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Request Senior Care
Monitoring Care in Nursing Home ©
By: Clare Absher RN, BSNBe sure to report any of the following observations or concerns immediately to the attention of Director of Nursing, appropriate nursing staff and physicians in the home where your loved one resides.
Ask to see plan of care, review carefully, make copy and ask to have it revised if not addressing all needs. Monitor during visits that staff is following care plan. Ask nursing aides actually providing care if they have seen the careplan and if it is reviewed with them regularly or when any changes are made.
Visit at mealtimes to see if eating OK and getting any necessary assistance from staff. Watch for weight loss especially by inspecting upper arms and calves. Ask to have weekly weights monitored by staff and review results noting significant changes.
Check if drinking enough water by looking for signs of dehydration. Evaluate skin tone by pinching forehead to see if skin makes a crease that is slow to disappear. Look inside mouth and lips for signs of dryness. Check to see if water pitcher regularly full and accessible.
When at risk for pressure sores (also known as bedsores and decubitus ulcers) due to limited mobility, check to see if staff following preventive measures such as proper cushioning (egg crate or air mattress on beds and chairs) or padding of high risk areas (heel and elbow protectors) and frequent positional changes especially when in bed or chair for long periods of time.
Check for developing bedsores or any signs of skin breakdown. Inspect heels, elbows, sacral/coccyx area (above buttocks also known as tailbone), upper back ear cartilage, and any bony areas such as shoulder blades and base of neck. If see any redness, press and see if blanches or whitens. If remains reddened, it may be start of a pressure sore that requires specific care.
Check for toileting problems such as onset of incontinence. Note whether staff available to assist to bathroom when needed and on a regular basis. If adult diapers are used, determine whether usage is based on need or convenience. Check if diapers changed regularly by looking for reddened, irritated skin and rashes in diaper area.
If getting physical therapy or any other special therapies, check to see if schedule is being followed. Attend a therapy session to observe what therapy is actually provided and whether progress noted over time.
Check to see if staff follows posted daily activities schedule and if residents are encouraged to participate and given necessary assistance in order to participate.


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Kids can make homemade valentines from the heart!
Find fun new books for kids of all ages.
Find safe, educational apps and online games for all ages.
Plan an unforgettable birthday for your child.
Everything you need for family game night!
Check out this week's free featured printable: Rosa Parks Coloring Page
Find the best new releases for your child's reading list!
Find our top picks for the best toys of the year!
Everything you need for a weekend full of family fun.
In the theater:
On DVD:
Top Online Games
Family Games
The Latest and Greatest Book for Kids Search our interactive Book Finder for the top new books for kids of all ages, brought to you by the latest book in the I, Funny series, "I Totally Funniest."
Kindergarten Readiness App Wins Gold Our Kindergarten Readiness app won the Gold Award of Excellence in the educational category at the 2014 Communicator Awards. This valuable checklist comes with games and activities to help your child practice the essential skills she needs for kindergarten. Download the Kindergarten Readiness app today!
Top 10 Wintertime Neighborhood Games Who says you have to stay inside when the temperature drops? Snowy weather is a great excuse to round up your neighborhood for some outdoor winter fun and games.
2015 Family-Friendly Oscar Nominees The Oscar nominations are in, and they include several family-friendly movies. See which flicks earned a nod for Best Animated Feature Film and other awards.
Sign up for our free email newsletters and receive the latest advice and information on all things parenting.
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Read about Black History with kids of all ages.
Give from the heart with these crafty cards!
Need ideas for what to do this weekend? We have it covered.

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ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (Bloomberg) -- Abu Dhabi will pay Exxon Mobil Corp. and Inpex Corp. more to pump oil at the largest field off the emirate's coast as it extends a contract with the companies.
Exxon and Japan's Inpex lengthened their deal for the Upper Zakum field in the Persian Gulf by 15 years through 2041, the Asian company said today in a statement, without giving further terms. The companies may get about $2.85 a barrel, up from $1 a barrel, International Oil Daily reported, without citing anyone.
They sought better terms to help pay for artificial islands to support drilling equipment as output capacity of Murban-grade crude rises to 750,000 barrels a day by 2017 from about 600,000 barrels now, Ali Hassan Al-Marzooqi, a senior V.P. at the field's operating unit, said yesterday. Output may expand to 1 million barrels a day by 2024, he said. Inpex said the joint venture operating at Upper Zakum is considering the plan.
Exxon and Inpex are also among 11 U.S., European and Asian operators bidding at Abu Dhabi's largest onshore concession. Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. began running the fields producing about 1.5 million barrels a day of Murban-grade crude on its own after a 75-year concession with its partners ended this month, Director General Abdulla Nasser Al Suwaidi said yesterday.
Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates, is seeking investors to help it boost capacity to 3.5 million barrels of crude a day by 2017 from about 3 million now. The U.A.E. was the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries' fourth-largest producer in the last month, figures compiled by Bloomberg show. Partners in Abu Dhabi's oil fields also receive allocations of crude equal to the proportion of their holding in the deposit.
Adnoc, as Abu Dhabi National Oil is known, holds 60 percent of the Upper Zakum venture, Inpex 12 percent and Exxon the rest.
Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Co., another state-led venture operating a collection of fields, plans to boost production capacity to as much as 800,000 barrels a day in 2017 from 620,000 barrels now, before expanding to 1 million barrels in 2020, CEO Ali Al-Jarwan said yesterday.
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World Oil's specialized upstream Engineering Data Tables featuring the Drill Bit Classifier, Tubing Tables and more. Get Total Access today.
Drill Bit Classifier World Oil published its renowned Drill Bit Classifier in September 2013. The Drill Bit Classifier is a comprehensive listing of major manufacturers' d...
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Randy Moss climbed into his chair, looked around and saw dozens of reporters standing in front of his podium.
"I'm a little stunned to come out and see everybody, especially at my booth," Moss said.
Like Moss didn't know he would be a focus of attention after catching 23 touchdown passes, eclipsing the single-season record set by former San Francisco 49er Jerry Rice.
There aren't that many compelling stories in this Super Bowl, but Moss is one of them.
A year ago, he was poison, an aging, bitter receiver who had lost a step and burned bridges in both Minnesota and Oakland.
Few teams wanted him. Most were scared of him.
Yet here he is, 98 catches, 1,493 yards and 23 TDs later, the ultimate individualist fitting in with the team that disdains individualism more than any other.
And all those turbulent years will be forgotten if Moss walks off the field Sunday as a champion.
"In the back of my mind I really didn't know if I'd get here or not," Moss said Tuesday.
That Moss would wind up with the Patriots seemed inconceivable a year ago. New England doesn't invite cancers into their locker room, and Moss was the guy who loafed when he wasn't getting the ball and in 2001 infamously said, "I play when I want to play."
But the risk was low – New England gave up just a fourth-round draft pick to Oakland – and the potential reward was high.
Plus, the Patriots were certain their veterans would keep Moss in line and winning would further pacify him.
"A lot of key people in our system knew Randy and didn't think it would be a problem," Patriots' owner Robert Kraft said. "He's fit into our locker room beautifully."
Indeed, it's hard to find a Patriot who has anything negative to say about Moss, 30, other than the fact he likes to walk around the locker room naked.
Instead, they rave about his professionalism, work ethic and, of course, his talent.
Linebacker Mike Vrabel: "He's been unbelievable. I like watching him play but I like watching him interact with guys in the locker room, too. He's engaging, a great storyteller. Guys like being around him."
Linebacker Junior Seau: "Randy Moss has been a leader, a great player. Honestly, he has really showcased himself on the field and off the field. Despite what was said beforehand he has proven who he is and what kind of character guy he is."
No one appreciates Moss more than quarterback Tom Brady. But it's not just Moss' skills that have impressed Brady. It's the way he's gone about his work. The loafer in Minnesota and Oakland has been one of the Patriots' hardest workers.
"You should have seen him running around yesterday (Monday)," Brady said. "He is flying down the field. This is our 115th practice and he's still out there like it's minicamp."
Perhaps nothing illustrates Moss' maturation more than his silence in the postseason. He had a combined two catches for 32 yards in the Patriots' victories over Jacksonville and San Diego, but he didn't complain to the coaching staff or grouse to the media.
"I think early in my career I probably would have voiced my opinion on certain plays and how I could get open," Moss said. "I had a very angry approach to the game when I was young."
Moss hasn't completely shed his skin. He blamed his two turbulent years in Oakland on the Raiders' organization, saying "football wasn't the main priority over there anymore."
And when a reporter wondered if he had any regrets, there was this response: "Not at all. I just don't. What can I take back? I am who I am. I'm still going to do what I want to do and say what I want to say. To be able to say I regret things, I don't."
But if there's still a bit of the rebel in Moss, it's been tamped down by the Patriot Way. Moss has become a Bill Belichick disciple and, in doing so, has put a new coat of paint on his reputation.
"To be able to become a New England Patriot, it's something I never thought would happen," he said. "I'm living a dream."


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Tags indie rock, world indie
Genres indie, folk, indie folk, indie rock, experimental (beta) (flag as incorrect)
Published November 27, 2011
Thirteen tracks including music by Beirut, Childish Gambino, and Chior of Young Believers.
