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This document has been archived and replaced by NSF 10-612.
Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems (CNH)
Program Solicitation
National Science Foundation
Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time):
January 08, 2008
November 18, 2008
Third Tuesday in November, Annually Thereafter
Third Tuesday in November
Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems (CNH) has been established as a multi-directorate program through coordination action by the Directorate for Biological Sciences, the Directorate for Geosciences, and the Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences.
Starting with this solicitation, the Forest Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will participate as a partner in the conduct of annual CNH competitions.
Please be advised that the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) includes revised guidelines to implement the mentoring provisions of the America COMPETES Act (ACA) (Pub. L. No. 110-69, Aug. 9, 2007.) As specified in the ACA, each proposal that requests funding to support postdoctoral researchers must include a description of the mentoring activities that will be provided for such individuals. Proposals that do not comply with this requirement will be returned without review (see the PAPP Guide Part I: Grant Proposal Guide Chapter II for further information about the implementation of this new requirement).
As announced on May 21, 2009, proposers must prepare and submit proposals to the National Science Foundation (NSF) using the NSF FastLane system at http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/. This approach is being taken to support efficient Grants.gov operations during this busy workload period and in response to OMB direction guidance issued March 9, 2009. NSF will continue to post information about available funding opportunities to Grants.gov FIND and will continue to collaborate with institutions who have invested in system-to-system submission functionality as their preferred proposal submission method. NSF remains committed to the long-standing goal of streamlined grants processing and plans to provide a web services interface for those institutions that want to use their existing grants management systems to directly submit proposals to NSF.
Program Title:
Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems (CNH)
Synopsis of Program:
The Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems competition promotes quantitative, interdisciplinary analyses of relevant human and natural system processes and complex interactions among human and natural systems at diverse scales.
Cognizant Program Officer(s):
Thomas Baerwald-Program Director, Program Director, telephone: (703) 292-7301, email: email@example.com
Sarah Ruth-Lead Pgm. Director, Lead Program Director, telephone: (703) 292-7594, email: email@example.com
Alan J. Tessier, telephone: (703) 292-8481, email: email@example.com
Kathleen C. Weathers, telephone: (703) 292-8227, email: email@example.com
Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s):
Anticipated Type of Award: Standard Grant or Continuing Grant
Estimated Number of Awards: 7 to 12
Anticipated Funding Amount: $9,000,000 This total is for awards to be made annually, pending availability of funds.
None Specified
Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization:
None Specified
None Specified
Limit on Number of Proposals per PI:
None Specified
None Specified
A. Proposal Preparation Instructions
B. Budgetary Information
C. Due Dates
January 08, 2008
November 18, 2008
Third Tuesday in November, Annually Thereafter
Third Tuesday in November
Merit Review Criteria: National Science Board approved criteria. Additional merit review considerations apply. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.
Award Conditions: Standard NSF award conditions apply.
Reporting Requirements: Standard NSF reporting requirements apply.
The Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems (CNH) is a multidirectorate program jointly operated by three NSF directorates (Biological Sciences; Geosciences; and Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences). In addition to those three directorates, other NSF units (including the Directorate for Engineering, the Directorate for Education and Human Resources, the Office of International Science and Engineering, and the Office of Polar Programs) participate in evaluation of proposals. Starting in FY 2008, the Forest Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will participate as a partner in the conduct of annual CNH competitions. CNH is a direct successor of a special competition that was part of the Biocomplexity in the Environment emphasis area.
The CNH Program aims to support basic research and related activities that enhance fundamental understanding of the complex interactions within and among natural and human systems. Through its annual competition, CNH intends to make awards across a range of sizes from roughly $500,000 to no more than $1,500,000. Budgets should be developed at scales appropriate for the project to be conducted.
The Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems (CNH) Program supports basic research and related activities that enhance fundamental understanding of the complex interactions within and among natural and human systems. CNH focuses on the complex interactions among human and natural systems at diverse spatial, temporal, and organizational scales. CNH seeks to advance basic knowledge about the system dynamics -- the processes through which systems function and interact with other systems. CNH-supported projects must examine relevant natural AND human systems. Proposals cannot focus solely or largely on either human systems or on natural systems. Projects also must examine the full range of coupled interactions and feedbacks among relevant systems. The arrows in the accompanying figure symbolize these relationships.
In order to be most competitive, CNH proposals must demonstrate how the proposed research is well grounded in relevant theory from a range of appropriate fields. They generally will focus on one or a limited number of specific questions that emanate from the theoretical discussion and review of relevant literature. They must outline and specify a scientifically sound research plan, typically cast in terms of testable hypotheses, and they must show considerable promise that the research results will contribute to enhancement of theory within and across relevant fields. To the extent possible, projects should try to improve capabilities for predicting the responses of systems to endogenous and exogenous changes, including appropriate estimates of uncertainty in model predictions.
To attain project goals, the investigative teams conducting CNH research should have expertise that matches the range of systems to be examined and activities to be undertaken. The team should include expertise from the natural sciences (biological sciences, geosciences, and/or physical sciences) and human sciences (social sciences, behavioral sciences, and/or engineering). Involvement of individuals with expertise in quantitative approaches and in education is also expected.
The CNH Program fully supports the overall goals of the Biocomplexity in the Environment priority area from which it evolved. Biocomplexity refers to the dynamic web of often-surprising interrelationships that arise when biological, physical, and human components of the global ecosystem interact. Special characteristics of biocomplexity research studies in an environmental context include a high degree of interdisciplinarity and a focus on systems that likely exhibit highly non-linear behavior.
In addition to basic new knowledge and enhanced theory regarding the complex ways that people and natural systems interact, CNH seeks to develop the capabilities of people and tools needed to advance these areas of research in the future. CNH seeks to foster and develop interdisciplinarity by bringing researchers from different disciplines into teams, by developing new methods and expertise, and by reaching beyond the borders of the United States for partners in inquiry. In the process, the next generation of researchers will learn to work in diverse teams, cross disciplinary boundaries, and use advanced sensing and monitoring, communication, and information technologies to work across many scales of time and space.
CNH projects include three integrative elements:
CNH-supported projects may be totally independent activities, or they may be conducted in association with existing projects or activities, including Long-Term Ecological Research sites, NSF Science and Technology Centers or NSF Engineering Research Centers, or similar group efforts. If the proposed activity is associated with other activities currently supported by NSF or other funders, the project description should make clear how the proposed work is different from but complimentary to activities for which support has already been acquired. A letter from the director of the ongoing activity or center agreeing to the proposed project should be included as Supplementary Documentation.
As part of the CNH competition, the U. S. Forest Service encourages proposals focused on forest or grassland ecosystems at multiple spatial scales and across a continuum of human systems and densities ranging from urban to rural. Of particular interest are studies at the landscape to regional scale, where changes in both natural and human systems are occurring actively and interactively. Proposals are desired that focus on the dynamics of coupled human-forest/grassland systems and on multiple, interacting perturbations and stressors (local to global in scale) that are central to the ecological and human sustainability challenges faced by forest and/or grassland communities. Questions for Forest Service personnel regarding proposals may be directed to Ed Dickerhoof (firstname.lastname@example.com) or Anne Hoover (email@example.com).
A full list of awards supported in past CNH competitions can be accessed at
Estimated program budget, number of awards and average award size/duration are subject to the availability of funds.
NSF and USDA Forest Service expect to have at least $9,000,000 available to support awards resulting from this competition. Support provided through this competition for awards across a range of sizes from roughly $500,000 to no more than $1,500,000. Budgets should be developed at scales appropriate for the project to be conducted.
The categories of proposers eligible to submit proposals to the National Science Foundation are identified in the Grant Proposal Guide, Chapter I, Section E.
None Specified
Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization:
None Specified
None Specified
Limit on Number of Proposals per PI:
None Specified
None Specified
Full Proposal Instructions: Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the guidelines specified in the NSF Grant Proposal Guide (GPG). The complete text of the GPG is available electronically on the NSF website at: https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg. Paper copies of the GPG may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-PUBS (7827) or by e-mail from firstname.lastname@example.com.
The following information deviates from the Grant Proposal Guide (GPG):Proposal Format
Proposals not in conformance with the proposal-preparation requirements of the GPG will be returned without review. Please note, however, that the page limits contained in this solicitation take precedence over those given in the GPG.
Proposals submitted for this competition should clearly specify all relevant parts of the proposed project. With respect to the proposed research, the proposal should outline the theoretical foundations of the project as based in relevant literature. It should specify the questions on which the research will focus, the research methods that will be used, the expertise that different researchers will bring to different facets of the project, and how and where results will be disseminated. With respect to education, the proposal should specify educational goals, what methods will be used to attain those goals, and the expertise of individuals who will participate in educational efforts. The proposal should also identify the proposed educational products, how those products will be disseminated, and how the effectiveness of educational activities will be evaluated.
This program solicitation requests material about the personnel involved in the project. Please use the following definitions to provide the corresponding information.
Proposal Cover Sheet
Work on the Cover Sheet first. Check that the Awardee and Performing Organizations are correct. Highlight the Program Solicitation Number and click on the "Select" button. Your proposal will automatically be assigned to the correct directorate and division on the Cover Sheet. Prepare the remainder of the Cover Sheet.
Project Description
All project descriptions are limited to 20 pages in length. With the exceptions noted below, proposers may organize the different components of the project description as they wish.
The following sections MUST be included under separate headings in the project description:
Biographical Sketches
A biographical sketch with a 2-page limit must be provided for each investigator and each person identified as senior personnel.
Current and Pending Support
Each person identified as a principal investigator or as senior personnel must submit a current and pending support form. This proposal is considered a pending support activity.
Supplementary Documentation
Items 1 and 2 below are required to be included in this section for all proposals. Items 3 and 4 should be included here if needed.
The data management and access plan will be considered an integral part of the project and therefore subject to reviewer, panel, and program evaluation. Successful applicants will be expected to address this issue in annual and final project reports and within the Results of Prior Research section when they submit subsequent proposals to NSF.
4. If you wish to do so, you may include in this section IRB certifications associated with the use of human subjects or IACUC certifications associated with the use of animals subjects.
No appendices are permitted.
Proposals Involving Multiple Institutions
Proposals involving multiple organizations may be submitted in one of two ways: (1) as a single proposal with one organization serving as the lead organization and with support to other organizations provided through subawards, or (2) as separate submissions from eligible organizations. See Chapter II, D.3 of the GPG for instructions regarding the preparation of collaborative proposals and carefully follow on-line instructions regarding their preparation.
Proposals Involving Collaborators at Foreign Organizations
Proposers are reminded they must provide biographical sketches of all senior project personnel, including those at foreign institutions. In addition, as supplementary documentation, proposals involving foreign collaborators must provide letters of commitment from the foreign counterpart institutions. Please note that although eligibility for this competition is restricted to U.S. organizations, as described in the GPG, collaborations with foreign institutions may be considered. Any funding for non-U.S. organizations must be made through subawards. Those subawards to non-U.S. organizations may not include any indirect costs.
Human Subjects
If the project involves human subjects, the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the submitting organization must certify that the proposed project is in compliance with the Federal Government's "Common Rule" for the protection of human subjects. If IRB approval has been obtained and the date of approval is listed on the cover sheet, no other certification is required. If IRB approval is still pending, submit certification of IRB approval in electronic form as soon as approval is obtained to the cognizant program officer. (The name of this program officer will be listed in the Proposal Status module of FastLane.) Delays in obtaining IRB certification may result in NSF being unable to make an award. For more information regarding the protection of human subjects, consult https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/human.jsp.
Pre-Submission Checklist
CNH proposals must be in compliance with the GPG and special requirements in the solicitation in order to be considered for review. Proposals not in compliance with these requirements will be returned without review. Please refer to the following checklist to address some of the items required in all proposals:
Proposers are reminded to identify the program solicitation number (NSF 07-598) in the program solicitation block on the NSF Cover Sheet For Proposal to the National Science Foundation. Compliance with this requirement is critical to determining the relevant proposal processing guidelines. Failure to submit this information may delay processing.
Cost Sharing: Cost sharing is not required under this solicitation.
Other Budgetary Limitations:
Almost all CNH funding is expected to be available for awards to be made based on evaluation of proposals submitted for this competition. NSF intends to make awards across a range of sizes from roughly $500,000 to no more than $1,500,000. Support for any award in this category will not exceed a cumulative total of $1,500,000 for the duration of the award. Budgets should be developed at scales appropriate for the project to be conducted. No award may be more than five years in duration.
Budget Preparation Instructions:
Budgets should include travel funds for Principal Investigators to attend a workshop or meeting of those supported in this program every 1 to 2 years.
Research Platform Support:
Specific amounts for research cruises, polar logistics, arctic logistics, or use of aircraft or other atmospheric sciences field facilities should not be included in the budget request. However, the PI should submit the UNOLS request, OPP logistics form, or ATM facilities form with the proposal.
