kevin





=Wind Power - How it works= Wind energy is the fastest growing form of electricity generation worldwide. Capacity has grown by an average of 28% each year over the last 10 years, with the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) predicting wind markets to grow by an average of 19% per year up to 2010. Wind energy now meets the needs of more than 25 million households worldwide. Wind energy is drawn from wind turbines which operate pretty much like windmills of the past that were used to grind grain. The wind turns the blades which are connected to a drive shaft which turns an electricity generator to produce energy.



= Russia = Best sports Athletics, gymnastics, wrestling Star performers Anastasia Davydova and Anastasia Ermakova are four-time Olympic synchronised swimming champions - both won gold in the synchronised swimming team and duet disciplines in 2004 and 2008. It is hoped that they will return to take home double gold for a third time in 2012. Many Russian gymnasts have also excelled in the Games, particularly Svetlana Khorkina, two-time Olympic champion and seven-time Olympic medalist. She last competed in the 2004 Games where she won silver in the individual all-around competition and bronze in the team event. Olympic medals 108 97  111  316  1 medal per 439,050 people 1900 7 (from 1952-1992 Russian athletes competed as part of the Soviet Union)
 * 1) Blades: Most turbines have either two or three blades. Wind blowing over the blades causes the blades to "lift" and rotate.
 * 2) Rotor: The blades and the hub together are called the rotor.
 * 3) Pitch: Blades are turned, or pitched, out of the wind to keep the rotor from turning in winds that are too high or too low to produce electricity.
 * 4) Brake: A disc brake which can be applied mechanically, electrically, or hydraulically to stop the rotor in emergencies.
 * 5) Low-speed shaft: The rotor turns the low-speed shaft at about 30 to 60 rotations per minute.
 * 6) Gear box: Gears connect the low-speed shaft to the high-speed shaft and increase the rotational speeds from about 30 to 60 rotations per minute (rpm) to about 1200 to 1500 rpm, the rotational speed required by most generators to produce electricity. The gear box is a costly (and heavy) part of the wind turbine and engineers are exploring "direct-drive" generators that operate at lower rotational speeds and don't need gear boxes.
 * 7) Generator: Usually an off-the-shelf induction generator that produces 50-cycle AC electricity.
 * 8) Controller: The controller starts up the machine at wind speeds of about 4 to 6 metres per second (mps) and shuts off the machine at about 26 mps. Turbines generally do not operate at wind speeds above about 26 mps.
 * 9) Anemometer: Measures the wind speed and transmits wind speed data to the controller.
 * 10) Wind vane: Measures wind direction and communicates with the yaw drive to orient the turbine properly with respect to the wind.
 * 11) Nacelle: The rotor attaches to the nacelle, which sits atop the tower and includes the gear box, low- and high-speed shafts, generator, controller, and brake. A cover protects the components inside the nacelle. Some nacelles are large enough for a technician to stand inside while working.
 * 12) High-speed shaft: Drives the generator.
 * 13) Yaw drive: Upwind turbines face into the wind; the yaw drive is used to keep the rotor facing into the wind as the wind direction changes. Downwind turbines don't require a yaw drive, the wind blows the rotor downwind.
 * 14) Yaw motor: Powers the yaw drive.
 * 15) Tower: Towers are made from tubular steel or steel lattice. Because wind speed increases with height, taller towers enable turbines to capture more energy and generate more electricity.
 * Medal total: **
 * Medals per head: **
 * Olympic debut: **
 * Total Games appearances: **

National Anthem of the Russian Federation
Russia – our holy nation, Russia – our beloved country. A mighty will, great glory – These are yours for all time! Be glorious, our free Fatherland, Age-old union of fraternal peoples, National wisdom given by our forebears! Be glorious, our country! We are proud of you!
 * First verse: **

=Eric Murray=


 * Eric Murray** is a NZ rower. He has won four World Rowing Championships gold medals and has set two world records.

His first world championship medal was as a member of the New Zealand coxless four at 2007 World Rowing Championships. Murray then went on to become a member of the double gold medal-winning cox less pair with fellow coxless four member Hamish Bond. They won gold at the 2009 World Rowing Championships, then went on to retain their title at the 2010 World Rowing Championships. Murray's achievements in both the coxless four and the coxless pair have seen him win two Halberg sports awards. = = = = == = = =//Hamish Carter//= = =


 * Hamish Carter** is a New Zealand triathlete. He won the gold medal in triathlon at the 2004 Summer Olympics, his second Olympic games. Carter also competed on the International Triathlon Union World Cup circuit as a professional for many years, culminating in a silver medal in 2006 before announcing his retirement early in 2007. During his career he won twelve ITU world cup races.

Hamish is now my mum's colleague working for Lion.