text:
Abstract

Strong evidence indicates that reduction of salt intake lowers blood pressure and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The WHO has set a global target of reducing the population salt intake from the current level of approximately 10 g daily to <5 g daily. This recommendation has been challenged by several studies, including cohort studies, which have suggested a J-shaped relationship between salt intake and CVD risk. However, these studies had severe methodological problems, such as reverse causality and measurement error due to assessment of salt intake by spot urine. Consequently, findings from such studies should not be used to derail vital public health policy. Gradual, stepwise salt reduction as recommended by the WHO remains an achievable, affordable, effective, and important strategy to prevent CVD worldwide. The question now is how to reduce population salt intake. In most developed countries, salt reduction can be achieved by a gradual and sustained reduction in the amount of salt added to food by the food industry. The UK has pioneered a successful salt-reduction programme by setting incremental targets for >85 categories of food; many other developed countries are following the UK’s lead. In developing countries where most of the salt is added by consumers, public health campaigns have a major role. Every country should adopt a coherent, workable strategy. Even a modest reduction in salt intake across the whole population can lead to a major improvement in public health and cost savings.

Key points

-   Salt reduction causes a dose-dependent reduction in blood pressure: within the range of 3–12 g daily, the lower the salt intake, the lower the blood pressure.

-   Prospective cohort studies with salt intake measured by multiple 24-h urine collections demonstrate a direct linear relationship with cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality, down to a daily salt intake of 3 g.

-   The totality of the evidence strongly supports a population-wide reduction in salt intake; paradoxical J-shaped findings from studies with methodological problems should not derail action to reduce salt consumption.

-   Every country should implement a strategy to reduce daily salt intake to the WHO target of 5 g; this action will result in major public health improvements and cost savings.

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Author information

Affiliations

1.

    Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK

    Feng J. He & Graham A. MacGregor

Authors

1.

    Feng J. He
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2.

    Graham A. MacGregor
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Contributions

F.J.H. researched data for the article, and both authors discussed the content of the manuscript. F.J.H. wrote the article, and both authors reviewed and edited it before submission.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Feng J. He.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

F.J.H. is a member of Consensus Action on Salt & Health (CASH) and World Action on Salt & Health (WASH). Both CASH and WASH are non-profit charitable organizations, and F.J.H. does not receive any financial support from CASH or WASH. G.A.M. is

question: How does the reduction of salt intake affect health?

answer: Salt reduction causes a reduction in blood pressure and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.

question: What goal related to salt intake did WHO set?

answer: The WHO has set a target of reducing the population salt intake from the current level of approximately 10 g daily to <5 g daily.

question: What results of the goal set by WHO are expected?

answer: It is expected the cardiovascular disease to be reduced.

question: How can salt income be reduced?

answer: In most developed countries, salt intake reduction can be achieved by a reduction in the amount of salt added to food by the food industry; in developing countries, public health campaigns have a major role because most of the salt is added by consumers.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: Since salt reduction reduces blood pressure and the risk of cardiovascular disease, the WHO has set a target of reducing the population salt intake from the current level of approximately 10 g daily to <5 g daily. In most developed countries, salt intake reduction can be achieved by a reduction in the amount of salt added to food by the food industry, and in developing countries, public health campaigns have a major role because most of the salt is added by consumers.


split: train

text:
This is my first post here, hope you guys enjoy it!
Any feedback is welcome. Thank you for reading! :)

“Bring me the remote.” He brings in the remote on a silver plate. The plate remains resting on the fingertips of his white-gloved hand until I remove the remote from its place. I push the power button and suddenly there is a projection in front of me. News. I can never really watch the news; it disinterests me. The reporter is covering the speech from the president. I couldn’t care less. It’s always the same spiel about how great the new world is, how a perfect society is now in place and how world peace has finally been achieved. “Utopia”, as the president calls it.
The Butler walks in and retreats to the corner where he will always stand, staring straight ahead at the wall adjacent to him until I give him a command. Butler is a hyperbole; he is more of a slave. But what is a perfect world with slaves? After all history has taught us that slaves are unacceptable in a perfect union. Therefore the proper term, deemed by the president of course, is Butler.
I glance at him. He looks revolting. Standing still as a statue, his blue eyes looking straight ahead. His bleach blond hair, cut short on the sides and trimmed to exactly one and a half inches on top, is combed over to the right side of his head. His skin is pulled tight over his cheekbones and jaw making them more pronounced. His pink lips are full and bright. He stands at exactly six feet, the majority of his height stemming from his legs. The light flooding in through the window reflects off his white skin, giving him a sort of glow. I can’t stand to look at him. One would think it would get easier, especially given that all Butlers look close to the same and every household has one. They most definitely are not an uncommon sight. Yet, there is something about them that always stands out, something that repulses me. It’s that stare. They all share the same stare.
“We will continue to evolve! It is our time! Our reign! Our world!” The propaganda continues to spew from the president’s mouth.
I walk to the window and look out over the vast city that is the new capital of the world.
“Have you watered the plants today?” I ask the Butler as I continue to gaze over the city in front of me.
“No, sir” he mutters, “I will immediately, sir”
He walks off into the other room.
The sun’s rays blanket the city turning it into an immense ocean of orange and yellow. I sometimes catch the Butler looking at this ocean, watching the waves of red and purple roll through the clouds. His eyes are different when he watches all these colors. I still cannot figure out how. They don’t themselves change color, nor do they change in size or in any physical way that I can determine. But they are different. When the light glares off a neighboring building is the only time his eyes physically change; they draw together, much the same as the shades on the window would, if I ordered him to pull them shut. After closing them for exactly a tenth of a second those eyes go back to staring, that usual stare that makes me hate the Butlers.
I focus my own eyes on the glare. I look straight into it for ten minutes, waiting. But nothing changes with me. I don’t find this interesting. What does he see?
He returns to his post, again staring at the adjacent white wall.
I focus my attention back to the president’s words. “The tables have been turned, the ruled have become the rulers! The Butler’s provide for us now, as we once provided for them! We have become the dominant species and it is our inherent right, our privilege, and our purpose to dominate them now! Our utopia is built upon the backs of the Butlers as their world was built upon us!”
A loud applause comes from the audience.
The Butler is focused on the colors through the window.
“Shut the shades” I order him. He does it without a sound. I do not want to see that unexplainable change in his eyes at the moment.
I feel myself becoming drained. I need to recharge. I tell the Butler that I am ready to sleep. He disappears for a moment and comes back with a long white chord. I hold my hand up, a gesture for the Butler to wait. I listen to the last little bit of the speech from the president, “our race will forever live in harmony! There will never be conflict! There will never be war! Our race is the perfect race! We are the robot race and it is our world now! Our imperfect human creators will serve us for all time as a constant reminder to how we saved them from their inevitable self-annihilation! This is our planet now and it will be our planet always!”
I motion to the Butler; he opens a slot in my head and plugs in the white chord. I feel the energy pulsing through me to my core. The Butler moves back to his spot and stares ahead. I look into his eyes, I am still perplexed by those staring eyes, they hold something in them; something I cannot comprehend. I start to drift into sleep. I hate him for his eyes, for whatever it is that his eyes hold.

title: Butler

question: What indicates that the narrator is not human?

answer: They need to be charged-plugged into a wall.

question: Where does the narrator live?

answer: It might be called "Utopia", but that also could just be what the president is calling it.

question: Why does the narrator say the butler is really a slave?

answer: The butler must do whatever the narrator says.

question: What might the narrator be finding peculiar about the butler's eyes?

answer: The butler's eyes seem to be expressing emotion.

question: Write a ~4 sentence summary.

answer: The narrator lives in a utopian world with a fanatical president prosphelysing on the television screen. There is a butler who will do all of the narrator's bidding. The narrator needs to be plugged in and charged. The butler's eye bother the narrator; the narrator sees something in them they just can't place.


text:
When I was a teenager (which was only a few years ago, if you know what I mean) I used to chill the bush that surrounded my house with a bunch of my mates. You have to understand, this was Kiwi (aka New Zealand) bush. It's not nice open space between trees, with grass and pine needles covering the ground. Instead the trees are dense and close together, vines growing over the wet slippery clay - as there is virtually no top soil.