January 08, 2008
November 18, 2008
Third Tuesday in November, Annually Thereafter
Third Tuesday in November
Proposers are required to prepare and submit all proposals for this program solicitation through use of the NSF FastLane system. Detailed instructions regarding the technical aspects of proposal preparation and submission via FastLane are available at: http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/a1/newstan.htm. For FastLane user support, call the FastLane Help Desk at 1-800-673-6188 or e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com. The FastLane Help Desk answers general technical questions related to the use of the FastLane system. Specific questions related to this program solicitation should be referred to the NSF program staff contact(s) listed in Section VIII of this funding opportunity.
Submission of Electronically Signed Cover Sheets. The Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) must electronically sign the proposal Cover Sheet to submit the required proposal certifications (see Chapter II, Section C of the Grant Proposal Guide for a listing of the certifications). The AOR must provide the required electronic certifications within five working days following the electronic submission of the proposal. Further instructions regarding this process are available on the FastLane Website at: https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/fastlane.jsp.
Proposals received by NSF are assigned to the appropriate NSF program where they will be reviewed if they meet NSF proposal preparation requirements. All proposals are carefully reviewed by a scientist, engineer, or educator serving as an NSF Program Officer, and usually by three to ten other persons outside NSF who are experts in the particular fields represented by the proposal. These reviewers are selected by Program Officers charged with the oversight of the review process. Proposers are invited to suggest names of persons they believe are especially well qualified to review the proposal and/or persons they would prefer not review the proposal. These suggestions may serve as one source in the reviewer selection process at the Program Officer's discretion. Submission of such names, however, is optional. Care is taken to ensure that reviewers have no conflicts of interest with the proposal.
All NSF proposals are evaluated through use of the two National Science Board (NSB)-approved merit review criteria: intellectual merit and the broader impacts of the proposed effort. In some instances, however, NSF will employ additional criteria as required to highlight the specific objectives of certain programs and activities.
The two NSB-approved merit review criteria are listed below. The criteria include considerations that help define them. These considerations are suggestions and not all will apply to any given proposal. While proposers must address both merit review criteria, reviewers will be asked to address only those considerations that are relevant to the proposal being considered and for which the reviewer is qualified to make judgements.
What is the intellectual merit of the proposed activity?
How important is the proposed activity to advancing knowledge and understanding within its own field or across different fields? How well qualified is the proposer (individual or team) to conduct the project? (If appropriate, the reviewer will comment on the quality of the prior work.) To what extent does the proposed activity suggest and explore creative, original, or potentially transformative concepts? How well conceived and organized is the proposed activity? Is there sufficient access to resources?
What are the broader impacts of the proposed activity?
How well does the activity advance discovery and understanding while promoting teaching, training, and learning? How well does the proposed activity broaden the participation of underrepresented groups (e.g., gender, ethnicity, disability, geographic, etc.)? To what extent will it enhance the infrastructure for research and education, such as facilities, instrumentation, networks, and partnerships? Will the results be disseminated broadly to enhance scientific and technological understanding? What may be the benefits of the proposed activity to society?
Examples illustrating activities likely to demonstrate broader impacts are available electronically on the NSF website at: https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/gpg/broaderimpacts.pdf.
Mentoring activities provided to postdoctoral researchers supported on the project, as described in a one-page supplementary document, will be evaluated under the Broader Impacts criterion.
NSF staff also will give careful consideration to the following in making funding decisions:
Integration of Research and Education
One of the principal strategies in support of NSF's goals is to foster integration of research and education through the programs, projects, and activities it supports at academic and research institutions. These institutions provide abundant opportunities where individuals may concurrently assume responsibilities as researchers, educators, and students and where all can engage in joint efforts that infuse education with the excitement of discovery and enrich research through the diversity of learning perspectives.
Integrating Diversity into NSF Programs, Projects, and Activities
Broadening opportunities and enabling the participation of all citizens -- women and men, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities -- is essential to the health and vitality of science and engineering. NSF is committed to this principle of diversity and deems it central to the programs, projects, and activities it considers and supports.
Additional Review Criteria:
Successful CNH proposals must be highly interdisciplinary, address the inherent complexity and highly coupled nature of natural and human systems, be well grounded in theory, and show great promise for enhancing basic theoretical understandings. Quantitative approaches, education, and global perspectives also are important. Research projects must include quantitative approaches or advanced conceptual models to study the systems chosen for investigation. Projects must also include specific plans for education. If appropriate, projects will be given consideration if they promote the development of long-term international partnerships.
In the evaluation of proposals submitted by teams of investigators, considerations in addition to standard NSF review criteria are:
Descriptions of educational activities should specify goals, methods to attain those goals, and the expertise of individuals to accomplish them. Thus, they will be evaluated based on:
Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation will be reviewed by Ad hoc Review and/or Panel Review.
Reviewers will be asked to formulate a recommendation to either support or decline each proposal. The Program Officer assigned to manage the proposal's review will consider the advice of reviewers and will formulate a recommendation.
After scientific, technical and programmatic review and consideration of appropriate factors, the NSF Program Officer recommends to the cognizant Division Director whether the proposal should be declined or recommended for award. NSF is striving to be able to tell applicants whether their proposals have been declined or recommended for funding within six months. The time interval begins on the deadline or target date, or receipt date, whichever is later. The interval ends when the Division Director accepts the Program Officer's recommendation.
A summary rating and accompanying narrative will be completed and submitted by each reviewer. In all cases, reviews are treated as confidential documents. Verbatim copies of reviews, excluding the names of the reviewers, are sent to the Principal Investigator/Project Director by the Program Officer. In addition, the proposer will receive an explanation of the decision to award or decline funding.
In all cases, after programmatic approval has been obtained, the proposals recommended for funding will be forwarded to the Division of Grants and Agreements for review of business, financial, and policy implications and the processing and issuance of a grant or other agreement. Proposers are cautioned that only a Grants and Agreements Officer may make commitments, obligations or awards on behalf of NSF or authorize the expenditure of funds. No commitment on the part of NSF should be inferred from technical or budgetary discussions with a NSF Program Officer. A Principal Investigator or organization that makes financial or personnel commitments in the absence of a grant or cooperative agreement signed by the NSF Grants and Agreements Officer does so at their own risk.
Notification of the award is made to the submitting organization by a Grants Officer in the Division of Grants and Agreements. Organizations whose proposals are declined will be advised as promptly as possible by the cognizant NSF Program administering the program. Verbatim copies of reviews, not including the identity of the reviewer, will be provided automatically to the Principal Investigator. (See Section VI.B. for additional information on the review process.)
An NSF award consists of: (1) the award letter, which includes any special provisions applicable to the award and any numbered amendments thereto; (2) the budget, which indicates the amounts, by categories of expense, on which NSF has based its support (or otherwise communicates any specific approvals or disapprovals of proposed expenditures); (3) the proposal referenced in the award letter; (4) the applicable award conditions, such as Grant General Conditions (GC-1); * or Research Terms and Conditions * and (5) any announcement or other NSF issuance that may be incorporated by reference in the award letter. Cooperative agreements also are administered in accordance with NSF Cooperative Agreement Financial and Administrative Terms and Conditions (CA-FATC) and the applicable Programmatic Terms and Conditions. NSF awards are electronically signed by an NSF Grants and Agreements Officer and transmitted electronically to the organization via e-mail.
*These documents may be accessed electronically on NSF's Website at
https://www.nsf.gov/awards/managing/award_conditions.jsp?org=NSF. Paper copies may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-7827 or by e-mail from email@example.com.
More comprehensive information on NSF Award Conditions and other important information on the administration of NSF awards is contained in the NSF Award & Administration Guide (AAG) Chapter II, available electronically on the NSF Website at
For all multi-year grants (including both standard and continuing grants), the Principal Investigator must submit an annual project report to the cognizant Program Officer at least 90 days before the end of the current budget period. (Some programs or awards require more frequent project reports). Within 90 days after expiration of a grant, the PI also is required to submit a final project report.
Failure to provide the required annual or final project reports will delay NSF review and processing of any future funding increments as well as any pending proposals for that PI. PIs should examine the formats of the required reports in advance to assure availability of required data.
PIs are required to use NSF's electronic project-reporting system, available through FastLane, for preparation and submission of annual and final project reports. Such reports provide information on activities and findings, project participants (individual and organizational) publications; and, other specific products and contributions. PIs will not be required to re-enter information previously provided, either with a proposal or in earlier updates using the electronic system. Submission of the report via FastLane constitutes certification by the PI that the contents of the report are accurate and complete.
General inquiries regarding this program should be made to:
Thomas Baerwald-Program Director, Program Director, telephone: (703) 292-7301, email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Alan J. Tessier, telephone: (703) 292-8481, email: email@example.com
Kathleen C. Weathers, telephone: (703) 292-8227, email: email@example.com
For questions related to the use of FastLane, contact:
The NSF Website provides the most comprehensive source of information on NSF Directorates (including contact information), programs and funding opportunities. Use of this Website by potential proposers is strongly encouraged. In addition, National Science Foundation Update is a free e-mail subscription service designed to keep potential proposers and other interested parties apprised of new NSF funding opportunities and publications, important changes in proposal and award policies and procedures, and upcoming NSF Regional Grants Conferences. Subscribers are informed through e-mail when new publications are issued that match their identified interests. Users can subscribe to this service by clicking the "Get NSF Updates by Email" link on the NSF web site.
Grants.gov provides an additional electronic capability to search for Federal government-wide grant opportunities. NSF funding opportunities may be accessed via this new mechanism. Further information on Grants.gov may be obtained at http://www.grants.gov.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent Federal agency created by the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended (42 USC 1861-75). The Act states the purpose of the NSF is "to promote the progress of science; [and] to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare by supporting research and education in all fields of science and engineering."
NSF funds research and education in most fields of science and engineering. It does this through grants and cooperative agreements to more than 2,000 colleges, universities, K-12 school systems, businesses, informal science organizations and other research organizations throughout the US. The Foundation accounts for about one-fourth of Federal support to academic institutions for basic research.
NSF receives approximately 40,000 proposals each year for research, education and training projects, of which approximately 11,000 are funded. In addition, the Foundation receives several thousand applications for graduate and postdoctoral fellowships. The agency operates no laboratories itself but does support National Research Centers, user facilities, certain oceanographic vessels and Antarctic research stations. The Foundation also supports cooperative research between universities and industry, US participation in international scientific and engineering efforts, and educational activities at every academic level.
Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities provide funding for special assistance or equipment to enable persons with disabilities to work on NSF-supported projects. See Grant Proposal Guide Chapter II, Section D.2 for instructions regarding preparation of these types of proposals.
The National Science Foundation has Telephonic Device for the Deaf (TDD) and Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) capabilities that enable individuals with hearing impairments to communicate with the Foundation about NSF programs, employment or general information. TDD may be accessed at (703) 292-5090 and (800) 281-8749, FIRS at (800) 877-8339.
The National Science Foundation Information Center may be reached at (703) 292-5111.
The National Science Foundation promotes and advances scientific progress in the United States by competitively awarding grants and cooperative agreements for research and education in the sciences, mathematics, and engineering.
To get the latest information about program deadlines, to download copies of NSF publications, and to access abstracts of awards, visit the NSF Website at http://www.nsf.gov
The information requested on proposal forms and project reports is solicited under the authority of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended. The information on proposal forms will be used in connection with the selection of qualified proposals; and project reports submitted by awardees will be used for program evaluation and reporting within the Executive Branch and to Congress. The information requested may be disclosed to qualified reviewers and staff assistants as part of the proposal review process; to proposer institutions/grantees to provide or obtain data regarding the proposal review process, award decisions, or the administration of awards; to government contractors, experts, volunteers and researchers and educators as necessary to complete assigned work; to other government agencies or other entities needing information regarding applicants or nominees as part of a joint application review process, or in order to coordinate programs or policy; and to another Federal agency, court, or party in a court or Federal administrative proceeding if the government is a party. Information about Principal Investigators may be added to the Reviewer file and used to select potential candidates to serve as peer reviewers or advisory committee members. See Systems of Records, NSF-50, "Principal Investigator/Proposal File and Associated Records," 69 Federal Register 26410 (May 12, 2004), and NSF-51, "Reviewer/Proposal File and Associated Records, " 69 Federal Register 26410 (May 12, 2004). Submission of the information is voluntary. Failure to provide full and complete information, however, may reduce the possibility of receiving an award.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, an information collection unless it displays a valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The OMB control number for this collection is 3145-0058. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 120 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions. Send comments regarding the burden estimate and any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to:
Suzanne H. Plimpton
Reports Clearance Officer
Division of Administrative Services
National Science Foundation
Arlington, VA 22230
The National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22230, USA


