text:
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Below you'll find the documentary Trawen. It's a story of Patagonia, and the amazing people who've dedicated their lives to protecting it.
As a heads up, the documentary runs 24 minutes. For readers interested in more of the backstory, I've also included some additional notes, which you'll find below the video.
Finally, towards the middle of the article, you'll find some bonus footage of Doug Tompkins discussing his landmark trip with Yvon Chouinard to Patagonia in 1968.
In 2011, I traveled to Valle Chacabuco in the Aysén region of Chilean Patagonia. I was there to visit the future Patagonia National Park and to see the Rio Baker — among the most powerful and pristine rivers in the entire world — before it was dammed.
There was a sense of urgency at the time. Lawmakers in Chile had just approved environmental permits for HydroAysén, a hydroelectric project of unprecedented scale. Besides calling for five dams on the Baker and Pascua Rivers, the proposal included a 1,200-mile clearcut for transmission lines that would run through seismically active areas, national parks, and some of the most pristine wilderness left in the Americas — eventually sending the power to mining operations in the north.
…the biggest protests and public demonstrations since the era of Pinochet and the military dictatorship.
As the majority of Chileans were against the dams, the decision sparked outrage: the biggest protests and public demonstrations since the era of Pinochet and the military dictatorship.
Meanwhile, literally bordering one of the proposed dam sites in Valle Chacabuco was the future Patagonia National Park. This project was the culmination of decades of conservation work led by philanthropists Kris McDivitt Tompkins, and her husband, the late Doug Tompkins.
Once fully realized — and connected with two bordering national reserves — the plan would create a Yosemite-sized national park in the heart of Patagonia.
Entering this story was like looking at two diametrically opposed ideologies. On one side were people who loved the land and wanted to protect it; on the other were stakeholders such as multinational corporations Colbún and Endesa, who advanced a "mine, drill, and cut" agenda and ultimately had no connection to the place.
César Parada, a Patagonia Park trail worker from Cochrane, preparing mate.
And yet beneath this battle of ideologies was still another conflict: the very real effects of an economy in transition. The livelihood of the local people of Aysén — a very rural and sparsely populated region — had traditionally depended on sheep farming. Similar to much of the American West, decades of overgrazing had left the lands here worn out.
In creating the future Patagonia National Park, both volunteers and locals helped to build trails and also worked on the process of "rewilding," or restoring the overgrazed land back to native Patagonian steppe. Miles of fences had to be ripped out so that guanacos and other animals could once again migrate freely. Invasive species had to be eradicated.
For families that once made a living as ovejeros (shepherds), these were huge changes. And so, parallel to the Tompkins' conservation initiatives was the mission of creating a new economic base — tourism — through which the local people could benefit.
…their monumental work hinged on personal transformations from business leaders to conservationists.
Trawen attempts to pull together these different threads of conservation, travel, and the changing economic face of Patagonia. The centerpiece is a series of interviews with Kris and Doug, and how their monumental work hinged on personal transformations from business leaders to conservationists.
Doug founded The North Face in 1965. Kris was CEO of Patagonia, Inc., and worked alongside founder Yvon Chouinard for decades. In Trawen, they recount their stories of taking their lives in a new direction. Doug talks about one day realizing he was "on the wrong side of the equation." And for Kris, after years of "spending time at the mountains and at the sea, you realize when you love a place, you want to protect it."
Kris Tompkins: "The big idea of protecting key areas in perpetuity is just essential to civilization."
Ultimately, this conversation around one's relationship to place informed every moment of the trip. The scale and beauty of the terrain itself. The possibility of these wild rivers being dammed. Our own personal lives, the actions we took, the work we did: all of it seemed to flow together like a confluence, a meeting point, or, roughly translated from Mapuche, trawen.
Accompanying me on the journey was my longtime friend Adam French, a writer and political ecologist who had spent years researching conflicts between farmers and transnational hydropower/mining firms in Peru's Cordillera Blanca. Adam and I both felt strongly that our team needed to include someone local, and so we hooked up with Chilean climber and photographer Claudio Vicuña, who had been exploring Aysén for years as a mountain guide.
It's emotional now, looking back on the footage, as Doug died tragically in 2015 while on a kayaking expedition with his oldest friend and climbing partner, Yvon Chouinard. Among my favorite moments was hearing Doug joyfully reminisce about his journey from California to Patagonia with Yvon nearly 50 years earlier to climb Mt. Fitzroy, where they filmed the classic Mountain of Storms. Check out some of this interview below:
As Adam, Claudio, and I followed some of the same roads as in their journey, the long overland haul from Santiago to Valle Chacabuco started to feel a bit like a pilgrimage. Along the way, you pass epic volcanoes and paddle country (Volcán Villarica and the town of Pucón), then days of glaciated peaks and ice-fields along the Carretera Austral, or Southern Highway.
We also opted for an overnight ferry which took us through otherworldly fjordlands, places once navigated by native people in open canoes. In terms of exploring untouched places, this area between the Golfo Corcovado and the Canal Moraleda remains the most limitless terrain I've ever seen.
Connecting as climbers, paddlers
We were, admittedly, a bit intimidated by Doug at first. Perhaps it was because we idolized him; perhaps it was because we'd heard he was the kind of person who wouldn't waste time on you if he didn't like you. Either way, arriving late that first night to a dinner with two dozen influential people, like world-renowned energy expert Amory Lovins, it was difficult to know how to approach Doug at all.
As luck would have it though, later that night we caught him alone for a second, flipping through an album of old climbing photos. One was the smiling, stoked face of Jimmy Chin, an old friend of Adam's. We started talking about different rivers, climbs — the places we cherished — and from here we broke through the barriers. At heart, we all shared the common language and love of just exploring outside.
In my lifetime as a traveler, this area between the Golfo Corcovado and the Canal Moraleda remains the most limitless terrain I've ever seen in terms of exploring untouched places.
The state of conservation in Patagonia today
In the years since our trip, several important events have taken place. In the face of sustained opposition from locals and activists across the country, Colbún the largest stakeholder in HydroAysén, indefinitely suspended their environmental impact assessment in May of 2012. Then, in 2014, the Chilean Committee of Ministers essentially ended the project by unanimously overturning the original environmental permits they'd granted back in 2011.
As they're sometimes referred to, however, these "zombie dam" projects have a tendency to keep coming back from the dead when different political parties take office. That said, the environmental movement that emerged in opposition to HydroAysén became the largest in Chile's history. It's set a precedent for activism after a generation of Chileans had largely been silenced during Pinochet's brutal military dictatorship of the 70's and 80's.
Since Doug's death in 2015, Kris has redoubled her work leading Tompkins Conservation. On March 15, 2017, Kris Tompkins and Chilean President Michelle Bachelet made a historic accord to expand Chilean national parks by ten million acres. The agreement included a handover of more than one million acres of land from Tompkins Conservation, including the future Patagonia National Park. Once inaugurated, it will be the biggest national park in South America.
The massive whitewater of the Rio Baker, still wild and free. In 2017, a crew of expedition kayakers helped draw attention to these rivers with a mission to paddle them from source to sea. Photo: Todd Wells/Mountain Mind Collective.
UPDATE (Feb 2, 2018): Monumental Victory for conservation
Monday, Jan 29th, 2018 went down in history as one of the great days for conservation, for travelers, for wildlife, and for Chile.
Chilean President Michele Bachelet signed into law a long-awaited act that creates 5 new national parks, and over 10 million acres of new national parkland (an area larger than Switzerland), and a "Route of Parks" — an interconnected road system that links a total of 17 parks for thousands of kilometers from Cape Horn up through Patagonia. The 10 million acres included more than 1 million — the largest private land donation for conservation in history — from the Tompkins.
Words and video edits by David Miller
Imagery by Claudio Vicuña


