I’ve never been one for road trips so just the thought of Doreen Orion spending 22,000 miles in a converted bus just blows my mind. Her hilarious adventure is chronicled in an entertaining and insightful book - Queen of the Road.
From the book: “A pampered Long Island princess hits the road in a converted bus with her wilderness-loving husband, travels the country for one year, and brings it all hilariously to life in this offbeat and romantic memoir.
Doreen and Tim are married psychiatrists with a twist: She’s a self-proclaimed Long Island princess, grouchy couch potato, and shoe addict. He’s an affable, though driven, outdoorsman. When Tim suggests “chucking it all” to travel cross-country in a converted bus, Doreen asks, “Why can’t you be like a normal husband in a midlife crisis and have an affair or buy a Corvette?” But she soon shocks them both, agreeing to set forth with their sixty-pound dog, two querulous cats—and no agenda—in a 340-square-foot bus.
Queen of the Road is Doreen’s offbeat and romantic tale about refusing to settle; about choosing the unconventional road with all the misadventures it brings (fire, flood, armed robbery, and finding themselves in a nudist RV park, to name just a few). The marvelous places they visit and delightful people they encounter have a life-changing effect on all the travelers, as Doreen grows to appreciate the simple life, Tim mellows, and even the pets pull together. Best of all, readers get to go along for the ride through forty-seven states in this often hilarious and always entertaining memoir, in which a boisterous marriage of polar opposites becomes stronger than ever.”
Our members had the privilege of reviewing this hilarious book about traveling, life, and marriage.

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I'm curious to see who runs which one of these over the next 12 hours or so.
When it comes to power politics and body language, you couldn't find a bigger contrast. In the top image, Obama not only takes on the full sun but in dipping his left shoulder, he looks off balance while gazing up at the larger and completely planted Schwarzenegger. That, combined with the effusive grin makes Barack look like someone in a fan line, like: "I just met the Terminator!"
In comparison, the second shot has the men more level (given the uphill tilt in Obama's favor). Besides exercising authority in controlling Arnold's arm and using Schwarzenegger to block the glare, the President-elect also commands the attention of the governors behind.
The juxtaposition is significant, at this point, as a visual precursor to the fortunes of the new administration. Knowing that Obama, in all his confidence, is going to be severely tested, the question is, will adversity weaken or strengthen him? If the answer is more definitive in one direction or the other, count on photo editors to choose accordingly.
(Revised: 6:50 pm PST)
(image 1: Jeff Haynes/Reuters. Bipartisan meeting of the National Governor's Association. Congress Hall, Philadelphia. Dec. 2, 2008.