Metal Is Coming by LDestructor
Eighteen tracks including music by Black Cobra, The Melvins, and Dethklok.
heavy metal, rock
Late Nite by LDestructor
indie rock, world indie
Fuzz by LDestructor
Nine tracks including music by Beck, Best Coast, and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.
alternative rock, surf pop, garage


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Hi, everybody,
My trip to Boston was very fun. I was happy and excited to have a part in a movie! It wasn't difficult for me to act.
It was thrilling to be surrounded by smart, passionate filmmakers. Even though it was cold, they worked so hard. The lighting person had to hold up the lights for a long time, her arms must have been tired. The sound woman had to lay on the floor in an awkward position for a long time, to get the right sound. I was honored to be surrounded by these young artists.
I am leaving for Costa Rica tomorrow with my daughter for 10 days. My next video recipe will be posted after I come back. I was trying to post it before leaving, but it's impossible to get it done before I leave. So much to do!
I don't think I can read email often while traveling, but if I find an internet cafe, I will check my emails. Can I ask a favor of you guys? Please answer some questions asked by new readers. I know you've cooked so many recipes, and if you're a reader of my website you saw some of the same questions coming up all the time and you read my answers. Maybe you even asked some questions yourself! I would really appreciate it if you helped the new cooks, and I'm sure they would too. I rely on you guys!
I'll take some photos wherever I go and update you later.
These are some photos I took when I visited Boston:
Once I arrived, we went to a room in next to the Harvard cafeteria and rehearsed.
On set. The old lady on the right is me! And see the sound woman on the floor : )
That's me! I wish I could have looked older.
Paul Whang, the director, picked me up at the bus station.I made oisobagi for Paul. He loved it. I told him, "when you eat oisobagi, don't split each piece and eat it from the split part first! He followed my direction! : )
Squid strips side dish with tuna pancake! Paul said: "I missed Korean food a lot!" We had a great dinner from that lunchbox. I will post these recipes someday!


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Stick Vega's Explosive Art
Three flowers spread open their delicate petals, their pure white color a beautiful contrast to hazy yellow backdrop.
This artwork, "B(l)oom," is compelling, and it becomes positively intriguing when you learn its materials: gunpowder, fuse and acrylic on board.
It's one of many creative works made by Stick Vega, a gunpowder artist who works out of his studio, The Blast Factory, here in Madison and in Chicago. Curious about his process and inspirations, I posed a few questions to the artist.
You call yourself an American gunpowder artist. What exactly does this mean?
Cai Guo-Qiang is a Chinese contemporary artist. He is known for his explosion projects and gunpowder drawings. I love his work. I learned much of the explosion art process from watching him. My art is smaller, more intimate, and has more color. My process has evolved. So, to answer your questions. I am from America. And it differentiates me from Cai.
How did you get started in gunpowder art?
I had been painting acrylic art for many years. After seeing Cai Guo-Qiang work, I spent a lot of time researching his process and materials. When I was ready for my first piece, I carefully mixed saltpeter, sulfur and charcoal. I put my mixture on a board in my "stick man" shape. Then, thinking it was not enough, I added more. Then even more. I put cardboard and rocks on top of the piece to force the blast back in to the board. Next, I added rocks to hold it down. I lit the fuse. The fuse burned much faster than expected and the work blew up. Rocks flew. There was a small fire ball. All the air was sucked out the area. And I was hooked!
I still have the piece. It is called "The Original Stick." Although for the most part, now I use less gunpowder!
Shortly after that event I sold my company and resigned my position as CEO [of WinterSilks] to purse my art.
Tell me about your process of creating a piece.
Most of my pieces start with a pencil sketch on small scrap of paper. I have hundreds of ideas. Then, I will pick the base medium. I have used coated paper, bamboo paper, rice paper, plastic, wood, canvas and hardboard. All of them burn in different ways. I will paint background colors, most of the time with acrylic. Then I will lay gunpowder, fuse, stencils as needed. Rocks are used to hold the stencils in place. Then I will run fuse to the piece.
I light it. That is the best part. There is a moment of uncertainty. What is possible? Of what might happen? Hope! That is the moment of true art.
The piece explodes and burns. I always try to get photographs of the explosions. Each one is unique and beautiful.
When the smoke clears, I will vacuum, brush and scrape the artwork.
Then, at that point, I will repeat the process as needed. I may paint more, or I may use more gunpowder and burning fuse to finish the piece. It's a process to get to the shapes, colors and textures that look cool.
What role does chance play in your work and how do you embrace it?
Chance plays a big part in my work. About a third of the time the piece does not work. Sometimes it burns to a crisp. Sometimes it burns too little. The weather affects the burn. Wind and humidity change the results. There is a dynamic tension between the cool uncertainty of the burn and explosion and my desire to control it. I think that tension makes for good art. And each piece is totally unique, it can never be duplicated.
