text:
Mar 13, 2012
Governor, commissioner, lawmakers talk at PIACT Diamond Club
HARTFORD, Conn.–The Professional Insurance Agents of Connecticut Inc. hosted its 29th annual Diamond Club Reception at the Officers Club in Hartford, Conn. last week, where PIACT member agents, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, Insurance Commissioner Thomas B. Leonardi, Connecticut General Assembly representatives and their staffers reviewed important insurance issues for the state of Connecticut.
More than 50 independent insurance agents; legislators and their staffs, including the entire Insurance Committee and co-chair Robert W. Megna, attended the annual event, which took place at Hartfords Officers Club. High on the agenda for many of PIACT members were issues that would assist the states independent insurance agents–small businesses that are pillars of their communities, as well as protections for Connecticuts insurance-buying public.
First were concerns that affect agency business in the state, specifically the requirement that agencies must complete notarized affidavits when they must, following a diligent search, place a policy in the surplus lines market. "The requirement of having to produce a notarized form every time a policy is renewed is out of step with normal insurance business practices, and it is a hurdle to providing our customers timely and responsive placement of coverage," said PIACT Legislative Chairperson Peter Frascarelli, CPIA. "We think this process should be modernized starting with replacing the form, which is currently an affidavit, with a certification–it achieves the same consumer protections without the procedural hassle of obtaining notarization."
Another business concern the association discussed with lawmakers was their hope of introducing legislation to prohibit agents or carriers from issuing inaccurate or misleading certificates of insurance, a practice often requested of agents by their customers, who are pressured by their own clients to produce inaccurate or misleading certificates.
"Professional insurance agents are diligent and responsible, and therefore they refuse to issue inaccurate certificates. However, they are put in the unfortunate position of being asked why they wont help clients out by providing that which theyve been asked," said PIACT President James R. Berliner, CPCU. "These agents and/or agency staff are faced with choosing to issue an inaccurate certificate or losing an account–an unfair and impossible choice. We hope lawmakers will give teeth to the guidance the Insurance Department already has issued against this practice by backing it up with legislation."
The association also discussed its concern that as health benefit exchanges are developed in the state, the requirement that any person selling, soliciting, negotiating or advising be licensed accordingly. "We cant overemphasize the importance that consumers not be misled or receive inadequate guidance as we all deal with the new health-care insurance landscape," said Berliner.
Likewise, Frascarelli said, as the Insurance Department revisits the states position on hurricane deductible triggers in the wake of last years catastrophic storms, the association reiterated its backing of common-sense, realistic triggers. "We appreciate the Departments newly-issued guidelines, and support their efforts regarding this important consumer issue."
PIACT is a trade association representing professional, independent insurance agencies, brokerages and their employees throughout the state.


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ALBANY, N.Y. -- Sen. Charles Schumer says milk prices in stores across New York could double if the Farm Bill isn't renewed.
Schumer says the nation will start to revert to 1940s era agriculture policy if a new Farm Bill isn't passed soon. The National Milk Producers Federation says government purchases of dairy products under the outdated law could cause milk prices to rise above $6 per gallon.
The Farm Bill is enacted every five to seven years and provides farm and food policy for America. The 2012 Farm Bill passed the Senate on June 21 by a bipartisan vote of 64 to 35, but it remains stalled in the House of Representatives. The 2008 Farm Bill was set to expire on Sept. 30.

subset: commoncrawl


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A DIY Ally client hired me to help with a layout of a master bedroom/bathroom suite. She listed the "must haves," sent photos of the current conditions, and shared that it's their second home soon to be their only home in a rural area of Texas. Based on the information provided, it appeared that they would enter the new space through their existing laundry room! A big mistake, in my opinion. Read More
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Beyond Hacking: IKEA Is Introducing Handcrafted Limited Edition Collections
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Marc Chagall: Self-Portrait With Seven Fingers
A Bad Experience with an IKEA Kitchen Cabinet Installation
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Organizing a Reflected Ceiling Plan
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Ethne Clarke's The Midcentury Modern Landscape
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An Empty Nester, I Have All the Time in the World Now
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DIY Like an Architect Workshop: Generating Ideas
Every time I teach DIY Like an Architect workshop through Art Center's ACN, a sense of doing something meaningful gives me a jolt. Being able to assist with the process of generating ideas is uplifting. It's so inspiring to come in contact with men and women who'd give up their Sunday to uncover new facets of themselves. I want to learn from them, actually. Read More
A Good Environment for a Meditation Routine
I am getting better at living in the now. These days, I start my day by doing a particular meditation routine called Falun Dafa. Thanks to a good environment and my husband, an experienced teacher, with every practice I feel more confident and able to focus. At first, I was really distracted. Losing concentration is still an issue, but slowly it's getting better. Regardless, I keep at it — not too much of a commitment, just a 15-minute routine. Consistent, brief, daily sessions eventually garner good results. Read More
Sauna Bathroom: Providing Enough Storage & Relaxation
This smallish bathroom is designed to feel as large as possible. It doubles as an entryway to a sauna and has to feel like a sanctuary, a space to unwind. A room for relaxation, it is supposed to be used by a few people at a time. And most importantly, there should be enough storage. Read More
Transformation of a Shed or a 3-Car Garage
Okay, okay. You are probably tired of hearing about my garden. Let me tell you about the transformation of the garden shed/3-car garage instead. Located toward the back of the site, that's where all the garden paths lead — away from the pressures of the city life, through a blue door. Read More
Articulating Space: Compositional Tools
I am not a conformist; it just doesn't feel right to follow in someone else's footsteps. Instead, I rebelliously change the world by instilling harmony in my personal environment. Indeed. The process of articulating space using compositional tools of my own is quite enjoyable! Read More
Organizing Space: Synthesizing Practical with Sublime
Every morning before getting up, I reach for the roller shade, open it up, and soak in the view of my private garden. In the previous post, I talked about its architecture. I'd like to further elaborate on the topic as it relates to organizing space in the process of synthesizing practical with sublime. Read More
Garden Architecture: Structure, Circulation, Lighting
Architecture of a garden? Let me explain. First, there is nothing but an enormous Fig Tree. Eventually, on the same spot, a water-wise enchanted oasis appears. Yes, its structure, circulation, and lighting are designed with practical functions in mind. But it has a higher purpose. Read More
How I Was Able To Turn a Shabby Studio Apartment Into a Home
