The answer to this question, it seems, is pretty straightforward: they want the next Pinterest.
Pinterest certainly looks like a venture capital firm?s dream. Start-up costs can?t be high, and it looks like the company can manage for a while on a small staff. Growth has been incredible. And, it hooks into one of the biggest social media trends on the planet: sharing photos. Pinterest is still young, and it has already become a major force on the web. According to PEHub, it?s one of the fastest-growing social media properties in history.
So, what makes Pinterest stand out? Charles Hudson of SoftTech VC tells PEHub that the ?Pinterests of the world ? they just look different?.
And, it?s the look that matters these days.
Facebook sees around 250 mn photos posted every day, and it was the addition of photo sharing features that drove an astounding increase in engagement. I don?t have the stats, but as an early Twitter user (2008), I can tell you that my world changed with TwitPic, which at the time consisted of emailing photos from my phone to a bizarre email address at TwitPic that I always had trouble remembering.
Needless to say, Pinterest is incredibly hot right now. And, it is a simple, easy-to-use social media application. In almost no time, it has risen to an implied valuation of $200 mn. That?s the sort of thing that makes venture capital firms salivate.
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[unable to retrieve full-text content]AP - A bus driver was acquitted Tuesday of homicide in the deaths of four passengers killed when his double-decker crashed into an overpass in upstate New York.
1 hour payday loans are becoming very popular in the private financial lending market. This kind of loan was introduced keeping in mind the usual tendency of people who do not believe in saving. Upon an unannounced financial emergency, people may need immediate. This is where cash advance proves to be a valuable help to many people. Good research over the financial market can get people better deals with low interest rates and easy terms and conditions. By comparing different online quotes one can get better deals at competitive rates.
1 hour payday loans are a fairly small loan which ranges up to ?1500 and is lent for a time period of 31 days. They are allotted under policies that do not call for collateral of your valuable belongings and this is the reason why it is short in nature. There is no need of any documentation or paperwork in 1 hour payday loans as these loans are generally applied online. To get these loans the borrower will need to provide some information for example, his name, his employment status, wages and some other basic financial details to the lender. Once the lender receives the online application he will decide regarding the approval of the loan and the amount to be approved. If the borrower is approved for the loan he may choose to get the money as cash or have them transferred in to his named bank account.
Basically, 1 hour payday loans can help people surge over certain small financial conditions when they are not ready to wait till the next payday. 1 hour payday loans can be utilized for solving various unexpected monetary emergencies such as paying bills, hospital expenses, and crucial house repairs. The main advantage of such loans is fast approval and hassle-free application procedure which helps people to obtain money in a short time for emergency situations. Usually, in 1 hour payday loans there is no credit checks involved. This means if the borrower has a bad credit history he can still apply and be granted the loan just like anybody who has an absolutely clean credit record. Usually, few payday lenders make the borrowers repay the amount borrowed by getting a signed and post dated check payment for the loan along with fees and interest charged. This post dated payment is then halted till the time of lending period by the lender and cashed in again, at the agreed repayment date.
About Author Kent Harvey :
Kent Harvey is financial adviser for Loans 1 Hr. To find more about 1 hour payday loans, 1 hour payday loan, payday loan in 1 hour, payday loans in 1 hour and 1 hour payday loans uk. visit http://www.loans1hr.co.uk/
You can find different burglary alarms and house surveillance programs available, made to make it easier to safeguard your own home. Whilst they may be fantastic in their own legal rights, absolutely nothing compares to an outdated fashioned guard pet. Guard dogs are used for generations ? to help men and women guard their residences and their belongings.