A good example is "I Love You When You Are Burning Flowers" [shown at left]. The fuses blew all over the place and created a double burned textures near the stems. And there was fog when I lit it. The water in the air created a fine cool droplet texture in areas of the work. Abstract. Figurative. It looks cool.
How about danger?
Burning high speed fuses and blowing things up with gunpowder is inherently dangerous. I have done it safely hundreds of times. I keep people at a safe distance. In a way, it is like doing fireworks at home. Use common sense.
What inspires you?
People. Color. Primitive cave art. Chinese calligraphy. Lately, I've been looking at a lot of Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art. My work blends the two. I call it Pop Expressionism. Plus, my work "pops" when it explodes!
Random acts of kindness also inspire me.
You say on your website, "The more gunpowder I use the less there is for killing." How important is this idea in the work you do?
This is the soul of Stick Vega.
It's ironic. Hundreds of years ago, Chinese alchemists discovered gunpowder working on research for eternal life. Shortly after, they discovered the powder produced in the explosions could propel objects, which made it attractive to the military to design weapons. It fostered great ways to kill from a distance.
There is too much violence. Too many people killed with guns. My hope is that people will see my gunpowder art and photoworks. That they will share it with others. Discover that there is another use for gunpowder than killing. The amount of gunpowder I use is tiny compared to the amount produced. But the more I use, the less there is for killing. With my art, I am striving to make the world a safer place. It is a great way to get up every morning. It keeps me motivated.
What's the best part of working with gunpowder?
Lighting the fuse.
What are you working on now or have coming up?
2014 is going to be a blast. I am developing work for two different shows. I would like to do a large public explosion event in downtown Madison. I have some fun new Vega brand apparel that will be released January. I have some strong ideas for new video and photoworks. A friend from Texas suggested I try blowing up some metal, so I need to try that. I am working on a book regarding my former life as a CEO and now as an artist. Parts of it are in my blog. And, I have hundreds of ideas on small scraps of paper just waiting to be blown up. Yeah, it is going to be an explosive 2014!
Learn more about Vega and his work at stickvega.com.
Photos—from top to bottom of "B(l)oomm" the explosion that created "B(l)oom," "I Love You When You Are Burning Flowers" and Vega with "Bloom Three"—courtesy of Stick Vega.


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Söderhamn is beautifully situated by the coast, in the province of Hälsingland, Gävleborg county. Stockholm/Arlanda Airport is 2 h. and 12 minutes away by car on Highway E4 or 1 h. 48 minutes on the east-coast rail line.
Söderhamn is the administrative and commercial centre of the municipality of Söderhamn. The city of Söderhamn, incorporated in 1620, is located at the head of Söderhamnsfjärden, an inlet of the Gulf of Bothnia.
Other main communities in the municipality are Vallvik, Ljusne, Sandarne, Söderala, Marmaverken, Mohed, Bergvik, Holmsveden, Stråtjära, Trönö and Kungsgården.
The municipality includes Orrskär, the deepest ice-free port in Northern Sweden.
Distance table:
Stockholm - Söderhamn 250 km
Gävle - Söderhamn 80 km
Sundsvall - Söderhamn 140 km
Umeå - Söderhamn 406 km
Malmö - Söderhamn 770 km


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Weave a Melon Basket
Signups closed for this Event
Weave a Melon/Egg Basket
- Six-hour workshop on December 2, 9am-3pm.
- Supply Fee: $14 as of 10/21/2011.
- Maximum of 12 students.
- Open to adults and youth ages 14 and up.
Make an 8" melon basket in class. Learn how to handle reed, make a god's eye and shape a ribbed basket. Both dyed reed and seagrass will be available for decorating your basket. Those who have made a melon basket before will have the option of making an egg/fanny basket.
No basket making experience is required. Basket making is wet work, so wear old clothes and bring a towel. The leader will bring all the tools and other supplies you'll need to use during the workshop.
Bring a sack lunch.
Questions? Get in touch with Sarah Sledge at 256-461-0046 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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San José State University 2014 Economic Summit
Mr. Matthew R. Mahood
Dr. Christopher Thornberg
Dr. Richard M. Levy
Jordan G. Levine
Mr. Matthew R. Mahood
Mr. Mahood (pronounced May-hood) serves as the President & CEO of the San Jose Silicon Valley (SJSV) Chamber of Commerce, one of California's largest chambers of commerce with nearly 1,500 member businesses who employ roughly 250,000 employees throughout the five-county Silicon Valley region. His extensive background as an executive in business operations spans two decades and extends through the private and non-profit sector industries
Under his leadership as President and CEO since July 2011, the SJSV Chamber has reengineered program and product offerings to increase its membership value, and has become more engaged throughout Silicon Valley while working to expand and attract business and jobs to the region. Mr. Mahood oversees a staff of 15 and an annual operating budget of $2.5 million.