Hello, it's Mia Kazovsky, and I'm back for another guest post after over a year. Here's a refresher: I moved into a studio on the Lower East Side of Manhattan at the beginning of 2016. In the previous post, I wrote about the first steps in the process of upgrading my digs. Today, I'd like to share how I was able to turn a shabby studio apartment into a home. Read More
Books on Architecture: Louis Sullivan's The Autobiography of an Idea
A client wondered: "If I only have room in my backpack for three books on architecture which ones should they be?" I promised to get back to him and, in turn, asked a friend — she is the authority — to name three books that taught her everything she needed to know about architecture. She instantly replied that absolutely number one is Louis Sullivan's The Autobiography of an Idea. Read More
How To Achieve a State of Serenity and Self-Reflection
I wish I knew how to achieve a state of serenity and self-reflection. It would be nice. I was just talking to my daughter about that. Is it even attainable? I would particularly like to know how to experience yuan bei (Chinese) – a sense of complete and perfect accomplishment even while dealing with inhibiting rejection. Read More
Establishing Hierarchy in Plan and Section
How to Remodel in Hollywood Regency Style
Hollywood Regency Style, a synthesis of 19th-century French, Greek Revival, and Modern was never of interest to me. That is until last Wednesday, when I received a text: "Good morning Alla. I wanted to see how busy you are these days as my parents just bought a vacation home in Palm Desert that is in need of a full interior and exterior remodel. Would you be able to consult them/me and possibly help with the entire process?" Read More
Submittal Requirements for a One-Story Addition or Alteration / Part 1
A friend of a friend asked me to help with producing a set of documents necessary to get a building permit. Acting as an owner-contractor, they are planning a one-story addition/alteration and need to demonstrate that all of the submittal requirements per the Department of Building and Safety are being fulfilled. Read More
My Style: Richard Serra Is an Inspiration
When people ask me what my style is, I usually go to something like: "I don't have a style. It's all about functionality." I'd rather talk about my inspiration. I identify with the process and work of Richard Serra. Read More
To Live in the Present Is To Acknowledge Every Moment
Sorry, my blog posts in this category, Living in the Now, are very repetitive and quite mundane. Like a broken record, I am humming about just one simple thing: how important it is to acknowledge and appreciate every moment, to live in the present. Read More
Working Out Little Details: a Bath Shelf
A potential DIY Ally client asked me if I enjoy working out little details. She wrote: "Hello, I am remodeling a 1938 bath in Washington DC. Have worked with architects previously, so attempting this without an architect, with a very trustworthy contractor. But he's not a designer, and I want to do something unconventional (from a standard builder point of view) with a long narrow shelf across the width of the room." Read More
Customizing IKEA: Wall-Mounted Organizer
I've written about my garage conversion frustrations. I also discussed at length my plans to install Sunnersta mini-kitchen by IKEA. Now that the project is completed, I'm happy to share one of my customizing made affordable efforts — a wall-mounted organizer.
Master Bedroom & Bathroom Renovation
I am helping my DIY Ally clients Bob and Karol with their master bedroom & bathroom renovation in Rhode Island. Bob is a retired mechanical engineer/naval architect. Karol is a retired software engineer. Read More
Site Plan: Backyard Pool, Hot Tub, and Pergola
My friend called to discuss his DIY project. They recently bought a property in Palm Springs and he said that the house itself is in a pretty good shape, but the backyard is begging for a makeover. He shared his initial sketches. Intuitively, he started designing with a site plan — arranging a pool, a pergola, and a hot tub using an aerial view. Read More
Rome Is My Inspiration for Design Integration
Architects are always integrating. Synthesizing man-made structures with a landscape, unifying functional requirements with a building envelope, fusing family needs with a space they will inhabit. But how does one accomplish said design integration? I find clues and inspiration in movies that spotlight Rome. Read More
A Few Tips on Designing an Entryway or Foyer
A DIY Ally client wrote: "Alla, I have another project for you. We need a defined entryway. Not a grand foyer but something fitting of the inside of the house and the beautiful location. Can you give me a few tips?" Read More
Remodeling Master Bedroom and Master Bath
A DIY Ally client wrote: "We are currently in the process of completely remodeling our master bedroom and master bath. Please see the attached drawings for the existing bath layout, a couple of proposed layouts that we have considered (we have the Chief Architect Software), and a blank template if you want to make sketches of what you think would work for us." Read More
How to Streamline Your Kitchen Elevations
My DIY Ally client emailed: "They have hooked us up with a contractor to do our kitchen remodel, which includes 'design' services. We have been underwhelmed by their cabinet layout designs, so we were wondering what you might charge to look at their proposal. Can you show us how to streamline our kitchen elevations?" Read More
Being My Own Client Is Nerve-Wracking and Exciting
On the one hand, I love being my own client. On the other, the experience of building for myself (my family's own use) is quite unnerving. I live for it, but as soon as I embark on the actual construction of a project, I get anxious. It happens every single time. Read More
6 Reasons Why Good Craftsmanship Matters
Whether you are building from scratch or remodeling, good craftsmanship makes a world of difference. Especially if you lean toward minimal aesthetic, like me. I recently had to fire a construction worker who just did not put his heart into what he was doing. He was rushing too much, making one mistake after another. The result was unacceptable. Read More
The Importance of Aligning & Centering
As DIY Ally, I never get tired of emphasizing the importance of aligning and centering. Last week I wrote about helping a client to design a reflected ceiling plan. This week's installment is a sequel to that post. Read More
Reflected Ceiling Plan Design
As DIY Ally, I've been asked to help with a design of a reflected ceiling plan (RCP). Nothing technical, just a drawing, which shows the lighting scheme of a space. A client's email stated: "So we are adding a room to our house, it will be 16′ x 20′ with a single pitch ceiling from 12′ to 8.5′ high. We would like to get some input on ceiling and lighting design." Read More
Kosher Kitchen Design: 7 Considerations
I was very fortunate to interview Mrs. Sterna Citron, the wife of our rabbi, Rabbi Chaim Citron of Los Angeles, about her kosher kitchen. Mrs. Citron approached our talk as an opportunity to teach and reflect, as she said: "It's something I've done all my life. So I don't think much about it. In order to explain it to you, I've had to do some thinking about it, which is good." Read More
The Pantheon and Engaging the Architect Within
Thinking of the Pantheon while engaging the architect within helps me begin, despite of uncertainty. Not knowing the outcome before embarking on something is really hard, but even if there are no guarantees, I can't just sit around and wait for something benevolent to happen. Nervous or not, wrong or right — life cannot be avoided and I might as well plan for my thoughts to support, not undermine my efforts. Read More
Step out of your comfort zone: take risks
Everyone advises you to step out of your comfort zone and take risks. Even when consulting a horoscope, you read: "Now is the time to be a little fearless and go after the unknown." Read More
Moving Kitchen Plumbing? No Problem!