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text:
// choropleth map dv stats app
// proofs: Here in the USA, we beat pregnant women as much as in any third-world country . . .
// todo: add scroll bar at top with statements of proofs and random country stats, add histogram chart, when click open video of country's 1 billion rising and animated stats in side Canvas.
//		 animate color fade-ins, cool looking "autotype" (with sound effect?) scrolling on top

var data= [];
var video_toggled = 0;
var width = 1028,
    height = 720;
var scaleIn = width+20;
var projection=d3.geo.mercator()
	.scale([scaleIn])
	.translate([0,20]);

var path = d3.geo.path()
	.projection(projection);

var color_beatPartner=d3.scale.quantize()
    .domain([6, 72])
    .range(d3.range(9).map(function(i) { return "c" + i; }));

var legend = d3.select("#legend")
				.append('ul')
				.attr('class', 'inline');

var keys = legend.selectAll('li.key')
				 .data(color_beatPartner.range());

keys.enter().append('li')
    .attr('class', 'key')
    .style('border-top-color', String)
    .text(function(d) {
        var r = colors.invertExtent(d);
        return formats.percent(r[0]);
    });

// ! FIX THE ZOOM/PAN -- actually ... wait, do I even want this to be available?
/*var zoom = d3.behavior.zoom()
    .scaleExtent([1, 8])
    .on("zoom", move);*/

var svg = d3.select("#container").append("svg")
    .attr("width", width)
    .attr("height", height)
	.style("z-index", 1)
	.style("position", "relative")
	.append("g")
    .attr("transform", "translate(" + width / 2 + "," + height / 2 + ")");

var g = svg.append("g");

var countryid = svg.append("g")
			.attr("id", "countries")
			.selectAll("path");

var countryCircles = svg.append("g")
			.attr("id", "countries")
			.selectAll("path");

/* !break out boundaries separately, like countries -- implement later
	var boundaries = svg.append("boundariesmap")
					.attr("id","boundaries")
					.selectAll("path");*/

$(document).ready(function() {

d3.json("world-50m.json", function(error, world) {
	var countries = topojson.feature(world, world.objects.countries).features;
	var countryCirclesPreg = topojson.feature(world, world.objects.countries).features;

	//sorts through text file with ID #s to names to add the names value back to the country data in var countries -- prob a cleverer d3 way to do this
	d3.tsv("world-country-names.tsv", function(error, cnames) {
		var nameslength = cnames.length;
		jQuery.each(countries, function(i, val){
			//console.log(val.id);
			for(var j=0; j<nameslength; j++){
				compare_toId=parseInt(val.id);
				compare_withId=parseInt(cnames[j].id);
				if(compare_withId === compare_toId){
					val.name = cnames[j].name;
					return null;
				}
			}
		});
	//and here we do it again but this time adding in our data.
	d3.tsv("beatPregnant.tsv", function(error, data) {
		var datalength = data.length;
		jQuery.each(countries, function(i, val){
			for(var j=0; j<datalength; j++){
				compare_toId=parseInt(val.id);
				compare_withId=parseInt(data[j].id);
				if(compare_withId === compare_toId){
					if(data[j].beatPartner) val.beatPartner = data[j].beatPartner;
					if(data[j].beatPregnant && data[j].beatPregnant > 0) val.beatPregnant = data[j].beatPregnant;
					if(data[j].beathaveChildren) val.beathaveChildren = data[j].beathaveChildren;
					//console.log("ID: "+val.id+" is "+data[j].beatPregnant);
					return null;
				}
			}
		});

	//draws, assigns css classes + id to the countries

	countryid=countryid.data(countries)
		.enter()
		.append("path")
			.attr("class", "country")
			//.attr("beatPregnant", function(d,i) {if(countries[i].beatPregnant) return countries[i].beatPregnant;}) DEPRECATED less mess to use jQuery .data()
			.attr("id", function(d, i) {return countries[i].name;})
			/* !D3 native mouse events, figure out later for now use jQuery below
				.on("mouseover", function(d) {
				div.transition()
					.duration(200)
					.style("opacity", .9);
				div.html(countries[i].name)
					.style("left", (d3.event.pageX) + "px")
					.style("top", (d3.event.pageY - 28) + "px");
			})*/
		.attr("d", path)
		.attr('class', function(d, i){
		//.style("fill", function(d, i) {
			var currentclass=$(this).attr("class");
				$(this).data("name", countries[i].name);
				//console.log("fill " + countries[i].beatPregnant);
				if(countries[i].beatPregnant)     $(this).data("beatPregnant", countries[i].beatPregnant); // uses jQuery to store the value for easy recall later
				if(countries[i].beatPartner)      $(this).data("beatPartner", countries[i].beatPartner);
				if(countries[i].beathaveChildren) $(this).data("beathaveChildren", countries[i].beathaveChildren);
				if(countries[i].beatPartner) return currentclass+" "+color_beatPartner(countries[i].beatPartner);
				else{return currentclass;}
		})
	// A nice red circle popping effect for beatPregnant
		countryCircles=countryCircles.data(countryCirclesPreg)
		  .enter()
		  .append("circle")
		  .style("opacity", function(d,i) {if(countries[i].beatPregnant) return 0.2; else return 0.0;})
          .attr("transform", function(d,i) {if(countries[i].beatPregnant){
											if(countries[i].name == "United States"){
												return "translate(-280,-121)";
											}
											else if(countries[i].name == "Canada"){
												return "translate(-310,-204)";
											}
											else return "translate("+path.centroid(d) + ")";
											}
				})
		  //the below unpacks coords, but doesn't seem right . . .
		  /*.attr("cx", function(d,i) {if(countries[i].beatPregnant){
										if(typeof(countryCirclesPreg[i].geometry.coordinates[0][0][0][0])=="number"){
											console.log("x", countryCirclesPreg[i].geometry.coordinates[0][0][0][0])
											return countryCirclesPreg[i].geometry.coordinates[0][0][0][0];
										}
										else{
											console.log("x", countryCirclesPreg[i].geometry.coordinates[0][0][0])
											return countryCirclesPreg[i].geometry.coordinates[0][0][0];
										}
									}
				})
          .attr("cy", function(d,i) {if(countries[i].beatPregnant){
										if(typeof(countryCirclesPreg[i].geometry.coordinates[0][0][0][1])=="number"){
											console.log("y", countryCirclesPreg[i].geometry.coordinates[0][0][0][1]);
											return countryCirclesPreg[i].geometry.coordinates[0][0][0][1];
										}
										else {
											console.log("y", countryCirclesPreg[i].geometry.coordinates[0][0][1]);
											return countryCirclesPreg[i].geometry.coordinates[0][0][1];
										}
									}
				}) */
		  .attr("class", function(d,i) {$(this).data("name", countries[i].name);
									    if(countries[i].beatPregnant)     $(this).data("beatPregnant", countries[i].beatPregnant);
										if(countries[i].beatPartner)      $(this).data("beatPartner", countries[i].beatPartner);
										if(countries[i].beathaveChildren) $(this).data("beathaveChildren", countries[i].beathaveChildren);
										return "circle";})
          .attr("r", 5)
          .style("fill", "red")
          .style("fill-opacity", 0.2)
          .style("stroke", "blue")
          .style("stroke-opacity", 0.2)
		  //animate_circles();
		  .transition()
          .duration(8000)
          .ease(Math.sqrt)
          .attr("r", function(d,i){return countries[i].beatPregnant*1.25;})
          .style("fill-opacity", function(d,i){return countries[i].beatPregnant*0.1;})
          .style("stroke-opacity", function(d,i){ return countries[i].beatPregnant*0.1;})
		  .style("opacity", function(d,i){ return countries[i].beatPregnant*0.1;});