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Front cover picture: Her Majesty The Queen, with Captain Warwick and Cunard Chairman Sir Basil Smallpiece, inspects the Britannia figurehead in the Britannia restaurant (now Mauretania Restaurant). 1 May 1969
To recognize the 2008 Farewell Season of QUEEN ELIZABETH 2, Cunards UK Public Relations Department presented to passengers commemorative and informative menu covers detailing some of the special events and history of the ocean liner. For the next several days, while the ship is enroute to her final destination in Dubai, I would like to share the information found within the pages of the menu. These menus were presented during her 806th and final transatlantic crossing, 17 October - 21 October 2008.
Queen Elizabeth 2:
Dates with Royalty
The Royal Family has shown a great interest in QE2 throughout her life from before her  launch right to a farewell visit paid to the ship in June this year by Her Majesty The Queen. And not many ships can claim to have a prince as its first !
1967
14 July HRH The Duke of Edinburgh toured the uncompleted liner and lunched with the Cunard and John Brown Chairmen.
20 September QE2 was launched by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in the presence of HRH the Duke of Edinburgh and HRH Princess Margaret.
1968
20 February HRH Princess Margaret opened the QE2 Exhibition at the Design Centre in London.
19 November HRH Prince Charles sailed on board from the shipyard in Clydebank to drydock in Greenock.
1969
1 May HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh visited in Southampton continuing the tradition set by Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth.
16 May While outward bound through Spithead on her second westbound voyage QE2 passed through the assembled multi-national fleet of NATO which HM the Queen was reviewing from the Royal Yacht Britannia. QE2 blew a loyal greeting as she drew abreast of the Royal Yacht.
29 May HRH The Duke of Edinburgh again visited and toured the ship in Southampton while presenting the 1969 Council of Industrial Design Awards.
1970
5 March HRH Princess Margaret paid an informal visit in Barbados. Accompanied by Lord Snowdon and a party of 13 she toured all the public rooms, lunched in the Grill Room and enjoyed refreshments in the Captains Cabin and Midships Bar.
1979
May For QE 2s tenth anniversary, HM The Queen sent a message to QE2s Captain which read:
I wish her God speed and you and your officers and crew every success in adding to the one million five hundred thousand miles already sailed.
1982
11 June QE2 was welcomed home in Southampton following service in the Falklands War by HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother on board Royal Yacht Britannia.
2 December HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother lunched on board in Southampton and unveiled a Falklands Plaque.
1986
3 May HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother lunched on board in Southampton to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Queen Marys maiden voyage in 1936.
1987
29 Apri HRH The Princess of Wales sailed on board to attend a childrens party and Concorde made a special flypast to mark the ships successful re-engining.
1988
14 December HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother lunched on board to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of her launching the Queen Elizabeth in 1938.
1990
27 July Royal review of Cunard and Royal Navy ships at Spithead by HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh on board Royal Yacht Britannia. The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh transferred to QE2 by Royal Barge. The Queen then became the first reigning monarch to sail on a commercial liner with passengers.
1991
15 June HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and HRH Prince Edward attended a Royal Ball on board in Southampton.
1993
12 June HRH Prince Edward lunched on board to celebrate 40th Anniversary of The Queens accession. He sailed on the ship and left by helicopter.
5 August HM The Queen and HRH Prince Andrew visited in Southampton to join the 175th anniversary of the British Sailors Society. After the service Her Majesty boarded the Royal Yacht Britannia and accompanied by HMS York and Patricia she reviewed various units of the Merchant Fleet including QE2.
1994
4 June HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh reviewed QE2 from the Royal Yacht Britannia as part of the 50th Anniversary of Commemorations. Also on board Britannia for the review: HM The Queen Mother; HRH Princess Margaret and HRH Princess Anne.
17 December HRH Prince Andrew was guest of honor at lunch on board in Southampton to mark return to service after major refit.
1995
17 July HRH Princess Anne lunched on board in Edinburg prior to QE2 leading the Tall Ships out of the Firth of Forth.
1996
28 September HRH Prince Edward attended a Boyal Ball on board in Southampton.
2004
1 May On the day that QE2 handed over flagship status to  QM2, Buckingham Palace set the following message:
Her Majesty and The Duke of Edinburgh remember with pleasure their many visits to the ship and send their best wishes to you for a memorable event.
2005
28 July HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh reviewed QE2 from HMS Endurance as part of the Trafalgar 200 Celebrations off Spithead.
2008
2 June HM The Queen lunched on board as part of her farewell visit.
11 November HRH The Duke of Edinburgh is scheduled to visit QE2 on her last day in the UK.