Anyways me and my mates would usually kick back a couple beers, and occasionally goof around in someone else's property while the owners were away. More than once we got chased off by some freackin mongrel mutt that fancied taking a bite out of our arses. But that never discouraged us, as we'd just go another property the next time. We were the lords of the land. At least that's we thought, until everything changed.

It was a sunny Sunday afternoon, and the end of our last year in high school was in sight. In celebration of this I bought a couple of extra packets of beer to our chillout that afternoon. Time started to pass quickly, as it  always does when you're having a good time, and before I knew it - it was almost time for everyone to go their seperate ways. Just as the first of us were getting ready to leave, someone yelled out "Hold up guys. Let's not leave yet. Let's go to someone's property."

The voice belonged to Maria, the hottest and at the time most intoxicated girl in our group. She was a straight up gorgeous platinum blonde that wore usually only tanks tops and short shorts, which fitted her curvaceous figure like a glove.
"We've done them all" replied my best friend and wingman, Matt Caerdon "It's just boring now."
Loud discussion broke out amongst the group, everyone wanting to voice their own opinion on the subject. But amongst all the noise and discussion, it was the quietest voice amongst the group that caused everyone to be silent. A quiet voice that uttered only five words

"We haven't done the Mansion."

The silence hovered over us all for what seemed like an eternity as we all contemplated the idea. You see "the Mansion", as we called it, was a large mansion (who would have guessed) at the furtherest edge of the bush. Not only did it physically look daunting, but getting there was even more daunting as  you had to cross a small bog and then climb a very inclined slope that was crammed with trees reaching up to the sky above. Only a couple of us had ever bothered to do it before, but none of us had trespassed there before. Funnily enough, the Mansion had always seemed a too grand and proper of a place to goof around, or at least to me it did.

The silence was broken as Maria raised her beer bottle and let out a massive "Hellz yeah!". Not everyone was as keen on the idea though. Randy, the usually quiet nerd of the group, and the one who had originally suggested the idea too, was unusually vocal in his support for the idea.         *Maybe he's finally trying to get his chance with Maria*, I thought. The Maori twins (as I called them), Aroha and Tane, were in favour of it  as well, along with Hayato (the foreign exchange student) and Matt Caerdon.

The rest of us, including me, were undecided on it - with a few completely against it. So in the end it was put to a vote, with the majority getting their way and the rest had to tag along. The votes were cast. Hands shot up and down in favour of the different options, but it soon became clear that only one option was ever going to win.

It was settled. We were going to the Mansion.

__________________________________________________

To be honest the trip there was quite uneventful. Sure some of us slipped over due to the slimey clay and got their arses dirty. Others somehow managed to find the deepest part of the bog, sinking past their knees into the dirty filthy water. Squeamish Maria even managed to convince Randy to piggy back her across the bog, though me and Matt were really hoping that Randy would trip, sending them both face first into the bog. I would have loved to have seen that. Anyways, we all crossed the bog eventually, and after a decent amount of hiking up the steep inclined hill, we made it. We all stood under the cover of the manuka trees that bordered the edge of the bush, drinking in the sight that lay before us.

Perfectly mown grass lawns stretched before us, intercepted by what looked like to be vegetable and flower gardens, and behind that - the Mansion. To be honest, it truly was a mansion in every sense. There was a massive tiled courtyard that surrounded the main entrance, decorated with tables, chairs  and even barbecues in a perfectly symmetrical design. All the doors and the frames of the windows and sliding doors appeared to be made out of solid mahogany wood, which in turn colour complemented both the tiled courtyard and the rest of the house's exterior walls. There seemed to be so many windows, that I never even tried to guess how many rooms lay within. All in all, I'd say that the Mansion covered at least 600 meters squared, if not more.

I remember it was Kate who made the first move. She must have stepped forth, her feet scrunching the perfectly trimmed grass, but to me it had always seemed like that girl glided on the air. The way she moved and turned...a dancing angel in our midst. The way that she flicked her long black curls, causing the sunlight to frame those deep blue eyes. Eyes that seemed to dance and smile whenever I saw them. She was my dream girl.

Kate turned around, surprised that no one had followed suit. "Come on guys" she giggled "Last one there buys next week's beer!" And with that, she raced off in a sprint towards the Mansion. That definitely did the trick. Within a matter of seconds we were all sprinting over the grass lawns, none of us wanting our wallets to be lighter next week.
Out of the eleven of us that sprinted across the imaginary finish line and onto the tiled courtyard,  it was Hayato and Patricia who tied for last place. "I guess that means we're having the double the amount of free beer next week!" I shouted to both of them, giving Matt a sneaky wink at the same time. Hayato immediately started cursing in Japanese, very unhappy at such a thought - which only caused us to break into fits of giggles and laughter.
                                                                                "It's okay Hayato" I called back to him, struggling not to break in laughter again. "We don't drink that much...". That proved to be to be the last straw, as we all burst laughing again, the truth usually being far from that. Laughter is thankfully infectious and it was only a matter of seconds before Hayato was laughing alongside us, our lungs gasping for air.

"Well, I guess no one is home, or we would know by now I think" proclaimed Randy, pushing his ever slipping glasses back onto his nose. "He's got a point, guys" replied Tane " If there was, we would have been chased off by now by some guy with an air rifle, or some stupid freackin son of a-"

Tane was suddenly interrupted by a bloodcurdling scream that came from behind us. We all turned around, startled and freaked out by the terror that the scream had expressed.

It was Maria.

She was standing rigidly still. Her body frozen in fear. Her mouth still open, as if her bloodcurdling scream had frozen in her throat. Her eyes leaking tears. Her right arm stretched out, pointing with a trembling hand. Pointing at one of the many sliding doors of the mansion.

Time slowed as my eyes followed her trembling pointing hand, hoping this was all some sick prank. But what I saw still haunts me to this very day. Leaking down the glass sliding door was two bloody handprints. Two long bloody handprints that seemed like they had been clawing at the glass.

"Girl...." Maria gasped.
"There was a little girl there."

**Edit :** *Not sure if we are allowed to put in selfish plugs, but if you'd like read anymore of my writing - you can check it out over on /r/ComposerofWords*

title: The Mansion [Parts 1 & 2]

question: Who is the narrator?

answer: That information can't be found

question: What causes Maria to scream?

answer: She sees a little girl at one of the mansion's windows who leaves two bloody hand prints on the glass

question: Who suggests they go to the mansion?

answer: Randy

question: Where does the story take place?

answer: Somewhere in New Zealand

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: A group of friends in New Zealand decide to visit a large mansion they know about but have never been to before. When they arrive, at first they believe no one is home, but Maria screams when she sees a little girl at one of the windows who leaves two bloody hand prints on the glass.


text:
Featured Articles

Dogs Cats and Fur Battles – Pet Tip 251

[Dogs Cats and Fur Battles – Pet Tip 251]

Cats and dogs have plenty of fur and the battle of the fur and the household never seems to end. Cats and dogs don’t seem to care much about losing a bit of fur but it does bother many humans. Given that the fur problem for humans is not likely to end anytime soon is there anything we can do to reduce the amount of fur that cats and dogs shed?

The answer is ‘yes and no’ and has a lot to do with the personality of the human not the cat or dog. Dogs and cats shed and that is a fact of life. They can no more stop shedding than we humans can stop shedding. (Humans shed skin cells and lose body/head hair every single day).

You JUST got a new dog – Don’t freak out – Pet tip 255

[You JUST got a new dog – Don’t freak out – Pet tip 255]

Today’s domestic dog is still closely related to the wolf. Like all wolves living in a pack, dogs must be part of a stable family and feel safe. Most domestic behavioral problems occur when the dog is confused about how to act/behave in different situations such as your home or out on a walk.

It is recommended that you keep Fido confined no matter his age for at least the first month in your home. This will allow him to settle in more comfortably and adapt to your lifestyle. At the same time, confinement will reduce such misbehaviors as chewing and separation anxiety.

Here are a few general rules to help you to prevent misbehaviors when you bring Fido home:

Hip Dysplasia in Dogs

[Hip Dysplasia in Dogs]

The very first signs of hip dysplasia in dogs can be noticed in a number of ways. Maybe you’ve taken your puppy or young dog home, and on its first visit to the veterinarian, the perceptive doctor notices that its hips don’t feel quite normal. Or perhaps you noticed that it has an odd way of running or jumping, and you bring it to the attention of the veterinarian. Your vet recommends that your dog have x-rays done and after looking at the x-rays, he/she informs you that your dog has hip dysplasia.