	//draw boundaries
	g.append("path")
		.datum(topojson.feature(world, world.objects.countries, function(a, b) { return a !== b; }))
		.attr("class", "boundary")
		.attr("d", path);

	//mouse event, jQuery style -- try to learn d3 lib mouse events later
	$('.country,.circle').hover(function(event){
		//hover over
		var titleText = $(this).data("name");
		var beatPregnantText = $(this).data("beatPregnant");
		var beatPartnerText=$(this).data("beatPartner");
		var canvasText;
		if(beatPartnerText !== undefined) canvasText = beatPartnerText + "% of women beaten by partners in " + titleText;
			else canvasText="Stats not yet collected.";
		if(beatPregnantText !== undefined) canvasText += ", " + beatPregnantText + "% were pregnant."

		/* deprecated in favor of Canvas overlay $(this)
			.data('tipText', titleText)
			.data('name', titleText);
		$('
'+titleText+'
'+'% of beaten women who were beaten while pregnant: '+beatPregnantText+'
')
			.appendTo('body')
			.attr('id', 'titleText')
			.css('top', (event.pageY - 10) + 'px')
			.css('left', (event.pageX + 20) + 'px')
			.css('z-index', 3)
			.fadeIn('slow');*/

		$('<canvas id="myCanvas"></canvas>') //animate text rather than tooltip
			.appendTo('#container')
			.css('top', '0')
			.css('left','0')
			.css('position', 'fixed')
			.css('z-index','2');
		var myCanvas=document.getElementById("myCanvas");
		myCanvas.width = 720;
		var myContext=myCanvas.getContext("2d");
		myContext.font="15pt Arial";
		myContext.fillText(canvasText, 0,40);
		$('#myCanvas').animate({'left':'+=175px'}, 5000, 'swing');
		},
		function(){
			$('#myCanvas').remove();
		});

	//on click, bring up video!

	$('.country, .circle').click(function(event){
		var countryId = $(this).data("name");
		if(video_toggled) {
			$('.videotest').remove();
		}
		else { video_toggled=1;}
		console.log("Clicked", countryId);
		// ! if server not found, have a DEFAULT, also needlessly repeating code, here, for styling -- fix.

		if(countryId === "Australia"){
			$("")
			.appendTo("#container") // !this all should really be in a style sheet to avoid repetition, but was buggy in css, need to debug
				.attr('class', 'videotest')
				.css('top', '0px')
				.css('right','0px')
				.css('position', 'fixed')
				.css('z-index', 2);}

		else if(countryId === "Bangladesh"){
			$("")
			.appendTo("#container") // !this all should really be in a style sheet to avoid repetition, but was buggy in css, need to debug
				.attr('class', 'videotest')
				.css('top', '0px')
				.css('right','0px')
				.css('position', 'fixed')
				.css('z-index', 2);}

		else if(countryId === "Brazil"){
			$("")
			.appendTo("#container") // !this all should really be in a style sheet to avoid repetition, but was buggy in css, need to debug
				.attr('class', 'videotest')
				.css('top', '0px')
				.css('right','0px')
				.css('position', 'fixed')
				.css('z-index', 2);}

		else if(countryId == "Canada") {
			$("")
			.appendTo("#container") // !this all should really be in a style sheet to avoid repetition, but was buggy in css, need to debug
				.attr('class', 'videotest')
				.css('top', '0px')
				.css('right','0px')
				.css('position', 'fixed')
				.css('z-index', 2);}

		else if(countryId == "Cambodia") {
			$("")
			.appendTo("#container") // !this all should really be in a style sheet to avoid repetition, but was buggy in css, need to debug
				.attr('class', 'videotest')
				.css('top', '0px')
				.css('right','0px')
				.css('position', 'fixed')
				.css('z-index', 2);}

		else if(countryId == "Colombia") {
			$("")
			.appendTo("#container") // !this all should really be in a style sheet to avoid repetition, but was buggy in css, need to debug
				.attr('class', 'videotest')
				.css('top', '0px')
				.css('right','0px')
				.css('position', 'fixed')
				.css('z-index', 2);}

		else if(countryId == "Egypt") {
			$("")
			.appendTo("#container") // !this all should really be in a style sheet to avoid repetition, but was buggy in css, need to debug
				.attr('class', 'videotest')
				.css('top', '0px')
				.css('right','0px')
				.css('position', 'fixed')
				.css('z-index', 2);}

		else if(countryId == "Ethiopia") {
			$("")
			.appendTo("#container") // !this all should really be in a style sheet to avoid repetition, but was buggy in css, need to debug
				.attr('class', 'videotest')
				.css('top', '0px')
				.css('right','0px')
				.css('position', 'fixed')
				.css('z-index', 2);}

		else if(countryId == "India") {
			$("")
			.appendTo("#container") // !this all should really be in a style sheet to avoid repetition, but was buggy in css, need to debug
				.attr('class', 'videotest')
				.css('top', '0px')
				.css('right','0px')
				.css('position', 'fixed')
				.css('z-index', 2);}

