularly 
common to most pets are the single-
consonant terms typically used in 
basic obedience training, such as 
“fetch“, “sit” or “stay”. In fact, as 
a dog walker and pet sitter with 
several clients in tow, I have yet to 
meet a pet owner who has not taken 
the time to teach their dog at least 
one or two commands, to help keep 
some semblance of order and prevent 
chaos in the household . 

Historically, the general consensus 
regarding a canine’s capability of 
learning, responding to and obeying 
verbal commands, has been based 
more on the dog’s parsimonious 
survival instincts, than on 
intelligence or cognitive capacity. 
However, recent scientific studies 
indicate that there may be a lot 
more to a dog’s ability to learn, than 
what we might think. New findings 
show that most dogs apply previous 
learning to new situations, perform 
selective imitation, and understand 
human gestures and new words. 
Results of many recent studies 
indicate that the dog’s capacity 
for communicating with, learning 
from and relating to humans, is 
more cognitive than survival-driven 
instinct.

 

While many mammalian species 
are apparently capable of learning 
and responding to the verbal 
commands and physical gestures of 
the human being, the cooperative 
nature of the canine is what sets it 
apart from most other mammals. 

The difference lies in the fact that 
the domestic dog harbors a certain 
loyalty toward his human master, 
that most other mammals do not 
possess. This is likely related to the 
fact that the dog depends on the 
human for it’s day-to-day needs, 
nourishment and safety more than 
any other mammalian sub-species. 
Another unique factor is that the 
dog tends to thrive on pleasing his 
human friend and genuinely enjoys 
the company. Take “Chaser”, for 
example. Chaser is a six-year-old 
Border Collie, trained to understand 
and comprehend more than 1,000 
English spoken words. He even 
comprehends the words when they 
are used in a combination of simple 
sentences. Chaser responds correctly 
when told to either retrieve and 
deliver, nose, toe or hide a given 
object; and we are talking about a 
collection of 1,000 items, each of 
which he remembers the given name! 
Border Collies are more attentive 
and trainable than most dog breeds, 
that I admit, and they are considered 
to be more intelligent than most 
other breeds but still, it is amazing 
that any dog can perform a task 
involving such complex memory 
and problem-solving combinations, 
some of which even I might not be 
able to successfully perform. 

Another example of the 
remarkable cognitive capability of 
the canine is shown in the results of 
a study at the University of Vienna 
in Austria where numerous dogs 
were prompted to select particular 
photos on a touch computer screen. 
The point of the study was to show 
that the subject canines could 
categorize the graphic matter in 
the photos per command, based 
on visual familiarity and memory. 
When shown different sets of dog 
and landscape photos, the tested 
canines consistently selected the 
appropriate photo per command, 
demonstrating that they could 
apply their own understanding and 
previous learning to a new situation 
un-related to previous experiences. 

Researchers further tested their 
four-legged subjects by showing 
pictures of a empty landscapes along 
with others of similar landscapes 
including a dog. Most subjects 
selected the pictures with the dog 
in the landscape. I find these test 
results remarkable myself. Although, 
honestly, it doesn’t matter to me 
whether my dog could select the 
correct picture in an experiment, or 
remember every command I hoped to 
instill in her, just knowing that dogs 
in general, are capable of consistently 
understanding, comprehending and 
responding to basic human verbal 
and body language to the extent that 
they can, is quite remarkable and 
it inspires me to continue research 
on the cognitive capability of the 
canine. 

It also lends credence to the 
particular behavior of my own dog 
and helps me understand why she 
behaves the way she does.