Mountain Views News          Saturday, October 8, 2011

15

THE WORLD AROUND US

 Mountain Views News Saturday, October 8, 2011 


Alma Opens Its Eyes

Humanity’s most complex ground-based 
astronomy observatory, the Atacama Large 
Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), has 
officially opened for astronomers at its 16,500-foot 
high desert plateau in northern Chile. Thousands 
of scientists from around the world are competing 
to be the first few researchers to explore some of 
the darkest, coldest, farthest, and most hidden 
secrets of the cosmos with this new astronomical 
tool.

“We went to one of the most extreme locations 
on Earth to build the world’s largest array of 
millimeter/sub-millimeter telescopes having a 
level of technical sophistication that was merely 
a dream only a decade ago,” said Dr. Mark 
McKinnon, North American ALMA Project 
Manager at the National Radio Astronomy 
Observatory (NRAO) in Charlottesville, Virginia. 
“And, now, here we are at the start of ALMA Early 
Science. We made the impossible possible. This 
truly is a great occasion!”

For the start of the “Early Science” phase of 
operations, around one third of ALMA’s eventual 
66 radio telescopes will make up the growing array, 
with two-thirds of those delivered by NRAO. 
Even while still under construction, ALMA has 
become the best telescope of its kind—a fact that 
was apparently well known to the astronomers 
who requested to observe with it.

Considering the limited number of hours 
allocated to this first phase of science, ALMA 
could only take about a hundred projects. “It 
was absolutely tremendous to receive more than 
nine hundred project proposals from astronomers 
from throughout the world wanting to use ALMA 
in this first ever science period!” said Dr. Lewis 
Ball, ALMA Deputy Director and NRAO’s ALMA 
Chief of Staff. “That represents a level of demand 
which is unprecedented across any ground-based 
or space telescope.” The successful projects 
were chosen based on their scientific value, their 
regional diversity, and also their relevance to 
ALMA’s major science goals.

“The ‘M’ in ALMA stands for ‘millimeter/
submillimeter’ waves, because ALMA views 
the Universe in these long wavelengths of light, 
much longer than the optical light we see with 
our eyes,” said Dr. Alison Peck, an NRAO 
astronomer serving as ALMA Deputy Project 
Scientist during construction. “With millimeter 
and submillimeter waves, we can watch planet 
formation, investigate astrochemistry, and detect 
the light that is finally reaching us from the 
Universe’s earliest galaxies. ALMA’s first projects 
will flex the telescope’s capabilities in all of these 
fields and many, many more.”

The millimeter/submillimeter waveband lies 
between the far-infrared and microwave portions 
of the electromagnetic spectrum—at the border 
between light waves and radio waves. The term 
usually refers to wavelengths between a few 
hundred micrometers and a millimeter.

During its Early Science observations, ALMA 
will continue its construction phase in the 
Chilean Andes, high on the remote Chajnantor 
Plain in the harsh Atacama Desert. Each new 
climate-armored telescope will join the array and 
be linked via fiber optic cabling. The views from 
each distant telescope are assembled into one large 
view by one of the world’s fastest, special-purpose 
supercomputers, the ALMA Correlator. Designed 
and built by the NRAO Technology Center in 
Charlottesville, Virginia, the ALMA Correlator 
performs 17 quadrillion operations per second.

By 2013, ALMA will be an 11-mile-wide array of 
66 ultra-precision millimeter/submillimeter wave 
radio telescopes, built by ALMA’s multinational 
partners in North America, East Asia, and Europe, 
working together as one.

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.

“NOTHING TO LOSE”

 
Steve Jobs (1955 – 2011)

“Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know of avoiding the trap 
of thinking that you’ve got something to lose.” 

“When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: “If you live each day as if it 
was your last, someday you’ll most certainly be right.” It made an impression on me, 
and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and 
asked myself: “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about 
to do today?” And whenever the answer has been “No” for too many days in a row, I 
know I need to change something.”

“Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish.” 

 “Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugared water or do you want a 
chance to change the world?” 

“We’re gambling on our vision, and we would rather do that than make “me too” 
products. Let some other companies do that. For us, it’s always the next dream.” 

“It’s more fun to be a pirate than to join the navy.” 

“What a computer is to me is the most remarkable tool that we have ever come up 
with. It’s the equivalent of a bicycle for our minds.” 

“Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me ... Going to bed at night 
saying we’ve done something wonderful... that’s what matters to me.” 

“If I were running Apple, I would milk the Macintosh for all it’s worth — and get 
busy on the next great thing. The PC wars are over. Done. Microsoft won a long time 
ago.” 

“I think if you do something and it turns out pretty good, then you should go do 
something else wonderful, not dwell on it for too long. Just figure out what’s next.” 

I have heard some employers will not consider you for employment if you have been unemployed for more than one 
year or more. Should I take any old job that is offered me or wait for the right one? Shemeka

Dear Shemeka:

You should always apply for positions that you want. Why waste your time pursing jobs that you really do not want? 
Why waste an employer’s time screening, interviewing and hiring someone who is only taking a job because they feel 
destitute? This usually results in a disgruntled employee and a very dissatisfied employer. The employment term is 
usually very short and it becomes a “lose-lose” situation. Employers are looking for a “win-win” hiring situation and 
that can only happen when the employer is looking for candidates that match their requirements, truly interested in the 
position and working for their company. You should do the same and only look for employers and positions that you 
would be willing to accept an offer. Spend your time searching only for positions that match your interest, experience 
and skill sets. Than you will only receive offers for the right job and not just any old job. 