		else if(countryId == "Japan") {
			$("")
			.appendTo("#container") // !this all should really be in a style sheet to avoid repetition, but was buggy in css, need to debug
				.attr('class', 'videotest')
				.css('top', '0px')
				.css('right','0px')
				.css('position', 'fixed')
				.css('z-index', 2);}

		else if(countryId == "Namibia") {
			$("")
			.appendTo("#container") // !this all should really be in a style sheet to avoid repetition, but was buggy in css, need to debug
				.attr('class', 'videotest')
				.css('top', '0px')
				.css('right','0px')
				.css('position', 'fixed')
				.css('z-index', 2);}

		else if(countryId == "New Zealand") {
			$("")
			.appendTo("#container") // !this all should really be in a style sheet to avoid repetition, but was buggy in css, need to debug
				.attr('class', 'videotest')
				.css('top', '0px')
				.css('right','0px')
				.css('position', 'fixed')
				.css('z-index', 2);}

		else if(countryId == "Pakistan") {
			$("")
			.appendTo("#container") // !this all should really be in a style sheet to avoid repetition, but was buggy in css, need to debug
				.attr('class', 'videotest')
				.css('top', '0px')
				.css('right','0px')
				.css('position', 'fixed')
				.css('z-index', 2);}

		else if(countryId == "Philippines") {
			$("")
			.appendTo("#container") // !this all should really be in a style sheet to avoid repetition, but was buggy in css, need to debug
				.attr('class', 'videotest')
				.css('top', '0px')
				.css('right','0px')
				.css('position', 'fixed')
				.css('z-index', 2);}

		else if(countryId == "Russia") {
			$("")
			.appendTo("#container") // !this all should really be in a style sheet to avoid repetition, but was buggy in css, need to debug
				.attr('class', 'videotest')
				.css('top', '0px')
				.css('right','0px')
				.css('position', 'fixed')
				.css('z-index', 2);}

		else if(countryId == "Serbia") {
			$("")
			.appendTo("#container") // !this all should really be in a style sheet to avoid repetition, but was buggy in css, need to debug
				.attr('class', 'videotest')
				.css('top', '0px')
				.css('right','0px')
				.css('position', 'fixed')
				.css('z-index', 2);}

		else if(countryId == "South Africa") {
			$("")
			.appendTo("#container") // !this all should really be in a style sheet to avoid repetition, but was buggy in css, need to debug
				.attr('class', 'videotest')
				.css('top', '0px')
				.css('right','0px')
				.css('position', 'fixed')
				.css('z-index', 2);}

		else if(countryId == "Sudan") {
			$("")
			.appendTo("#container") // !this all should really be in a style sheet to avoid repetition, but was buggy in css, need to debug
				.attr('class', 'videotest')
				.css('top', '0px')
				.css('right','0px')
				.css('position', 'fixed')
				.css('z-index', 2);}

		else if(countryId == "Tanzania") {
			$("")
			.appendTo("#container") // !this all should really be in a style sheet to avoid repetition, but was buggy in css, need to debug
				.attr('class', 'videotest')
				.css('top', '0px')
				.css('right','0px')
				.css('position', 'fixed')
				.css('z-index', 2);}

		else if(countryId == "Thailand") {
			$("")
			.appendTo("#container") // !this all should really be in a style sheet to avoid repetition, but was buggy in css, need to debug
				.attr('class', 'videotest')
				.css('top', '0px')
				.css('right','0px')
				.css('position', 'fixed')
				.css('z-index', 2);}

		else if(countryId == "United States") {
			$("")
			.appendTo("#container") // !this all should really be in a style sheet to avoid repetition, but was buggy in css, need to debug
				.attr('class', 'videotest')
				.css('top', '0px')
				.css('right','0px')
				.css('position', 'fixed')
				.css('z-index', 2);}

		else {
			$("")
			.appendTo("#container") // !this all should really be in a style sheet to avoid repetition, but was buggy in css, need to debug
				.attr('class', 'videotest')
				.css('top', '0px')
				.css('right','0px')
				.css('position', 'fixed')
				.css('z-index', 2);
		}

	});
	//next closing the 2 tsv file reads -- we didn't close them earlier to make sure data is loaded before display
	});
	});
//now closing d3 world file read
});
	/*function animate_circles(){

		var length = length(countries);
		for(i=0; i<length; i++) {

		var newRadius= countriesExternal[i].beatPregnant*1.25;
		var newOpacity = countriesExternal[i].beatPregnant*0.1;

		$(".circle")
			.animate({
				r: newRadius,
				opacity: newOpacity
				}, 8000, function(){}
			);
		animate_circles(); // setTimeOut then loop
	}
}*/

});

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


In our sixty third episode, we answer all your questions in detail. We touch on a lot of topics we get asked about often, such as pre and post workout fueling, and weight loss stalls, so if you have a question we have not yet answered, this might be the perfect listen for you.
Let us know what you think about this style!