For quite some time, guard dogs have assisted to scare off burglars and intruders. Despite the fact that most have gotten accustomed to dogs now times, nothing at all fends off a thief over a vicious dog grabbing his ankle and clamping down. Nearly all guard pet dogs have really serious bites and can seriously injure a burglar. Guard canines are skilled to protect one?s residence ? and they?ll achieve this regardless of what. dog snuggie
Any time you get yourself a guard puppy, it is best to usually make certain that you just permit him know that is risk-free to generally be all around your house. You really do not want the pet dog to be vicious towards everyone, as friends and family are undoubtedly permitted to be all-around your own home. Most guard dogs are left outside from the household, with some choosing to keep them indoors. Indoor pet dogs are wonderful, since they will instantaneously catch a burglar the second he decides to interrupt into your own home. dog snuggie
For those who decide to preserve your guard puppy indoors, you must normally use a supply of foodstuff and h2o readily available, as he?ll be there when you are not. Additionally, you will ought to give him entry to an outside area at the same time, so he can use the lavatory. A fenced in lawn is definitely an great put for just a guard dog to go outside, as he can occur and go as he pleases. From time to time, a burglar will look at and sneak across the back entrance ? which can be where giving a guard canine outdoors accessibility can really can be found in handyBefore shopping for the dog, you?ll want to often carefully analysis the species and where you plan to get your dog from. Police canines or pet dogs which have been properly trained for safety are perfect, because they presently know how to defend items. Dobermans and Pit Bulls are wonderful for protection in addition, just simply because they are famous for staying incredibly vicious. dog snuggie
In the event you meticulously homework your options and get your guard dog from a efficient supply, you shouldn?t have a lot of nearly anything to worry about. You must in no way get your dog from a lesser known or inadequate source, because canine could be poorly qualified or not in very good health. A guard dog could be a terrific addition to any property ? furnishing you receive a dog in superior wellness and much more than capable to fend of burglars.
New Health And Fitness.Org - Health Information You Can Use
Although there are some people who like to switch back and forth between contact lenses and glasses, most will prefer one over the other to help correct their vision. Wearing contact lenses is quite a different experience from wearing glasses, and for those who prefer contacts, the reasons are many. Contact lenses work well for correcting conditions like nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. You can get contacts that are colored or clear, long wear or disposable or even in bifocals.
One of the things that many people like about contact lenses is that no one needs to know you?re wearing corrective lenses unless you want them to. Contacts give the wearer a more natural look, which is preferred by many people over the look of a pair of glasses sitting on their heads. The fact that the total field of vision is in focus like with natural eyesight is another benefit that many find with wearing contact lenses. Sometimes with glasses, the frames can get in the way of peripheral vision. Since contact lenses sit directly on the eye, there is nothing to get in the way and you can focus clearly in every direction.
Sports are another area where many people prefer contact lenses over glasses. Performance may be improved due to the field of vision improvement, and there is no chance that contacts will slide off your face or get jammed into the side of your head during the course of the game or match. A lot of people prefer contacts for driving too, because any glare that might be noticed with glasses won?t be with contact lenses.
Overall lifestyle is another area where contact lenses reign supreme in many people?s minds. Glasses are often thought of as a fashion accessory and sometimes you?ll even have to alter your wardrobe to make everything fit just right. With contact lenses, that isn?t a problem as there are no frames to get in the way and disrupt your color scheme or style. Colored contact lenses are also an option if you would like to use them as a fashion accessory. You can get contacts that highlight your existing eye color or change it altogether. Planning your wardrobe the right way can make your eyes stand out and draw attention from those around you.
Some may consider contact lenses to be a little less convenient than wearing glasses, but certain types of contacts help to increase the convenience factor. Daily disposable contact lenses are probably the most convenient of all the types of contacts because you don?t have to bother with the hygiene rituals that make them inconvenient in the first place. With daily disposable contacts, you just wear them one time and then throw them out. The next day, you open a new pack and start again. There?s no need to store them, clean them or disinfect them. Instead of glasses, contact lenses will likely continue to grow in popularity as new innovations are made and new lenses come into the marketplace.
Searching for the perfect eyeglasses? Whether you have astigmatism, dry eyes or poor vision, your vision needs will be met.
[unable to retrieve full-text content]ContributorNetwork - The Associated Press reports just days before the Michigan and Arizona presidential primaries, polls in one state show two mainstream candidates neck and neck. Despite being born in Michigan, Mitt Romney is facing a surprising test against Rick Santorum. In Arizona, Romney is way ahead in polling there. Neither Newt Gingrich nor Rep. Ron Paul are actively campaigning in either state.