Serving as the "leading voice of business" and representing the interests of his members, Mr. Mahood is actively sought for speaking engagements and media interviews in order to provide the business perspective on important issues. To further the SJSV Chamber's mission, Mr. Mahood partners with executive officers of numerous organizations, providing guidance on strategic planning, management objectives, program management, problem solving, collaboration and public affairs.
In February 2011, Mahood was recognized as the Western Association of Chamber Executives 2010 "Executive of the Year", comprised of more than 720 members throughout 14 states. The award is given each year to the chamber executive who has excelled in financial management, communications, government affairs, membership programs and community services performed by the chamber.
Mr. Mahood started his career with United Parcel Service, later joining FedEx, BAX Global and Webvan.com in various management and senior level management positions focused on operations, customer service, sales, human resources, marketing and general management.
Mahood earned a B.S. Business Administration - Organizational Communication and Public Relations from California State University, East Bay.
Community, Civic and Association Engagement
Western Association of Chamber Executives, Executive Committee & Board of Directors (2009-Present)
Regional Economic Association Leaders (R.E.A.L.) Coalition (2008 – Present)
Sacramento Metro Chamber, Executive Committee & Board of Directors (2002 – 2011)
Northern California World Trade Center, Board of Directors (2002 – 2011)
Sacramento Area Regional Technology Alliance, Board of Directors, (2002 - 2011)
Metro PAC, Board of Directors, (2002-2011)
Sacramento Metro Chamber Foundation, Executive Director & Board of Directors (2002-2011)
Cleaner Air Partnership, Executive Committee (2002-2011)
Sacramento Works (Workforce Investment Board), Board of Directors (2002–2011)
Downtown Sacramento Partnership, Board of Directors (2002-2011)
Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau, Board of Directors (2002-2011)
Sacramento Valley Conservancy, Advisory Council (2002-2011)
Founding Member, California Capital Airshow, Board of Directors. (2004-09)
Los Rios Community College District Bond Oversight Committee (2007-09)
CSUS College of Business Administration Advisory Council (2006-09)
Co-founder, Partnership for Prosperity, (2006-09)
American Leadership Forum – Senior Fellow, Class VIII (2004-05)
American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) Board of Directors (2006-07)
- Recognized in 2009 as a Accredited Chamber Executive (ACE) by the Western Association of Chamber Executives (W.A.C.E.)
Dr. Christopher Thornberg
Dr. Christopher Thornberg is Founding Partner of Beacon Economics, LLC and widely considered to be one of California's leading economists. An expert in economic forecasting, regional economics, labor markets, economic policy, and real estate analysis, he was one of the earliest and most adamant predictors of the subprime mortgage market crash that began in 2007, and of the global economic recession that followed. Since 2006, he has served on the advisory board of Wall Street hedge fund, Paulson & Co. Inc. Between 2008 and 2012, he served as a chief economic advisor to the California State Controller John Chiang, and is Chair of the Controller's Council of Economic Advisors.
A highly sought-after speaker, Dr. Thornberg regularly presents to leading business, government, and nonprofit organizations including REOMAC, the California State Association of Counties, Colliers International, State Farm Insurance, and the California and Nevada Credit Union, among many others.He has testified before the U.S. Congress House Committee on Financial Services on municipal debt issues, and before the California State Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation regarding rule changes related to Proposition 13.
Dr. Thornberg has been involved in conducting research and developing analytic products for international clients that explore the trade and economic connections between the United States and the world. This has included analysis and speaking presentations regarding the impact the U.S. trading partners have on U.S. global competitiveness for the Centre for Investor Education in Melbourne Australia, and U.S. and international economic outlooks and their effect on global trade activity for the African Cashew Alliance in Cotonou, Benin. He has also conducted a number of special studies measuring the effect of important events on the economy, including the NAFTA treaty, the California electricity crisis, port security, California's water transfer programs, and the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
Dr. Thornberg serves on the Residential Real Estate Committee at the University of San Diego's Burnham-Moores Center for Residential Real Estate. He is also a panel member of the National Association of Business Economists' quarterly "Outlook" and a contributor to the "Economic Consensus Outlook" published by the Journal of Business Forecasting.
Dr. Thornberg also serves on the boards of a number of business, civic, and nonprofit organizations including the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, as an Executive Member of the Central City Association (Los Angeles), as a Business Leader Member of America's Edge, a nonprofit organization focused on strengthening businesses and the economy through public investments in youth and education, and on the Advisory Board of the Asian Real Estate Association of America.