text:
by Jacob Solis
Attack on Israeli bus station leaves 2 dead, 10 wounded
A Palestinian man, armed with a gun and a knife, opened fire on an Israeli bus station on Sunday. The attack left an Israeli soldier and the attacker dead while 10 others were wounded. The incident was the latest in an increasing wave of violence between Palestinian youth and Israeli security forces that has left 41 Palestinians and seven Israelis dead as of Sunday, according to Reuters.
The violence all started after Palestinians alleged that Israel was encroaching on Muslim rights at the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. They have asserted that some Jews want to be allowed to pray at the mosque, the former site of a Jewish temple, which would break an agreement that reserves the mosque for Muslim prayer alone.
In response to the violence, some municipalities have enacted stricter controls on the movements of Arabs, according to Reuters. At least four cities have banned Arab workers from going to Israeli schools and there is a new legislative proposal that would broaden the police's stop-and-frisk abilities. Both moves have been decried by Arab rights groups.
The Israeli government has also opposed a U.N. proposal that would put an international coalition of peacekeepers in Jerusalem, according to The Washington Post.
Federal judge rules Texas may deny birth certificates to immigrants' children
A federal judge has decided against forcing Texas officials to issue birth certificates to children of immigrants on Saturday, citing insufficient "evidence to carry the burden necessary to grant relief," according to the ruling.
Immigrant families had filed an injunction in order to obtain the birth certificates, saying that their children were being denied their rights to schooling, health care and travel, according to Time Magazine. District Court Judge Robert Pitman called the argument compelling, but said he was unable to grant the injunction due to the lack of evidence.
The lawyers for the families contended that special Mexican identification documents known as "matriculas consulares," which had been used as late as 2013 to obtain birth certificates in Texas, were now being denied by health officials. However, Pitman noted that there was no evidence that these officials improperly focused on these documents in denying birth certificates.
Nevada regulators shut down state operation of daily fantasy leagues
Nevada gaming regulators banned daily fantasy sports websites from operating in the state Thursday, according to The Las Vegas Review-Journal. The cease and desist order, handed down from the Gaming Control Board, states that sites like DraftKings or FanDuel must apply for a gaming license before they can operate in Nevada.
The move comes contrary to repeated assertions by these fantasy leagues that their operations are games of skill, not gambling. Even so, Nevada is the sixth state to ban such companies.
Jacob Solis can be reached at email@example.com and on Twitter @TheSagebrush.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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(Check Price)
If the biggest and best inflatable bounce house is what you want, then this option from Blast Zone should be enough to entertain your kids for countless days. With a ginormous size extending over 15 feet by 12 feet, this magnificent bounce house may not be the smallest or most affordable option, but it allows it to have more users and a higher weight limit up to 600 lbs.
Included with everything that you need to start using the inflatable bouncer as soon as you receive it, this bounce house is very easy to set up and put away. The included UL blower will have the inflatable bounce house up in minutes. It also comes with carrying straps, anchor stakes, and can also be used with water to turn the bounce house into a water party.
Since it comes with a manual and DVD for detailed instructions, anybody who is new to using inflatable bounce houses will easily be able to see the required information for maintenance and use. Since it is massive, comes with quadruple stitching, and a slide for an added element of fun, this is one of the best bounce houses.
Little Tikes Jump 'n Slide Bouncer
(Check Price)
This inflatable house is great for people who want to have a decent amount of space to bounce around, a decent weight limit, and a reasonable price. With 12' of space at its longest dimension, the amount of room your kids will have for bouncing around will not be a problem. There is also a slide which allows your kids to come out of inflatable bounce house in style.
Made with puncture-resistant material which is considerably easy to patch, this model is very easy to set up and clean up. Of course, when it is put away it is very easy to store and eliminate the possibility of a hole in the material. This model will come with everything you need to unpack and use it right away including a heavy-duty blower, stakes, storage bag, and repair kit.
If you want a more affordable version of this model, you might instead prefer the Little Tikes Jr. Jump 'n Slide Bounder, which is a tad smaller. However, if a slightly smaller model (about 2 square feet) isn't a problem, you will love the reduced price that this one offers. In either case, both of these options for Little Tikes are some of the best bounce inflatable bounce house options on the market.
PicassoTiles Foot Inflatable Bounce House
(Check Price)
If you have small children who need a generous amount of space for hooping, jumping around, and playing with the included inflatable balls, this option has a nice blend of price and quality for your family's needs. Coming near the size of many of the other best bounce houses, this product will leave your kids with plenty of different means of entertaining themselves outside of the simple bounce house design.
As long as your group of kids weight less than 250 pounds when added together, you will be able to make full use of this bounce house without worrying about damaging the walls. This design comes with four different sports balls: a baseball, basketball, football, and soccer ball added alongside a Velcro-tape hoop for dunking.
It comes with a 525W heavy-duty blower, a carrying bag, bouncer stakes, blower stakes, and 6 repair sheets just in case an accident happens. There are many different entrances to the bounce house, and a slide that provides fun and easy exiting. Since it comes with a 90-day limited warranty on the bounce house, you can be safe testing out this product to ensure that it works.
Blast Zone Magic Castle Inflatable Bouncer
(Check Price)
If you want an average size inflatable bounce house with a beautiful design which is easily adapted for a wide array of features, this is one of the best inflatable bounce house options for you to consider. When it is inflated it measures up to 11 feet at its longest length, and goes down to the size of a rolled-up sleeping bag when it is deflated. This makes it very easy to store away when it is not in use.
It only takes two minutes to inflate this bounce house and can handle up to 300 pounds of weight jumping around on it before the safety of the bounce house can become compromised. However, since it is double and quadruple stitched in the common problem areas, you shouldn't have any problems maintaining this bounce house if you use it correctly.
This model comes with the accessories that you need to start using it upon receipt. This includes a UL listed blower, carrying straps, anchor stakes, a manual/DVD, and so on. However, if you want to turn this gym into a ball house you will need to purchase the balls separately. If you want to give your kids a product that many consider the best inflatable bounce house, you should carefully consider this one.
Bounceland Castle W/Hoop Inflatable Bounce House
(Check Price)
If you want your kids to start shooting hoops at a young age and start building a passion for sports, this is perhaps the best inflatable bounce house for you to consider. Coming with a basketball hoop attached to the rear of the model, a slide for easy exiting, and a generous amount of space, many people love this design for its reasonable price.
This model also comes with all of the necessary accessories such as a blower, stakes, and repair kit for patching. It has a weight limit that goes up to 250 pounds, allowing for 2-3 kids to hoop on this product in style. Since it comes with a 90-day limited warranty, you can ensure that it is durable to last a long time before locking in your purchase. This is one of the only bounce houses where a basketball hoop comes standard, making this a must-have for sports fans.
My Bouncer Little Castle Bounce House and Ball Pit
(Check Price)
Anybody with kids who can't get out of the ball pit at your local fast food restaurant should consider simply getting their own inflatable bounce house which comes with the option to add in your own personal ball pit. Although this model doesn't come with the balls, they can be purchased and added on for a very affordable price.
Since this inflatable bounce house comes with plenty of space for being creative and can be easily adapted for both hooping and adding in a ball pit, many people will consider the price to be a steal. With its generous amount of space and reasonable price, this is easily one of the best bounce houses. For the price, it is very difficult to find a bounce house which has this much space.
Little Tikes Shady Jump n Slide Bouncer
(Check Price)
If you want an inflatable bouncer which comes with a nice canopy to provide shade out in the summer sun, then this is one of the best bounce houses you will find with this feature. Equipped with a pretty large bouncing arena, slide, and heavy-duty inflatable roof, this is a great bounce house to use outdoors when it is hot or raining outside.
Since it comes with puncture-resistant material which can be easily placed on the grass without worrying about breaking it, this is an investment which will bring years of fun to your home. As long as you stay under the 250-pound weight limit and are sure to be proactive if damage occurs, there is no reason this product should break.
With all of the products required for quick use, including the blower and stakes for placing the product, all you will need upon receiving this product is a group of kids looking for some fun.
My Bouncer Little Castle Bounce Ball Pit Popper
(Check Price)
If you like the other My Bouncer product but want to save a little bit of money and cut back on a small amount of space, this bounce house provides one of the best deals you can find in the industry. With a decently-sized bouncing arena measuring 50 inches x 50 inches and a weight limit ranging up to 150 pounds, this is a great inflatable house for people with 1 – 2 small children. Although it doesn't have the size and weight limits of other models, it still has a well-built design which is safe to use.
Since the weight limit is only 150 pounds, this is not the option you will want to break out for a birthday party and is instead best reserved for both private indoor and outdoor use. If you follow the weight limit, it is very hard to pop this model since it comes with tear-resistant cushions which are very safe to fall onto without risking injury. It also comes with a low-noise blower, carrying bag, weight bags, and ground stakes for easy setup.
Costzon Mighty Inflatable Bouncer House Castle
(Check Price)
With a beautiful castle design with a second floor that provides access to a slide that goes down 9 feet, this is one of the best bounce houses for keeping your children active. It also comes with two other chambers and a "basement" where you can go underneath bounce house itself. Due to its heavy-duty design with double and quadruple stitches, this is a very competitive option for anybody if you consider the price.
The only thing to keep in mind is that this model has a weight limit ranging up to 300 pounds. Although this is a fairly big inflatable bounce house, it is important to limit the number of users. Regardless, if you want a product where the cost of bounce house provides you the most bang for your buck, then this should be one of your top options.
Cloud 9 Mighty Bounce House
(Check Price)
If you want a medium bounce house cost evenly matched by the benefit that it provides, then this should be one of your top options. With over 12 feet of space on its longest side, this bounce house is also fire-resistant (just in case this feature is needed). It also comes with a fun slide, mesh windows, and puncture-proof material which can be inflated within minutes.
This model can very easily be adapted to use play balls if you purchase a large sack of them. For best results, try to add in at least 1000 balls so that you can evenly spread them around the pit. However, you don't necessarily have to purchase play balls for your kids to have a ball in this bounce house.
This product comes with everything that you need to use it within minutes. This includes a 580 watt UL listed blower, stake kit, and repair kit. As long as you stay within the 300-pound weight limit and routinely monitor for damage, this inflatable bounce house should last you an entire childhood of fun.
Best Inflatable Bounce Houses: Buying Guide
Getting a bounce house is only one of the many different gifts that you can give your child. Of course, permanent backyard jungle gyms, bicycles, video games, and other similar products can likely make your kid just as happy. This is why it is important to consider if this is what you truly want the most for your kid.
Why They are Good for Kids
Inflatable bounce houses provide your child hours of fun when it is inflated. During this time, they will be getting a healthy amount of exercise without you even asking them to. Since they are jumping around, falling down, getting up, and repeating this process they are naturally raising their heart rate. Since they provide an effortless means of exercise, these are great at getting your kids off the couch, and in the workout room.
The first inflatable bounce structure was created in 1959 when John Scurlock was trying to find a way to cover up tennis courts with an inflatable cover. As it turned out, the inflatable tennis court cover was very fun for people to jump on, which made the idea evolve into a widely popular product for kids.
Since their invention, the inflatable bounce house has turned into a popular thing for kids to do. Many different bounce houses started sprawling up like flies to be used for birthday parties, carnivals, amusement parks, and private events. Although they haven't been around that long, their popularity is still on the rise.
Cost of Bounce House
The cost of bounce house products is likely the first concern that comes to your mind before you even begin thinking about whether or not you can afford to give your family a gift like this. However, you might be surprised to learn that inflatable bounce houses are actually surprisingly affordable.
If you have been thinking about renting a bounce house on a consistent basis, you are much better off simply purchasing your own. The most affordable bounce house cost you will find will be around $150, ranging all the way up to $500. When you start adding in accessories such as ball pits, basketball hoops, and so on, they can start to get more expensive.
How to Choose the Best Bounce House
The first thing you should keep in mind before you purchase an inflatable bouncer, you need to consider the size and weight of the people who are using them. Each bounce house comes with a weight limit, which can go all the way up to around 600 pounds. Next, you need to ensure that the height of the gym will protect your family from falling out. If you get one which has a wall at 7 feet or above, it is unlikely that your kids will hurt themselves.
Finally, finding a nice balance between the price you want to pay and the size of the gym is something that is crucial. Typically, the bigger the inflatable bouncer is, the more it will cost. If you don't mind spending the extra money, you can end up purchasing a massive inflatable bounce house for a very affordable price.
Bounce House vs Trampoline: Compared
Trampolines have a design which is very competitive with the inflatable bounce house. Although trampolines are great for kids and adults alike, they are not as safe as bounce houses since they do not typically come with a wall-to-wall cushion. This means that trampolines put your kids at a slightly bigger risk of injury than with a bounce house. However, if you want to be able to use the product as well without worrying about popping holes into it, you should instead purchase a trampoline.
Is it Safe?
The majority of the safety concern with inflatable bounce houses comes from the users themselves. Since they are in a springy environment, it is easy to bump into each other rather than the inflatable cushion. If you keep a close eye on your kids and establish ground rules that eliminate the possibility of injuring themselves, much of the safety concerns can be avoided. Besides this, make sure that the will is large enough to contain your kids as they start bouncing from wall-to-wall. If you follow these steps, you shouldn't have any safety problems.
Best Inflatable Bounce House: Summary
If you want to get the best inflatable bounce house for your family, any of the above options should be heavily worth considering. Although many of the best bounce houses listed above will satisfy the needs of the common consumer, the Blast Zone Big Ol Bouncer Inflatable Moonwalk stands out as perhaps the best inflatable bounce house due to its impressive size and features. However, if you want to save a little bit of money, you might instead consider the My Bouncer Little Castle Bounce Ball Pit Popper for its affordable price.