The looming closure of three Australian refineries will affect the security of liquid fuel supplies in Australia. This is particularly so if the government and the oil industry do not devise a joint strategy with which to respond to potential supply disruptions.
Last week, Caltex Australia has written down the value of its two oil refineries (Kurnell in NSW and Lytton in Queensland) by A$1.5 billion. Caltex announced that the results of an operational review due in six months could lead to refinery closures.
The closure may mark another milestone in the decline of Australia?s refining sector. Shell confirmed in July 2011 that it will shut down refining operations at Clyde and convert the Clyde Refinery and Gore Bay Terminal into a fuel import facility by mid-2013. ExxonMobil?s Port Stanvac refinery near Adelaide was mothballed in 2003. In 2009, the decision was made to close down the refinery.
If an ongoing Caltex review results in closure of the two refineries, the nation will be reduced to just four, half the number in 2003.
Caltex?s position also raises questions over the viability of the nation?s four other refineries. Analysts often tout ExxonMobil?s Altona refinery in Melbourne as a candidate for divestment.
There is consensus among industry analysts that it is extremely unlikely there will be any new major additions to Australia?s refining capacity. In fact, BP?s chief economist Christof Ruhl described the future of the local refining industry as ?dire?.
Why are Australian refineries closing down?
All of the recent refinery closures have been attributed to the rise of huge refineries in the Asian region, where a surge of new capacity has depressed profit margins in the industry. The closures were not carbon tax related.
Australia?s refineries have experienced declining gross margins for several years, mainly due to competition from foreign refineries, an oversupply of refining capacity in Asia, and the high cost of transporting crude oil to Australia.
Crude oil is transported in large tankers (VLCCs) ? up to 200,000 tonnes. Petroleum products are transported in much smaller ships ? up to 45,000 tonnes. The freight (per barrel) is cheaper for crude oil via VLCCs. However, this is eroded by the higher cost of refining in Australia which results from smaller scale, higher capital costs, and higher wages and energy costs. Thus, the key problem for Australian refiners is that the landed cost of crude oil in Australia plus refining costs and a profit margin is higher than the landed cost of petroleum products.
Refineries need a production capacity of at least 200,000 barrels per day (bpd) in order to reach the minimum efficient scale. Australian refineries are small in capacity (see table) compared with new refineries in Asia. For example, the world?s largest refinery (Jamnagar in India with the production capacity of 1,240,000 bpd, owned by Reliance Industries) could supply more than Australia?s entire yearly fuel demand.
Powering down: Australia's oil refineries
As well as being comparatively small, Australia?s oil refineries are old, with the last refinery built in 1965. Consequently, they require large investment for upgrade in line with evolving environmental standards.
Australia is not unique amongst developed countries in this regard. New oil refineries have not been built in the US since 1976, with more than 30 refineries being closed in the last decade. The story is similar in the UK, with the closure of ten refineries since the late 1970s. The majority of closures have happened in OECD countries and this trend is likely to continue.
The prospects for Australian refineries depend on competitive conditions set by global refinery circumstances. The Australian refining industry operates in an internationally competitive market, with large refinery capacity existing in Asia capable of exporting substantial volumes of fuel to Australia. In this context, importing refined fuel from Asian mega-refineries, such as Reliance Industry?s Jamnagar, ExxonMobil?s Singapore refinery or Shell?s Singapore refinery is more cost-effective for oil companies.
How do refinery closures affect Australia?s energy security?
The total demand for petroleum products in Australia is 941,000 bpd. Consumption of refined petroleum products is projected to grow 1.2 per cent a year over the long term.
Future reductions in refining capacity in Australia (from current 761,500 bpd to 433,000 bpd if only four refineries remain operational) and growth in demand imply that imports will play an increasingly greater role in meeting domestic demand.
According to an Australian Strategic Policy Institute report, the fact that domestic oil production and refining capacity falls short of local demand means that Australia is, at least to some extent, vulnerable to the disruption of supplies of crude and refined petroleum products during times of crisis.
According to the former managing director of Caltex Australia, Des King, ?Retaining a substantial oil refining capability is essential to Australia?s energy security.? The closure of domestic refineries will not improve Australia?s energy security in liquid fuels.