I know all the ‘can’t find a job” stories and quotes out there are very discouraging: “there are not any jobs out there”, 
“no one is hiring”, “I can’t find the right position”, “there are so many people looking for jobs that I don’t have a chance”. 
NETWORK! Yes, I have said it again…and so do all the recruiters and career advisors. Over 80% of jobs are filled 
by employee referrals, friends, neighbors and strangers who know about jobs through their employer or someone who 
knows someone. You must get out there and start hand shaking and introducing yourself at events, job and hiring fairs, 
parties, everywhere, and let people know that you are job searching. Use the social internet (i.e., Facebook, twitter, 
LinkedIn, etc.). Use the telephone. Do whatever it takes to find the appropriate and satisfying position for you. Do 
not just take any old job. Because that is how you will always feel about it and that will most likely show up in your job 
performance. This is the “lose-lose” situation that I mentioned before.

I can tell you to not take just any old job. However, only you can make that decision based on your financial need 
and circumstances. The positive note here is that employers are very aware that a large percentage of job seekers have 
been out of work for more than one year. Keep in mind that they are looking for the ideal candidate and they are taking 
their time to hire. Continue to be diligent in your job search and believe that your time will come. Who knows…you 
could be creating a timely kismet for yourself and an employer.

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, or call 310-858-85821.


THE INS AND OUTS OF 

FELINE FRIENDSHIP

Man the Pumps!

I recently “house sat” for my parents while they went on their 
first vacation as carefree, retired people! Their instructions were 
undemanding. Get the paper and mail, turn the porch light on 
in the evening and off in the morning, water any anemic-looking 
plants, and feed the 
birds. This last detail 
requires some finesse if 
you want to keep all your 
digits. My parents have 
two parrots (lovable, 
but often vicious) 
and a “killer” finch. 
Thankfully the finch is 
only dangerous to his 
(or her?) roommates, 
which we concluded 
after noticing a pattern 
of suspicious serial 
deaths of Killer’s cage 
mates. Needless to say, 
Killer is now in solitary 
confinement.

I’ve developed a special trick for changing out the parrots’ food and water. It involves 
distracting them with one hand, while deftly withdrawing or inserting food or water 
bowls with the other. Killer’s beak is too small to break human skin, so his (or her) 
only recourse is to give an evil stare. If it had lips, it’d snarl.

Yes, this time my house sitting was rosy and bright, but it wasn’t always that way. It 
was roses, in fact, that caused a previous house sitting to turn disastrous. My parents 
had taken one of their long retreats up to Cambria (“Sierra Madre by the sea”). Again, 
my instructions were easy, but I figured that since I was there, I could do “more.” So 
I dead-headed the roses and commenced watering the flower beds. And that’s where 
it all hit the fan. I turned on a faucet in the backyard, only to be answered by violent 
shuddering of the earth beneath me. Thinking this can’t be right, I quickly turned the 
faucet off, but the damage was already done, unbeknownst to me.

I was soon ready to leave, but Fate, or the home owners’ angels, caused me to check 
the hallway. Barely visible, a soft mist emanated from the utility closet and steadily 
showered upon the floor (hardwood!). This in itself could be bad, but seeing as my 
parents were in the habit of stacking excess books on the floor lining the hallway, it was 
even worse. I saw, in horror, that copies of my parents’ favorite crime novels and health 
guides turned to mush as the geyser continued to spray. Opening the closet didn’t help 
much; all I discovered was a leaking pipe above the water heater (big surprise, right!).

Much as I hated to admit defeat, I called my dad in Cambria. He was cool about it, 
despite the irreparable damage to the hardwood, and told me to call Gem Plumbing. 
This I did. God bless them! The nicest guy came out, went back to the shop to get the 
right replacements (I couldn’t describe them accurately over the phone), and patched 
it all up like a surgeon for a very reasonable price!

I’ll always be thankful for Gem Plumbing coming through in my hour of need. 
However, from that time forth, I’ve always been careful to avoid that faucet. It’s no 
trouble watering the roses by hand!

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

Happy Tails

by Chris Leclerc.

Canyon Canine Dog 

Walking & Pet Sitting Services

With all the excitement of having 
2 enormous mountain lions sitting 
on the front porch of my neighbor’s 
house the night before last, the 
subject matter of this week’s Happy 
Tails somehow became much more 
pertinent than when I started this 
article last week. Whether or not 
domestic cats should be kept indoors 
“24-7“, verses being allowed to 
wander in and out of the house at 
will, has been an on-going debate 
for many years, and I am still unsure 
which side of the fence I am on with 
regard to this issue. 