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This got announced a few days ago, but I wasn't got to let it pass unnoticed—anime licensor Viz Media will be streaming free episodes of Naruto (specifically, Naruto Shippuden) one week after it first airs in Japan. Since several million kids around the world watch illegal fansubs of Naruto Shippuden each week—I'm dead serious, several million—this is pretty huge news.
Why? Well, finally a US anime company is actively trying to stop a massive chunk of piracy, other than just bits and pieces (admittedly, most companies just tell fansubbers to stop subbed what they've licensed—which is all that Viz is doing—but Naruto makes up such an impressive percentage of illegal anime downloads that it's still a major chunk). More importantly, a US company is finally going to make it not worthwhile for someone to pirate anime. Sure, maybe some industrious pirates can fansub their own episode a few days before Viz's, but why bother? And what illegal download-loving fan can't wait a couple of days for a legitimate version? Very, very few, I imagine.
Now Viz will stream these Naruto Shippuden episodes beginning January 15th, on Naruto.com, Hulu and Joost. The real question is if this will make enough of a profit for Viz to justify all the work in translating one episode in one week—although getting any kind of ad revenue for the episodes will be much better than the $0 they were getting for the fansubs.
Also, because I can't often talk about anime without chunneling my years of experience in the industry into a dire rant: although most US fans have been wanting this exact thing (the Japanese episodes, quickly and officially), Viz is the only company that has the power to do this. They're owned by Shueisha and Shogakukan, who have turned Viz effectively into their US arm. Now, while Bandai is owned by Bandai Japan, they still have to bid on all their titles, which takes weeks or months, while Viz just gets all the Shueisha titles Japan thinks it should have (think how long it took Bandai to announce Haruhi after it aired). Geneon and ADV are in varying states of death, while Funimation is not owned by anyone in Japan, and would have to partner up with Japanese anime studios to be able to release an anime online one week after it aired in Japan.
While that's possible, it's not very plausible. Most Japanese studios look at the American anime industry as bonus money, especially since they take a flat fee up front (which helps when the anime tanks in the US). They have little impetus to get the US its materials on time, so there's virtually no way they'd provide the necessary materials to Funi to make a subtitled episode within a week, and unless it's that quick, the fans will keep on fansubbin'. Maybe Gonzo would be willing to give it a shot, but Gonzo also has the resources to subtitle their own shows, and get all the ad revenue—there's no need for Funi at all. So...yeah.
End of rant. How grateful are you guys I post so little anime news.

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The opposition, particularly the Greens and the Bloc Quebecois, are talking about strategic voting to prevent a Stephen Harper majority Conservative government, which seems -- according to polls -- to be the only thing left to decide in the Canadian federal election.
Quick aside: I read a story today that suggested that at least one poll, the Nanos survey, had the Tories clinging to a 35-30 percentage lead over the Liberals. And there is that wild card about polling today, much of which is done on landlines when so many people use cells. So results may be skewed.
But back to Harper and his pursuit of a majority. First, it's obvious I'm not a Harper supporter, though I have voted Conservative or, rather, Progressive Conservative, a few times, going back and forth between the Liberals and Tories. I consider myself, like most people, liberal on some issues, conservative on others. Politically, I would say I lean centre-left. As I believe most Canadians lean.
Except Harper, who seems to want to take us towards U.S.-style conservatism. I think he misreads Canada and our character and is trying to force us to become something -- except perhaps in Alberta (and I've lived in that wonderful yet monolithically-governed province) -- we don't want to be.
So here's my theory. Say Harper wins his majority. It might in fact, if he indeed does have a hidden neo-con agenda, be a blessing in disguise or at least short-term pain for long-term gain. Say he does implement a hard neo-con agenda by using his majority (or as majorities are in Canada, essentially a dictatorship).
He'd be outta there next election anyway. Because I don't think Canadians would stand for it. The next government would be left with a repair job to take us back towards the centre, but it would be do-able.
The alternative is another Conservative minority, perhaps an interminable number of them, and more of what we've seen the last few years -- a slow but sure, long-term move to a neo-con led state.
Maybe it might be better to give the guy what he wants, let him wreck the place if he's going to, boot him out once and for all, and then fix it later.