Future reductions in Australian refining capacity, coupled with higher levels of demand for liquid fuels, will result in the elimination of spare refining capacity. Domestic refineries will have limited scope to increase production or divert export cargoes into the domestic market in the event of a breakdown. Replacing domestic production losses with imported product may take time to deliver due to the longer supply chains associated with imported petroleum products.
Domestic refineries provide a much greater degree of flexibility in the product supply chain in the event of an unexpected supply disruption. For example, as the major source of imported refined petroleum products to Australia, the loss of refining capacity in Singapore could be the source of significant product shortages in Australia.
The closure of domestic refineries will make Australia more dependent on overseas refiners who may be less responsive to the needs of their Australian customers than would be the case with a domestic refiner. It will also reduce the diversification of supply options available for Australia.
Fast track to dependence. AAP/Dean Lewins
What has been the government?s reaction to closures?
The Australian Government recognised in its 2008 National Energy Security Assessment, that liquid fuel security will decline significantly if the future viability of Australian refineries is challenged and more Australian refineries close.
Yet, as with broader energy policy, the Federal Government has adopted a laissez faire approach to refining. It does not consider refinery closures as a threat to security of fuel supply.
According to the government?s Draft Energy White Paper, a growing reliance on liquid fuel imports is not considered to impair long?term liquid fuel security due to our ability to import an adequate and reliable supply of liquid fuels through well?established and diverse international supply chains.
In a statement following Shell?s decision to shut down the Clyde refinery, the Federal Minister for Resources, Martin Ferguson, said the future of the refinery was a commercial matter for Shell and he didn?t have concerns about security of supply.
Yet, analysts suggest that a major disruption to Australia?s oil refining industry would have major consequences not only for the industry but also on society and the economy as a whole. Accordingly, the government and the industry are not adequately prepared to respond to or recover from major disaster or disruption. A substantial reduction in Australia?s refining capacity will cause a major shift in Australia?s liquid fuels supply chain and may have significant security implications if supply disruptions arise.
While the government may not change its laissez faire approach to the refining industry, the possible implications of the decline of Australia?s refining industry require detailed scrutiny in Canberra.
At the very least, a major review of government?s petroleum supply security policy, and industry?s preparedness to deal with potential supply disruptions, is in order as part of the 2014 National Energy Security Assessment process.
Tattoos have long served as fashion statements, but a small number of Americans are now relying on them for a more practical, potentially lifesaving purpose: to warn first responders about important medical conditions.
[unable to retrieve full-text content]Reuters - Anyone looking for more evidence of a strengthening U.S. economic recovery need only consider conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway (BRKa.N), where businesses ranging from railroads and electric utilities to furniture and candy stores are racking up record profits.
Homes with their own swimming pools are highly desirable, but homeowners should be aware of the responsibilities that come with owning such an amenity. A good understanding of the safety issues around the installation and use of private pools is necessary. Pool fencing can protect people, particularly young children, from the dangers of water.
Drowning is a common cause of accidental death among young children. Erecting fences all the way around swimming pools could prevent many unnecessary drowning accidents. Fences have the added advantage of keeping pets, wildlife and intruders out of the water. They provide peace of mind and enable all family members to enjoy using the rest of the garden safely.
In many cases local regulations will require homeowners to make their pools safe. A safety fence may be compulsory in some areas. The fence should be robust and made from durable materials. It should be high enough to prevent a child from climbing over it. A gate with a childproof latch is imperative. The gate should always be kept closed. It is important to avoid leaving furniture next to the fence that may enable a child to climb over.
Some people fear that a fence will make their poolside area look ugly. This need not be the case. There are many attractive options available that can augment garden architecture and planting. There is a variety of materials, styles and colors to choose from.
Timber fences can provide privacy and hide pools from general view. Timber is often a material that is sympathetic to the rest of the garden; it can be painted or stained to match other garden structures. Aluminum railings are durable and require less maintenance. They can be simple and elegant or wrought into intricate designs. Unframed glass panels can look very sophisticated and can be used to maximize light and visibility.