My days constantly revolve around finding new ways to gather and interpret insights which will improve our understanding of our users: what they like and don't like, what they're using or not, and why that might be the case.
The need to answer these questions and many others have driven me to revisit a time when I was still at university conducting my own study into the adoption of online technology by health professionals. My work there taught me that to understand how and why an individual chooses to adopt or reject an innovation, one must first understand the underlying factors that influence their decision. Knowing that countless studies have been dedicated to extensively examining these factors and carefully formulated into various prominent adoption and diffusion theories, I decided to see what the application of age-old principles and the re-analysis of honest user feedback could tell us.
We're privileged to work with Governments, hospitals, health professionals, community service providers, researchers and health sector experts over the world to create better outcomes for patients and drive greater efficiencies for health services. Our users want answers quickly, easily and provided in a way that gives them the ability to act and make intelligent decisions to positively impact the experiences of their patients. However, all product companies, like ours, are well familiar with the complexities associated with working with diverse user bases in healthcare settings.
Recent years have seen numerous technologies become widely adopted in healthcare environments in an effort to improve quality and increase the efficiencies of care delivered to patients. More traditional evaluations of healthcare-centric technologies have focused on the implementation of a particular technology, with positive outcomes associated with the successful integration of it into clinical environments. Failure to do so has often been attributed to a lack of buy-in, slowed development, and the poor assessment of the need for the solution among many others. But, what does this all actually mean in practice? Is that all that there really is to know? And more importantly, what can we actually learn from it?
Numerous studies have found personal factors, innovation characteristics, and facilitating conditions all shape an individual's ultimate decision and persistence with a new technology (Adler & Clark, 1991; Rogers, 1995; Straub, 2009). Together these social interactions influence the process of technology adoption and acceptance (Hord, Rutherford, Huling-Austin & Hall, 1987).
Individuals, such as health professionals, construct beliefs about technology based on a variety of factors. These beliefs are malleable and have been shown to be shaped by prior experiences (Agarwal, Sambamurthy & Stair, 2000); perceived ease of use and usefulness (Davis, 1989); personality traits (Agarwal & Prasad, 1998a; Wood & Swait, 2002); structured educational experiences (e.g.,conferences, seminars) (Agarwal & Prasad, 1998b); and societal pressures (Hord et al., 1987). Within healthcare, the significant effect of social influence on the adoption behaviour of health professionals has been noted in prior studies (Fitzgerald, Ferlie, Wood & Hawkins, 2002).
Over time, we've seen what works, what doesn't, and realised while many factors cannot truly ever be overcome they can be mitigated if the appropriate initiatives are put in place.
It is important to understand the effects of social pressure/impact: the extent to which someone feels and is influenced by social pressure to use technology (Fishbein & Ajzen, 1975; Venkatesh et al., 2003). We see many client programmes launch with low involvement from key stakeholders early on. The best and most frictionless programmes allow users to be continually involved during the planning and implementation phases in order to achieve support for the new programme and encourage uptake.
The next lesson may seem obvious but something we do encounter quite often. Attending compulsory training sessions and being asked to read up on software manuals have become a fait accompli for many health professionals already tasked with an immense amount in their everyday lives. This often leads to embittered staff and reluctant staff before they've seen the awesome stuff that your technology can do. Facilitating conditions encompass the extent to which an individual believes that their organisation is supporting change toward a new technology (Venkatesh et al., 2003). While dissenters and slow adopters will always be ever-present, it is important to ensure that you have programme champions from various backgrounds and teams. Programmes borne out of one group within an organisation will always encounter resistance as they try to expand if they don't have widespread support at the Leadership level and collaborative partnerships at the very start. This should be in place or encouraged at the start of your planning process.
We're focused on being the world leader in patient-reported measures and making beautiful, powerful reporting that's simple and easy for our users to understand.
We all know that you need to create products that help your users to perform their given tasks and are super easy to use to be completely 'free of effort'. This is not only obvious but well-validated throughout prominent in adoption theory (Davis, 1989; Venkatesh et al., 2003). Even so, we've learned that users will think that your tools are not easy to use and not useful if you have only shown them how your tools work and not shown them how to use our tools to creatively solve their problems in ways that may not have been initially anticipated. Juggling the balance between making a good product and good client decisions has led us to reinvest more time and effort into re-shaping our product education and the way we utilise client feedback to recreate the vision we have for our product. Decisions we believe will allow us to develop a much more impactful and compelling offering with each iteration of our tools.
Adler, P. S. Clark., K.B. (1991). Behind the learning curve: A sketch of the learning process. [Article]. Management Science, 37(3), 267-281.
Agarwal, R. S., V. & Stair, R.M. (2000). Research Report: The Evolving Relationship Between General and Specific Computer Self-Efficacy–An Empirical Assessment. [Article]. Information Systems Research, 11(4), 418.
Davis, F. D. (1989). Perceived Usefulness, Perceived Ease of Use, and User Acceptance of Information Technology. [Article]. MIS Quarterly, 13(3), 319-340.
Fishbein, M. A., I. (1975). Belief, attitude, intention and behaviour: An introduction to theory and research. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company.
Hord, S. M. R., W.L.; Huling-Austin, L. & Hall, G.E. (1987). Taking charge of change. Alexandria, VA: Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development.
Rogers, E. M. (1995). Diffusion of Innovations, 4th Edition: Simon & Schuster.
Straub, E. T. (2009). Understanding Technology Adoption: Theory and Future Directions for Informal Learning. [Article]. Review of Educational Research, 79(2), 625-649.
Wood, S. L. & Swait., J. (2002). Psychological indicators of innovation adoption: Cross-classification based on need for cognition and need for change. [Article]. Journal of Consumer Psychology (Lawrence Erlbaum Associates), 12(1), 1-13.
Venkatesh, V., Morris, M.G.,Davis, G.B. and Davis, F.D. (2003). User acceptance of information technology: Toward a unified view.[Article]. MIS Quarterly, 27(3), 425-478.


text:
1018 Cypress Dr Jackson, MI Sold
1018 Cypress Dr. Jackson, MI
$1,599.00 FULL CASH PRICE
SAVE $6,401.00 / 80% OFF MARKET VALUE
$2,999.00 With Seller Financing
SAVE $5,001.00 / 62.5% OFF MARKET VALUE
$0 12.9% $108.92 24 months $500.00 (888) 247-7604
This Land For Sale in Jackson, MI Is A Magnificent Homesite On Quiet Street: 1018 Cypress Dr. Jackson, MI 49203… Picture this cheap land with equity as the location of your next house, or your new rental property in Jackson, MI.
Build A New Family Home or Income Producing Rental Property: 1018 Cypress Dr. Jackson, MI, a 0.10 acres residential vacant land lot is one of the cheapest lands for sale in Michigan. This was the site of a 858 square foot single family home with 2 bedrooms and 1.0 bathroom.
This is a established neighborhood is primarily made up of medium-sized (three or four bedrooms) to small (studio to two bedrooms) single-family homes and small apartment buildings. Most of the residential real estate is renter occupied. Many of the residences in the Francis St / E Morrell St neighborhood are relatively historic, built, and is a short distance from CMS Energy Headquarters, Henry Ford Allegiance Health, Mid Michigan Health Center, Walmart, and more.
Secure Your Jackson, Michigan Address Today: 1018 Cypress Dr. Jackson, MI 49203 is ideal for a custom build home for personal use or rental income with the right builder with nearby schools include McCulloch School, St Mary Star Of The Sea School, and T.A. Wilson Academy. Nearby coffee shops include Coffee Express, Cooper Street Coffee, and BZB Cafe. Nearby restaurants include Happy's Pizza, Domino's Pizza, and Wendy's.
Jackson County, MI Profile
What's Happening in Jackson County MI?
Jackson County is one of 83 counties in the State of Michigan that is located in Jackson, MI, with the county seat being Jackson. The county was set off in 1829 and organized in 1832. It is named for U.S. President Andrew Jackson and considered to be one of Michigan's "Cabinet counties", named for members of Jackson's Cabinet.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 723 square miles (1,870 km2), of which 702 square miles (1,820 km2) is land and 22 square miles (57 km2) (3.0%) is water.
As of the census of 2000, there were 158,422 people, 58,168 households, and 40,833
families residing in the county. The population density was 224 people per square mile (87/km2). There were 62,906 housing units at an average density of 89/sq mi (34/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 88.54% White, 7.92% Black or African American, 0.40% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.83% from other races, and 1.74% from two or more races. 2.20% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 24.3% were of English, 21.7% of German, 11.5% American, 9.9% Irish, and 8.1% Polish ancestry according to the 2012 American Community Survey. 95.9% spoke English and 2.1% Spanish as their first language.
Jackson County comprises the Jackson, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area and consists of 1 City Jackson, 6 villages including Brooklyn, Concord, Grass Lake, Hanover, Parma, and Springport.
Jackson, MI Neighborhoods
City Center, South Jackson, Leoni, Napoleon, Vandercook Lake, and The Heights
Jackson, MI Cost of Living
The Cost of Living in Jackson, MI is -3.9% lower than the National Average.
What's Happening in Jackson, MI?
The Jackson County Courthouse was designed by Claire Allen, a prominent southern Michigan architect. Jackson County is also home to the Michigan Whitetail Hall of Fame.
Jackson County's population was 160,248 as of the 2010 Census and within the county, the population was spread out, with 25.60% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 30.40% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $43,171, and the median income for a family was $50,970. Males had a median income of $38,919 versus $26,448 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,171. About 6.50% of families and 9.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.40% of those under age 18 and 6.10% of those age 65 or over.
1018 Cypress Dr. Jackson, MI Comparable Land
Address: 1018 Cypress Dr. Jackson, MI 49203
Frontage: Unknown
Sale Price: $1,599 (Full Cash Price) $2,999 (Seller Financing Price)
Closest Community/City To The Property: Napoleon, MI
APN (Assessor's Parcel Number): 5-078600000
Property Type: Residential Vacant Land
Zoning: Single Family Residential
Terrain: Level
Road Access: Paved Road
Utilities: Electricity
Water Supply: Public
Annual Taxes:$8.39 (Estimated)
Disclosure: The owner has not visited the property and is not aware of the overall condition and may require permits, surveys, or zoning changes. This is a free & clear parcel with no liens and taxes are paid to date.
We cannot provide suggestions, or advice with regards to your purchase and buyers should do due diligence on property condition, permits (if applicable), surveys, or zoning before purchasing.
This property has been discounted from being sold "AS IS" without any warranties or representations of any kind or character, express or implied, concerning the property.
If you need assistance determining a fair purchase price, or have questions with regards to the conveyance of title, please contact a local real estate agent, use third party sources including but not limited to appraisals or the county departments the property is situated for more information.
All information provided is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. It is the buyer's responsibility to intend to complete the purchase by doing your due diligence researching the title and confirming the property listed is actually the one you want to buy before putting in an offer because all sales are final.
1018 Cypress Dr