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Merkava (Hebrew for Chariot). The Merkava Mark IV is arguably the finest Main Battle Tank (MBT) in the world. Produced at the Israel Military Industries (IMI) tank production facility at the Tel Hashomer Armoured Corps Base, it improves, by an order of magnitude upon the Merkava Mark III. The Mark IV entered service with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in February 2004.
It has a uniquely sloping turret line, using horizontally fitted, hybrid, and modular sloped armour. This design presents a lesser forward facet, while simultaneously providing greater depth of armour thereby more effectively offsetting frontal threats. Crew survivability being foremost in the minds of the designers of the Mark IV, the engine is mounted forward in the hull offering enhanced occupant protection. It has a new 120mm smoothbore high pressure/high muzzle velocity main gun, which allows it to fire four types of ammunition including the LAHAT laser guided missile. The Mark IV is possessed of an impressive suite of computer/digital hardware. It utilizes a completely integrated digital system of battle management with the ability to provide fast network communications, recording of sight images and observational data, operational debriefing and real-time situational awareness updating, all between command and subordinate force elements. This system provides for day/night all weather under the curtain strike capability. It has an active perimeter defense system which guards against laser-guided threats and includes the ability to defend against airborne threats, such as helicopters, all while on the move. A positive pressure air filtration system incorporating biological, chemical and radiation threat protection plus a micro-cooling air conditioning system for individual crewmen provides an increased level of crew comfort and safety. Finally, the ability carry up to eight fully armed infantrymen provides greater operational flexibility.
Despite many experts predicting the demise of the Main Battle Tank it is still an integral part of not only the IDF arsenal but of the Armed Forces of the United States as well. The Merkava Mark IV is possessed of all the necessary technological attributes required in a Main Battle Tank for the 21st century. It can operate effectively in open plains and desert, mountainous terrain and is exceedingly capable in dense urban environments. Heavy armour such as the Merkava Mark IV has a vital role to play in the ongoing defense of Israel. The United States will soon need to consider replacements for the aging M1 Abrams tank fleet. In doing so they would be well advised to consider the brilliant work done by IMI and its engineers, scientists and skilled manufacturing workers in creating not only the Mark IV but also in placing Israel among the world’s most technologically advanced nations.
The Merkava Mark IV exemplifies the pinnacle of the heavy armour art. A worthy successor in the proud Merkava tradition, the Mark IV represents the latest in the august Merkava lineage. It is truly a Steed of Steel.

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T-Pain needs to recognize. Check out the rules he had his people send out to interviewers yesterday:
Please let interviewers know that Pain will only be discussing his album release on 11/11 and any other topics surrounding what he is currently doing.
He will only answer one question on Wayne and upcoming projects they have. No questions on picking favorite artists, who he would like to work with or any other kind of lists.
If you are fun with it thats fine, and shoot out 5 cool questions relevant to whats going on in his life cool [sic], otherwise he may he may [sic] get mad.
Source
Looks like somebodys not getting enough attention. Bitter much T-Pain? You sound like you have PMS. In other news, hes launching his T-Wayne tour withLil WayneDecember 18th. Keyshia Cole and Gym Class Heroes will also be on it.