As DIY Ally, I'll gladly delve into the issue of moving kitchen plumbing. The other day, I received an email with the subject line "dumbfounded duplex in Minneapolis." Having signed up for the initial consultation, a client was asking for "help with generating ideas." Read More
Upcoming Project: Planning for a Kitchen Remodel
As a DIY Ally, I am always on hand to help with a layout for an upcoming project. This particular kitchen remodel is no exception. A couple came to me with the following request: "Our main goal is to open up the kitchen to the adjoining dining/living room area in order to take advantage of the view through the living room to the 12-foot sliding patio door that looks out onto our backyard and pond." Read More
Start Every Project with a Floor Plan
The importance of starting with a floor plan cannot be emphasized enough. A new client writes: "Hello Alla. We have been renovating a house we bought last year, and our next project will be the front porch. The basic concept is to turn the current sunroom into 2/3 open porch and 1/3 mudroom/entry way. We would also like to move the stairs to the left, closer to the driveway." Read More
Making Furniture, David Gale, and Experimentation
Over the last 30 years, I've been making furniture that doubles as art for my own consumption. In college, I built it myself, but after practically cutting off a tip of my thumb, I started to rely on fabricators. That's how I met David Gale; it was in 1989, right after I moved to LA from NY and was in the process of furnishing a new apartment. Meeting him inspired a wave of experimentation with metal. Read More
Practicing Mindfulness or Living in the Moment
Last weekend was spent with the family. It's been a long time since we were all together — in one place. Long anticipated, finally a blissful opportunity of revisiting favorite spots and living in the moment, without any concern for the past or the future. It's up to us to bask in the glory of it, to savor every second while practicing mindfulness — concentrating on each other. Read More
A Fieldtrip to the Getty: Handrails and Guardrails
Architect Richard Meier says: "If you're ever seriously depressed, just get out of bed and go to the Getty." Depressed or not, it's a marvelous place to soak in beauty as it is expressed in every single detail, down to handrails and guardrails. Read More
Space Planning 101: Creating a Functional Foyer
This week's blog post falls into the category of "keeping it organized." So, I feel perfectly justified talking about space planning. Creating a functional foyer is the first step in organizing space thoughtfully. Read More
My Plans for IKEA's Sunnersta Mini-Kitchen
IKEA's new Sunnersta free-standing mini-kitchen is ideal for my garden room. Maybe to someone, it's "the no-commitment kitchen," but I love it. It was just unveiled as one of the brand new designs in IKEA's 2017 catalog, which claims that this tiny thing offers "all the function of a full-sized kitchen with just a fraction of the assembly and installation effort." Read More
Architecture 101: 11-step Method
Establishing Children's Architecture Workshop in 1995 meant embarking on a journey that shaped the course of my life as well as career. A young mother and a newly licensed architect, I aspired to make an impact and become a better parent in the process. Years of hands-on teaching architecture experience enabled me to invent the 11-step method supporting anyone tackling a building project from scratch. Read More
How I Am Still Learning from Architect Louis Kahn
Since college, the work of architect Louis Kahn has been a constant source of inspiration. Recently, I came across a letter of recommendation my professor at USC School of Architecture Roger Sherwood crafted on my behalf. He wrote: "I was impressed by a passion for books as something more than a usual search for the latest classical detail." Read More
A Garden Is an Endless Source of Wonder
Imagine being in a glorious garden. Dazzled, you are focusing on the landscaped grounds. The fascination and excitement you feel remind you of being a small child. You are not worried about the past or the future. Mindfully affecting the present, you are completely engaged and involved with life as it happens. Read More
A Few Tips on Choosing Skylights
I've been working on an overhaul project in Jersey City and writing about its various aspects that fit within this blog's categories. This week's theme "passion for details" lends itself to a discussion on skylights. All along, they've been a "suggested" on the plans with a dotted line. Today, I want to concentrate on defining what they are and consider them in section. Read More
Tips on Designing a Reach-in Closet
Today, still working on the project in Jersey City, I am focusing on a layout for a modular reach-in closet. At this point, all four of them are drawn diagrammatically, as identical blocks. So far, I've assumed that 5 linear feet is enough per bedroom. If that's wrong, the entire floor plan will have to be reconsidered. Read More
Applying the Kitchen Work Triangle
Last week, in this blog's Design Ideas installment, I discussed one of my projects. It's a two-story building renovation in Jersey City. I outlined my thought process while coming up with four versions for a loft kitchen plan. This week, let's take it further and apply the concept of the kitchen work triangle to all of the alternative layouts. Read More
How to Layout a Loft With a Welcoming Vibe
A relative is a New York City developer. Last time I was visiting, he showed me a building he purchased and plans to retrofit. The project intrigued me. On the airplane back, I was working on the layout for the loft — sketching, brainstorming, and breathing life into the space in my mind's eye. Read More
Sentimental Collectibles: Beach Pebbles
Sitting still at the beach is not an option. Instead, I walk along the water's edge and gather pebbles. That's my way of connecting to the energy of the ocean while getting enriched with sentimental collectibles. Read More
How to Design a DYI Balcony Canopy
A friend emailed asking if I would design a DIY balcony canopy kit for a condo complex. Its function would be to provide sun protection and improve curb appeal. It would bring uniformity to the exterior façade, as all of the residents would be asked to adopt the system or use nothing at all. Read More
Alla DIY Ally Project: Space Planning
As Alla DIY Ally, an online architectural services provider, I am frequently asked to help with space planning. DIY home improvement enthusiasts can benefit a great deal by turning to an architect in the effort to make the most of the space available. In this post I'd like to discuss a couple of examples that demonstrate the aforementioned benefits. Read More
Custom Panels Spark Design Ideas
I am perusing various booths exhibiting at the New York's ICFF (International Contemporary Furniture Fair). Strikingly sculptural custom panels of a display catch my attention. Their abstract beauty stops me in my tracks. Design ideas and various possibilities come to mind right away. Read More
Celebrating Beauty: at Home in Your Own Skin
This week I am going to be in NYC, my home away from home, for a memorial, dubbed as a "Celebration of Life." If asked to speak, I will talk about celebrating beauty of life every day while we are alive, not just when a life is commemorated. Read More
Garden Hardscape: Working With Color & Texture
A Closet in a Bookcase
Our "Garden Room" has a built-in 11-inch-deep bookcase comprised of predominantly open shelves and some closed storage. Even though minimum reach-in closet depth is two feet, I planned to use a portion of the unit as a closet. Read More
What Architect Carlo Scarpa Has Taught Me
The work of architect Carlo Scarpa has been an inspiration and a point of reference in building a life that reveals who I am without pretenses. Read More
Stone Walkways: Dry Construction or Wet Construction?