What does that mean? Dysplasia simply means ‘not properly formed’. Therefore, your dog’s hip joint was not properly formed.

Limber tail in dogs – Pet tip 140

[Limber tail in dogs – Pet tip 140]

Limber Tail Syndrome (AKA cold tail, dead tail, broken wag) is quite common among some breeds of hunting dogs, such as Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Pointers, Setters, and Beagles. It is a condition in which the tail becomes limp and sometimes painful after exertion, particularly during inclement weather, swimming, or in an under-conditioned dog. It is a condition well-known to hunting dog owners and trainers, but not commonly seen by veterinarians. The syndrome is characterized by the swelling of the muscles at the base of the tail (the wagging muscles, which are also used heavily during swimming when the tail may serve as a rudder). These muscles are bound to the tail by a tight ring of connective tissue. As the muscles swell and expand, the connective tissue begins to serve as a tourniquet – cutting off normal blood flow.

When increased pressure within a confined space results in reduced blood flow, it is known as a ‘compartment syndrome’.

Catnip and cats

[Catnip and cats]

Catnip is a plant with pretty coloured flowers at the tip and heart shaped leaves on a thick stem and contains a chemical ingredient that often has a stimulating effect on cats. In this article, we will discuss the possible effects it can have on your cat, and common questions you may have regarding catnip.

How Does Catnip Work?

Catnip contains chemicals that trigger a behavioural response in cats when they breathe it in. What is this behavioural response? Well, let’s use an example that I’m sure we’ve all been exposed to. The smell of delicious freshly baked cookies comes wafting to your nostrils, this triggers you to salivate, so you to walk to the kitchen and cannot help eating the cookies.

Pet Phobias

[Pet Phobias]

Dark skies and rumbling thunder is often a stressful time for many dog owners. In all likelihood, it is even more stressful for the dogs themselves! Fears and phobias in our companion animals are more common than one might imagine, ranging from fear of loud noises and new places to the fear of people and other animals.

There are many different components and reasons for a fear response in an animal. It can be an innate response, meaning that it is genetically programmed into the animal’s behaviour, such as fear for a predator. If there is a lack of proper socialization to different people and environments when the animal is young, it may be fearful of unfamiliar situations when it is older.

Hairless Cats – Pet tip 145

[Hairless Cats – Pet tip 145]

For many, just the thought of a hairless cat is enough to make them shudder. For these people, the sight of a hairless cat is shocking, and touching one is downright scary. If you are one of these people, then this article is unlikely to sway you in the other direction. However, if you are the kind of person who has always been a little bit intrigued by the unique look of hairless cats, read on. Behind their striking appearance is a fascinating background, and if you are considering making a hairless cat part of your family, there is also a plethora of information to know about the proper way to care for these beautiful creatures.

Congenital hairlessness in cats is an extremely rare trait. Essentially, a hairless cat is the result of genetic mutations in one or more of the genes which encode for normal hair development. While the word ‘mutation’ implies that this genetic condition is unwanted and accidental, there are actually many breeders who select specifically for the hairlessness trait and work to maintain the hairless lineage in their cats.

Dogs and Cats that Drink Too Much Water – Pet tip 240

[Dogs and Cats that Drink Too Much Water – Pet tip 240]

Water is the elixir of life and it is essential to all living things. Our pets need to have access to water at all times and their water bowls should be filled with fresh water every single day. When our pets don’t get enough water dehydration can occur. Sometimes though, our pets drink too much water and although we know that water is good for our pets, too much is too much. Serious health problems can occur when our pets drink too much water. Sometimes the reason they drink so much stems from psychological or behavioural problems; other times the reason is medical. Either way, drinking too much water is dangerous for pets.

When a pet drinks too much water, its urinary system is also affected. What goes in must come out so thirst and urination are naturally linked.

Cherry eye in dogs – Pet tip 122

[Cherry eye in dogs – Pet tip 122]

Any owner of a dog who has had “cherry eye” will tell you that it is not a pretty sight. Perhaps you have witnessed it yourself and have seen the large red mass bulging out of the inner corner of a dog’s eye, from which the name ‘cherry eye’ originated. While not the most visually appealing condition (for the owners or the afflicted dog), cherry eye is actually a fairly common and benign occurrence in many breeds of dogs.

Though it may appear somewhat like a tumour or even an awfully big bug bite, the ‘cherry’ on your dog’s eye is actually a prolapsed (or popped out) gland. Known by veterinarians as the nictitans gland, this gland is present in the third eyelid of dogs and aids in the production of tears. Unlike humans, many animals possess this third eyelid which closes horizontally across the eye to provide extra protection and moisture.

Pets.ca Forum Activity

question: Summarize some of the behaviors that this article says can be explained by health ailments in your pets.

answer: If your dog has an odd way of running or jumping, they might have hip dysplasia. Limber tail-also known as dead tail or broken wag-might show itself if your pup has difficulty wagging their tail, especially after having hunted or played in cold weather. Another example is drinking a ton of water- this might highlight kidney dysfunction in both dogs as well as cats.

question: Summarize how catnip works.

answer: According to this article, the effect of catnip is best compared to how when humans smell something delicious, we have a physiological response-such as salivation-that makes it difficult to ignore the source of said smell. Catnip makes it so cats do not want to part with the nip. This happens due to chemicals triggered by an inhalation of the catnip.

question: Explain what cherry eye is.

answer: Many breeds of dogs get cherry eye, and it's a normal, benign occurrence-despite its alarming color and size. The bulge protrudes from the inner corner of the dog's eye, and it is caused by a prolapsed gland, meaning it has popped out. This gland is the nictitans gland and is in the third eyelid of dogs. It helps the pup to produce tears.

question: Summarize how one can train their dog or cat to not fear thunderous storms.


text:
You’ve heard that sitting too much is bad for your health, mainly because the lack of movement translates to an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and other chronic conditions. To add insult to injury, it turns out that spending your day hunched over a computer also has major ramifications for your mental wellbeing.

The issue: Poor posture can put you in a lousy mood and make you feel more stressed and depressed.

“We’re a very forward-leaning society—we drive forward, lean forward, slouch over our desks all day,” says William Smith, an exercise physiologist in Morristown, New Jersey and co-author of_Exercises for Perfect Posture_. You probably spend a lot of time craning your neck over your smartphone, too.

No evidence proves that poor posture directly causes serious problems like clinical depression and anxiety. But a number of studies have suggested that it may exacerbate the symptoms of these disorders. Even if your mental health is generally solid, there are good reasons to think that you’d be happier—and healthier—if you simply sat and stood up straighter.

Here are three ways improving your posture can improve your emotional health, and exactly how to do it so you begin scoring the benefits.

YOU’LL FEEL HAPPIER AND MORE ENERGETIC

“Over time, sustained slumped-forward posture creates unnecessary stress and strains your spine,” says Steven D’Ambroso, a physical therapist with Professional Physical Therapy in New York. “That can make you feel heavy and achy, which leads to being tired and irritable.”

_READ MORE: 14 REAONS YOU’RE ALWAYS TIRED_

This isn’t just a theory; research has actually verified the connection between poor posture and fatigue, especially in people who have depression. One study, published last year in the_Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry,_ found that patients with mild to moderate depression felt more alert after simply keeping their back and shoulders upright while sitting. They also reported less anxiety.

Another study, published in the journal _Biofeedback_, came to a similar conclusion: Participants who slouched while walking felt more depressed. When they shifted to a more upright position, their outlook and energy levels increased.

YOU’LL GET A CONFIDENCE BOOST

When you want to project a confident and comfortable persona (like on a job interview or first date) your stance is key. “If you carry yourself in a certain way”—shoulders back, abdomen in, spine aligned—”it exudes confidence and an affable demeanor,” says Smith. The converse is also true: Just picture a sullen teenager whose slouchy posture instantly conveys a sense of apathy.

Maintaining good posture won’t only make you look more confident; research shows that you’ll actually feel better about yourself. A study in _Health Psychology_ found that people who feel stressed can kick their negative mood and even boost their self-esteem by sitting upright. Other research found that good posture was associated with better body image among people with depression.