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Im Throughly Convinced
Im throughly convinced that if ‘Barack Hussein Obama’ admitted in public he was a Stealth Muslim a significant portion of US citizens would say so whatm throughly convinced that if ‘Barack HusseinObama’ admitted in public he was a committed Socialist a significant portion of US citizens would say so whatm throughly convinced that if ‘Barack Hussein Obama’ admitted in public he wasnt an American citizen a significant portion of US citizens would say so whatm throughly convinced that if ‘Barack Hussein Obama’ admitted in public he doesnt belive in what the Founding Fathers enshrined in the US Constitution a significant portion of US citizens would say so whatm also throughly convinced that significant portion of people the world over dont want to participate in the process of government.  They dont want to lead or be in charge, rather they want to follow.  Even when their idols are shown to have feet of clay people will blindly follow their Pied Piper right over the cliff.
The template for modern republics was started in the old city states of Greece.  Some like to say this is the forerunner of democracy.  However democracy outside of very small populations has never and still does not exist today.  True democracy like true communism would be mob rule and that will never work with large populations.
So the templates for republics was started in Greece and later in Rome.  So what happened to those early republics?  They were all discarded in favor of rule by kings and the nobility.  The classic case is with Julius Cesar who wanted to be king and his people jumped aboard that bus.  Julius didnt get to savor victory for long because he was murdered by those who didnt want a dictator in charge of Rome.  However it was still the death knell for the Roman Republic.
The next classic case of the people throwing away their republic is in France.  The French Revolution for all its excesses did set up a French Republic.  So what happens a few years later?  Napoleon Bonaparte declares himself Emperor of the French to the wild acclaim of the people who had only a few years before thrown off The Divine Right of Kings.  Its not until after 1870 that France finally goes back to being a republic.
Russia in 1917 is another case of throwing out the The Divine Right of Kings and then allowing the Communists to establish a dictatorship that was worse than anything the Czar had ever imposed.  And again this was done with the wild acclaim of the people.  Then not many years ago the Russians tossed out the Commies and went for a real republic.  Now that process seems to be reversing again with Putin.
China is another good example of tossing out the centuries old tradition of an emperor and establishing a republic in the early 1900s.  Then less than 50 years later Mao and his Communist Dictatorship is in charge.
In Cuba the idea was to get rid of Batista and establish a real republic.  Then Castor and his merry band of cutthroats put paid to that, but the people went along with it.
Then there is the case of the UK.  The UK has fought off the Spaniards, the French, the Germans twice, and survived 50 years of Cold War so that their own politicians can establish a Socialist UK with all that entails.
My point is that the USA is suppose to be the exception to all I have detailed above.  I dont think thats true, its just taking us longer to descend into strongman or oligarchy rule.  This long slide began with Abraham Lincoln then slacked off a bit until FDR became what can only be described as a dictator.  Since FDR the slide has accelerated with JFK, LBJ, Jimmy Carter, and Bill Clinton.
IMO there is in the USA at any given time at least 40% of its citizens who would welcome the establishment of of Socialist Dictatorship in the US just so they could be lead around by the nose and have to make no decisions at all.  I further submit that even if ‘Barack Hussein Obama’ is defeated this coming Nov that will not stop this nations slide into Socialism.
As Ive said so many times before:  We as Conservatives arent winning the war.  The best were doing is fighting a desperate rearguard action in the hopes of rallying more troops for the cause.  However I dont see it happening now or in the near future.

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The Queen of Soul made a triumphant entrance onto the stage at The Hanover Theater last night to the cheers of an adoring crowd of 1,700 loyal subjects. Franklin took no time at all to wow the crowd with her hits as she had everyone on their feet at the start of the show by beginning the concert with her signature track, RESPECT. The beginning of the show was laden with other hits including Think, Chain of Fools and You Make me Feel (Like a Natural Woman) as Aretha roamed the stage in a glittering yellow lime dress and silver heels backed by a band/orchestra numbering over 15 pieces.
At the halfway point there was a 10 minute or so interlude in which the band jammed and took turns rocking out solos, but before long Franklin was back on stage with a cup of tea and took a seat behind the piano for a rousing, barnstorming version of Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge over Troubled Water”. Franklin showed of her keyboard skills as well as her vocal range as this track took a long road to blues-ville and by the end sounded straight out of a tent revival meeting complete with numerous vocal runs and hallelujah praises sung at full throat. She then went on to cover the first verse of Mariah Carey’s “Touch My Body”, this was a pretty interesting cover song to whip out but she did it with gusto and the image provided a strange bit of comic relief to the night. Franklin did mispronounce Worcester incorrectly from the stage on two occasions, first providing the “WOR-CHESTER” option followed up by “WHO-ISTER” but after some corrections from the crowd she seemed to offer up a decent “WISTA” on the third try. Looking over the crowd swaying and clapping along to this living legend I don’t think anyone cared!
With a musical catalog as big as the Queen’s she has material for days of concerts but she managed to slip in a few Christmas songs including a rendition of “My Grown up Christmas Wish” which was raw with emotion and soul. She closed out the evening with a growling up tempo version of “Freeway of Love” which brought the house down and sent everyone back out onto Main Street happy.

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You can lose undesired weight in just 10 days! Yes that is true! There is a diet that has a span of just 10 days! And the best part of it? It delivers great and REAL results! Well,  the diet that I was talking about is called, Master Cleanse! It will help you achieve the body that you have been waiting to have and in a really short span of time. In less than two weeks, your friends will look at you in awe!
What’s the secret of this product? That is what you are about to find out when you buy the e-book package of just $37.00. It is all about the Lemonade diet that makes the difference according to the book. All that and an e-book to guide you through the rest of your weight loss program. Wait, there’s more! If it does not work, you get your FULL refund! No questions asked!
Get your copy now and experience a better look, a better life, a better you. Click here to start scraping off all those weight.

