We have been using the energy of the wind for thousands of years. There were boats propelled by wind sailing along the Nile River in 5000 B.C. By 200 B.C., there were simple windmills in China pumping water. At the same time Persian were using vertical-axis windmills with woven reed sails to grind grain.
People continued to find new ways of using the wind energy. By the 11th century, people in the Middle East were using windmills extensively for food production;crusaders and returning merchants brought this idea back to Europe. The Dutch adapted the windmill and used it for draining lakes and marshes in the Rhine River Delta. When conquerors took this technology to America in the late 19th century, they began using windmills to pump water for farms and ranches, and later, to generate electricity for homes and industry.
However,industrialization, in Europe and later in America led to a gradual decline in the use of windmills. People stated to use steam engines rather than windmills. In the 1930s, the Rural Electrification Administration’s programs brought inexpensive electric power to most rural areas in USA.
Industrialization did not only led to the decline of using windmill but also sparked the development of larger windmills to generate electricity.The earliest wind turbine appeared in Denmark in 1890. In the 1940s the largest wind turbine of the time began operating on a Vermont hilltop known as Grandpa’s Knob. This turbine, rated at 1.25 megawatts in winds of about 30 mph, fed electric power to the local utility network for several months during World War II.
The popularity of using the wind energy has always changed with the price of fuels. When fuel prices fell after World War II, interest in wind turbines waned. But when the price of oil raised in the 1970s, the interest in wind turbine in the world also increased a lot.
After the oil embargoes of 1970s,new ways of converting wind energy into useful power are introduced. Many of these approaches have been demonstrated in “wind farms” or wind power plants groups of turbines that feed electricity into the utility grid in USA and Europe.
Today, the lessons learned from more than a decade of operating wind power plants, have made wind-generated electricity very close in cost to the power from conventional utility generation in some locations. Wind energy is the world’s fastest-growing energy source and will power industry, businesses and homes with clean, renewable electricity for many years to come.
If you want to learn more about wind turbine, visit the following site.
http://www.GreenEnergy4Home.com
By: Darren Chow
Archive for December, 2009
History of Halloween
December 28th, 2009Many people think of Halloween as an evil, devil worshipping day . They will be surprised to learn the history of Halloween is religious in nature and not evil at al. The word Halloween comes from a combination of “All Saint’s Day” celebrated by the Catholics for honoring saints, and “All Hallows Eve.” While the history of Halloween has some roots in Catholicism, a group called the Celtics further extended the history and origins of Halloween.
The Celtics, sometimes called Druids, was a group who lived in Ireland, France, and the United Kingdom… The Celtics celebrated New Year’s Eve on October 31st with a festival called Shamain (pronounced sow-in). Shamain marked the end of summer and the beginning of winter which began on November 1st They believed the boundaries between the dead and living on earth became blurry and the dead souls may play tricks on people like destroying crops.
They felt the presence of spirits made it possible for the priests to predict the future. They wore costumes of animal heads and tried to tell one another’s future. Huge sacred bonfires were built where people burned crops and made animal sacrifices. After the celebrations, they rekindled the fires in their hearths at home. The fires supposedly protected them from the harsh winter ahead.
Modern Halloween celebrations vary greatly from ancient traditions but some similarities exist like costumes and bonfires.. The Irish brought modern Halloween practices to America in the mid 1800’s. They named October 31st Mischief Night and played tricks on their friends. Pranks included tipping outhouses and opening gates. The mischief got blamed on fairies.
As for the history of the most popular Halloween activity – trick or treating – there are a few theories as to the origin. It is originally believed that trick or treating stemmed from a practice in the middle ages where poor people would go from door to door begging for food in exchange for prayers for the dead on All Hallows Day.
However, most scholars believe that trick or treating is actually began in America during the 1930‘s. The practice of playing pranks had, by this time, become actually a little violent with some real destruction to property taking place.
As for the history of the most popular part of Halloween – trick or treating – there are a few schools of thought. It is originally thought that trick or treating stemmed from a practice in the middle ages where poor people would go from door to door begging for food in exchange for prayers for the dead on All Hallows Day.
One of the most prominent symbols of Halloween is the Jack O Lantern. Although there is a tradition in Great Britain and Ireland of carving a lantern from a rutabaga or turnip, the practice was first named and associated with Halloween in North America where the pumpkin was available. American pumpkins were (are) also larger and much easier to carve. Most families who celebrate Halloween carve a pumpkin into a frightening or comical face and place it on their home’s doorstep after dark.
So as you may can see, Halloween evolved from various cultures and folklore. Folks had different beliefs then. Halloween is regarded as Pagan and not evil. Halloween has become a form of entertainment these days. I didn‘t intend this article to be a religous debate. I hope it clarifies the myth that Halloween isn’t an evil day. It is humans who choose to make Halloween evil.
By: Amanda Roddy
History of Golf For Women
December 26th, 2009Women’s golf had its emergence when Mary, Queen of Scots played the game in 16th century. However, the first known women golf tournament was held at Mussel burgh golf club in Scotland in between two fishwives in the year 1811. Women’s golf improved significantly in 1930s and numerous matches were conducted on both local and state levels.
Women’s Professional Golf Association was established in 1944 to organize and promote the game. However, WPGA could survive only for 5 years and from the experience Ladies Professional Golf Association was founded in 1950. The association opens a new era for women’s golf. Nowadays, women’s golf is experiencing its utmost boom. Many golfers are willing to take active part in tournaments.
Women’s golf has four major championships- Kraft Nabisco championship, LPGA championship, U.S women open and Women British Open. Though there are some other important events like Evian Masters, LPGA (Ladies professional Golf Association) does not recognize them as majors.
Kraft Nabisco championship is an official money event that exceeds $2 million. The tournament was founded by Dinah Shore in 1972 and was previously called Dinah Shore championship. The winner is awarded the green jacket of LPGA along with cash awards.
LPGA championship is the major women’s golf event. The winners of this event are automatically qualified for the Stanford Financial tour championship. The specialty of LPGA championship is that only professionals can take part in it as against U.S and British open where professional and amateur players can participate. However, the rule was relaxed in the year 2005 to allow then-amateur player Michelle Wie.
U.S open is conducted by USGA (United States golf Association). When compared to its male’s counterpart, U.S open has not gained enough recognition. The U.S women’s open is open to any professional or amateur player. There is no age limit for participation. In the event held in 2007, 12-year old Alexis Thompson was qualified to take part.The winners of other three major championships are automatically qualified to participate in U.S open.
Women’s British open is one of the leading events in women’s golf. It was founded by the Ladies Golf union in 1976. Since the sport did not receive any reputation in the past, the organizers found it difficult to get excellent golf courses to host the events. However, nowadays many link courses are ready to host British open. The golfers can get a place in the event in three ways. Most of the golfers are given exemptions and the important among them are the top 15 from the previous year’s Women British open., top 35from current year’s Ladies European tour and top 70 on the LPGA tour money list.
The non-exempt players are selected by final qualifying method. Along with these two ways, overseas qualifying is also allowed. Five places are allotted to top five entrants who won highest place in LPGA list. Women’s golf events have gained immense popularity and there are lot of enthusiasts who are keen to learn this game and explore their talents.
By: Kenneth Gorveski