_READ MORE: THE 5 TYPES OF ANXIETY DISORDERS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT_

YOU’LL BE LESS GUARDED

When you’re slumped forward, you’re literally guarding yourself. That may very well mean that you don’t feel open to new relationships or ideas, or perhaps that you’re actively trying to hide something. “So much of how we communicate is non-verbal, and I’ve noticed that if someone has a slouched posture or altered gait, it often indicates that there’s something they’re not willing to talk about or tell you,” says Smith. “There’s a lot to be said for just standing up, pulling your shoulders back, and saying ‘I’m going to face the day.'”

HOW TO PERFECT YOUR POSTURE

For starters, pay attention to how you’re sitting and standing, and remember to engage your core as much as possible. If you have a desk job, make sure your computer, keyboard, and chair are ergonomically adjusted, says D’Ambroso. “I recommend getting up every 45 minutes to an hour to walk around, reposition your spine and improve circulation,” he adds.

Some simple moves can strengthen the muscles that help keep you upright. D’Ambroso likes scapula squeezes: Pull your arms back and pinch your shoulder blades whenever you feel the need to reposition yourself. He also suggests doing 5-10 press-ups (on elbows) every hour or two if possible, which promotes a gentle stretch in your lower spine. Any exercises that improve mobility in your hips and stability in your shoulder girdle are also useful, adds Smith. Try planks, back extensions (the “Superwoman” move) or overhead squats against a wall. And don’t forget about other mood-boosting activities, like meditation and mindfulness. “These practices are taking off now because people know they need to center themselves,” says Smith. “Good posture is just a piece of that.”

_This article originally appeared on Health.com_

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question: Summarize the correlation between mental health issues and poor posture according to the text.

question: Summarize how posture affects your energy.

answer: According to Steven D'Ambroso, a physical therapist with Professional Physical Therapy in New York, a slumped-forward posture over time creates unnecessary stress and strain on your spine. This stress can make you feel tired and irritable. A study conducted also show that patients with mild depression felt more alert after sitting upright. Another study also suggested that participants who slouched while walking felt more depressed.

question: Summarize what a good posture does besides making you look confident.

answer: A study conducted by Health Psychology found out that people who felt stressed could get rid of their negative mood and also boost their self-esteem just by sitting upright. Another study conducted showed that good posture was associated with better body image among people with depression.

question: According to the passage, how can one perfect their posture?

answer: The best way to begin perfecting your posture is to start paying attention to how you're sitting and standing, and also make sure to engage your core as much as possible. People with desk jobs are recommended to get up every 45 minutes to an hour to walk around, reposition their spine and improve circulation. D'Ambroso also suggests a few exercises like the plank, back extensions, and overhead squats against walls to improve mobility in your hips and stability in your shoulders.


text:
By

August 24, 2018 at 12:19 PM EDT

Netflix subcribers, prepare to get your Toni Collette fix.

The Emmy winner stars in the upcoming drama _Wanderlust_, which will premiere Oct. 19, EW can exclusively reveal.

“_Wanderlust_ is an exploration of love and sex and how we navigate our relationships today. It focuses on a married couple, Joy [Collette] and Alan [Steven Mackintosh], whose sex life is flat-lining, so they come to the conclusion that they are going to try something more radical to resuscitate it,” executive producers Jude Liknaitzky and Roanna Benn tell EW. “But the show also explores the impact their decision has on those around them and shows how everyone is struggling with or exploring sex. We always wanted to make a show that looked at sex in a truthful way and honestly showed how crucial sex is to relationships.”

Collette’s Joy is a therapist who is ” trying to find a way to keep her spark alive with her husband after a cycling accident causes them to reassess their relationship,” according to Netflix’s description of the series.

“Toni was also our absolute dream casting,” the producers say. “Toni has it all — she is such a clever actress with such range. She has made Joy into an iconic character with such wit and depth and she makes her someone you just want to watch and watch.”

[]

Credit: Matt Squire/Netflix

question: Who is Toni Collette?

answer: Toni Collette is an Emmy award winning actress that is staring in the upcoming drama Wanderlust.

question: What is Wanderlust about?

answer: Wanderlust is an exploration of love and sex that focuses on a married couple, Joy and Alan.

question: When is Wanderlust premiering?

answer: Wanderlust is premiering on October 19.

question: Who does Toni Collette play in Wanderlust?

answer: Toni Collette plays Joy, a therapist who is "trying to find a way to keep her spark alive with her husband after a cycling accident causes them to reassess their relationship.”

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: Toni Collette stars in an upcoming drama title Wanderlust, which is an exploration of love and sex that focuses on a married couple, Joy and Alan. It premieres on October 19.


text:
Mason’s brush arched and swirled with the careful elegance of a conductor, the foxtail bristles leaving swaths of scarlet across the snow white canvas. He was careful not to make a single mistake, as he only had so much material to paint with. He bit to lower left corner of his lip, his right eye half shut in concentration, as he pushed himself to perfection. He had been practicing for this moment his entire life.

He had familiarized himself with the tool he was using, practicing with it at great lengths. He had sacrificed some of his physical and mental well-being to obtain the flawless technique he would be using today. He felt that his entire life had led to this moment… and perhaps it had.

He had gone so many days without eating over his years of practice that he was not diverted by the smells wafting up through the wooden boards of his room in the Brass Wolf Inn. Even though tonight was the village’s Spring Festivus he was still working undistracted. The odors that were once mouth-watering and intoxicating no longer pulled him away from his work. The earthy scents with a biting pinch from the spiced mead, the subtle call of the peppercorn venison, the sweetly suffocating weight of a bulb of honey-buttered onion, and the familiar memory that accompanied the yeasty allure of freshly baked and airy loaves of bread… none of these held power over him anymore.

This was quite a lot to say for a penniless man on a holiday where the last meal of the night was free. Every copper, every bit every talent he owned, earned, or inherited went into the Painter’s Guild at Ivanhill. Though he had learned so much more after he was expelled and sentenced to a trial, having been taught by the natural flow of the forest when he fled the great city with nothing but a bedroll, a foxtail brush and linen canvas (both stolen), and the clothes on his back.

He had crafted his own paints in the countryside by stealing flour from mills and mixing it with both cold and boiled water and introducing colored clay into the mixture until it was the consistency he needed to paint with. In larger cities he would spend any collected alms on linseed oil and chalk, powdering the latter and mixing the two until he had oil paint to aid in his work and education. Both of these paints he would practice with by painting with his coattail or fingers upon rocks and trees, learning how to use a single color and the pressure upon the strokes of his instruments to create a half-dozen different shades.

The things he painted were elaborate and detailed, having only dense jungle and active wildlife as subjects. He learned to paint both quickly and slowly, to take an image and capture it in the flash before it was gone or to notice small details and slowly work them into the boulders and oak trunks he worked on. With all of his schooling and practical experience, with his hardships and determination, Mason had become a fantastic artist.

Now here he was at the end of the long road he had been traveling. His stolen canvas held aloft by the window, the brush matted in crimson. His hands did not shake, his brow did not sweat, and he breathed as he should rather than holding his breath with each stroke. He exuded confidence, it poured from his posture and movements and began to flood the room as if it were water. Soon it would leak into the floorboard and drip on those below and they would come up to his room to see what force they were beholding.

That was what they did.

Just as Mason had finished the last stroke, he stepped backwards and smiled at the canvas. His work was finished. After all he had gone through he was finally free of the images trapped in his head, he had finally had given life to them. The lines and curves breathed in their first breath of completion upon the canvas as the door to Mason’s room burst open.

Mason was seized by his shoulders and throw to the floor as three men entered the room. One man pinned him down as the others examined the painting with horror. They screamed in his ears – large and powerful fists came down upon his face and broke his nose. Paint poured from his nostrils as the fists continued to come down, smashing his teeth into his mouth and down his throat. Mason gulped for air and swallowed a molar in the chaos.

He was hoisted to his feet and thrown against the back wall, his head slamming into the wood. He stared in shock and horror as flint and steel were brought in. The metal shriek of the tools spat sparks upon the canvas until it began to blaze. Mason watched his life’s work turn to smoke and heat and flames. He was not even given the courtesy of watching it die as it was thrown out of the window and into the streets below where it smoldered into ash away from its creator’s eyes.