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You have to admire the length that people will go to save their drones. When you consider the amount of money people invest in their drones, it's easy to understand why. I have to agree with some of the comments on YouTube, that is the slowest "uncontrolled" descent I've ever seen.
Ultimate Drone Save
Classic catch to save my drone from certain death.
Thanks Ryan Chatfield Images for the video.


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The projects due for completion are: Princely Estate, Silicon City, Golf Homes, Smart City, Dream Valley, Centurion Park, Leisure Park and Verona Heights.
According to Shiv Priya, executive director of Amrapali group, the names and credentials of these co-developers of which two are national level builders, have been submitted with Noida Authority.
A final nod on the partnerships is expected from Noida and Greater Noida Authority by end of July. The target set for these new entrants would be to drive the completion of all pending projects and wrap them by set targets that end in 2020.
"The co-developers are coming on board on the basis of ownership transfer and as financiers. So the land ownership has to be worked out by the concerned authorities. We are working on the intricacies," Shiv Priya said. However buyers groups continue to display a trust deficit in the builder. "We will only believe them once we see action on ground," Shweta Bharti, general secretary, Nefowa, said.
Commenting on the issue, CEO Noida authority, Amit Mohan Prasad told TOI that though Amrapali group has made an appeal for financial amnesty and approval of co-developers, the matter is still under scrutiny.
"Yes we have received an appeal from Amrapali, but because they are defaulters at such a large scale and since so many buyers are affected by their action, we will take a hard look before permitting them any ease. We met the builders two days ago and are still looking into their proposal," Prasad said.