In fact, I guess you could say that 
I am sitting on the fence. On one 
hand, I acknowledge that our furry 
feline friends are safer from harm and 
more secure indoors than out, but on 
the other hand, I also realize that 
cats, even those domesticated and 
bred to be pets, possess the natural 
instinct to want to explore the great 
outdoors. Are cats really happy being 
pent up in a home constantly? Are 
they ever truly content with taking 
part in the daily life activities of 
only the human being? Or, are they 
quite frustrated living the domestic 
life, looking through a glass window 
and seeing trees, grass, and other 
creatures, including neighboring 
cats, scampering about outside while 
they sit idle within the confines of 
four walls? Wouldn’t they rather be 
out enjoying the fresh air, sunshine, 
sounds and smells of nature? And 
finally, would the freedom they 
so naturally long for give them a 
healthier, more balanced, satisfying 
experience in life, and perhaps even 
prolong their lives by instilling in 
them a stronger will to live? These 
are very good questions to which 
I do not claim to have the correct 
answers, however I will admit that my 
experiences with cat ownership have 
always included a “kitty door”, and up 
until earlier this year, I was very lucky 
to never have lost any of my cats to a 
coyote or a car, nor did any of them 
simply go missing…until earlier this 
year. For the first time in my long life 
of owning pets, I lost a kitty to the 
great outdoors, and it broke my heart.

 

I found “Schatt” in the 
garden department at 
Home Depot one Saturday 
morning while shopping for 
flowers to plant in the yard. 
I kept hearing a high pitched 
screech coming from somewhere in 
the corner of the warehouse where 
they keep all the gardening supplies, 
and at first I was sure it was a bird in 
distress. I followed the sound until 
I discovered the tiniest black kitten 
I’d ever seen, yelling at the top of his 
lungs from inside a shopping cart 
covered with cardboard. Apparently 
one of the ladies who worked in 
the garden department found him 
wandering in the parking lot when 
she arrived early that morning, and 
put him in the cart to keep him safe 
until someone came along to take him 
home. When I opened the cart, that 
tiny kitty jumped up on my chest and 
put his nose to mine with his brilliant 
green eyes bulging desperately. He 
then proceeded to crawl up on my 
shoulders and wrapped himself 
around the back of my neck. He didn’t 
scratch me at all, he just muscled 
himself up under my chin, then slid 
behind my neck with his face hidden 
under my hair, as if he knew he’d 
found the right person to take him 
home. I was immediately smitten by 
that little kitten, I must say, so I didn’t 
even bother calling my husband to 
ask if it was OK, I just carried him 
out to my car and off we went! In 
case you’re wondering why his name 
became “Schatt”, it was inspired by 
a little accident that happened on 
the back seat during the ride home 
- use your imagination! Schatt lived 
indoors for the first couple of days, 
then in keeping with my philosophy 
that a cat must be a lot happier when 
allowed to roam outdoors, I decided 
I would have to trust this new found 
friend to stick close to home, and I 
opened the bathroom window just 
enough to allow him to go out during 
the day. For several years it proved to 
be a successful setup. That little cat 
lived a very exciting life. He was quite 
the hunter, bringing home all sorts 
of trophies such as mice, rats and 
unfortunately a bird or two now and 
then. As he grew older, he would leave 
the house for longer periods of time, 
but he always came home for dinner. 
Then, one day he did not return home, 
and I called to him until midnight. 
The next morning and called to him 
again, but there was no sign of my 
precious cat. After the second day of 
his absence I started making calls to 
my neighbors and placing “LOST” 
signs around the block, hoping that 
someone had found him and taken 
him in, but unfortunately I never 
saw Schatt again. He was such an 
important part of our lives for several 
years, and he will always be missed 
in our home. At first I struggled with 
the guilt factor of having allowed 
him to run free, but I eventually had 
to let it go, knowing that I rescued 
him from a parking lot. What kind 
of life would he have had, if not for 
me taking him home to begin with? 
I would love to have another cat, but 
I hesitate to adopt one because I am 
not fully comfortable with the idea of 
keeping it inside on a constant basis. 
So, therein lies my dilemma.

There are a few facts that I think 
should play an important part in 
deciding whether or not to keep 
an open door policy with a feline 
friend. I believe that each cat should 
be understood and treated like 
an individual. Some felines have 
a stronger sense of danger or risk 
when wandering outside, while 
others have a more trusting spirit 
and are less likely to be aware of their 
surroundings. Also, some feline breed 
characteristics are more conducive 
to handling the challenges of nature 
than others. These variables should 
be considered when the final straw is 
drawn. Another part of the equation 
is whether or not the cat has been 
de-clawed. This brings on a whole 
new subject matter that is constantly 
under debate, I know, but one thing is 
for sure, no de-clawed cat should ever 
be allowed to roam free. Every cat 
owner must make their own decision 
as to whether they will allow their pet 
to enjoy the great outdoors, or be kept 
inside. Take the time to get to know 
your pet, and do what you feel is right. 
Use consistent commands such as the 
cat’s name, a specific whistle call or a 
yelp that he or she gets to know well 
enough to respond to. And, in the 
worst case scenario that your cat does 
go missing, don’t beat yourself up for 
it. Give them the best life they could 
possibly have, and enjoy them while 
they are there.