Mason screamed and thrashed and wept as they dragged him away. He begged for answers as to why they would treat him and his work so cruelly, for all he had painted was a field of flowers, butterflies, and a beautiful woman standing among them. His art was nearly clichéd, merely done in a more professional manner than most men could achieve.

He was told he knew why as he was taken to the jail to be tried and executed. He was clubbed over the head and his world went dark. The last vision he had of the room in which his masterpiece was created was his palette lying on the floor and a woman kneeling over it, crying, as men tried to console her or drag her away…

title: [OC] "The Painter" - a quick 1,000 words as a writing exercise.

question: Will Mason finish the painting?

answer: Yes.

question: Why do the men take Mason to prison?

answer: Because his painting began to come to life by magic.

question: How does Mason cultivate his craft?

answer: He steals the materials he needs to paint and does it illegally.

question: Write a ~4 sentence summary.

answer: Mason has spent years cultivating his craft as a painter, often illegally. As he finished his masterpiece, it begins to have a magical effect on the world around it. People in the inn he is staying at notice, and they storm his bedroom, throwing him to the ground, burning his work, and sending him to prison. The last thing Mason sees is a woman weeping over his ruined canvas.


text:
MARAT FJORD (, _Fiord Marata_),[1] is a fjord in Severnaya Zemlya, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia.[2] It is blocked by ice most of the year.

History

Although the shore of the island further north had been visited by Boris Vilkitsky's Arctic Ocean Hydrographic Expedition in 1913, Vilkitsky surveyed the eastern shores of what is now known as Severnaya Zemlya in a fragmentary way —he did not explore the Shokalsky Strait and assumed that the whole of Severnaya Zemlya was one single landmass.[3]

This fjord was first surveyed and put in the map at the time of the 1931 expedition led by Soviet researchers Georgy Ushakov and Nikolay Urvantsev that explored for the first time Severnaya Zemlya. The fjord was named after prominent revolutionary figure Jean-Paul Marat (1743–1793).[4] As in Matusevich Fjord further north, more accurate cartographic work of the fjord area was carried out by the 1950 expedition led by B.V. Zubov and A.I. Stepanov AI using aerial photography.[5]

Geography

Marat Fjord is one of the smaller fjords of Severnaya Zemlya. It has its mouth in the southeastern area of October Revolution Island, southwest of Cape Afonin on the Shokalsky Strait shore of the island. Storozhevoy Island lies off the mouth of the fjord to the east of small Bear Bay.[6]

The fjord extends in a northwest/southeast direction for about . The basin inside the fjord is fairly wide and regular, with steep mountains on both sides. At its inner end there is the terminus of an active glacier flowing from the massive Karpinsky Glacier in the northwest. Other active glaciers stemming from the University Glacier in the southwest flow into the western shore of the fjord forming icefalls in certain areas. The outpouring of the glaciers at the head results in a substantial amount of ice streaming out of the fjord the whole year round.[7]

[1975 map showing Severnaya Zemlya and the Taymyr Peninsula]

[1]

[2] GoogleEarth

[3]

[4]

[5] Б. В. Зубовской К истории картографирования центральной части Советской Арктики (B.V. Zubov._Mapping History of the Central Part of the Soviet Arctic_)

[6] T-47-X,XI,XII фьорд Марата (Marat Fjord). Scale: 1 : 200 000. Состояние местности на 1982 год. Издание 1992 г.

[7] Гвоздецкий Н. А., Михайлов Н. И. Физическая география СССР. Азиатская часть (Vozdetskii NA, Mikhailov NI. _Physical Geography of the USSR. The Asian Zone_.)

title: Marat Fjord

question: Where is Marat Fjord located?

answer: Russia.

question: When was it first surveyed and put on the map?

answer: 1931.

question: What did Vilkitsky assume was one solid mass?

answer: The Severnnaya Zemlya.

question: The fjord is blocked by what most of the year?

answer: Ice.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: The Majat Fjord is located in Severnaya Zemlya, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia. It was initially seen in 1913 by Boris Vilkitsky, and surveyed and put on the map in 1931 by Georgy Ushakov and Nikolay Urvantsev. The Majat Fjord is blocked by ice most of the year.


text:
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Mike Williamson is understood to have turned down the chance to join Preston North End on loan.

The Championship outfit were keen on signing the Newcastle United defender on a temporary basis with North End trying to find their feet in the division following promotion last season.

But sources in Lancashire have revealed that Williamson did not fancy the move at this moment in time.

The 31-year-old was also looked at by Leeds United and Sheff Wed this summer, but opted to stay at Newcastle and fight for his place.

Williamson’s contract is up at the end of the season after signing for United from Portsmouth in 2010.

The defender could get a game in the Capital One Cupagainst the Owls this week.

Meanwhile, former Portsmouth manager Avram Grant has spoken of the chaos at the south coast club during his time at Fratton Park, where Williamson signed in 2009 from Watford.

Williamson left the club to join Newcastle months later and Grant, speaking to Sky Sports, said: “One day I came in and my assistant Paul Groves said: ‘Did you know Williamson had gone to Newcastle?’

“I said no, then he (Groves) said: ‘Look in the sky’ (pointing to the helicopter taking Williamson to Tyneside).”

question: Who is Mike Williamson?

answer: He is a defender for Newcastle United FC

question: What is Preston North End?

answer: A football club that Willamson reportedly turned down.

question: Why didn't Williamson accept North End's offer?

answer: Sources in Lancashire have revealed that Williamson did not fancy the move.

question: Who is Avram Grant?

answer: He is the former manager of Portsmouth

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: Newcastle United defender Mike Williamson has turned down an offer to join Preston North End. Sources in Lancashire reveal that Willamson did not fancy a move at that time, and wishes to stay at Newcastle to fight for his place.


text:
Dom’s wife says he’s a fat piece of shit. Who cares.

Thick smoke in the Lincoln. Windows up. Three dead Reds in the ashtray. Fourth burning.

It’s late. Rain hits the car off-beat.

88.9 FM. Tango music idles low. Dom doesn’t notice.

Deep woods. Deep woods for a $30 cab to downtown, anyway.

Cush pads: lawyers, doctors, VPs, artsy cocksuckers - bigshots. Fat pads spread out, less than twenty.

1107 SENTINEL DR

Dom’s parked in the neighbor’s driveway.

They’re visiting the daughter at school. She loves them. Precious.

Glovebox: 2 packs Marlboro Red, empty. 1 1999 Lincoln Town Car 4DR Executive Owner’s Manual. 1 lighter, out of butane.1 SIG P226 9mm handgun. Receipts, business cards, parking tickets, trash. 1 9mm Suppressor, brand new.

88.9 FM: ..with you late, bringin to you all the crucia-

Deer bolts in front of the Lincoln. Dom’s sphincter tightens.

1..2..

Stupid baby deer follows mommy.

Exhale.

Silence. Rains harder.

Small headlights approaching.

Radio: OFF. Cigarette: OUT.

Tense, reeeaaal fuckin tense. Cotton-mouth.

It’s been a while. How long? Two years?

Can't even remember the last one's name.

Five grand, upfront. Wife bought a treadmill. Christ.

Sweat beads run down creases on his XL face. Gettin’ old, shouldn’t it be easier now?

Headlights bigger.

Concentrate. Deeeeeeep breath:

I’ll do it, then I’ll go get some food. A fat Reuben. Maybe some eggs and bacon. Maybe-

Headlights bigger.

100 yards.

Lightning.

Headlights stop – 1106 SENTINEL DR

Delayed: BOOOOM

Lexus headlights?

Headlights turn right. Dom catches profile.

Lexus headlights.

Lexus stops in front of garage door. Garage door stays closed.

Headlights: on. Exhaust: smoking. Music: loud. Windows: tinted.

Dom's gaze: fixed.

Waiting.

A woman's laugh - Uh oh.

Who you with, Mr. Gaslow?

title: Intro to a story I might write. Be a critic, TODAY!

question: What would prevent Dom from lighting another cigarette?

answer: His lighter is out of butane.

question: What can be inferred about Dom's driving habits?

answer: He often parks in places he shouldn't.

question: What sort of relationship does Dom have with his wife?

answer: They don't seem to have a loving relationship.


text:
The prosecution in the Amy Senser trial rested its case Friday with evidence casting doubts on her claim that she didn't know she hit someone: testimony from a state expert that Anousone Phanthavong's body hit the hood when her vehicle struck him.