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Got a need for mead? You'd better attend to it soon, as the Maryland Renaissance Festival in Anne Arundel County has just three weekends remaining: Oct. 10-11, 17-18 and 24-25.
The fairgrounds in Crownsville have once again been transformed into a 15th-century village, complete with acrobatics, jousting and, of course, plenty of enormous turkey legs to nom.
Live entertainers perform throughout the day each weekend; catch puppet shows, juggling, music and more. See the full entertainment lineup here. The fest will wrap up its final weekend (Oct. 24-25) with a special jousting competition "to determine who is the greatest knight in the land."
The Scene
The most fun things to do and places to be in D.C., Maryland and Virginia
Dozens of food vendors and artisans will be offering their fare throughout; see the complete list here.
Tickets are $19 for adults, $7 for kids and $16 for seniors for single-day passes. Group rates and multi-day passes are also available.


text: Beautiful Easter Candle Holders >> More DIY Ideas << These Easter candle holders is an amazingly interesting but cheap way to decorate your Easter season. To make these Easter candle holders, you will need Plastic eggs 2 small round pieces of wood for each candlestick Dowel rod Glue Drill and drill bits Spry paint Step by step tutorial from CSI >> More DIY Ideas << >> Low Cost Craft Supplies << Get New Posts Right To Your Inbox!Get captivating new Tutorials, just like this one, delivered right to your inbox each day. Just sign up and we will send you the best new tutorials as they come in. Your email address will NEVER been spammed, sold, or shared. You are welcome to unsubscribe at any time with the link in the email. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment Name * Email * Website © 2020 How To Instructions.org Tweet Buffer Share on Tumblr


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How Ice Dams Form
- Roof shingles are warmed by heat from the sun and heat escaping from inside the home.
- Snow begins to melt upon contact with the warmed roof shingles.
- Melted snow travels along the roof's slope to the gutter.
- Melted snow refreezes when it touches cold eaves and gutters. The ridge of ice is called an ice dam. Icicles form along the dam.
- Once the melted water backs up past the lower row of shingles, the water flows down through the roof sheathing and into ceilings and walls.
An Ounce of Prevention
In the winter your attic should be cold and dry. Here are some simple tips to prevent warm air from getting into your attic:
- Bring insulation up to R-49.
- Seal gaps around ductwork, recessed lights, skylight enclosures, the tops of walls and partitions, pipe penetrations, attic access, drop ceilings, and the chimney.
- Never exhaust bathroom or kitchen vents into the attic. Those vents should always discharge outside.
- Insulate all ductwork in the attic.
- Make sure your attic is vented properly and adequately.
- Don't cover attic vents with insulation.
- Inspect the vent screening periodically. It can tear, deteriorate, or become obstructed.