Prior to launching Beacon, Dr. Thornberg was a senior economist with UCLA's Anderson Forecast where he regularly authored economic outlooks for California, Los Angeles, and the East Bay, and developed specialized forecasts for a variety of public and private entities. He previously taught in the MBA program at UCLA's Anderson School, in the Rady School of Business at UCSD, and at Thammasat University in Bangkok, Thailand. He has also held a faculty position in the economics department at Clemson University.
A well-known media commentator, Dr. Thornberg has appeared on CNN and NPR and is regularly quoted in major national dailies including the Wall Street Journal and New York Times.
Originally from upstate New York, Dr. Thornberg holds a Ph.D in Business Economics from The Anderson School at UCLA, and a B.S. in Business Administration from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
Dr. Richard M. Levy
Chairman Emeritus
Richard Levy was chairman of the Varian Medical Systems Board of Directors from 2002-2014. He was CEO of the company from 1999 to 2006.
Levy holds a bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College and a doctorate in nuclear chemistry from the University of California at Berkeley.
Levy has served on the Sutter Health Board of Directors since 2006 and currently is Chairman of that Board. He has served on the Board of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation since 1999 and currently is Chairman of the Finance and Planning Committee.
He has been on the Board of the United Way Silicon Valley since 2002 and served as Chair in 2008-2009. He has been a Co-Chair of the Advisory Committee of the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice and has been an active participant in summits for CCI (Center for Corporate Innovation, Inc.), with a focus on improvement of the national healthcare system. He is a current member of the Board of Directors for North Hawaii Community Hospital, and is also the Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University. Mr. Levy is a past Chairman of the Board of Directors of the American Electronics Association.
Jordan G. Levine
Jordan G. Levine is Economist and Director of Economic Research at Beacon Economics, LLC. Mr. Levine plays a leading role in the firm's major consulting projects and is responsible for running and updating Beacon Economics' quarterly state and metro area forecast models. He also manages the firm's EB-5 Visa economic and employment analysis practice. He has conducted economic forecasting and analysis for the Office of the California State Controller, the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, the California Bankers Association, and Paulson & Co., Inc., among many others.
Since joining Beacon Economics, Mr. Levine has emerged as a leading authority on the California state economy and its many regional economies. He is in growing demand as a public speaker and is a trusted source among major national and state media. He has been quoted by the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Sacramento Bee, San Jose Mercury News, Los Angeles Business Journal, KNX Radio in Los Angeles, and Capital Public Radio in Sacramento. An accomplished speaker, Mr. Levine has delivered presentations on the state budget and economy to the California State Controller's Council of Economic Advisors, a wide variety of business organizations, and regularly delivers the state forecast at Beacon Economics' annual regional forecast conferences.
Mr. Levine specializes in analyzing economic indicators such as real output, employment, demographics, home prices, consumer spending, and new construction. He also has extensive experience analyzing the U.S. economy including gross domestic product; international trade; money, credit, and banking sectors; employment and labor force; and real estate markets. Mr. Levine's expertise includes sub-‐regional analysis in California. He regularly produces detailed economic reports for metropolitan statistical areas, counties, cities, and sub-‐city areas. He also authors chapters in Beacon Economics' Regional Forecast Books - detailed analyses of the demographic and economic trends occurring in regions across California.
Prior to joining Beacon Economics, Mr. Levine was an analyst with Quant Economics Inc., where he studied and predicted the economic effects alleged in a variety of business disputes. Projects he managed while at Quant helped to discover hundreds of millions of dollars in monetary damages for his clients.
Mr. Levine's academic background includes an emphasis in international trade, monetary economics, and micro/macroeconomic analysis. His research on the manufacturing industry resulted in an innovative technique to measure the effect of global trade on U.S. employment. He is a member of the American Economic Association, the Econometrics Society, and the National Association of Business Economics.
Mr. Levine holds an M.A. in International Economics with Merit from the University of Sussex and a B.A. in Business Economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara.


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Future Workplace provides executive education to HR leaders and high-potential managers to build the skills and capabilities needed for success in the workplace of the future.
About the Building Your Generational IQ™ Program:
This program is more than a workshop … it is year-long community in which to explore, share ideas, raise questions and gain new insights into how working with multiple generations impacts your organization, your team and you. Throughout one month of pre-work learning online, a one-day workshop and one year of online community access, you will:
- Discover why generational intelligence is a critical business issue.
- Understand the opportunities and tensions of having five generations working together.
- Learn how to adopt these 6 elements of generational intelligence to align to your talent management needs: Talent Acquisition, Employee Communication, Learning & Development, Performance Management, Workplace Environment, Motivation and Engagement
- Explore how to move beyond stereotypes to engage generational strengths.
- Learn practical tips for communicating with and managing each generation in the workplace.
- Develop an action plan for implementing these concepts in your organization.
For more information about this generational intelligence program, any of our other programs, or Future Workplace, or programs please call 888.900.8859 or fill out the form below.