State Patrol Sgt. Paul Skoglund said that the victim's injuries, coupled with the damage to Senser's car, showed that the body wrapped around the hood along the fender.

"His body wrapped over the hood of this vehicle ... and then fell over the side," Skoglund testified, adding that Phanthavong would have been completely illuminated by her headlights at impact. "He struck the ground and slid to his final rest."

Skoglund's testimony -- coming after a week that delved into the personal lives and interactions of Senser and her family -- was an attempt by the prosecution to refute Senser's claims that she thought she struck a piece of construction debris on the night of Aug. 23.

Senser, 45, has admitted being at the wheel that night and striking Phanthavong, but said she left the scene because she didn't think she hit a person. Her husband, Joe Senser, testified earlier in the week that he realized she was involved in the fatal accident only when he saw the damage to her car and a news report about the death the next day.

Charged with three counts of criminal vehicular homicide, Senser is expected to take the stand Monday in her own defense. The case is expected to go to the jury Tuesday morning.

Phanthavong, 38, a chef from Roseville, was killed as he was putting gas in his stalled car on the Riverside Avenue exit ramp on Interstate 94 in Minneapolis.

Acquittal denied

Assistant Hennepin County Attorney Deborah Russell called dozens of witnesses this week, including Joe Senser and three of his four daughters. Brittani Senser, 28, testified she compelled her stepmother to come forward by threatening to go to authorities herself. Molly, 15, said her mother confided in her that she'd had something to drink that night but wasn't drunk.

Defense attorney Eric Nelson's case could rest on the testimony of Amy Senser herself, who likely will tell the jury that she suffered from an intense sinus infection and migraine and was lost that night after dropping her daughters and two friends at a Katy Perry concert at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. Other key witnesses will include the defense's own crash reconstruction expert and possible character witnesses.

Before beginning his case, Nelson asked Judge Daniel Mabley to acquit Senser of all three counts based on what he termed the insufficient evidence that she knew she struck Phanthavong, that she failed to notify authorities or was negligent. He cited testimony by the Senser family to back his claims that nothing was believed to be out of the ordinary the night of the accident because Amy Senser was unaware of what had happened.

Russell countered in part that "most, if not all" of the Sensers' testimony was not "terribly credible."

Mabley denied the motion.

'Adventurous' mom

Earlier Friday, Molly Senser, 15, was cool and composed as she testified about the days after the crash, including her mother's admission that she had "something" to drink that night. She said at first that she didn't ask her parents about the crash out of respect while they coped with their legal difficulties. Pressed by Russell, she acknowledged telling an investigator that she later asked her mom what happened that night. In the deposition, Molly Senser said that Amy Senser told her "something had happened," and when Molly Senser asked whether she had been drinking, she replied that she "wasn't drunk or anything."

"But she had a sip of something?" Russell asked.

"But she didn't say what it was," Molly Senser replied.

Molly Senser also testified that her mother was not someone who was flighty and irresponsible, but rather "spontaneous" and "adventurous." But that wasn't the mother she saw in the days after the crash, she said.

"I have never seen that expression on my mother's face," she testified. "It's something you cannot explain."

Barrels in courtroom

Later Friday, Skoglund, a crash reconstruction expert for the State Patrol, noted that the only damage to Phanthavong's car was a broken mirror, consistent with an abrasion to the left side of his chest.

A detailed diagram of the crash site also showed the construction barrels and cones were positioned at the top of the exit ramp, far west of where Phanthavong was struck. Using identical barrels and cones to those on the ramp that night, Skoglund pointed out that a barrel weighs about 33 pounds, and a cone weighs far less.

Phanthavong, Skoglund pointed out, weighed 135 pounds. A barrel or cone wouldn't cause the damage to Senser's vehicle that Phanthavong's body did, he testified.

During cross-examination, Nelson pointed out that Skoglund doesn't know what Senser felt or heard as she traveled up the ramp that night, and that she lacked his expertise to determine what she hit.

As his first defense witness, Nelson called cellphone expert David Snavely, who testified that cellphone calls don't necessarily use the nearest tower.

The testimony was in response to a prosecution witness who testified that a series of cellphone calls to and from Senser's phone during and after the accident placed her in the area afterward, based on the towers that handled the calls.

Snavely testified that the towers can have a range up to 15 miles.

Abby Simons • 612-673-4921

HIGHLIGHTS FRIDAY

The prosecution rested its case with testimony from a State Patrol crash reconstruction expert, who said that Anousone Phanthavong's injuries, coupled with the damage to her car, showed that he flew over the top of Amy Senser's hood. The testimony was an effort to refute her claim that she left the scene that night because she didn't realize she had hit someone.

question: What is the main topic of the article?

answer: Amy Senser was charged with three counts of criminal vehicular homicide in Hennepin County, Minnesota. She was driving her car when she struck and killed Anousone Phanthavong.

question: Where did the accident take place?

answer: on Interstate 94 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

question: What is Amy Senser's defense?

answer: Senser's defense is that she didn't realize she hit someone; she claims she thought she hit a piece of construction debris.

question: What was the outcome of the trial?

answer: That information isn't given in the article.

question: Write a ~4 sentence summary.

answer: Amy Senser was charged with three counts of criminal vehicular homicide in Hennepin County, Minnesota. She was driving her car when she struck and killed Anousone Phanthavong. She subsequently left the scene of the accident. Senser's defense is that she didn't realize she hit someone; she claims she thought she hit a piece of construction debris.


text:
SEKOU OUMAR DOUMBOUYA (born 23 December 2000) is a French professional basketball player for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Listed at and 105 kilograms (231 lbs), he plays both the small forward and power forward positions.

Born in Conakry, Doumbouya grew up in France and began his career with local club CJF Les Aubrais when he was 13. In the following year, he attended INSEP and played for amateur team Centre Fédéral. His professional career started in 2016, when he joined Poitiers Basket 86 in the second-tier league of France, remaining with the team for two seasons. In 2018, Doumbouya moved to the first division by signing with Limoges. After one season, he was selected by the Pistons with the fifteenth pick in the 2019 NBA draft. He is currently the youngest active player in the NBA.

Doumbouya is a member of the youth sections of the French national team. He helped France win the gold medal at the 2016 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship, finishing as his team's leading scorer.

Early life and career

Doumbouya was born in Conakry, Guinea.[1] As a one-year-old, he moved to France with his mother M'Mah Marie, three siblings, and one cousin, settling in a small apartment in Fleury-les-Aubrais.[2][3][4] His father, who was unable to receive a visa, remained in Guinea as a member of its military.[5][6] In the absence of his father, Sekou became a leader for the rest of his family, often advising his siblings.[7] Doumbouya grew up playing football as a striker but was eventually hindered by his extraordinary height.[8][9] At age 12, he began playing pick-up basketball after a friend introduced him to the sport.[10] At that age, he was discovered by local basketball coach Benoist Burguet, who helped start his basketball career and later became his trainer.[11][12] By age 13, when Doumbouya stood , he was playing youth basketball with his local club CJF Les Aubrais, the basketball sports section of Collège Condorcet.[13]

At age 14, Doumbouya moved to the renowned French sports institute INSEP in Paris and joined its affiliated club Centre Fédéral de Basket-ball, a member of the Nationale Masculine 1 (NM1), the amateur third-tier division of French basketball.[14][15] He made his 2015–16 season debut on 26 September 2015, recording 12 points, five rebounds, and three steals against Aurore de Vitré.[16] In turn, Doumbouya became the first player born in the 2000s to play in the top three French leagues.[17] On 8 March 2016, he scored a season-high 23 points in a loss to Vendée Challans.[18] Doumbouya finished the season averaging 10.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.4 steals per game.[19] In May, he represented INSEP at the under-18 2015–16 Adidas Next Generation Tournament, averaging 14 points, 3.7 rebounds, and three assists while being one of the youngest players at the event at age 16.[20][21] After the season, he was dismissed from INSEP for disciplinary reasons.[22]

Professional career

Poitiers Basket 86 (2016–2018)

