Hey all, I've posted (updated) a PDF article describing in some detail how to go about making modular page layouts using views, partials, layouts, content_for, and passing data into various display elements to keep them reusable and decoupled from controllers.
This is the culmination of some studying, experimenting, and asking several questions here the past week or two (thanks!).
I'm hoping some of you will have time to read it and le me kow whether you believe it's a good representation of "how to do it" for the newbie crowd, or whether I have butchered it 
http://gregwillits.wordpress.com/2007/10/16/modular-page-layouts-in-ruby-on-rails/
Thanks for any feedback you can offer.
-- greg willits