Before her passing in 1989 at the age of 25, Tracy Armstrong fought a courageous battle against Spinal Muscular Atrophy, living her life the only way she knew how - with class and dignity. Though confined to a wheelchair, she took the time to write her witty and tender observations about her day-to-day life with SMA. Her book, "Tracy's Story - The Other Side of the Coin", was written by Tracy personally, each word originally typed on electric typewriter using a pencil, one letter at a time. It is a funny and heartwarming collection of stories from a woman who exemplified courage.

Revised and Updated - 2010 with new resources and dedications. In May, 1997, Randy and Helen Baldwin eagerly welcomed their third child, Jeffrey, as did his older siblings, Matthew and Katie. Jeffrey's arrival, unplanned but greatly anticipated, sparked a few adjustments in this family long removed from diaper duty, but Jeffrey was obviously a special gift. Eight weeks later, life took a completely unexpected downward spiral into the depths of despair when Jeffrey was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a rare, progressive genetic neuromuscular disease with deadly ramifications. The neurologist handed over the utterly devastating news that Jeffrey had a severe case of the most destructive form without a morsel of hope that anything could be done to thwart the effects of the killer disease. Faced with the nightmare that their baby was expected to die within two years and that there was no treatment or cure, Randy and Helen took their faith in God to a higher level and embarked on a quest to defy SMA and its stranglehold on their precious baby's life. They sought the expertise of alternative practitioners and relentlessly relied on prayers for Jeffrey's health and for strength, courage, and wisdom for themselves and their family. The Jeffrey Journey is the story of how one family - with friends and family, prayer, and God's grace - rose to the challenge of caring for a dying child as they also realized the countless blessings left by their angel.

This groundbreaking book examines the significance of the news media for the political beliefs and behavior of contemporary Americans. Relying on original, in-depth interviews with members of the group known as Generation X, Marco Calavita analyzes the memories and understandings of these individuals' political development dating back to childhood. Specifically, he focuses on the developmental significance of news media engagement in the context of institutions and phenomena like family, peers, schooling, and popular culture. Calavita succeeds where others have failed at exploring the inevitably contextualized and ecological nature of individual political development, and the specific roles of news media in that development. Apprehending Politics illuminates the subtle but fundamental power of news media in who we are politically, and how we got that way.

Harry Van Arsdale (1905-1986) was a towering figure in the New York labor scene. After being initiated into the Local 3 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in 1925 and becoming its business manager in 1933, Van Arsdale turned the then corrupt and disorganized union into a force to be reckoned with. He became president of the New York City Central Labor Council in 1957, which put him in a position to become a greater influence for labor relations locally and nationally. As business manager and president of these organizations, Van Arsdale advocated and won shorter work days, in order to give more men a chance to work - especially important in the 1930s. He instituted paid vacation, paid holidays, annuity plans, and educational opportunities for union workers - novelties at that time - as well as scholarships for workers' children. His sincere commitment to improving the lives of American workers and their families made him a truly beloved figure. This fascinating memoir traces Van Arsdale's sixty-plus years as a union member and powerful labor figure, and provides colorful details of his many remarkable accomplishments.

Monthly current affairs magazine from a Christian perspective with a focus on politics, society, economics and culture.