Drowning incidents can be reduced if pool fencing is erected. There is no substitute for close supervision where children are concerned, but a fence will give homeowners extra peace of mind. For those who are style conscious as well as safety conscious, there is no need to compromise garden design.
Click here to learn more: pool fencing and pool fences
If ever there was a "One more thing moment" it came at Huawei's Mobile World Congress 2012 press conference today, where the company's chairman waited until after a Q&A session to say, oh by the way, it'll sell a 10-inch version of its MediaPad tablet. The company stopped short of providing specs, and in the hands-on area outside the event, journalists were prohibited from actually touching the device. Here's what we know, though: it has a 10-inch 1080p, IPS display and the same industrial sign as the original MediaPad (aka the T-Mobile Springboard), with what appears to be a unibody aluminum design. You'll also find that white piece of plastic on the back that brings to mind HTC devices of yore, but instead of capping either portrait end, it stretches across the top of the back, where the eight megapixel camera is. The tablet will ship with Ice Cream Sandwich, and, as before, the skinning atop Android seems minimal -- vanilla, even! Other specs: it has the same new K3V2 chip found inside the Ascend D Quad smartphone announced today. It'll ship in markets like China and Europe in Q2 (that means we don't know about US availability yet). For now, though, we've got some eyes-on shots below for your viewing pleasure.
Download Java Runtime Environment 6 Update 16Java Runtime Environment 6 Update 16?is launched to be a helpful and smart program which enables you to run applications called ?applets? that are written in the Java programming language. These applets allow you to play online games, chat with people around the world, calculate your mortgage interest, and view images in 3D. Corporations also use applets for intranet applications and e-business solutions. Java technology was created as a computer programming tool in a small, secret effort called ?the Green Project? at Sun Microsystems in 1991.?As it turns out, the Internet was ready for Java technology, and just in time for its initial public introduction in 1995, the team was able to announce that the Netscape Navigator Internet browser would incorporate Java technology.? Now, nearing its twelfth year, the Java platform has attracted over 5 million software developers, worldwide use in every major industry segment, and a presence in a wide range of devices, computers, and networks of any programming technology. Today, you can find Java technology in networks and devices that range from the Internet and scientific supercomputers to laptops and cell phones, from Wall Street market simulators to home game players and credit cards ? just about everywhere. Major Features:
Write software on one platform and run it on virtually any other platform Create programs to run within a Web browser and Web services Develop server-side applications for online forums, stores, polls, HTML forms processing, and more Combine applications or services using the Java language to create highly customized applications or services Write powerful and efficient applications for mobile phones, remote processors, low-cost consumer products, and practically any other device with a digital heartbeat
Requirements:
Windows 7?Vista?Windows XP/2000?Windows Server 2008?Windows Server 2003 Intel and 100% compatible processors are supported. A Pentium 166MHz or faster processor with at least 64MB of physical RAM is recommended. You will also need a minimum of 98MB of free disk space.?
File size: 15.8 MB Platform: Windows All License: Freeware Price:FREE Publisher:Sun Microsystems Inc
Download Java Runtime Environment 6 Update 16
Sponsored Links:
February 25th, 2012 in Windows Software | tags: 6, 6 Update, environment, java, Java programming language, java runtime, java runtime environment, java runtime environment 6, Java Runtime Environment 6 Update, Java Runtime Environment 6 Update 16, runtime, runtime environment, runtime environment 6, To run, update 16, Written in
[unable to retrieve full-text content]The Serious Games Association has formed to sponsor conferences, training, research and other programs. The group is recruiting members. ?Serious? games or simulations are designed for learning or training, not purely for ...
I?m Benjamin Fordyce a 20 year old entrepreneur from Lincolnshire, England. Ive been born and raised in a business environment and learned various aspects of business throughout the years. Now [?]?
Do You Have What It Takes????
We sat down with a slew of business owners to try and figure out exactly what makes a person go and start a business. The results were not definitive, but [?]?
Free The Apps: How To Outsource Effectively???
We are Quoc Bui and Michael Moon. We?re your typical ?Two guys in a garage start a business? (http://www.elance.com/p/two-guys-in-a-garage-build-a-business-with-elance.html) . We got into apps in 2009 at the age of [?]?