[si-contact-form form='1']


text: You and your family are invited to NELTA's 44th Annual Meeting and Convention to be held at The Wequassett Inn Resort and Golf Club in Chatham, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, from Thursday, June 20th through Sunday, June 23rd, 2013. Complete information and registration/reservation forms are linked below: Hotel Information & Reservations Wequassett Resort & Golf Club Flyer If you are interested in Exhibit and/or Sponsorships, the information and registration forms are below. Your spouse and/or significant other and your children are most welcome to accompany you. Please see the Social and Family Schedule for what we have planned. If you will bringing your children, please be sure to complete the Children's Registration Form above. Exhibitor Invitation and Information |


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National Wildlife Refuge System
Education Home >
The Nature of Learning Home >
Integrated Learning
Integrated Learning Methodology
Integrated Learning is the process of building a curriculum that combines the school's standards and the refuge's natural resources and scientific expertise.
For example: Learning about wetlands, one 5th grade class: defined words about the different features of the wetlands, read several articles about the biological and historical significance of wetlands and marshes, and visited the refuge and played Wetland Metaphors (Project Wet).
The following are suggested steps in creating a useful and long lasting curriculum guide for your program.
Utilize Formal and Non-Formal Education Resources:
Blending formal and non-formal lessons is a long-term process and in time will build a comprehensive program that can be evaluated both internally and externally. Creating a
site specific curriculum guide
may seem like an overwhelming task however many sites have been able to compile a draft "guidebook" in the first year simply by being strategic and organized.
'Dont reinvent the wheel!'
Divide the Content Focus
into sub-topics and begin collecting specific lessons and activities. For example: Watersheds can be broken down into: water quality, geographic features, habitat types and flora/fauna. Begin by:
Things to think about:
Are there refuge management issues that can be integrated into your curriculum?
Are there environmental issues in the community to investigate?
Collecting lesson plans already used in school
Identifying activities and programs taught by resource professionals
Researching other organizations teaching this type of material (i.e.: State Department of Natural Resources, University, State Parks, Garden Clubs, Bird watching groups, etc.)
Compiling a library of environmental education resources like:
Environmental Education Activity Guide Project Learning Tree
Project WET
Project WILD Council for Environmental Education
Project Wow! The Wonders of Wetlands
Going places, making choices National 4-H Council
Review and Revise Objectives:
Planning a meeting to determine how educational objectives can blend into a comprehensive learning progression connecting the classroom to an outdoor learning experience culminating in a Stewardship Project.
Align to State and District Standards:
Public School curriculum is closely tied to state and district standards. It is highly encouraged to have all lessons in the curriculum guide aligned to the state or district standards.
Many programs have correlated standards by:
Soliciting the assistance of local educators who are not currently teaching full time or have retired from education
Work with a local Friends group or association to build a standards based curriculum
Written grants from which to pay teachers
Private schools often do not use a standards-based approach in the same way as public schools.
Suggested Extensions to your Curriculum Guide:
Once a baseline of activities is established and clear objectives are in place, educators are encouraged to:
Make connections to other disciplines math, language arts, visual arts, history and geography to name a few.
Add in-depth research and monitoring options
Explore community and site-based issues
Formalize Curriculum Guide:
The creation and format of a local curriculum guide depends on the unique characteristics where the curriculum is developed. Based on other education programs, here are some suggestions:
Standards alignment is essential, as noted above,
Creating a "guidebook" format for your program provides a model for new teachers and one that can be added to each year
Leave copy at your local refuge where it can be modified by other teachers and/or resource professionals
Make clear connections to stewardship projects and evaluation
Build a workshop or training around the use of the local Instruction Plan so that everyone is familiar with the activities and features of the program
Last updated: October 7, 2008
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The first three stages of this year's Amgen Tour of California have finished in bunch sprints, and the same rider—Peter Sagan—has won each day.
For some, the pattern has given the race a repetitious feel, despite the difficult climbs that have dotted the profiles of each stage. The opening day alone, around Santa Rosa, included four categorized climbs.
Typically, more climbing means more exciting racing, but so far at this Tour of California it seems to be having the opposite effect.
In an interview before Stage 3, which included the climbs of Mount Diablo and Patterson Pass, reporter Frankie Andreu said that riders were already feeling tired.
"Everyone's talking about how conservative they're racing," he said. "That's what everyone is doing; they're staying conservative."
There are five stages still to go, including two big climbing days.
Now, designing a stage-race course can be a tricky business. Nobody wants the race to be decided on the first day. Always, there needs to be suspense; at the same time, if the race waits too long to hit the hills, the race will be a snoozefest.
Think of some editions of the Tour de France, where the race runs day after day over flat French farmland. The breakaway escapes early, gets caught within sight of the flamme rouge, and a bunch sprinter wins the day. Wash, rinse, repeat.