Last year, in addition to being under a tight deadline, I was working with a very tight budget. Consequently, I compromised on stone walkways, opting for "pool sand," which turned out to be a mistake (soft underfoot and sticks to shoes). A year later, I am ready to fix it and am trying to decide between dry or wet construction. Read More
8 Tips on Displaying Objects: From Museum to Home
Yesterday, I went to LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) with the sole purpose of collecting tips on displaying objects. I wanted to see what can anyone learn from a museum to apply at home. Read More
Nature-Inspired Design: Site Visit 2
In my previous post I wrote about nature-inspired design and my visit to a construction site four months ago. This week I was fortunate to come back and see the progress. My fellow DIY-er, who is too private and wishes to remain anonymous, is building a series of structures among the existing trees in his garden. I am in for another treat! Read More
11-Step Method Helps You DIY Like an Architect
Day two of my DYI Like an Architect two-day workshop at Art Center College of Design. Everyone is very enthusiastic about the process of approaching a design project with the 11-step method. Read More
DIY Like an Architect Workshop at Art Center College of Design
If you would rather lose a limb than surrender control of your dream project but would enjoy learning some tricks of the trade, the workshop I lead might be of interest. It is a two-day DIY Like an Architect workshop offered at Art Center College of Design. Read More
Home Depot and DIY Ally Update My Studio Apartment
Hello, my name is Mia; Alla DIY Ally is my mother and I have been consulting with her recently in the process of moving into a new studio apartment in lower Manhattan. Although some of its aspects were very outdated, as a renter with a budget even smaller than my NYC closet space, remodeling was out of the question. With the help of Home Depot and DIY Ally inspiration I was able to make some affordable and impactful changes. Read More
How to Design a Curbless Walk-in Shower
How to Repurpose a Wet Bar Into a Functional Space
I received an email from a new client Heidi: "I have a wet bar in our dining/living room that we want to repurpose and make into something else." She wondered if a small coat closet and a computer desk might be incorporated to turn it into a more functional space. Another alternative would have been to replace "the wet bar with a bar area against the wall, and ideally still include a small computer space." Read More
How DIY Ally, an Online Architect, Helped Me
Becoming DIY Ally, an online architect, helped me achieve fulfillment through accepting things as they are, without concern where I rank among others. Read More


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Lisa Zawilinski, Donald Leu, and members of the New Literacies Research Lab share additional thoughts on 21st century literacies.
1. What are the main differences between 20th century and 21st century education?2. How is the definition of literacies changing and why?3. What corresponding changes are needed in teaching practices and are those taking place?4. What obstacles do teachers and administrators face in implementing these types of changes?5. What are the specific skills needed for 21st century literacies?6. What can teachers and administrators do to help keep the focus on teaching meaningful skills rather than on the tools & technologies? (In other words, how can teachers balance learning to use the tools with using the tools to learn?)7. How can teachers help students dig deeper when using new tools?8. How can teachers teach 21st century skills in a way that makes learning relevant and truly engages students?9. Is it important that students see their electronic text composition as "real" writing? If so, how can teachers facilitate this?10. Do you think out-of-school activities students may engage in, such as Facebooking or writing fanfiction, contribute to literacy?11. How are today's teachers weaving together 21st century reading and writing activities in their classrooms?References
It is an unfortunate fact that there are only minimal differences in classrooms today, compared to classrooms of the previous century. Students continue to be asked to master basic, factual knowledge in the classroom and then are assessed on this knowledge. This, despite the fact that a number of profound differences between the two centuries should have redefined the nature of classroom learning: localization vs. globalization; labor as capital vs. intelligence as capital; information as knowledge to be mastered vs. information as a tool with which to develop new knowledge; and, most importantly, the Internet and other information and communication technologies (ICTs). (Donald Leu)
The Internet is this generation's defining technology for literacy and learning. Over 1.4 billion individuals (more than 1/6 of the world's population) now use the Internet to read, write, and communicate online (http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm). The Internet also requires additional, new literacies of online reading comprehension to locate, critically evaluate, synthesize, and communicate information (Leu, et. al, 2007).
Other new literacies also come with these new territories for literacy. New social practices, new visual literacies, new video literacies, new communication literacies, and many other new literacies are all essential to fully exploit the potential of the Internet and other ICTs to generate new knowledge, improve individual lives, and make the world a better, more thoughtful, place. (Donald Leu)
First and foremost, the Internet must become a dominant instructional text within today's classroom. Students cannot build 21st Century Literacies in classrooms that revolve around textbooks. After all, a single well-vetted source does not afford students with the opportunity to challenge the author or combine multiple streams of information.
Other steps teachers can take involve creating complex learning environments (Bransford et al., 1999) and experiences that apply skills in authentic contexts, creating an open and democratic classroom which allows for exploration of student opinion (Houtz, 1990) and engages students in high quality discussion.
One method to creating these pedagogies in the classroom is through inquiry learning. For example, students could choose to investigate a problem they would like to improve and then research this problem online. Finally, students could create video podcasts to share student-created public service announcements. (Greg McVerry)
Teachers continue to face many similar challenges that have always limited technology integration. For too long technology was viewed as a set of discreet skills and not connected to the curriculum. This could be changing.
According to teachers, as reported in a variety of surveys and government reports, the following challenges exist: technology fluency, concerns over Internet safety, lack of time to integrate technology, need for professional development, pressure to focus on basic skills, training in software application instead of teaching 21st century literacies. (Greg McVerry)
Many groups from the private sector and national content organizations have tried to identify 21st Century skills. Some commonalities emerge when you view the following reports: Partnership for 21st Century Skills Framework (2007); enGauge 21st Century Skills (North Central Regional Educational Laboratory, 2000); ISTE NET-S Standards (2007); AASL Standards for the 21st Century Learner (2007); the NCTE policy statement Towards a Definition of 21st Century Literacies (2008); Are They Really Ready to Work? (Casner-Lotto & Barrington, 2006).