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Labour Plan to Make Benefits a "Human Right" Secret Recording Reveals Plans for Lib-Lab Deal mdi-fullscreen
This covert recording obtained by Guido – made at the Fabian Society's recent £100-a-ticket gala – reveals that Labour are planning to enshrine welfare payments as a human right, with plans to extend the Human Rights Act to include 'economic and social rights'. Essentially enshrining socialism in law. No wonder the symbol of the Fabian Society is a socialist wolf in sheep's clothing…
The Sun reported the plan which Labour's Shadow Minister for Scotland, Willie Bain, himself describes as a "scrounger's charter". In response Labour put out a statement claiming "The discussion at a Fabian Society event was about methods used abroad, not something the Labour Party is considering as a policy." If you listen to the actual recording you will realise that is complete spin:
https://order-order.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/willie-bain.mp3
After admitting it will be a lot easier for Labour to do a deal with Vince Cable he says a Lib-Lab coalition would make welfare benefits a "human right":
"Sadiq asked me to do this and Jon Cruddas is keen on this as well is to look at whether economic and social rights can be put into law. At the moment the human rights act just deals with civil political rights. It needs really careful handling because I think the politics of this would be the Tories would say it's a scroungers charter, helping skivers….we might just talk about having a commission on it. It might need a commission after the election…that's something again where there'd be a communality with the Libs."
Lawyers will love this, welfare reform would be impossible because it would be a "human right"…
mdi-tag-outline Labour Party M'Learned Friends
mdi-timer July 14 2013 @ 12:02 mdi-share-variant mdi-twitter mdi-facebook mdi-whatsapp mdi-telegram mdi-linkedin mdi-email mdi-printer
Home Page Next Story