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How high can Catalans be stacked? That is the question that fascinates the castellers, teams who climb on each other's shoulders to the eerie music of the grolla to create daring human towers, attaining eight or even nine levels, with small kids manning the highest. Why? They don't really know themselves; it's just one more Catalan eccentricity.
Image by Joan Gill, Creative Commons License


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Christian Public Witness Ministry
Justice in the biblical sense is achieved when all persons have what they need to develop and thrive, share in the goods of creation, and give back to the community. Christians at their best look to their common values and similarities in religious experience that provide foundations for mutual understanding, respect and collaboration, bringing diverse people together to solve social challenges and crises.
Representing the collective voice of member denominations, the Wisconsin Council of Churches takes seriously its role in bringing Christian witness to biblical justice to the public square. Recently, the Council:
- worked with eight other faith-based groups to bring over 800 persons to the State Capitol to learn meet with their legislators about values of compassion and community well-being in the State Budget;
- joined other faith-based groups in opposing requiring drug screening and testing of applicants for pubic benefits programs;
- developed and distributed study-action guides for congregations on affordable housing, hunger, health care, and immigration;
- successfully advocated for legislation to provide Treatment Instead of Prison (TIP) for non-violent drug offenders, in participation with WISDOM, the church-based community movement in southeast Wisconsin;
- opposed legislative efforts to reinstate the death penalty in Wisconsin.
- held a statewide Legislative Briefing at the State Capitol advocating for an increase in state support for the School Breakfast Program. Wisconsin ranks 35th among the 50 states in the percentage of low income children who participate in this critical anti-hunger program.
Advocacy Days at the Capitol
A biennial interfaith advocacy day at the capitol, "People of Faith United for Justice," is sponsored by the Wisconsin Council of Churches together with other state religious organizations. Visit our Advocacy Day at the Capitol web page for information on past and upcoming Advocacy Day events.
Find More Advocacy Resources on our Website
- Legislative Alert Center
- Public Policy Advocacy Guide
- Advocacy Resources – including:
- From Charity to Justice: An Advocacy Guide for Congregations
- Voter Education Guide
- Religious Advocacy Ministries
- Federal and State Government and Legislation
- Topical Resources


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The $100 Million Revenue Club: LiveOps Checks Off IPO Boxes
(Editor's note: This story is part of a VentureWire series of profiles that examines venture-backed companies with at least $100 million in revenue, an oft-mentioned threshold used by investment bankers to determine whether a company is IPO ready. Check out our previous posts on Acronis, Art.com, Bravo Health, Cellfish Media, ExactTarget, Freightquote.com, HomeAway.com, mBlox, Oak Investment Partners, Parallels, ServiceSource and 2Wire.)
When former eBay Inc. Chief Operating Officer Maynard Webb decided to cut short his retirement and become CEO of LiveOps Inc., he was given a simple message by the company's venture investors: Put it on track to eventually go public.
And so for the past three-plus years, the Santa Clara, Calif., company has, in a sense, been checking the many boxes that are necessary today to become a public company. LiveOps is not quite done with the process, but it is, concedes Webb and board member and Menlo Ventures' Managing Director Doug Carlisle, getting closer. Neither seem to suggest it'll be going out this year, but 2011 seems like a likely possibility for the company, which provides enterprises with an on-demand call center platform and a community of on-demand independent agents.


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We're proud to house top marketing experts who customize strategies based on unique business needs.
We're not a "one-size-fits-all" kind of agency. We're proud of that, too.
Our clients rely on us for a positive ROI. While we build your strategy using the best tools in the trade, it's the way we put those tools to work that makes the most difference to you and your budget.
When it comes to developing and implementing a strategic marketing and communications plan, there is no one better than RedRover Sales and Marketing.
You have an entire pack of professionals at your disposal to assist you in every facet – from creating a polished marketing brand to integrating all your communication messages for website content, social media, public relations and printed publications.
RedRover's results are phenomenal, and you will see your revenues skyrocket.


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Outpatient Counseling
Outpatient Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Counseling: Headrest offers outpatient substance abuse counseling for both men and women. Both group and individual treatment modalities are used, including Outpatient (OP) and Intensive Outpatient (IOP) Programs.
If you are interested in receiving these services, please contact Headrest at (603) 448-4400 to complete an Intake Screening and set up an appointment to meet with one of our highly-trained, licensed substance use counselors.


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The day starts so clear and beautiful as I walk down to the beach. The tiki huts that serve as weekend bars are empty and the thatch from their roofs rustles over the sound of the surf. The sand is warm until the cool water of the Pacific rushes over my feet as I try to catch a sand dollar. Ahead of me are several dogs playing chase, and next to me are a flock of small white birds that occasionally fly around in a circle before landing again in the surf. As usual, I am the only person here, except for the occasional fisherman casting his net.
This quiet escape is Pochomil, Nicaragua. Look in a guidebook and you still will not know much about this hidden treasure of the Pacific Coast. It is not as well-known as a tourist destination as counterpart, San Juan Del Sur. Instead, it is the playground of the wealthy families of Nicaragua's capital, Managua, but only on the weekends. The rest of the week it is a quiet retreat – just the sand dollars and birds.
I continue my walk along the coast watching the waves spray high into the air and stepping over the volcanic outcroppings that make small tidal pools for crabs and beautiful sunset pictures. I pass an old man on a horse-drawn cart who smiles and waves. That is the thing about this place, even being a tourist; everyone is friendly and wants to know more about me. I wish I had spent more time on my Spanish so I could actually have an adult conversation, but knowing that I will receive a smile works for now.
The bus costs less than 5 Cordoba, about 20 cents, to Masachapa, the neighboring town and where I am headed, but I always choose the walk along the beach for its ever-present beauty. As I pass the last bend, I see the lighthouse on the far side of Masachapa which actually serves as tsunami warning system, but is designed as a lighthouse. Between us are dozens of fishing boats, all painted in different bright colors dappling the beach pulled high away from the surf. In the evenings, you can watch as the men work to move them back down to the water on large wood logs so they can go out and catch the treasures of sea.
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Universal Studios Theme Parks Adventure – Cheats
Night Mode
Unlockable How to Unlock Night Mode Get five attractions to make the sun slowly go down
Contributed By: surferdude509.
To unlock complete the specific method
Unlockable How to Unlock Attraction Mode Collect all 8 stamps then go talk to Woody Woodpecker. Select the Magic Show when you talk to him. Allow the credits to end then return to the title screen. Attraction Mode is available.
Contributed By: Desert eagle.
Know Something We Don't?
You can submit new cheats for this game and help our users gain an edge.
Have We Been Fooled?
You can submit a problem report for any non-working or fake code in the lists above.


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Apple has released iOS 10.3, and you may find yourself asking, "What makes it worth the update? iOS 10 Is Here! Why You Should Upgrade Right Now iOS 10 Is Here! Why You Should Upgrade Right Now Apple's tenth revision of its mobile operating system is here. This is how to upgrade right now for free. Read More " Turns out there are quite a few new features to make it worth your while.
There's a new way to manage your Apple IDs all in one place, find my iPhone now includes support for AirPods, and there are new Siri and Carplay features Siri vs. Alexa: Which Personal Assistant Is Better? Siri vs. Alexa: Which Personal Assistant Is Better? The answer to "Alexa or Siri?" is likely going to depend a lot on your personal needs and opinions. We've come up with a head-to-head comparison in the areas that matter. Read More . Safari has also had a small update, along with security and bug fixes.
Finally, this is the public debut of APFS. Wondering what all of that means? Let's take a closer look at these changes.
All Your Apple IDs and Devices in One Place
You have always been able to keep separate accounts for iCloud and iTunes. However, managing each account has involved going between several menus on iOS. Now, iOS 10.3 consolidates your account settings into a single menu within settings.
When opening the Settings app, there is a new banner at the top with your name. Tap that to open a page that shows your iCloud, iTunes Store, and Family Sharing settings. After scrolling down, you see a list of devices you have registered to your iCloud account.
If you want to update the info on your account, tap through the first three entries on the list. The Name, Phone Numbers, Email menu holds your basic contact information. Also listed are your available email addresses for the Messages app.
The next entry is Password & Security, which lets you change your password or contact email. This menu also allows you to turn on 2-factor authentication, but hopefully you have already done that. Protect Your iCloud Account With These 4 Easy Steps Protect Your iCloud Account With These 4 Easy Steps Have you taken steps to make sure that no one gets access to your iCloud information? Here's what you need to do to make sure your iCloud account is as secure as possible. Read More Payment and Shipping covers your default credit card. If you have a shipping address on file with the Apple Store, it is listed here as well.
The next set of entries applies to your various accounts. The first entry is the iCloud account. Tap this to see a summary of your storage usage on iCloud Drive, as well as granular permissions for each app you use. The second entry is your iTunes account. Here you can turn on automatic downloads from iTunes, iBooks, and the App Stores. The third is Family Sharing where you can add and remove the family accounts you share Set Up Family Sharing & Share Apps, Music & Other iTunes Purchases Set Up Family Sharing & Share Apps, Music & Other iTunes Purchases You and your family members probably have separate iTunes accounts for your app and music purchases, but there's no reason you should be paying for the same apps multiple times. Read More .
These three entries previously existed as separate menus throughout the Settings app. It is not a significant change, but it is a nice touch to bring this account management into one place.
The next section consists of your devices tied to your iCloud account. You can click each one, and see if it has Find My Device activated. In fact, if you have lost a device, you can get straight to the Find My iPhone app (for devices with location services) to see its last logged location. If there is a connected device you already wiped, you can remove it from your account.
The entry for your current device allows you to turn these features on or off. Also, you can see cards you have paired with Apple Pay.
Where Did I Leave My Airpods?
Judging by the wait time to order a pair, AirPods are both popular and hard to get. So, the last thing you want is to lose one or both devices. iOS 10.3 has you covered there, adding them as an available device in Find My iPhone. Now, you can see the last place your phone connected to your Airpods on a map. If you cannot see them, it can play a tone. This feature works even if you lost only one Airpod.
Although most people do not yet have AirPods, it is nice to see that Apple is responding to user complaints about how easy it is to lose them Apple Will Charge You $69 for Lost AirPods Apple Will Charge You $69 for Lost AirPods It's almost as if this courageous decision to ditch the headphone jack is a license for Apple to print money. But that can't be true, can it?! Read More . Hopefully, you are lucky enough to get your hands on some Airpods and can utilize this feature.
Ladies and Gentlemen: APFS
It is rare that we nerds get to drool over a new filesystem From FAT To NTFS To ZFS: File Systems Demystified From FAT To NTFS To ZFS: File Systems Demystified Different hard drives and operating systems may use different file systems. Here's what that means and what you need to know. Read More . Apple's last filesystem, HFS+, has its roots back in the original Mac operating system. Though updated in the interim, it is designed for spinning disks on older hardware. The new file system, aptly named Apple File System, is built for modern storage needs.
The conversion to APFS is seamless during the upgrade to 10.3. Many of the things bolted on to HFS+ are integral to the design of APFS. Designed for large data sets and Flash Storage, Apple says the file system can handle up to 9 quintillion files and can handle advanced encryption.
There is an interesting way that the file system works with multiple versions of the same file. It uses clones and change-tracking to save space. Then, changes to the first file or the copy are saved as deltas. The files' shared data is still stored as a single file, saving disk space.
For iOS most of the file systems' advanced features are invisible. However, if you are looking for technical details, they are on Apple's Developer Site.
What Else Has Changed?
There are many smaller changes in 10.3. Siri now has hooks for billing apps to let you make payments with the assistant. You can also ask Siri to order you a Lyft or Uber if you have the app installed. Cricket Fans can get scores from the Indian Premier League and International Cricket Council from Siri.
If there is another rash of Calendar spam for iCloud, How to Stop & Remove iCloud Calendar Spam the Right Way How to Stop & Remove iCloud Calendar Spam the Right Way Bogus invitations showing up on your iPhone? There's a right and a wrong way to deal with calendar spam. Read More there is a fix for it. You can delete the invite and report it as junk. Using 3D Touch in the Maps app gets you an hourly forecast for a location. Podcasts now has a today widget and support for 3D Touch Everything You Can Do With 3D Touch on Your iPhone Everything You Can Do With 3D Touch on Your iPhone 3D touch is really just a fancy name for a pressure-sensitive screen, but adds a whole array of extra input options to iOS. Read More , as well as support to share episodes via Messages. iOS now joins the desktop iTunes in supporting rentals across multiple devices.
There are a lot of smaller details that you can check out on Apple's release notes. If the security fixes in this point update interest you, find that on this page. (Be sure to grab 10.3.1 as well to patch a Wi-Fi vulnerability.) Webkit got a little love for web developers in this update as well — you can see that on their blog.
Does the new ID management tell you that Apple is serious about iOS as the main computing platform? Is there a feature you are hoping for in the next iOS version?
Image Credit: NSC Photography via Shutterstock.com
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This bright buttercream roses cake was for a special grandma who loves bright and happy!! It was all vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream. I used my 1M tip to pipe the roses.
You can scroll through more of my buttercream roses cakes here and you can see Amanda from I am Baker's wonderful tutorial on how to pipe Buttercream Roses here.
Do you have any questions about these cakes? Please leave them in the comments and I'll do my best to answer and help out!
One or more links in this post are referral and/or affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.