Efashionclothing: The Art of Selling Clothes Online???
We recently had the pleasure of talking to efashionclothing about what made them succeed in the clothing business. http://www.efashionclothing.com/short-dresses.html 1. What does your business do? A. My business is basically [?]?
Astrophysicists from Clemson University and Europe unmask a black holePublic release date: 24-Feb-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Dieter Hartmann hdieter@clemson.edu 864-656-5298 Clemson University
CLEMSON A study of X-rays emitted a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away has unmasked a stellar mass black hole in Andromeda, a spiral galaxy about 2.6 million light-years from Earth.
Two Clemson University researchers joined an an international team of astronomers, including scientists at Germany's Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, in publishing their findings in a pair of scientific journals this week.
Scientists had suspected the black hole was possible since late 2009 when an X-ray satellite observatory operated by the Max Planck Institute detected an unusual X-ray transient light source in Andromeda.
"The brightness suggested that these X-rays belonged to the class of ultraluminous X-ray sources, or ULXs," said Amanpreet Kaur, a Clemson graduate student in physics and lead author of the paper published in the Astronomy & Astrophysics Journal. "But ULXs are rare. There are none at all in the Milky Way where Earth is located, and this is the first to be confirmed in Andromeda. Proving it required detailed observations."
Because ULX sources are rare usually with just one or two in a galaxy, if they are present at all there was very little data with which astronomers could make conjectures.
"There were two competing explanations for their high luminosities," said Clemson physics professor Dieter Hartmann, Kaur's mentor and a co-author of the paper. "Either a stellar mass black hole was accreting at extreme rates or there was a new subspecies of intermediate mass black holes accreting at lower rates. One of the greatest difficulties in attempting to find the right answer is the large distance to these objects, which makes detailed observations difficult or even impossible."
Working with scientists in Germany and Spain, the Clemson researchers studied data from the Chandra observatory and proved that the X-ray source was a stellar mass black hole that is swallowing material at very high rates.
Follow-up observations with the Swift and HST satellites yielded important complementary data, proving that it not only is the first ULX in Andromeda but also the closest ULX ever observed. Despite its great distance away, Andromeda is actually the nearest major galactic neighbor to our own Milky Way.
"We were very lucky that we caught the ULX early enough to see most of its light curve, which showed a very similar behavior to other X-ray sources from our own galaxy," said Wolfgang Pietsch of the Max Planck Institute. The emission decayed exponentially with a characteristic timescale of about one month, which is a common property of stellar mass X-ray binaries. "This means that the ULX in Andromeda likely contains a normal, stellar black hole swallowing material at very high rates."
The emission of the ULX source, the scientists said, probably originates from a system similar to X-ray binaries in our own galaxy, but with matter accreting onto a black hole that is at least 13 times more massive than our Sun.
Unlike X-ray binaries in our own Milky Way, this source is much less obscured by interstellar gas and dust, allowing detailed investigations also at low X-ray energies.
Ideally, the astronomers would like to replicate their findings by re-observing the source in another outburst. However, if it is indeed similar to the X-ray binaries in our own Milky Way, they may be in for a long wait: Such outbursts can occur decades apart.
"On the other hand, as there are so many X-ray binaries in the Andromeda galaxy, another similar outbursting source could be captured any time by the ongoing monitoring campaign," Hartmann said. "While 'monitoring' may not sound exciting, the current results show that these programs are often blessed with discovery and lead to breakthroughs; in particular, if they are augmented with deep and sustained follow-up."
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Astrophysicists from Clemson University and Europe unmask a black holePublic release date: 24-Feb-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Dieter Hartmann hdieter@clemson.edu 864-656-5298 Clemson University
CLEMSON A study of X-rays emitted a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away has unmasked a stellar mass black hole in Andromeda, a spiral galaxy about 2.6 million light-years from Earth.
Two Clemson University researchers joined an an international team of astronomers, including scientists at Germany's Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, in publishing their findings in a pair of scientific journals this week.
Scientists had suspected the black hole was possible since late 2009 when an X-ray satellite observatory operated by the Max Planck Institute detected an unusual X-ray transient light source in Andromeda.