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WSJ: So how do you change the presentation of something as traditional as NFL football?

Mr. Hill: We're really developing a minimalistic approach. We want to get rid of every production element that has been around since the 1970s. We want to be in the moment, don't clutter the screen, but keep the viewer informed for every second of the game. You don't want to wait all week for a game, and then at kickoff have us put up full-screen graphics of the offensive and defensive lines. So how do you get that in without blocking viewers' enjoyment? The problem if you make a change, sports fans are the most traditional viewers there can be, and they will say, "How dare you do this?" whenever you introduce something new

WSJ: With the World Series a month away, are you worried about having to sell the country Tampa against Milwaukee?

Mr. Hill: As a matter of fact, yes. [Laughs heartily.] You have no idea how many times that question has been asked of me in the last three or four days. But to be in this business you have to be an optimist. You're making huge bets and all you can change is way you present the games. You can't impact what happens. You make big bets and you hope every game is a Patriots-Giants Super Bowl. But that doesn't mean you don't think how good the Red Sox and Dodgers in the World Series would be. But whatever it is we put the games on in the most compelling way so we can refresh the fan base every day. You can't lose sleep about what you can't control.

WSJ: What is the next great innovation in sports broadcasting?

Mr. Hill: HD is merely a stepping stone on the way to 3D. When it comes it's going to be incredible, and the one sport that will do so well from it is boxing. I've seen boxing on 3D. It's the thing that is going to save boxing. I can't wait.

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With energy prices up dramatically in recent years, grain producers are asking how to reduce the cost of drying grain on the farm. This article will discuss in-bin grain drying.

It goes without saying, the least cost method of drying corn is to let the grain dry naturally in the field for as long as possible. Given good drying conditions (low humidity, wind, and warm temperatures), corn can lose one-third to one-half point of moisture each day. At this drying rate, the corn would dry naturally in the field from 18% to 15% moisture in about the same time as if the corn were harvested and dried in the bin using natural (unheated) air using about 1 cubic foot per minute per bushel (cfm/bu) airflow. Producers with grain drying facilities usually hedge their bets by starting harvest early and mechanically drying part or all of their grain.

The biggest savings in drying time versus energy input for in-bin drying systems is achieved with the first 20F to 40F rise in air temperature. All mechanical grain drying systems use a fan to push air through the grain mass. The time required to dry grain is a function of the initial and final moisture content of the grain, the rate of airflow through the grain (cubic feet per minute per bushel, cfm/bu) and the air properties, temperature and initial humidity level.

In deep-bed drying systems (in-bin drying), air is normally pushed through the grain from the bottom of the bin and is exhausted out the top of the bin. As the air moves through the grain, moisture evaporates from the grain into the passing air. Eventually, the moisture content of the grain nearest the fan comes into equilibrium with the incoming air and no further drying takes place. The area within the grain mass where moisture is evaporating into is known as the drying zone. The top of the drying zone is the point at which the relative humidity of the air approaches 100% and no more drying can take place. The moisture content of the grain above the drying zone remains unchanged or may be slightly wetted by the saturated air leaving the drying zone. The drying zone moves through the grain in the direction of airflow as the air continues to remove moisture.

Natural Air Drying.

Natural air drying uses unheated air to dry grain. It can take several days to several weeks to dry a bin of corn using natural air. Under favorable drying conditions, natural air drying can be the least expensive drying method and usually results in the highest quality grain of any mechanical drying method. The minimum recommended airflow rate in Nebraska for in-bin natural air drying of corn is 1.0 cfm/bu for corn up to 18% moisture, 1.25 cfm/bu for corn up to 20% moisture, and 1.5 cfm/bu up to 22% moisture. If the airflow rate is too small to meet the recommendation above, the bin could be partially filled. The shallower grain depth results in less static pressure for the fan to overcome, which translates into more airflow output (cfm) from the fan. Since partially filling the bin results in fewer bushels in the bin, you are pushing more cfm through fewer bushels, thus significantly increasing cfm/bu. For information on reducing grain depth to speed drying, see the September 8, 2006 CropWatch article, Reduce Grain Depth To Save Time/Energy When Drying Grain.

