Wind turbines with blades bigger than the London Eye could be the future of green energy

Monster wind turbines with blade spans that dwarf the London Eye could be the shape of future green power, it has been revealed.
An offshore turbine more than 500ft tall with a diameter of 475ft is due to make an appearance in British waters within the next two years.

Concept: Clipper's design will have blades bigger the London Eye

Technology: The Britannia turbine is still being developed but Clipper says even bigger blades are the future of green power

But the 10 megawatt machine, dubbed Britannia, may only mark the start of a growing trend, according to the project's leader Bill Grainger.

He sees no reason why offshore turbines should not get even larger, since greater size and power make economic sense.

Mr Grainger, who heads the Britannia design team, told The Engineer magazine: 'There isn't a technical issue that screams out size limit.

Current wind turbine will be dwarfed by the designs in development

'You have to make changes as you get bigger. Blades get floppier, for example, so you have to put more carbon in, but we aren't anywhere near 100% carbon yet.'

Mr Grainger is engineering manager at Clipper Wind power Marine, the UK arm of the US company developing the 10 megawatt turbine.

T

he Britannia, being built at Blyth, Northumberland, will have three enormous blades, each weighing more than 30 tonnes.

T

hey will sweep a circle more than 100ft wider than the 400ft diameter of the London Eye.

Standing on a solid foundation on the sea bed, the wind turbine will rise 574ft above the waves.

With blades bigger than the London Eye the Britannia will be a 10 megawatt machine

It is expected to generate enough electricity to power 10,000 homes, and over its lifetime could displace the use of two million barrels of oil.

The most likely location for Britannia is Dogger Bank, off the north-east coast.

Clipper Windpower Marine is sinking £44 million into the turbine's building facilities, including a blade factory in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The project is also receiving £5 million from the local regional development agency, One North East.

Metal fatigue caused by the stress imposed by turning blades is one of the biggest engineering issues to be overcome by the Britannia team.

But Mr Grainger does not believe the size of wind turbines will be restricted by technical hurdles.

He told The Engineer: 'There might be a limit to the size that people want to put into the field - if a 20 megawatt turbine failed, that's a big chunk of electricity to lose.

'But then, if a power station goes off-line you've lost 300 megawatts, so I don't think that's a limit either.'

'They'll get bigger than 10 megawatts, is my feeling. How much bigger? I don't know.'

Source : Dailymail

Rapper Goes After D.A. On Track; Lyrics Analyzed

Rapper Lil Boosie is under scrutiny for a video on YouTube in which he threatens East Baton Rogue District Attorney Hillar Moore.

Lil Boosie rapped about how Moore would probably be “dead” by the time he was released from a four-year prison sentence on previous probation violations and drug charges on the mixtape Gone Til December.

On the track “F**k ‘Em All,” Lil Boosie raps: “f**k the D.A. and the prosecutors they all devils/Talk that smack we get you back/We all rebels.”

Later in the song, the rapper states: “F**k the D.A. and the lawyers/your racist ass is going to hell/You’ll probably be dead when I come out of jail ya old b**ch/ Your d**k can’t even get hard no more, b**ch you need to die/and the prosecutor’s gay/I see that from a mile away”

“I’ve read what he said, I’ve never listened to it. I can’t be deterred, I think it’s part of my job. I guess he has the right to say whatever he wants to say,” District Attorney Hillar Moore told Channel 2 News.

Lil Boosie’s lyrics have been analyzed by District Attorney Moore, who has indicted the rapper on a 1st degree murder charge in an alleged murder-for-hire plot that resulted in the October 2009 death of 35-year-old Terry Boyd.

Adrian Pittman, 36, and Michael Louding, 17, were also indicted for first-degree murder in Boyd's death.

Police are also investigating if Boosie, Pittman and Louding were involved in the February 2009 murder Chris “Nussie” Jackson and four other murders.

Lil Boosie is facing death by lethal injection, if he is convicted of the 1st degree murder charge.

Source : Allhiphop

South African police hunting angry fan who broke into England dressing room

South African police were today searching for an irate England fan, who managed to breach security and storm into the team dressing room last night to remonstrate with players after their dismal nil-nil draw

The fan was allowed to leave the stadium before he could be arrested, and provincial police spokesman Colonel Billy Jones said the man was now wanted for trespassing

Screen shot: Furious Rooney rants at the camera

David Beckham, who is now part of the coaching team, had to intervene and calm the fan down.

England players were stunned when they were faced with the furious supporter in a staggering breach of World Cup security.

Moments earlier Princes William and Harry had been in the changing room at the Green Point Stadium in Cape Town to see members of Fabio Capella's team.

However, the Royal pair had just left when the altercation took place.

The fan was allowed to leave before he could be arrested and police are today searching for him.

Last night a major investigation was under way into how the fan wearing an England shirt was able to penetrate security.

Those able to access areas within stadia must have a pass from the sport's governing international body FIFA - the Federation of International Football Associations.

Former England captain Beckham was understood to have been 'alarmed' at being confronted by the supporter.

After being ejected by security the fan was interviewed by both FIFA and England FA security men.

Last night a FA spokesman, said: 'We can confirm that a fan entered the dressing room this evening and we have registered the incident with FIFA.'

What might have been: Injured David Beckham stands disconsolately on the edge of the pitch during England's draw

The incredible ending to England's appalling World Cup display came after supporters turned on the team as they left the pitch. Hundreds were angry that striker Wayne Rooney made a disparaging remark about them.

Reacting to boos from the crowd, Rooney snarled at an ITV camera man: 'Nice to see your own fans booing you. If that's what loyal support is'.

Of more concern was the fact that a lone fan had been able to access the England dressing room on a night when the two princes were in the stadium to support the team.

A St James's Palace spokesman said: 'The princes met the players privately to offer their support after today's result and as they prepare for their key game on Wednesday. They are totally behind the team.'.

Source : Dailymail

Brazilian Baby Dancing ( Samba ) Original

The internet is littered with footage of babies dancing, usually shot by adoring parents who think their child's jig is the best.

But a proud Brazilian mother might be able to lay claim to having the coolest kid on the planet - and she has the video evidence to prove it.

The nappy-wearing toddler has become a YouTube hit with his remarkably grown up dance moves, seemingly copying famous hip swivellers such as Elvis Presley and John Travolta from Pulp Fiction.

Tiny dancer: Possibly the world's smallest samba dancer struts his stuff

International hit: The YouTube clip has been seen by more than 500,000 people

Standing on a table in his family home, the tiny dancer gets straight into the swing of things with a trademark rockstar pose - nodding to the beat, pointing to an imaginary crowd and even doing classic pelvic thrusts.

He segues into the Twist and then into something that looks like the dance favored by Bez from the Happy Mondays.

Astonishingly, he then forms his fingers into a V sign and drags them across his eyes - echoing the dance scene between Travolta and Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction.

The 2min 54sec clip has been watched by more than 500,000 people and has already spawned a number of YouTube 'remixes'

Source : Dailymail