We often refer to these as navigating the "C's of change." Across all the new standards and reports, students must now build their creativity, critical thinking, communication, collaboration, self-control, and comprehension skills.
As literacy educators, we most often focus on the comprehension and communication skills. It is important to understand, however, that these skills have evolved with the Internet. For example, comprehension of nonlinear text for problem solving and inquiry can often be more challenging than comprehending a linear text. These require the new literacies of online reading comprehension.
Communication has also changed. No matter the career path students choose, they will be asked to make meaning with, and create, documents that combine visual, auditory, and textual modalities (Takayoshi & Selfe, 2007). Learners need to know when a technology is appropriate and how best to frame communications for a particular audience (Leu et al., 2007).
As literacy educators engage students in new 21st century literacies, it is important that they also focus on the other 21st century skills. One way to build comprehension and communication skills is through collaborative Internet inquiry projects. (Greg McVerry)
Balance needs to occur in creating meaningful lessons within authentic contexts for the students to benefit and buy in to what is being taught. If the tools and technologies are being rolled out for the sake of having tools and technologies, then the system will fail. Teachers and administrators need common planning time to look at the standards and frameworks and determine where the best place would be to start infusing the good work already happening with the power that the tools and technologies can lend.
The best bet from the teacher's perspective is to take a lesson or unit that they already teach and that they have taught with success in the past. They know that the lesson works and that the students will value the work. Then planning time can be invested in finding the right tools to use and authentic places to implement the technologies. (Ian O'Byrne)
Two specific teacher dispositions will help both teachers and administrators balance learning the tools and learning the skills through the tools. First, teachers must attend closely to their own searches and communications on the Internet. For example, when using a search engine to locate information on the Internet, teachers should note how they change search terms to find the answers to their questions. Are they adding terms, using quotations, specifying the types of pages to search within? They might ask themselves, how am I determining the reliability of the information I find? When crafting an email to a colleague, what are they doing to be sure the recipient understands their message? Are they referring to previous conversations? Are they writing more formally with greetings and salutations appropriate for the audience? These skills are important across any type of writing. Noting the skills in action will help to know what to teach students.
The next teacher disposition necessary is a comfort with sharing the responsibility for teaching. The classroom teacher alone is not as efficient when teaching with these technologies and skills. Teachers must develop a comfort with students becoming teachers. Students have much to share with their classmates and teachers and should contribute that knowledge. I can't tell you how much I have learned from my students. Sharing the teaching with them has been a remarkable, life-changing experience for me. Not only are we learning much more, the classroom culture has changed. Students understand that a number of "experts" exist outside of the teacher. They go to each other for help. I can't go back to being the only one doing the teaching. So, pay close attention to your own internet use, noticing what you are thinking and doing step by step, and share your teaching responsibility with your students. These two dispositions will serve you well on this journey. (Lisa Zawilinski)
The skill and habit of digging deeper needs to occur on a daily basis in all subjects. The advent of these "new tools" just highlights the need more than ever. As a teacher, my district would always talk about "academic rigor" and having students fully understand the essential questions involved in everything that happened in the classroom. The belief was that any student in any classroom could be asked what they were learning at that specific instant and they would be able to accurately respond as to what and why they were learning. As educators we need to focus on the depths to which our students understand what we're teaching, and why we're teaching it. This mindset of deep understanding can be reinforced regularly, not just in the context of new tools and technologies. When the tools and technologies come into the classroom, they'll just be an extension of the good learning already happening. (Ian O'Byrne)
The focus on authentic learning can take place, and should take place in all disciplines, regardless of whether or not the technological tools are there. The benefit of the technology, when integrated into a great lesson, is that the tools are embedded seamlessly. The new frontiers brought about by technological tools don't seem foisted onto the classroom as a whole. If the tools and environments brought about by Internet and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are thoughtfully integrated into a lesson, the extension will not seem so distant.
For example, instead of having students read The Adventures of Huck Finn and write an essay about freedom of speech and the novel, or giving a speech about censorship and the book being banned, ICTs offer new avenues to research and respond. Students can search for background information about the Bill of Rights and why the book has been banned around the globe. Students can read the blogs and newspaper articles written by and about these book bannings. The students in your class can email individuals from other schools to determine how severe the case of censorship was at their specific school. Your students could then present their findings and research with students from other schools via their own blog or email. The type of authentic learning then moves away from classroom interactions and dynamics and closer to the global learning and lifelong skills that some frameworks and standards like to envision. (Ian O'Byrne)
If you talk to anyone over thirty the first thing they lament is the destruction of spelling because of instant messaging (IM). Yet, this reality does not play out in the research. Students, according to the recent Pew Internet American Life study on writing, understand the difference between communication and comprehension. Students view texting and IMing and micro-blogging on Facebook as more of communication than composition. They can also address and switch audiences. Therefore, when writing to a teacher or an adult, they may not use the same "voice" they do with their friends.
What is important to educators to engage students in composition using new technologies that allow students to explore their sense of voice and identity? This does not mean equating Facebook with Faust, but that the tool can be used in the classroom to facilitate writing. For example, teachers could set up a social network in Ning and have students interact "in character." Teachers can also draw on technologies that students view more as "real" composition over those of "real" communication. (Greg McVerry)
Collaborative projects provide students with authentic audiences and purposes for writing. As Greg mentioned above, using a Ning, a mini social network (that can be password protected and only viewed by those invited) can be set up between classrooms studying the same content or reading the same texts. Teachers can start a dialogue and require students to collaborate across classrooms. This collaboration makes explicit multiple interpretations and points of view--real writing using Internet tools for authentic purposes. (Lisa Zawilinski)
Of course. If you recognize literacy as a social practice then how students use language and symbols to make meaning counts as literacy. Often, skeptics (i.e. the National Endowment of the Arts) segregate students' out of school literacies as a subset of skills that could never equate to reading great "literature." Yet who gets to define literature? Who gets to define great? The story lines and complexities of the narratives in today's video games can have as many twists as any Chekov plays.
