.middle_column {
	float:left;
	width:631px;
	padding:30px;
	margin:1em 0 0 0 ;
	background:url(/images/beige_gradient_bg.jpg) repeat-x;
}
.middle_column_container {
	float:left;
	width:631px;
}
.middle_column h3 {
	letter-spacing:.05em;
	margin:0 0 .1em 0;
}
/***********************************
       READERS FORUM STYLES
***********************************/
.readers_forum {
	float:left;
	width:250px;
	margin:0 0 3em 0;
	background:url(/images/beige_gradient_bg.jpg) repeat-x;
}
.readers_forum h3 {
	display:block;
	text-indent:-1000em;
	width:250px;
	height:22px;
	background:url(/images/header_readers_forum.jpg) no-repeat;
}
.readers_forum h4 {
	color:#444444;
	margin:10px 0 0 10px;
}
.forum {
	float:left;
	clear:both;
	width:250px;
	margin:0 0 .5em 0;
}
.forum_title {
	float:left;
	width:158px;
	margin:.5em 10px 0 10px;
}
.forum_title a {
	color:#444444 !important;
	text-decoration:none;
}
.forum_title a:hover {
	text-decoration:underline;
}
.join_container {
	float:left;
	width:50px;
	margin:1em 0 0 0;
}
a.join {
	float:left;
	width:41px;
	height:16px;
	background:url(/images/btn_join.jpg) no-repeat;
	background-position:left top;
	margin:0 10px 0 0;
	cursor:pointer;
}
a.join:hover {
	background-position:0 -16px;
}
.join_the_discussion {
	background:url(/images/beige_gradient_bg.jpg) repeat-x;
	float:left;
	margin:1em 10px 0 0;
	padding:30px;
	width:560px;
}
.join_the_discussion h4,.comments_container h4 {
	font-size:1.4em;
	margin:0 0 1em 0;
}
.join_the_discussion label {
	float:left;
	margin:.5em 0 0 0;
	width:100px;
}
.join_the_discussion input {
	float:left;
	margin:.5em 0 0 0;
	width:200px;
}
.join_the_discussion textarea {
	float:left;
	height:50px;
	margin:.5em 0 0 0;
	width:204px;
}
.join_the_discussion .submit {
	position:relative;
	top:5px;
	left:246px;
	background:url(/images/btn_submit.jpg) no-repeat;
	width:60px !important;
	height:16px;
	border:0;
	cursor:pointer;
}
.comments_container {
	background:url(/images/beige_gradient_bg.jpg) repeat-x;
	float:left;
	margin:1em 10px 0 0;
	padding:30px;
	width:560px;
}
.comment {
	border-bottom:1px solid #285382;
	float:left;
	margin:0 0 1em 0;
	width:560px;
}
.date_and_time {
	float:left;
	margin:0 0 .5em 0;
	width:560px;
}
.username {
	float:left;
	margin:0 0 .5em 0;
	text-transform:uppercase;
	width:560px;
}
.user_comment {
	float:left;
	line-height:1.7em;
	margin:0 0 .5em 0;
	width:560px;
}