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Bribery is a criminal offense that often contains links to political figures. It is always about power and money.
Multiple charges accompanied the arrest of two pharmacists
The arrest of two New York pharmacists following a 2017 federal government sting operation turned a spotlight on people who use their professional capacity to commit fraud against insurers.
The temptations of white collar crime in New York
New York is commonly referred to as the financial capital of the United States. As such, opportunities to commit corporate and financial fraud are abundant. Sometimes just one rash or risky decision that did not seem to be that important at the time can come back to haunt you, especially if it turns out that your actions are technically illegal under New York state law.
Real estate fraud takes many forms and could affect you
Let us say that you are involved in the real estate business as a mortgage counselor, and you have achieved a reputation for fairness in your dealings with homeowners who are facing foreclosure.
Is someone in your company breaking the law by spamming?
Are you aware of the types of emails that are going out on your company computers? Commercial emails are subject to laws enforced by the Federal Trade Commission.
Extortion uncovered in an elaborate call center fraud scheme
An example of extortion carried out on a broad scale is demonstrated by the arrest and conviction of a man who set up call centers used to defraud unsuspecting victims out of large sums of money.
Making it more difficult to prosecute insider trading cases
In 2013, the United States attorney in Manhattan dropped charges and convictions for insider trading against an employee of SAC Capital Advisors, Michael S. Steinberg, and six cooperating witnesses who had entered guilty pleas in the matter.
Are you the victim of a market timing scheme?
While there are many kinds of investment strategies, market timing is one that can easily turn into a fraudulent scheme. Such a situation may eventually catch the attention of both the SEC and the FBI.
Different types of extortion
The first part of building a strong criminal defense case is understanding the charges. Most terms for criminal activities are general categories comprising various ways people can commit that crime.
Your stolen personal information may still be on file
There is a new victim of identity fraud every two seconds, according to data compiled by Javelin Strategy & Research. The findings from their 2015 Identity Fraud Study indicate that $16 billion was stolen from U.S. consumers in 2014.


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Geraldine Warburton and Derek Smith on their wedding day
St Columba's Church
We were a family of nine. Three girls and six boys, and we lived in Duncombe Street.
The Queen's Coronation was 1953 and I was seven. We lived in a two-up and two-down and there were parties in the street. We all got dressed up and I was a bride.
Bath night was Saturday's. The tin bath was brought out in the yard and filled with water from the kettle and big pans. It was placed in front of the fire. Me first, then my three younger brothers. No nightie or pyjamas, just a vest and pants.
I went to sleep (not to live) in the house of a friend of the family who lived at the bottom of Duncombe Street. She was great. Her mam and dad weren't very well so they slept downstairs. There were only gas lights in the house.
Every night she would whiten my sandshoes, wash my white socks and two white ribbons for my hair. After breakfast I had two plaits put in, the neatest in the class.
One Christmas I got a pink Witch bike…thought I was the bee's knees. We played out in the street, twowy ball, hopscotch, a rope around the lamppost or skipping ropes. When it was time to go in, your mam would come and shout you.
When I was about ten or eleven we moved to a big house in Marsh Street. It had two flights of stairs and an attic with a bathroom that had a bath that never worked.
One side of Marsh Street was Foxheads. In Foxheads, the streets all had Royal names such as Queen Mary Street and so on. Marsh Street was busy, as it went down to the bridge and onto the forty foot road to the works. There was a coal yard down the bottom of Marsh Street, where women would go with tansads and prams for a bag of coal, Jonco Lemonade used to come round. There was slot T.V where you put your money in the meter to get it on. I think it was a shilling.
At the slipper baths there was as much hot water as you liked.
Bowman's sweet shop was near Bulmer Street, where you could get a 2p woodbine and a match and 2 Oz of sweets if you had the money.
Nana had a shop on the corner of Cannon Street and Duncombe Street (Angie's). Nana used to sell ice cream. In the early days, the shop had an ice cream parlour, a long table with seats both sides and mirrors right around. We all went to the shop, mam served in the shop as well as cook and clean for Nana with her two sisters.
If you were unlucky Nana would say "I have a little job for you". It would be an empty sack and one full of chestnuts. With a pen knife, we would have to sit and nick the chestnuts one by one. Old Fred used to push the chestnut cart to the Scala Picture House or to the Farrer Street Wrestling Stadium. Sometimes I would stand and do the chestnuts. You got 6 and 3d for them. At about 10pm, someone would come and push the barrow home for me, because it had hot coals in. I can see the bread wagons now, going up and down Cannon Street. They had a step on the back and the lads used to jump on the step and get a ride. On every corner there was a different shop. Pawn shops, second-hand shops, fruit shops, a number of fish shops, a pie and peas shop. There was a little shop that used to sell sticks (bundles). He made wooden stilts and they were good fun.
One Christmas eve, my two uncles had been to the pub (one of many) and they were up and down Cannon Street on Pogo sticks, which were for the kids the next day. All our family lived near one another, so we seen a lot of each other.
Marsh Street house was a nice big house. When my oldest sister got married to Eddie (Smack) McQuen, that was wedding! Barrels of beer in the back yard. Dad and Eddie's father were drunk for a week.
Me and my older sister slept in the bedroom next to mam and dad. The lads slept upstairs in the attic. Dad had a rule that the girls had to be in about 10pm or 10.30pm. The lads (the older ones) had to be in by midnight. If not, the doors were locked.
Every Friday or Saturday night at about 1am, there would be a tap on our bedroom window. Our older brother wanting to be in. He used to climb up the drainpipe onto the kitchen roof and get in through our window…but not only him, one or two of his mates as well. Up into the attic they would go. Mam and Dad never said anything when they all came down for bacon sandwiches! The year was about 1960.
Tuesday was dance night at the Astoria on Wilson Street. 2/- to get in. Me and my friends used to go messages, babysit and try and get the money for the dance. That's all we needed. We would walk there and back, didn't matter that you had no money for a drink of pop. You were at the dance, that is all that mattered. The music of the 50s and 60s was the best.
My oldest brother was one of the first to get a Teddy Boy coat. It was 3/4 drape, Royal Blue trimmed with a black velvet collar. In the summer, people would sit on the step late at night with a cup of tea, chatting to people coming from the pubs. I got married in 1964, all of my three younger brothers had Beatle haircuts and Beatle suits. They were seventeen, sixteen, fourteen and I was eighteen.
Cannon Street was a little town within a town. Good-hearted people, willing to help where they could. Very, very fond memories of Cannon Street. You will never see the like again.