"The brightness suggested that these X-rays belonged to the class of ultraluminous X-ray sources, or ULXs," said Amanpreet Kaur, a Clemson graduate student in physics and lead author of the paper published in the Astronomy & Astrophysics Journal. "But ULXs are rare. There are none at all in the Milky Way where Earth is located, and this is the first to be confirmed in Andromeda. Proving it required detailed observations."
Because ULX sources are rare usually with just one or two in a galaxy, if they are present at all there was very little data with which astronomers could make conjectures.
"There were two competing explanations for their high luminosities," said Clemson physics professor Dieter Hartmann, Kaur's mentor and a co-author of the paper. "Either a stellar mass black hole was accreting at extreme rates or there was a new subspecies of intermediate mass black holes accreting at lower rates. One of the greatest difficulties in attempting to find the right answer is the large distance to these objects, which makes detailed observations difficult or even impossible."
Working with scientists in Germany and Spain, the Clemson researchers studied data from the Chandra observatory and proved that the X-ray source was a stellar mass black hole that is swallowing material at very high rates.
Follow-up observations with the Swift and HST satellites yielded important complementary data, proving that it not only is the first ULX in Andromeda but also the closest ULX ever observed. Despite its great distance away, Andromeda is actually the nearest major galactic neighbor to our own Milky Way.
"We were very lucky that we caught the ULX early enough to see most of its light curve, which showed a very similar behavior to other X-ray sources from our own galaxy," said Wolfgang Pietsch of the Max Planck Institute. The emission decayed exponentially with a characteristic timescale of about one month, which is a common property of stellar mass X-ray binaries. "This means that the ULX in Andromeda likely contains a normal, stellar black hole swallowing material at very high rates."
The emission of the ULX source, the scientists said, probably originates from a system similar to X-ray binaries in our own galaxy, but with matter accreting onto a black hole that is at least 13 times more massive than our Sun.
Unlike X-ray binaries in our own Milky Way, this source is much less obscured by interstellar gas and dust, allowing detailed investigations also at low X-ray energies.
Ideally, the astronomers would like to replicate their findings by re-observing the source in another outburst. However, if it is indeed similar to the X-ray binaries in our own Milky Way, they may be in for a long wait: Such outbursts can occur decades apart.
"On the other hand, as there are so many X-ray binaries in the Andromeda galaxy, another similar outbursting source could be captured any time by the ongoing monitoring campaign," Hartmann said. "While 'monitoring' may not sound exciting, the current results show that these programs are often blessed with discovery and lead to breakthroughs; in particular, if they are augmented with deep and sustained follow-up."
###
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?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Independent filmmakers working on a project constricted by a limited budget will sometimes have to resort to a film tactic known as ?Guerrilla Filmmaking.?? Guerrilla filmmaking is a type of filmmaking that does not involve obtaining the proper permission to film in public or private areas through film permits.? This is because independent filmmakers do not often possess the budget needed to spend the additional amount of money on film permits to finish the movie as they desire.? Instead, independent filmmakers who have to resort to guerrilla filmmaking tactics will break such laws as ?trespassing? or ?entering without consent? in order to capture on camera the scenes they may need.? This sometimes however can result in consequences such as warnings, fines, or even possibly jail time.? Although guerrilla filmmaking is illegal where filming is prohibited, this rule has never stopped some of the most famous directors from achieving the status that they have now such as Robert Rodriguez or even Spike Lee.?
The movie ?El Mariachi?, directed by Robert Rodriguez, only had a budget of $7,000 which was mostly earned by Robert Rodriguez donating his body to medical testing prior to the filming of the movie.? Due to the lack of budgeting, Robert Rodriguez had to film the entire movie ?guerrilla style? which eventually earned him the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival in 1992.? The movie ?El Mariachi?, spoken entirely in Spanish, was then picked up by Columbia Pictures and remade into the movie ?Desperado? starring Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek.? Soon after, Robert Rodriguez not only earned a reputation as a famous director but also went on to write the book ?Rebel Without A Crew? to inspire other independent filmmakers about the art and success of guerrilla filmmaking.? Spike Lee?s full length feature film ?She?s Gotta Have It? only had a budget of $175,000 which later made $7,137,502 in the box office after he used guerrilla filmmaking tactics to complete his project.? This later inspired Spike Lee to write the book ?Spike Lee?s Gotta Have It: Inside Guerrilla Filmmaking.?? ?