text:
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Progressive culture since 1954
Our prizes
Get your hands off my sister
By Stephanie Convery
222 Autumn 2016
In late November last year, adult film star Stoya published two posts to her Twitter account alleging that fellow porn actor and former boyfriend James Deen had raped her.
@Stoya: That thing where you log in to the internet for a second and see people idolizing the guy who raped you as a feminist. That thing sucks. 29 Nov 2015, 6:29 AM
@Stoya: James Deen held me down and fucked me while I said no, stop, used my safeword. I just can't nod and smile when people bring him up anymore. 29 Nov 2015, 6:42 AM
Stoya's revelations, succinct as they were, produced a swift and explosive response from the public and the media. Her tweets were shared at lightning speed; #IStandWithStoya and #SolidarityWithStoya became globally trending topics. In the gardens of the fringe and mainstream media, a thousand thinkpieces bloomed. The story made the news sections of The Guardian, The Daily Mail and Huffington Post, and was featured on innumerable feminist and comment websites. Salon published at least seven separate comment pieces in the fortnight following the revelations, while The Daily Beast had more or less rolling coverage.
Until that point, Deen had been something of an anomaly in pornography. His blue eyes and boy-next-door looks, coupled with an abundance of personal charm, meant that he not only stood out, but also appealed to porn's much maligned female audience. He had also cultivated something of a feminist brand – a strange phenomenon given he had claimed in multiple interviews that he was 'absolutely not' a feminist. This reputation likely had less to do with Deen's own politics and more to do with the female fans who made him a household name, as well as the company he chose to keep in his working and private life. But Deen's rejection of feminism certainly didn't hinder his opportunities. He was profiled in GQ. He wrote a sex advice column for women's site The Frisky. His cultural capital transitioned some way into Hollywood, where he was cast opposite Lindsay Lohan in the (critically panned) 2013 Bret Easton Ellis-penned 'erotic thriller' The Canyons.
Yet Stoya's tweets functioned like a pressure-release valve. Whispers, rumours and off-set warnings that had been circulating in the industry suddenly became real. In the resulting media frenzy, up to nine other women in the porn industry came forward and claimed that they, too, were victims of Deen. Some of them were ex-girlfriends; others were colleagues. Each revelation reset the cycle of commentary.
In the wake of the allegations, industry bodies started distancing themselves. Studios severed ties; Deen resigned as chair of the Adult Performer Advocacy Committee; Amelia McDonell-Parry, editor of The Frisky, cancelled his sex advice column. 'The court of public opinion is not a court of law,' McDonell-Parry wrote. 'I don't need Stoya or any woman to "prove" that she has been raped for me to believe her. Women who come out as rape victims are far, far, far too often not believed.'
Feminist writer Laurie Penny took a similar stance in Time. 'I believe Stoya,' she wrote. 'The response … is the crest on a tidal wave of women's truth washing away the detritus of lies about sex and violence, about which lives matter and who is to be believed.'
So far, no formal charges have been laid against Deen; the saga has played out entirely through the media. Indeed, it was telling that when Deen finally spoke about the allegations against him, it was a textbook public relations counterstrike. He agreed to an exclusive interview with The Daily Beast, on the condition that the interview be published unedited. The interview was done by journalist and former porn performer Aurora Snow, with whom Deen had a prior working relationship. 'Personally speaking,' Snow made a point of saying, 'you've always been very kind and professional to me on set. I was shocked by the allegations against you.' Deen then proceeded to deny all the allegations, claiming they were either entirely fabricated or misrepresentations of real events. After a month's hiatus, he started making movies again.
'I believe women' has become something of a feminist catchcry. It has developed as a response to frequent and institutionalised trivialisation of sexual assault. The suggestion that women are making it up or just 'looking for attention', combined with the high acquittal rate of sexual assault cases, has brought about a kind of activism centred on an unshakeable faith in women's accusations of sexual assault and on the public articulation of this position. For frontline and crisis workers, whose imperative it is to provide shelter and protection for survivors, it is unthinkable to dismiss allegations. To do so can leave women without access to support services or recourse to justice. In some instances, particularly in cases of family violence, failing to respond to allegations can leave women vulnerable to repeated attack.
But 'I believe women' has also become the default feminist response to allegations of assault made, by and large, on the internet. It plays out – as this kind of rhetorical intervention often does – on social media, and more and more often in the comments pages of newspapers and magazines. But, by dint of its uncritical and unquestioning stance, this response also presents a huge problem for concepts of justice and due process, and for progressive activism more generally.
Early medieval rape law required a woman to prove a rape claim by raising hue and cry in the nearest town, seeking corroboration by showing 'trustworthy men' her 'injury' (such as torn clothing and blood) and repeating her claim in the exact same words to the coroner, court officials and numerous other administrators of justice. It was, in other words, deliberately prohibitive: an explicit attempt to punish women who claimed they had been raped by making the prospect of complaining more difficult and humiliating than putting up and shutting up.
These days, it seems scarcely less difficult. Catriona MacLennan, in an article for Overland last year, discussed at length the way the adversarial court systems in Australia and New Zealand – systems that pit one person against another and result in a 'win' or a 'loss', more like a duel than a holistic community-minded remedial space – are constructed in ways that protect the defendant and expose the victim. Given that only around 15 per cent of those offenders reported to police are charged and that these defendants, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 'are less likely … to plead guilty, more likely to go to trial and more likely to have an acquittal outcome', it is not surprising that only 17 per cent of victims in Australia even bother reporting their experience to the police. (There are also very good reasons why sex workers in particular might not seek criminal justice in cases of sexual assault, many of which were articulated during the media frenzy following Stoya's allegations. 'When you're an adult actress, especially in BDSM, and you go to a cop and say "Oh I've been raped by this guy after doing a scene", they are not going to take you seriously,' said Nicki Blue, one of Deen's co-accusers.)
The high rate of estimated non-reporting, coupled with evidence suggesting extremely low rates of false reporting, informs much survivor advocacy, particularly responses to rape culture and victim blaming. For all this, however, there is a significant lack of academic consensus on what the rate of false reporting actually is. Men's rights activists, for example, often quote a US-based 1994 study by EJ Kanin, that sets the false reporting rate at 41 per cent. But the standard of proof of falsity for this study required only that the complainant state, after taking a polygraph test, that the sexual assault did not occur – a procedure that has been roundly criticised (and, in some US states as well as Australia, legally prohibited) for its coercive potential. On the other end of the spectrum is a 2015 Australian meta-analysis study, led by QUT criminologist Claire Ferguson, that found an average confirmed false-reporting rate of only 5 per cent. However, researchers only included those studies that differentiated between an unsubstantiated report (where no evidence could be found to confirm it) and a report for which evidence proved falsity. Very, very few studies differentiated cases in such a way – the researchers could only find seven, internationally, that fit their criteria.
We have an instinctive hostility to the claim that women might lie about sexual assault for a very good reason: sexual assault has been routinely diminished, dismissed, degraded and disbelieved, even in cases of brutal and repeated attack. But if the standard of proof we require to accept that an allegation is false is that it is proven false – and it would seem to me to be utterly irresponsible to call a sexual assault allegation false under any other circumstances – then surely we should have the same standard for determining whether a complaint is true? To argue otherwise is to hold sexual assault cases apart from other kinds of crimes and to advocate for a different standard of jurisprudence when dealing with them. Which raises the question: does an effective political strategy against sexual violence require the presumption of truth in all allegations?
An unfortunate accompaniment to calls for the justice system to take sexual violence more seriously is the tendency of activists on both sides of politics to advocate for tougher bail sanctions, harsher parole conditions and longer sentences. This was the substance of much of the argument around Adrian Bayley, who raped and murdered Jill Meagher in 2012, a case that led to a massive outpouring of grief and anger (particularly in Melbourne, where the murder occurred). For example, apparent leniency in sentencing for Bayley's long string of prior convictions for violent rape – often of sex workers – was posited by feminist writer Clementine Ford in March 2015 as a damning indictment of the justice system's handling of violent offenders:
How could a known risk, someone the sentencing judge in the Meagher rape and murder trial called 'a recidivist violent sexual offender who has had little compunction about sexual offending when the mood takes [him], or about threatening and inflicting violence as part of the process', be given the kind of freedom that enables him to traumatise and brutalise countless women? … The answer surely lies in the approach the legal system takes towards sex crimes, and particularly sex crimes perpetrated against certain kinds of women.