[Doumbouya with Poitiers in March 2017] On 26 August 2016, at age 15, Doumbouya signed his first professional contract with Poitiers Basket 86 of the LNB Pro B, the second-tier French league.[23] At the time, he revealed his hopes to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA) within the following three years.[24] In the season, Doumbouya saw regular playing time despite his lack of experience, being coached by Ruddy Nelhomme and playing alongside veterans like Jeff Greer.[25][26] While with Poitiers, he attended private school to work towards his diploma, and tried to model the focus he saw in former NBA player Michael Jordan with the help of a sports psychologist.[27] On 17 September 2016, Doumbouya made his professional debut, playing 13 minutes in an LNB Pro B Leaders Cup victory over Boulazac.[28] In his first Pro B season game on 14 October 2016, he scored two points in six minutes off the bench against Étoile Charleville-Mézières.[29] He scored double figures for the first time on 20 January 2017, in an 81–63 loss to Fos Provence, posting a team-high 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting.[30] In his next game, a defeat to Lille Métropole, Doumbouya scored a season-high 21 points and nine rebounds, shooting 3-of-3 from the three-point line.[31] He finished the season averaging 6.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 0.8 assists in 16.9 minutes per game.[32]

Doumbouya, on 29 June 2017, signed a three-year contract extension with Poitiers.[33] On 29 September, he notched a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds in a 76–71 win over Hermine Nantes at the LNB Pro B Leaders Cup.[34] Doumbouya debuted in the 2017–18 Pro B season against Denain Voltaire on 13 October 2017, recording seven points and four rebounds in 16 minutes.[35] On 22 December, he scored a season-best 19 points and eight rebounds in a loss to Saint-Chamond.[36] Doumbouya eclipsed that mark on 2 February 2018, in a career-high 26-point effort against UJAP Quimper 29.[37] In 28 games, he averaged 8.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and one assist in 23.2 minutes per game, en route to earning Pro B Best Young Player honors.[38][39]

Limoges CSP (2018–2019)

[Doumbouya with Limoges CSP in September 2018] In May 2018, Doumbouya revealed plans to join a team in the LNB Pro A, the top basketball league in France.[40] On 25 June 2018, he signed with Limoges CSP of the Pro A.[41] Head coach Kyle Milling praised the newcomer: “Despite his age, next season, I rely on him being an impact player. He has tremendous physical qualities: running, counterattack and speed.”[42] Doumbouya debuted for Limoges on 22 September 2018, recording two points and four rebounds in 11 minutes against Antibes.[43] On 17 October, he scored 11 points, shooting 4-of-6 from the field, in a 102–93 loss to Alba Berlin in the EuroCup.[44] In late December, Doumbouya scored 12 points in three straight games in the EuroCup and Pro A, shooting a combined 14-of-17 from the field.[45] On 26 December, he suffered a right thumb injury that required surgery.[46]

Doumbouya returned to action on 9 February, scoring nine points and grabbing five rebounds versus Strasbourg.[47] On 9 March, he recorded a season-high 14 points, five rebounds, and two blocks in an 85–73 loss to Monaco.[48] Doumbouya erupted for a career-high 34 points, with five three-pointers and nine rebounds, on 18 May, in a 106–78 regular season finale win over Levallois Metropolitans.[49][50] In 29 Pro A games, including two playoff contests, he averaged 7.7 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. In eight EuroCup appearances, Doumbouya averaged 6.9 points and 2.8 rebounds per game.[51]

Detroit Pistons (2019–present)

[Doumbouya (#45) attempts a layup for the Grand Rapids Drive in 2019.] On 20 June 2019, Doumbouya was selected by the Detroit Pistons with the fifteenth pick in the 2019 NBA draft.[52] He became the first player born in Guinea to be drafted into the NBA.[53] On 4 July, he signed his rookie contract with the Pistons.[54] Doumbouya missed his team's first four games at 2019 Las Vegas NBA Summer League with hamstring pain and scored nine points in his only appearance, during a 105–85 loss to the Brooklyn Nets.[55][56] In his rookie season, he was the youngest active player in the NBA.[57] He suffered a concussion during practice on 9 October and was sidelined for multiple games after being placed into the concussion protocol program.[58] On 4 November, before playing an NBA game, Doumbouya was assigned to the Pistons' NBA G League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Drive.[59] He made his G League debut four days later, scoring 12 points in a 109–94 win over Raptors 905.[60]

On 23 November 2019, Doumbouya was recalled by the Pistons and made his NBA debut in a 104–90 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.[61] In early January 2020, he registered double-doubles in each of his first two starts against the Los Angeles Clippers and the Golden State Warriors.[62] In his following game, he drew national attention for his emphatic dunk over Tristan Thompson during a 15-point performance in a 115–113 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.[63] On 15 January, Doumbouya scored a season-high 24 points with two rebounds, an assist and a steal in a 116–103 victory over the Boston Celtics.[64] His production declined after the performance, and he scored at least 10 points in one more NBA game for the rest of the season. On 6 March, Doumbouya was assigned to the G League, recording 30 points and eight rebounds and making a game-winning jump shot in a 102–101 win over the Maine Red Claws.[65] In the 2019–20 NBA season, he averaged 6.4 points and 3.1 rebounds in 19.8 minutes per game, starting in 19 of his 38 appearances.[66]

National team career

In November 2016, Doumbouya obtained French citizenship.[67] The process was delayed by months due to “bureaucracy,” according to the French national under-18 team, and as a result he was barred from two FIBA competitions.[68] Doumbouya made his national team debut at the 2016 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship in Samsun, Turkey, which he entered as its youngest player.[69][70] In his first game at the tournament, a 53–48 win over Russia, he scored seven points and grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds.[71] In his next contest, Doumbouya led all scorers with 22 points and six rebounds against Slovenia.[72] In his third game, he erupted for 31 points, shooting 10-of-11 from the field, to lead France past Serbia, 71–68.[73] Doumbouya averaged a team-best 17.8 points, seven rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1.2 blocks at the tournament, helping his team win the gold medal.[74] He was named to the All-Star Five, joined by teammate and tournament most valuable player Frank Ntilikina.[75]

Career statistics

NBA

Regular season

|- | style=“text-align:left;”| | style=“text-align:left;”| Detroit | 38 || 19 || 19.8 || .390 || .286 || .674 || 3.1 || .5 || .5 || .2 || 6.4 |- class=“sortbottom” | style=“text-align:center;” colspan=“2”| Career | 38 || 19 || 19.8 || .390 || .286 || .674 || 3.1 || .5 || .5 || .2 || 6.4

EuroCup

|- | style=“text-align:left;”|2018–19 | style=“text-align:left;”|Limoges | 8 || 2 || 14.9 || .548 || .250 || .625 || 2.8 || .6 || .8 || .5 || 6.9

Source:[76]

Player profile

Doumbouya is primarily a small forward but is capable of playing the power forward position due to his size and length,[77] standing 2.05 m (6 ft 8 in) with a wingspan of .[78][79] He displays fluid athleticism that helps him thrive in transition and finish at the rim.[80] His physical tools give him great potential in the modern NBA, especially on the defensive end, where he is able to defend four positions.[81][82] Doumbouya also has potential as a shooter, with evaluators often praising his mechanics, and as a playmaker.[83][84] His playing style has drawn comparisons to NBA players Pascal Siakam and Draymond Green.[85][86][87] Vincent Loriot, sports director for French club Le Mans, likened Doumbouya to NBA player LeBron James, calling him “a monster with a child's face”.[88]

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title: Sekou Doumbouya

question: Who is Sekou Doumbouya?

answer: He is a French professional basketball player for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

question: What positions does Doumbouya play?

answer: He plays both the small forward and power forward positions.

question: What were the most points Doumbouya scored in an NBA game and against which team?

answer: He scored a season-high 24 points against the Boston Celtics.

question: What were Doumbouya's 2016 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship averages?

answer: 17.8 points, seven rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1.2 blocks

question: Write a ~5 sentence summary.

answer: Sekou Doumbouya is a French professional basketball player for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the youngest active player at the time of this article. He can play both the small forward and power forward positions. In the 2019–20 NBA season, he averaged 6.4 points and 3.1 rebounds in 19.8 minutes per game, starting in 19 of his 38 appearances. His best game was against the Boston Celtics, where he scored a season-high 24 points. He led France to gold in the 2016 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship, averaging a team-best 17.8 points, seven rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game.