Guerrilla filmmaking can take place almost anywhere such as a local high school or even a grocery store with very few customers.? Most times, small business owners will not mind a team of independent filmmakers filming in their location but larger establishments will expect film permits or even compensation checks as the filming may disrupt their business for the day.? Because of this, independent film teams will have to either find ways to build a larger budget or resort to illegal methods of guerrilla filmmaking to obtain the scene necessary for their project.? This action of course does not go without consequences but this is the risk that independent filmmakers will take in order to achieve the status of an established director.? ?
Sources:
?Guerrilla Filmmaking: No Such Thing As No Budget.? By Sid Kali
?A Film For A Song: Robert Rodriguez Garage Movie.? By Peter Broderick
Rising oil costs have led to especially high gas prices for this time of year. President Barack Obama weighed in on Thursday, saying there?s no quick fix. NBC?s Miguel Almaguer reports.
Leaked documents from the Heartland Institute, which seeks to promote global warming skepticism, show an array of unlikely donors.
The climate change debate just got noisier. Leaked internal documents from the Heartland Institute have revealed the Chicago-based think tank's strategies for promulgating skepticism of the belief that humans are warming the planet.
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The documents were acquired through email by an outside source pretending to be a part of the Institute. They were then posted on the DeSmogBlog, a blog that seeks to discredit industry-funded climate skepticism, and their contents have been widely dissected in news reports. But few media outlets go into detail about exactly what the Heartland Institute is.
Founded in 1984 by Chicago investor David H. Padden, the Heartland Institute initially focused on government policies that affected the American Midwest. Now it seeks to influence policies that have an impact on the entire planet.
According to its website?the Heartland Institute promotes laissez-faire economics, stating that its mission is to "discover, develop, and promote free-market solutions to social and economic problems."
Heartland's current CEO is Joseph L. Blast. Its staff of 40 works mostly in its Chicago offices, but the Institute also has 10 employees in Washington, D.C. Its panel of policy advisors, who provide what the Institute calls "Intellectual Ammunition", includes 130 members, most of whom are economics and law professors. Despite its conservative?philosophy, the Heartland Institute says that it "is not affiliated with any political party, business, or foundation."
In reality, the Heartland Institute is an amorphous nexus of different groups and interests with just enough overlap in their ideologies to gather under the banner of a mission statement, but not enough to make the Institute a cohesive special-interest group. At the surface, the institute is composed of economists, businesspeople, politicians, and contrarian scientists.
But Heartland has deeper, less-apparent connections with a number of politically conservative groups, including the Cooler Heads Coalition, the Heritage Foundation and, notably, the influential American Legislative Exchange Council, along with many others. The web of institutional, individual, and corporate ties is endless, which may be why Heartland is so hard to define, and to criticize, compared to, for example, a registered lobbying group.
The Institute boasts what it calls 'a diverse funding base,' which includes roughly 1,600 individuals, foundations, and corporations. Heartland expects to raise $7.7 million this year. In 2006, the Institute stated that only a quarter of its income came from corporate sponsors. That same year, however, the organization said that it would stop?publicly?declaring its funding sources.
The leaked documents revealed current donors, some of whom are surprising. According to the documents, Microsoft donated about $60,000, and the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKlein gave about $50,000. Both of these companies told the New York Times that their contributions were billed for projects unrelated to climate-change policy.?
Curiously, there was a notable absence of funding from publicly traded oil companies, although the privately owned Koch Industries ? a major oil refiner ? was indirectly represented by its co-owner's contribution of $25,000, through his own charity foundation. Perhaps most interesting is the revelation that an anonymous donor gave the institute $4.6 million in 2008, $1.6 million in 2010 and nearly $1 million in 2011. This donor's contributions bring into question Heartland's purported 'diverse funding base.' According to the documents, the donor has promised to give even more in 2012.
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Public release date: 24-Feb-2012
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