Fanfiction and other explorations of popular culture also count as literature. You hear classroom teachers moaning all the time that students do not know how to write or peer edit with groups. If you look at these vast online writing communities, however, you will find adolescents have created their own literary world. Sure, some characters may be contrived or plots unrealistic (these are emerging writers) and there may be some grammatical errors (many students write in a second language), but to say that these events do not count as literature because the stories can not hold their own against the classics is absurd. (Greg McVerry)
Many teachers are working to expand their expertise with new technologies and the skills required when reading on the Internet. Maintaining classroom home pages and blogging are two common ways teachers are expanding their repertoire and weaving in 21st century literacy skills. They are beginning to blog with their students. Instead of featuring student writing on the classroom bulletin board, many teachers are posting student writing to blogs, providing a broader audience for the work. The posting of reader responses and book reviews to blogs is becoming more common. Teachers are also maintaining classroom webpages containing links to rich curricular resources for students, parents, and other teachers.
Additional ways that teachers are weaving in 21st century reading and writing activities are through Internet Projects and email "pen-pal" exchanges. Instead of traditional pen pals, students are exchanging email with partner classrooms across the world. There is little time lag between exchanges, and students are practicing important communication skills within the email tool. Additionally, some classrooms are participating in Internet Projects. These projects are collaborative and span a variety of content areas (see "Internet Project: Preparing Students for New Literacies in a Global Village" at http://www.readingonline.org/electronic/RT/3-01_Column/index.html for a detailed explanation). These activities provide both teachers and students important practice using the new skills required for understanding and sharing information on the Internet. (Lisa Zawilinski)
Bransford, J., Pellegrino, J. W., & Donovan, S. (1999). How People Learn: Bridging Research and Practice: National Academy Press.
Houtz, J. C. & Krug, D. (1995). Assessment of creativity: resolving a mid-life crisis. Educational Psychology Review, 7, 269-299.
Leu, D. J., Zawilinski, L., Castek, J., Banerjee, M., Housand, B., Liu, Y., & O'Neil. M. (2007). What is new about the new literacies of online reading comprehension? In A. Berger, L. Rush & J. Eakle (Eds.), Secondary school reading and writing: What research reveals for classroom practices. Chicago, IL: National Council of Teachers of English/National Conference of Research on Language and Literacy.
Takayoshi, P & Selfe, C. (2007). Thinking about multimodality. In C. Selfe (ed). Multimodal composition: Resources for teachers.Creskill, NJ: Hampton. Press.
Donald Leu, Greg McVerry, Lisa Zawilinski, and Ian O'Byrne are members of the New Literacies Research Lab at the University of Connecticut. Learn more about their work at http://www.newliteracies.uconn.edu/
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Anonymous User
thanks for the page. it is very useful! I plan to learn more about online composition classes and the application of multimodality in writing classroom..
Posted By:
Anonymous User
I agree with your work. I do not have a teaching job yet so my comments may not be up to par; however, during my student teaching at an east of the river middle school, I found that school incorporating several on-line projects into the curriculum. According to Donal Leu, "Other new literacies also come with these new territories for literacy. New social practices, new visual literacies, new video literacies, new communication literacies, and many other new literacies are all essential to fully exploit the potential of the Internet and other ICTs to generate new knowledge, improve individual lives, and make the world a better, more thoughtful, place." While this is true, I have become a fatalist since November 2000. How can the federal government pass a law in early 2002, provide the rules in late 2003, and not, in my opinion, fund it properly? It seems that the law is self-defeating. Who pays? Teachers and students.
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Anonymous User
Thank you. I found this page to be insightful.
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text:
Budget pact a high-profile deal for Washington state's Sen. Murray
Sen. Patty Murray has to think big while also thinking local, and that means curbing federal spending while keeping federal dollars flowing back home.
It means keeping Joint Base Lewis-McChord or the Energy Department's Hanford Richland Operations Office humming back in Washington state, but also crafting a federal budget plan that satisfies enough of Washington, D.C.,'s budget conservatives that it can pass Congress. It also means building enough good will back home so she doesn't face the kind of close election she did in 2010.
As the chairwoman of the Senate Budget Committee and the Senate's fourth-ranking Democrat, Murray was one of two chief negotiators of the deal on the federal budget announced Tuesday. She and House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., talked for weeks. Tuesday, they unveiled a proposal that would avoid the most harsh of the automatic spending cuts, or sequester, that are due to take effect Jan. 15. If no budget is passed by that date, the government could endure another partial shutdown.
It was arguably the biggest triumph of Murray's 20-year Senate career, where she was half the architect of a deal that's eluded negotiators for years.
In an interview shortly after the announcement, Murray was beaming. When asked a simple, "How are you?" she couldn't stop laughing.
She quickly turned to Washington state, saying that by easing the sequester's impact, the agreement would provide relief for her state. Asked how, specifically, that would happen, Murray was vague; those kinds of details have yet to be addressed.
Her mood was so buoyant she didn't seem to mind the critics, generally conservatives, who disliked the deal.
If they have a problem, she said with a chuckle, "They can ask Paul Ryan," a hero to the conservatives.
Ryan's backing was crucial. He was the Republicans' 2012 vice-presidential candidate, an unapologetic conservative who wrote budgets that went out on political limbs. The House of Representatives approved his spending blueprint earlier this year, one that would have meant politically risky changes to Medicare and Social Security.
Without Ryan, chances are a lot of conservative support might be lost. Then again, without Murray, a hero to liberals – she got a perfect rating last year from the liberal Americans for Democratic Action – that wing of the Democratic Party might have been wary. Americans for Democratic Action named eight senators – seven Democrats and one independent – "heroes" last year. Murray was one.
This week Murray, like Ryan, stepped away from her role as partisan messenger and got leader-like.
"This agreement breaks through the recent dysfunction to prevent another government shutdown and roll back sequestration's cuts to defense and domestic investments in a balanced way," a confident Murray said.
She got statesmanlike. "It's a good step in the right direction," she said, "that can hopefully rebuild some trust and serve as a foundation for continued bipartisan work."
Murray says her mission is to promote responsible federal spending, not simply meat-ax budget reductions. Budgeting, she maintains, is a nuanced process, where not every federal dollar has to be treated the same.
Murray's role in the deal was no surprise to analysts. "She's been a steady force, a calm voice," said Peter May, the chairman of the University of Washington political science department. "She's not a show horse. She's not a bomb thrower. She's a consensus builder."
That style usually means a solid future in the Democratic Senate hierarchy. Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, now in his seventh year at the helm, is 74, though his term runs until January 2017. Next in line is Assistant Majority Leader Richard Durbin of Illinois, who's 69, and policy committee Chairman Charles Schumer of New York, who at 63 is the same age as Murray.