Stirring System Management When Drying With Natural Air

Research has found that stirring when using natural air to dry grain actually prolongs the time required to dry the grain because it disrupts the drying zone, resulting in exhaust air leaving the grain mass less saturated. Considering the long drying times associated with natural air drying, continuous stirring can cause significant damage to the grain and results in costly wear to the stirring device.

If a stirring device is installed in a bin of grain being dried by natural (unheated) air, the stirring device should be run during the filling period to reduce the pack factor from the filling operation, to redistribute fines and to level the grain. Stirring should then be discontinued to allow a drying zone to develop in the grain. Since the bottom of the bin will be somewhat over-dried by the time the drying zone approaches the top of the bin, a final stirring just before the drying zone is pushed completely through the bin will help to equalize the moisture content of the grain in the bin.

Heated Air Drying

Heating the air increases its ability to carry away more water vapor, (heating lowers the relative humidity of the air). When adding supplemental heat, the relationship between temperature rise and relative humidity is not linear. A rough rule of thumb is the relative humidity drops by one-half for each 20F rise in temperature. For example, natural air at 60oF and 50% relative humidity will have a relative humidity of 25% if heated to 80F. Adding another 20F to raise the temperature from 80F to 100F cuts the relative humidity by about half again and results in a drop to 13.5%. The third 20F rise to 120F lowers the relative humidity by about half again to 7.6%. The notable point is the second 20F increment of added heat results in half as much reduction in relative humidity (half of half) and the third increment results in only one-eighth as much reduction (half of half of half). To minimize energy cost for drying grain, keep the temperature rise to a moderate level. The biggest savings in drying time versus energy input for in-bin drying systems is achieved with the first 20F to 40F rise in air temperature.

Stirring System Management When Drying With Heated Air

Management of stirring devices is different for heated air drying than natural air drying, especially for high temperature drying (over 40F temperature rise). The relative humidity of the incoming air is so low with heated air drying, the grain on the bottom of the bin becomes over-dried by several percentage points by the time the drying front is pushed through the full depth of the grain. Stirring devices, if installed, should be run continuously with high-temperature heated in-bin drying systems to help equalize the moisture content of the grain mass and avoid over-drying at the bottom of the bin.

In-Bin Layer Drying

If a producer has several bins equipped with drying fans and is able to switch over from filling one bin to another in a reasonably short time, filling and drying several bins in layers could reduce drying time and energy consumption by 20-35% as compared to completely filling each bin in turn before beginning to fill the next bin. For more information on layer drying see the September 10, 2004 CropWatch article, Layer Grain Placement To Speed Up Drying. In-bin drying is the most economical way to dry grain. Adopting these management techniques can preserve grain qualilty while minimizing energy cost.

Reprinted from "How To Reduce Energy Cost For In-Bin Grain Drying" by Tom Dorn, Extension Educator, Lancaster County Nebraska, in the Augustr 22, 2008 edition of the Nebraska Crop Watch Newsletter.

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Queen of Babble Gets Hitched by Meg Cabot

Release Date: June 24, 2008
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers, WILLIAM MORROW
Age Group: Adult
Pages: 288
Other titles in series: Queen of Babble, Queen of Babble in the Big City

Summary

Lizzie wakes up to the new year in the arms of..... Chaz! The streaming images of her memory flashes to the night before and the beard burn all over her face only confirms it! As if she isnt surprised enough, who would happen to turn up on her doorstep, but Luke. And just like that he slips a huge rock on her finger and she gives Chaz the boot!

So, why does she get these warm tingly feelings whenever she thinks about Chaz, and she so conveniently breaks out in hives whenever she thinks about getting married to Luke. Luckily she is so busy at the shop she doesnt have time to think about the wedding and with Luke being in Paris she can avoid the topic completely. But with Lukes absence Lizzie finds herself becoming even more attracted to Chaz. What is a girl to do.

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