text:
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 MAY 11- 26TH  2019 “SELFIE”  GROUP EXHIBITION (MANIFESTATION)

HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT BEEN CHOSEN TO BE A PART OF EXHIBITION “SELFIE” MY ART PIECE IS CALLED “MANIFESTATION” A PART GROUP EXHIBITION @ THE TEN-FORTY-SEVEN GALLERY MASCOT 1047 BOTANY ROAD SYDNEY TENFOURTYSEVEN@MAIL.COM 0401037359

EXHIBITION: 11-26TH MAY 2019 OPENING SAT 11TH MAY 2-5PM ARTIST TALKS: SUNS 19 & 26TH MAY CLOSING DRINKS 26TH MAY 2019

[4e06cad6-7741-442e-b966-373a84a10804]

INTRODUCTION TO  “GERMANE”  EXHIBITION NOW

GERMANE solo Exhibition @ the Park Hyatt Canberra ,

120 COMMONWEALTH AVENUE CANBERRA ACT  CANBERRAPARK.HYATT.COM EXHIBITING IN THE BALLROOM FOYER & THE CANBERRA ROOM FROM THE 28TH SEPTEMBER TO THE 28TH FEBRUARY 2019 FOR MORE INFO PLEASE VISIT MY BLOGS PAGE. DATES AND TIME OPEN TO GENERAL PUBLIC and closing Event which held June 1st 2019.

GERMANE GOING LIVE ON ARTSOUND.FM Radio CANBERRA interviewing CLARE MCSHANAG about GERMANE exhibit ClareFotografie’s Artwork which amazing experience

[Screenshot 2018-11-09 17.54.50 copy.png]

MANUKA ARTS CENTRE
CNR NSW CRESCENT & MANUKA CIRCLE
GRIFFITH ACT 2603
02-62957444
CANBERRA 92.7MHZ TUGGERANONG VALLEY 90.3MHZ
STREAMING ONLINE VIA ARTSOUND.FM

ARTIST STATEMENT

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I make my Art to channel my inner and outer awareness as an expression of creation and colour -‐ spilling out into image. My vision is to convert my passion into a medium that ignites a very fuelling and awakening experience for the eyes of the beholder. My inspiration is life and movement: -‐ to be able to capture life as dynamic moments -‐ a picture conveying a vigorous story, with all its undertones, highlights and shadows. “I feel I have a true blessing to see through my eyes”. The representation of my work is art reflecting life; capturing the true character and colour of life. A germane visual explosion -‐ relevant to life, to our human-‐ ness. My work is very personal; I would have you look closer into the image to the fine detail that unfolds upon each viewing. Dark and beautiful at the same time -‐ a mixture of surreal and the abstract. Photographs that are distorted yet still discernable. Visible, soft, natural, yet a sharp edge. Intermittent encounter between the viewer and myself. I want us to be on a rollercoaster together. Beginning the visual process is to document a moment, research my point of subject. This will then take me into how I can expand the story with 3 to 4 different angles into a photograph. Abstraction becomes apparent, my ability as a technician with a camera shines -‐ I feel at my rawest state. So my artwork is of its purist form. I want to enable an interactive experience with a conscious intent to attract deeper thoughts, exposing mixed memories and imagination from a visual pleasure. “The Camera’s eyes are window to the soul

question: What does the text say about the artist's artwork?

answer: The artist's artwork called "Manifestation" is a photograph that will be part of the exhibition "Selfie." The artist says their art expresses their passion that awakens the experience of the person looking at it. It conveys a story about life and being human, both dark and beautiful, surreal and abstract.

question: What does the text say about the critiques of the artist's work?


text:
Well there it was, ‘The Jolly Rodger’, it was dark and Nigel was standing, standing still staring at it right in front of him. The pub was big but cosy, he could tell from the outside the warm feel it gave off, even at twilight. Everything was dark apart from the windows, nothing else was visible. They illuminated a bright fire orange onto the streets. Nigel watched intensely, seeing the silhouettes of the people inside laughing and cheering gripping onto their pints. The pub was on the side of the road and all was silent apart from the sound of deep laughs from inside and  the odd car passing  by. A mild wind arose and the pub sign swung but that was all, there was an odd absent of trees to disrupt the quite calming sound from before. The building had a small parking area and was surrounded by small bushes. No other buildings laid in Nigel’s view, the roof was tall and pointy whilst the doors where small and wide made with exotic wooden panels.
      Nigel was nervous, he was new in town and lacked almost any acquaintances. His palms were sweaty and his lip quivered. He had decided to wear simple jeans and a jumper making sure he wouldn’t stand out. As he stood, Nigel kept planning in his mind of what to say, consciously remaindering himself of first impressions. His heart beat rose, he was about to turn around and go back, that’s what he had done the night before, and the night before that. ‘No! he whispered to himself, ‘not tonight’ he boldly took his first step like an explorer discovering the undiscovered. He began to walk slowly up to the doors before he took one final breath and stepped in pulling the door open just enough for him to squeeze through. Suddenly the noise increased and the heat hit him. So far it was going well, no one had noticed him for the first thirteen seconds, no sudden stares or glares. He walked forwards approaching the bar.
      The room was full as many blokes stood leaning against the wooden walls. The bar was also wooden, having glasses hang from above. The smell was strong, the barley scent filled the room but the atmosphere was rich and colourful. Nigel laid his hands flat on the wood with the bowl of peanuts next to him. He looked around and still nobody had noticed him. ‘Well then’ he said as he scanned across the glorious pub. The edge of the bar was chipped on the side where people had picked their fingers at it whilst waiting for their orders. The floor had been heavily stained with the carpets having damp spots spreading across the room. Nigel was very confused about the whole nature of the pub, ‘What a bizarre place’ Nigel said under his breath.
      Suddenly the guy standing next to him slide over towards Nigel making no eye contact. ‘You’re new in town aren’t ye’ his spoke with a mild Welch accent his casually stroked his short scruffy bead. That was it, Nigel was instantly strategically planning out what to say, how to say it his hands shoke as his mouth began to open, slightly quivering. ‘um’ a long pause followed, Nigel needed more time ‘Yep’ Nigel gulped, unsure if that was correct, instantly regretting it. All he could do now was wait for the response ‘okay’ the man said as a long silence began ‘is that it’ Nigel said to himself, confused, Nigel was worrying by which time the mad shuffled back to his original spot. Was it normal? Nigel had never done this before.
      Then the barmaid approached him unaware. ‘You’re in for a show tonight son’ Nigel, not concentrating very well quickly turned round, seeing who said it, however he became a bit baffled as the barmaid just stood there staring at him blankly as if she was waiting for him. ‘What do you mean?’ he asked now deeply absorbed. Meanwhile the man earlier winked at her, Nigel obvious, as if he was trying to signal something. ‘That’ll be four fifty’ she said. A large pint of beer laid in front of him, its golden colour was mesmerising as its bubbles popped like fireworks. He slowly gripped his hands around the cold heavy glass and pulled it up to his urging lips. About to take a sip when abruptly a loud noise was heard. Everyone in the room went silent as they looked around. Nigel’s ears popped and he became disorientated, the bang was quite loud. Nigel then realised where the source of the noise came from, he looked down and saw small red drops splash on the floor. He instantly felt an enormous pain in his right leg. He fell and the world collapsed around him as his vision heavily blurred.
      ‘Hmm’ Nigel thought ‘Maybe not tonight.’ He turned around and walked away into the dark which had laid behind him, returning home away from the illuminated building, ‘Maybe tomorrow’

title: An Evening in the Pub (845 words)

question: Summarize Nigel's feelings as he came into town.

answer: Nigel was very nervous as he was new in town and did not know anyone. He did not want to stand out so he stayed in simple clothing. Nigel was constantly planning on what to say to say because he wanted to make a great first impression.

question: Summarize the interaction between Nigel and the barmaid.

answer: The interaction between Nigel and the barmaid was interesting. Nigel had no idea what was happening when the barmaid told him he would be in for a show tonight. Nigel then seemed to have a heart attack or some medical condition in which he felt enormous pain and collapsed.

question: Does Nigel seem to accept his death and be more comfortable?