Typically, leaders move up the ladder one step at a time, but not always. Sometimes senators may decide they want someone who's a better spokesman or a better inside player, and they'll allow a colleague to leapfrog the next in line.
So far, there's little talk of Murray succeeding Reid, but the party might warm to the idea of her as the first woman to hold the top Senate job.
Murray's workmanlike style often denies her the kind of credit for working on state issues that she probably should get, May said. She won re-election last year with 52.4 percent of the vote and she won in 2004 with 55 percent, not overwhelming numbers for an incumbent.
In the McClatchy interview, she spoke passionately about the state.
"At home every weekend I hear about this suffering because of the sequester taking place. I hear civilian and military employees in Tacoma talk about how much furloughs hurt them," she said. "In Tri-Cities they're very, very dependent on the federal government to clean up Hanford."
Asked how the deal would affect those constituents, she said only, "Instead of having across-the-board cuts that were not well thought out, they'll be replaced" with more sensible budgeting. "We don't just go straight across the board."
At Hanford, the reduction last March was estimated at up to 10 percent of spending, meaning employees would have to be furloughed. However, furloughs were more limited than predicted, in part because the Department of Energy was able to shift dollars within its budget.
Other budget action locked in spending at the level of previous years for some Hanford nuclear reservation projects that didn't need the money, and starved others that did.
Changes within departmental budgets – called reprogramming – that was approved by Congress allowed some switching around of funds. But there still were some furloughs required by Department of Energy contractors, and substantial work for small businesses with subcontracts was canceled or reduced.
Because of the current budget uncertainties, Hanford contractors have been approved to lay off up to 450 employees in the current fiscal year. Most of those layoffs are expected to be this month and in January. No reprogramming has been proposed this year.
There also is the issue of whether the Department of Energy can meet its legal obligations for environmental cleanup. It already has said it can't meet the remaining deadlines in a court-enforced consent decree, and budget issues aren't helping it get back on track.
In the Defense Department, some 9,500 civilian workers at Lewis-McChord had six unpaid days off last summer because of the first round of sequestration, and related forced federal budget cuts slashed the base's operating budget from $432 million in 2011 to $344 million in 2013. The uncertainty regarding defense spending has led the base to hold off on maintenance spending and to reduce training for troops that aren't bound for Afghanistan. It's also caused trepidation among private companies outside the base that do business with the military. Adam Ashton of The News Tribune in Tacoma, Wash., and Annette Cary of the Tri-City Herald in Kennewick, Wash., contributed to this article.


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New Haven, Conn. – Three Bulldogs will spend the next week facing off against the top collegiate tennis players in the nation at the ITA All-American Championships at the University of Tulsa in Tulsa, Okla.
In singles, sophomore John Huang will participate in the qualifying tournament, beginning Oct. 4. If he wins three qualifying matches, Huang will advance to the main draw of the singles tournament. Fellow sophomore Marc Powers was also slated to participate in qualifying, but was forced to withdraw from play due to a case of pneumonia.
In doubles play, juniors Erik Blumenkranz and Joel Samaha will participate in the main draw beginning Oct. 7.
Cary Leeds Head Coach of Men's Tennis Alex Dorato is excited about his player's prospects in the tournament.
"Although the competition is the best in the country, I am hoping to come away from the tournament with at least a win or two. Certainly, all of our entrants have a reasonable shot."
Coach Dorato sees the competition as an opportunity for player growth beyond the tournament itself.
"The tournament will also provide our players with great experience playing against the highest level. This will help us to pinpoint what we'll need to work on to reach our potential."
Yale will also play on Oct. 9 and 10 at the Army Invitational in West Point, N.Y.


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Mount Saint Mary - 3, Farmingdale State - 2 (25-12, 19-25, 25-20, 17-25, 15-11)
Farmingdale State - 3, The Sage Colleges - 2 (21-25, 21-25, 25-15, 25-19, 15-12)
Old Westbury, N.Y. - The Rams (10-3, 5-1 Skyline) went 1-1 on Saturday, October 8th in a Skyline Play Date hosted by Old Westbury. Both matches went to a fifth set, as Farmingdale State fell to Mount Saint Mary 3-2 in the first match and then rallied to defeat The Sage Colleges, 3-2, in their second match of the day.
Against Mount Saint Mary, freshman setter Sarah Palladino (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) finished with 30 assists while junior outside Holly Sahner (Dix Hills, N.Y.) recorded a team-high 10 kills and 21 digs. Senior libero Jessica Zimmermann (Seaford, N.Y.) posted a team-high 27 digs.
In the Sage match, the Rams were down 2-0 before winning three straight to take the victory. Palladino posted 31 assists, Sahner had 16 kills and senior outside Dominique Cunningham (Amityville, N.Y.) had 13 kills. Zimmermann had 14 digs.
Next up for Farmingdale State is the St. Joseph's-L.I. Tournament on October 14-15. The Rams will face CCNY at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, followed by St. Joe's Brooklyn at 6:00 p.m. On Saturday, Farmingdale State will play Ramapo at 2:00 p.m., with another possible match at 4:00 p.m., depending on the outcome of those three games.


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You are all probably thinking that I went to that ultimate destination in vacations in Mexico, Riviera Maya. The advertisement for that vacation spot is that it is a place where one can relax at the pool, go snorkeling, play golf, receive a nice massage at the spa and eat delicious and sumptuous dinners for a price that includes all services, such as the bar and the food bill. Well, you are mistaken. For about 10 years now I have been traveling to Mexico for an all-inclusive vacation, which is a essentially a week's stay in a convent. There everything is included -- food, beverage, housing, prayers and even round-trip transportation to and from the airport. Every year when I arrive at the airport in Mexico City, two or three Missionaries of Charity, a.k.a. "Mother Teresa nuns," dressed in white saris with a blue stripes wait for me at the airport. They do not need a sign to find me or for me to find them. They have come in a large, white van to pick me up. There is no mistaking this van since the sides of it read in big blue letters---"Misioneras de la Caridad." One brave sister drives fearlessly through the winding, crowded highways of Mexico City. Our first stop is always at La Villa, which is where the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe is located -- the most visited religious shrine in the world. After a holy visit to the shrine and prayers for a successful and holy visit to Mexico, we head to Toluca, a city about one hour from Mexico City. It is unbelievable, but it is freezing cold there all year round since it is located high in the mountains. The sisters laugh at me, because I always beg them to give me a heavy coat, not a jacket, for my week's stay there.