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7 Steps to Find the Right Canadian Rewards Credit Card For You
First off, if you plan on carrying a balance, meaning you intend to borrow money on your credit card or not pay your credit card down in full every month, a rewards card is NOT for you. In almost every case, you will do far better with a low interest credit card than with a rewards card.Interest costs for a rewards card are typically 19.99% – meaning on a $2000 balance, you will pay approximately $400 in interest cost per year. The typical rewards program will pay you 1% of your spend for a no fee card, a healthy program with an annual fee may pay you 2% of your spend. On $2000 of spend,that is $40 in earnings. That is $400 of interest costs, compared to $40 in rewards earnings. If you cut your interest costs in half to 9.99%, you will save over $200. So again, rule number one, if you intend on carrying a balance,get a low interest credit card, it will save you a lot more money than what you'll earn from a rewards card. If this is you, you're better of with a low rate card like the MBNA True Line Mastercard credit card.
The second consideration, is which rewards credit card is right for you. There are many type of rewards credit cards. There are travel cards, cash back cards,grocery cards, pharmacy cards, gas cards, retailer cards etc… There are two things to consider in this equation. First, where will you be spending your money. Second, what type of rewards are you looking to redeem for. Depending on where you spend your money, different cards may provide you with different value.For example, some rewards cards offer double points in categories such as Grocery, Gas, Pharmacy & Travel, like the American Express Gold Rewards Card. Other credit cards offer 5% back on gas and groceries 1% back on everything else, like the MBNA SmartCash credit card. For proprietary cards like the new Target Mastercard or Westjet card you will get significantly more points for spending with them than you will elsewhere. So if most of your spend will come elsewhere, it doesn't always make sense to use them.
The next consideration is what type of rewards you want to redeem for. Now here it gets a little tricky. You may think if you're looking to get value for your gas spend, the best thing to do is to get a gas card, but that's not necessarily the case. A cash back credit card offering 3-5% cash back on gas spend, is better than most gas cards on the market, and you get to do anything you'd like with the cash, and still enroll in Esso, Shell or Petro Canada discount gas program. Just make sure that you are happy with the types of travel, services, products, etc… that your rewards program allows you to redeem for.
The third consideration when choosing a rewards card, is to determine how much value you will be getting back for each dollar you spend on your credit card. There is a simple formula here, but the English version of it is to understand how many points you earn for each dollar spent(i.e. 1 point for every dollar spent) and how many points it costs you to buy any particular good (i.e. 15,000 points for a $150 item). Well in this particular example, it would equate to you receiving 1% back, since you would have to spend $15,000 to get $150 in value. Credit card companies are notorious for playing with the cardholders earn rate and burn rate to make it difficult to compare one program to another, and to hide how much value you are really getting from your credit card. There are sites out there designed to help you compare rewards programs apples to apples, and out site stage.greedyrates.ca does have a tool to help you do just that.
The fourth consideration is how much you will spend on your credit card. Now the bonus points on some programs are fantastic and virtually start you off with a free flight. Others don't. After that initial flight,remember that many travel programs, especially the ones that are not captive to one airline, offer on average between 1-3% of value for each dollar spent on your credit card. That means, if you're looking to redeem for a flight that will cost $500, you will have to have spent between $16,000 and $50,000 in credit card spend. Most people don't spend that much on their credit cards. As a result, they would be much better off with a credit card that gave them similar value i.e. 1-3% of spend, but for lower priced goods or services, or simply cash.
The fifth consideration in selecting the best credit card for you, and an increasingly important one, is how easy it is to redeem your points. What increments are you allowed to redeem in? Are there blackout dates that make it difficult to redeem your points for flights or rooms when or where you want to use them? Can you only use your points on return flights versus one way flights (forces you to wait twice as long to redeem your points)? Do your points expire?
The sixth consideration, when choosing a rewards credit card is assessing what I call the hidden hurdles. For example, how much do you have to spend to get your $250 sign-up bonus? What are the foreign exchange fees – 0%, 1% or 2.5%? Are there any caps to how many points you can earn or how much of your spend will earn at the highest rewards rate? For example, it's all well and good when an issuer tells you you'll be earning 5% cash back on pharmacy and restaurant spend, but what if you they said only up to $200 per month in spend and only for the first 6 months in the fine print? That's why it's important you take out your glasses and read the fine print!
The last consideration, and one that more people should consider, is what type of benefits does my credit card offer me, other than points. Many credit cards are now offering very attractive insurance benefits that are included in the card, that more than make up for the annual fee if you're going to travel. For example, if you use your credit card to book your vacation, it could provide you with all the travel accident, trip cancellation,car rental/collision and travel medical insurance you need. The value of that insurance can be in the hundreds of dollars. First off make sure to compare and secondly make sure to check if your credit card already covers you next time you're being pushed to take out car rental insurance, chances are your travel card already covers you!
That was probably more than you wanted to know, but we hope you found it helpful.


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Look at that, we're getting better about consistency...Like we're growing up or something...Wait, no, no, that can't be it. Anywho! Just 1 More Topic is tackling the changes that the gaming industry has gone through over the last decade and give our thoughts on the future on the medium as well.
Let us know your thoughts, ideas and suggestions on the show and the general direction of the site and network!
Remember that we're on Facebook as well!


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Scam Letter(s) from Mariam Guye to Carl (USA)
Letter 1
Dear One,
I am more than happy in your urgent mail to my mail.How are you today? l hope fine.Mine is not too good due to my suffering condition here in Dakar Senegal.My name is Miss Anita Weah,i am (22) years old, single and never married, 5ft 8 inches Tall, 55kg weight, black hair and brown eyes,l am from Liberia in West Africa and presently l am residing in a church Orphanage home here in Dakar Senegal as a result of the civil war that was fought in my country some years ago.I lost my both Parents during this deadly Political War.That Damaged Thousands of innocent Souls in Liberia.My family was among the first target of the rubels because my Late father is a Successful businessman and also a politician supporting the Present Government when the problems was about to start.Due to this all the members of my family was Murdered in a cold Blood and our family house was set blazed.I was Lucky and escaped death because i was in bordering school when this deadly incident took place.
It is only myself who is alive now and i managed to make my way to a nearby country Senegal where i am staying now and never pray or think to step my legs in that bloody country called Liberia.
I would like to know more about you.Your likes and dislikes,your hobbies and what you are doing presently.I will tell you more about myself in my next mail. Attached here is my picture.Hoping to hear from you soonest.
Yours Forever
Created: 2012-02-06 Last updated: 2012-02-06 Views: 294


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"Steve, it's Dad. I'm sorry to bother you at 2:00 am but I'm on the floor."
Whenever the phone rings in the middle of the night it can't be good. In my house it happens more often than I would like to think about. "I guess it's our turn-your sister did the last fall." We were dressed in five minutes, left a note for our sleeping college-aged girls (not a chance they would wake up before 11 the next day-but just in case), and ran off to his apartment. Now the good news for us is that we live 15 minutes away. No matter what we can usually be there within a reasonable amount of time. I know for many dealing with parents or loved ones who are far away its not so easy. And even if they are within "running" distance, you might have young kids sleeping in the next room that you can't leave. Many of us baby boomers are finding ourselves caught in the middle between our parents and children. The ham and cheese between the rye, the fluffer between the nutter, you get the analogy.
As you become a regular reader of this blog you will see that one of my consistent messages is to think ahead and have a medical plan in effect for issues that you may have to deal with. Once you have the plan, it's not a crisis, just a problem that you have already figured out a solution to. First step with your aging parents-ascertain if there are any problems.
We become so caught up in our lives we often forget to notice telltale signs that our parents need assistance. They fear losing their independence but often don't ask for help to allow themselves to function safely at home. Things may seem normal on the outside and some changes are barely noticeable. If you are having doubts about your parent's abilities sharpen your observational skills and look for patterns of consistent neglect.
Start by examining the person's ability to complete basic tasks:
- Do they have difficulty with walking, dressing or eating?
- Are there any issues with personal hygiene or signs of infrequent bathing? Are there any issues getting in and out of the tub?
- How do they do with getting around the house, on and off chairs or in and out of the car? Are they falling a lot? (Welcome to my world).
- Is there an adequate supply of fresh, nutritious food rather than junk food? Is any of their food spoiled?
- Are clothes clean and do they dress in the manner that they always did? A change in wardrobe could indicate they are having trouble managing fasteners and zippers.
We will continue to look at ways to know when your parents need help in the next post. In the meantime starts looking at them with fresh eyes, see if you notice any of these changes, and let me know!


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