In recent years the Tour de France—under the leadership of Christian Prudhomme—has worked hard to find interesting stages to serve as prelude to the high mountains.
In 2011 eventual overall winner Cadel Evans took a first-week stage victory on the Mur de Bretagne, a steep finishing climb. Prudhomme told Bicycling that the Tour simply could not run flat stages day after day.
"Mountains do not exist everywhere, so my team had to go out and find places like the Mont des Alouettes or the Mur de Bretagne, short steep climbs where the race could have a stage finish," Prudhomme said.
Of course, organizers have to walk a fine line between making the race exciting for the fans and making it too difficult for the riders.
The 2011 Giro d'Italia lined up a massive succession of mountain stages in its final week. The organizers hoped to create fireworks. The sprinters fled en masse, and the much-anticipated finish on the steep Mont Zoncolan saw the top riders race defensively.
Alberto Contador, who won the 2011 Giro only to lose the title later because of a doping offense, said the race was too difficult and there needed to be limits.
"We had a stage that was seven and a half hours on the bike, five climbs," he said.
This year the Giro combines the fearsome Passo di Stelvio and the Passo di Mortirolo in a single stage, which may turn out to be one passo too many.
Geography offers one challenge for race organizers. Finding cities willing to host the race is another. In fact, economic considerations and the willingness of local organizations to raise money often do much to determine where a bike race will start and finish.
The Solvang time trial has been one of the iconic stages of the Tour of California, but in 2012 the city decided not to bring the race to Solvang because of the costs involved. City manager Brad Vidro cited the $150,000 price tag, while Mayor Jim Richardson said that the organizers were "asking for too much."
Technical considerations can also determine where the finish line falls. In 2011 the Tour of California finished at the summit of Sierra Road, a steep climb outside San Jose. The combination of Mount Hamilton and the Sierra Road finish made for an exciting day of racing. But for the race organization there was nothing easy about that finish.
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Sierra Road summits in a pasture. There are no services and no electrical outlets. The race organization brought generators and tents, while the teams parked their buses downslope. The media scrambled between the press room at the bottom of the climb and the race finish high above. Though it made for a good day of racing, the Sierra Road finish was not the kind of effort the race organization could consider for every stage.
The Tour de France faced similar challenges when it finished at the summit of the Col du Galibier in 2011.
"Somehow we had to find space for no fewer than four technical zones on top of the mountain," explained Prudhomme. The race had never finished on the climb because of the lack of space at the summit for all the accoutrements of modern bike racing. Somehow, the Tour organizers found a way, just as on a smaller scale the 2011 Tour of California created a finish in the middle of a cow pasture on Sierra Road.
This year's Tour of California has opened with a succession of climbs in California's coastal ranges above Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz. These are steep mountains, though they do not rise especially high. The road surfaces are often rugged with the kind of pavement that feels sticky and slow and is frequently patched and potholed. It is a harder course than it looks on paper, where the elevation gains do not look anything like the high mountains of France or Italy.
Although the organizers have packed these early stages with climbs, they have also placed the finish lines well away from the summits. While we have seen Garmin-Barracuda turn the screws on the field over the climbs, the dropped riders have had plenty of time to come back to the field on the long descents to the stage finishes. During Stage 2, on the Bear Creek climb, Garmin briefly split the field, but it was soon back together and Peter Sagan took out his second sprint victory.
With a time trial on Thursday and two hard mountain stages over the weekend, the general-classification riders have chosen not to risk any shenanigans in these opening stages.
Again, Andreu: "Any rider who has a chance at the general classification and wants to do well overall, they really have to wait for the time trial. And wait and wait and wait."
And so far that's exactly what the top riders in this year's race are doing. They are waiting. Garmin-Barracuda has done the most to toughen up the race on the climbs, but it hasn't managed to distance any of the favorites yet. Not one of the favorites has thrown down a move. They're waiting for the time trial on and the mountaintop finishes at Big Bear and Mount Baldy.
They are almost certainly wise to do so. But the result has been a race that is not yet especially exciting. Every day, Sagan has won from a bunch sprint. Certainly, he is a wild talent. But surely too the race organizers hoped for more action on these early stages and more attacks from the big riders on these climbs. The succession of hard but not decisive climbs has made for conservative racing. The long descents, in particular, discourage the kind of adventuring that can overturn the general classification.
Want a more exciting race? Move the climbs closer to the finish. Follow the example of the 2011 Tour de France and put an early, steep-climbing finish like the Mur de Bretagne in the first few days of the race. Force the general-classification riders to come out of hiding.
Otherwise, they'll wisely play the waiting game. Every rider knows that there are no prizes for working the hardest. There's only a prize for winning.