When we arrive at Toluca, my vacation really moves into full swing. Of course, the week begins with a Mass. Then, I begin teaching the sisters theology. However, between those class hours, I sit and talk to the guys living at the convent. The huge convent at Toluca is also an orphanage for boys from about 6 years of age until about 25 years of age. In addition, on the top floors of this orphanage are "independent living" and a nursing home for "los abuelos," that is "the grandfathers," who are also unwanted, poor and alone in this world. The sisters take very good care of the little guys and the grandfathers. Since I have been going to this vacation spot for about 10 years now, I have seen these boys grow up and become men. For me they are very special guys.
The 13 boys who reside in the orphanage would be seen in the United States as "special needs children." Three are blind. The youngest one, Carlos (not his real name), was blinded by his mother when in a drug-induced rage she threw boiling liquid at his face. Carlos is about 12 years old now, and very intelligent. He knows you by your voice, but he also knows everyone by one's body shape. If you approach him without speaking, he will hug you and call out your name. He never fails. This year he begged me endlessly to take him "para montar caballo," that is to go horseback riding. So, I did what anyone would do -- I took him riding. So, on my last day he and I headed to the supermarket where there was a mechanical horse and he rode it for hours as I fed the machine a pocket full of "pesos mexicanos." He loved it and begged me not to leave to go to the convent yet.
The rest of the boys are physically challenged in that among other disabilities they cannot walk. Some have no legs, others have legs that cannot support them. So, almost all of them are in wheelchairs. However, this does not stop them at all from getting around, going to school or playing soccer and football in the convent. The boys attend school which is an anomaly for children like them in Mexico, and next year one is going to attend the university. It is interesting that the boys refer to each other as "hermanos," "brothers" since they have grown up together. They really love and care for each other as taught to them by the sisters.
This year one of the older guys, Manuel (not his real name), told me that he wanted me to meet the parish priest, who lives nearby. So, he took me to the parish church. Manuel is crippled and can hardly walk, but he insisted on walking with me to see the priest. So, we went, but on the way we passed by an open air cafe with a television blaring. The convent does not have a television and only one computer for the boys to do their homework, which is carefully monitored by the sisters. Manuel stood there mesmerized by the television. After about 15 minutes, I had to yank him away from the cafe as he was completely immersed in a game show. The sisters try to raise the boys in a healthy and holy way. They have no television, computers or cell phones, but they attend Mass every morning and go off to school. The guys read, study and listen to music. They are carefully cared for and raised by the sisters. There is a certain innocence about these guys that is very unusual for children their age. A few years ago in Mexico there was an outbreak of bird flu, which killed many people. The nuns kept the boys enclosed in the convent for about four months to protect them. No one could enter or leave the convent. The boys did not even go to school, but the nuns taught them their lessons at home. No one from the convent died, and in fact no one even got the flu that year.
The sisters have gotten doctors and psychologists to offer their time and help each week to care for the boys. They come faithfully to give the boys regular checkups, and special attention and care when needed. Volunteers come every week to play with the boys, teach them, walk with them and most importantly talk with them. These volunteers are of all ages -- from adolescents to retired men and women. The sisters are always there to help and care for the boys. When they are happy and even sad, they look for the sisters.
In the United States there are no more orphanages. Foster care and adoption were implemented years ago to care for these children. In Mexico these boys are the children no one wants. Many of their parents left them on the doorstep of the convent to be cared for by the sisters. One little boy was left in a tree wrapped in a blanket, abandoned by his mother and father. Since these guys are physically incapacitated, no one adopts them; so, the sisters care for them throughout their entire lives. They have a good life -- shelter, food, doctor's care, an education, religion and most of all love.
The proof of their love is that when it was time for my week's stay at the all-inclusive vacation spot to come to an end, the boys performed a concert for me. This past year the sisters taught the guys to play instruments and sing. They were very talented, and I told them that I was going to take them on a world tour. Later that day they played at Mass that I celebrated for them, my boys. You probably do not think that this is much of a vacation, but it is probably the most enjoyable time of the year for me to spend it with "teaching the caring and loving sisters and being with my boys."
Reverend Gus Puleo is Pastor of St. Patrick Church in Norristown and Adjunct Professor of Spanish at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia. He is a graduate of Norristown High School and attended Georgetown University where he received B.A. and B.S. in Spanish and Linguistics. He has Master Degrees in Spanish, Linguistics and Divinity from Middlebury College, Georgetown University and St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. He holds a Ph.D. in Spanish from the University of Pennsylvania.


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Working your way up the ladder? Ready for a career shift? Trying to grow your business? No matter your next move, get… Read More »
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Tuesday, Sep 24, 2019 at 6:30pm
Giovanni's Restaurant
Rockford, IL
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Boone County Council On Aging
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Beltrami Suspender
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A Shining City: The Legacy of Ronald Reagan
Simon & Schuster, 1998 - Political Science - 251 pages
Includes tributes from Billy Graham, Henry A. Kissinger, Peggy Noonan, Barbara Walters, Larry King, Richard Helms, Charles Z. Wick, James H. Billington, George F. Will, Sam Nunn, Gerald R. Ford, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Winston S. Churchill III, Jack Kemp, John Major, Brent Scowcroft, Lee Kuan Yew, Katharine Graham, Lou Cannon, Malcolm S. Forbes, Jr., James A. Baker III, Frank C. Carlucci, Jimmy Carter, Helen Thomas, Sam Donaldson, Robert J. Novak, Walter H. Annenberg, Richard Norton Smith, Lodwrick M. Cook, Ed Feulner, John Gavin, Howard H. Baker, Jr., Dan Quayle, Caspar W. Weinberger, George Bush, Brian Mulroney, Colin L. Powell, Elizabeth Dole, George Shultz, Newt Gingrich, Mikhail Gorbachev, Margaret Thatcher, Robert Dole, Charlton Heston, William J. Bennett, William J. Clinton, with a biography of Roanld Reagan.
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Excerpts drawn from 50 of Reagan's post-presidential speeches (delivered during 199094), interwoven with tributes to the president from a variety of notables, including Billy Graham, Henry Kissinger ... Read full review
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Grips & Tape
'Look, Mom! No hands!' will only get you so far. Eventually, we all have to grab the handlebars to take control of the bike. That's why we've designed bike grips and handlebar tape that add comfort and control when you're on the bike, while looking nothing short of awesome when you're off of it.
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