Less than a month after teenager Masa Vukotic was murdered in a Doncaster park in a random attack, community group Enough is Enough staged a rally in Melbourne, at which former shock jock Derryn Hinch and former politician Phil Cleary called for harsher responses to violent offenders, including tightened bail and parole conditions, and victims of crime advocate Noel McNamara went so far as to argue for the reintroduction of the death penalty (which has not been seriously discussed since its abolition in 1967). A vocal advocate of a sex-offenders register, Hinch has long called for tougher sentencing. His public statements on the matter have had significant consequences, both for himself and for others, though he exhibits little care for the legal implications of his actions: Hinch has been convicted three times for contempt of court, most recently in 2013, after which he served fifty days in prison for revealing details about Bayley's prior convictions. His newly created Justice Party plans to field candidates in the 2016 federal election on a 'tough on crime' platform. The party's website notes Vukotic and Meagher, among other victims of violence, as people whose lives could have been saved had the iron fist of the state smashed down harder upon their would-be killers.
Yet there is no evidence that harsher punishments deter criminal behaviour or reduce recidivism. To cite just one example: in 1999, a meta-analysis of fifty studies relating to over 300,000 offenders in the Canadian criminal justice system concluded that incarceration and immediate sanctions (such as intensive surveillance and electronic tagging) – punishments popularly advocated for by deterrence proponents – do little to reduce rates of violent crime. The study noted that 'no coherent empirical rationale has been posited to support the use of these strategies'.
But even more important … is the paramount fact that there is absolutely no cogent theoretical or empirical rationale for criminal justice sanctions to suppress criminal behaviour in the first place … At best, most criminal justice sanctions are threats (e.g. 'do something unspecified sometime in the future and something may happen'). To those who believe that criminal justice sanctions in general or threats in particular are effective punishers or negative reinforcers, we advise they consult the relevant behaviour modification literature or any experimental learning text for supportive evidence … There is none.
Prisons do not prevent crime from occurring; they merely shift its location. The statistics for sexual assaults in prisons – which suffer from underreporting because of massive social stigma – are horrific. In his groundbreaking Australian study published in 1998, David Heilpern found that one in four men between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five are victims of sexual violence during incarceration. A 2009 Western Australian study found corresponding rates across the general male prison population. In 2012, the United States Justice Department – after significant public pressure – finally estimated that around 210,000 inmates in the US prison system are sexually abused, often repeatedly, every year. Victims are most likely to be first-time, young and queer offenders – those most likely to suffer the effects of mandatory minimum sentencing and harsher parole and bail laws. Yet these instances of sexual violence rarely factor into anti-rape campaigns, despite the rates being comparable to those experienced by women in general (an estimated one in five women in Australia will experience sexual assault). Indeed, such acts of violence are more or less culturally accepted, often as a perverse kind of 'justice'.
Laws of imprisonment disproportionately affect marginalised peoples. Of the 1.5 million people in jail in the United States in 2014, 37 per cent were African American and 22 per cent Hispanic. In Australia in the same year, 27 per cent of the 33,791 prisoners in detention at the time (a ten-year high that is still climbing) were Indigenous. In the Northern Territory that year, Indigenous people made up 86 per cent of adult and 96 per cent of juvenile detainees. This is not to mention the extraordinary number of non-Anglo asylum seekers Australia has imprisoned in appalling conditions in offshore detention centres.
Historical and contemporary examples also show how the politics of state repression have intersected with the politics of sexual violence, and how presumptions of truth – specifically regarding the testimony of white women – have been used as leverage for horrific acts against marginalised peoples. In the Jim Crow south of the United States, accusations of rape were frequently used to justify state-driven and state-sanctioned violence against black people. In 1892, journalist Ida B Wells published a pamphlet, Southern Horrors: Lynch Law in All Its Phases, detailing incident after incident in which accusations of rape resulted in wrongful imprisonment, horrific violence and innumerable lynchings. Many of these accusations were subsequently revealed to be cover stories through which respectable white women hid their consensual interactions with black men – relationships that anti-miscegenation laws made illegal and prevailing social codes considered abominable. 'Hundreds of such cases might be cited,' Wells wrote. The public response when a black woman was assaulted, however, was in stark contrast:
In [Nashville], last May, a white man outraged an Afro-American girl in a drug store. He was arrested, and released on bail at the trial. It was rumored that five hundred Afro-Americans had organized to lynch him. Two hundred and fifty white citizens armed themselves with Winchesters and guarded him. A cannon was placed in front of his home, and the Buchanan Rifles (State Militia) ordered to the scene for his protection. The Afro-American mob did not materialise.
'Hence there is a growing demand,' Wells wrote, 'among Afro-Americans that the guilt or innocence of parties accused of rape be fully established.'
More recently, we might look to Cologne, Germany, where approximately 200 complaints of sexual assault were made against 'up to 1000 men of Arab or North African appearance' in the wake of New Year's Eve celebrations. The reports had not even been fully investigated before they were used as justification by Angela Merkel's ruling Christian Democratic Union party for harsher criminal sanctions against refugees, including returning them to their countries of origin if they broke the law. There were also calls from within the government for tighter border controls. By February it had emerged that only three of the fifty-eight suspects arrested in connection with the attacks were refugees.
Then there is Australia. In February, the Sydney Morning Herald ran a front-page story by Paul Sheehan that detailed an alleged gang rape and attempted murder of a Sydney nurse by 'Arabic' men. The article was retracted four days later when it emerged that the anonymous complainant's story was full of inconsistencies and unverifiable claims. By that time it had also became apparent that the story had strong links to nationalist anti-Muslim group Reclaim Australia.
These examples are complex; the history of race relations in these countries cannot be removed from their social and political contexts. What they illustrate, however, is how allegations of sexual violence are vulnerable to violent exploitation of their own – depending on who makes them, when they are made and how they are made – because there is a politics to the publicity of sexual assault allegations. How we talk about them matters. This politics goes beyond simply raising awareness or reducing stigma: it is heavily invested in the dynamics of race relations, colonialism, capitalism, and state and corporate power, and it raises serious questions about what 'justice' actually means.
In January 2016, in the aftermath of David Bowie's death, an enormous argument erupted on the status of a Facebook friend of mine. It centred on the circulation of articles relating to two incidents: the first involved an accusation of sexual assault by a woman who had been in Bowie's hotel room one night in 1987; the second was the story of Lori Mattix, one of the famous 'baby groupies' of LA's rock scene. In an interview with Thrillist in November 2015, Mattix claimed that she had lost her virginity to Bowie at the age of fifteen.
It was, in many ways, illustrative of the social media response to upsetting news: an initial outpouring of grief that is then called into question, usually by problematising the public narrative of the deceased person's life – in this case, by circulating allegations about sexual assault and statutory rape. While obituaries piled up, the facts of Bowie's death – even the simple question of what kind of cancer he had been suffering from – seemed difficult to ascertain. Opinions were everywhere, facts not so much. In both cases, the question of what might actually constitute justice in these circumstances seemed secondary to the currency resulting from sharing the allegations themselves. In the former incident, Bowie was acquitted by the court for lack of evidence; in the latter, Mattix obstinately refused to identify as a victim – neither at the time nor decades later – but remembered her experiences 'very fondly'. The law, then and now, would see her as the victim of statutory rape, but she was having none of it.
Sexual violence can occur subtly, even within the confines of what might be an otherwise respectful or loving relationship. It can occur at home or at school or at work. It can occur between friends, partners, family members, colleagues and acquaintances. The stranger-danger narrative is a pernicious one: in the overwhelming majority of cases, violence is committed by someone known to the victim.
When asked what they want from the justice system, many victims of sexual assault say they don't just want retribution – sometimes they don't want this at all. Instead, they want acknowledgement, by the community as well as the perpetrator, of the harm suffered; they want to be heard, and to have some control over the process by which they tell their story; they want reassurance that the violence will stop. The adversarial justice system rarely provides these things. But there are other models that might. For example, restorative justice, a model first introduced in New Zealand for juvenile offenders, is advocated for by many legal scholars and practitioners. This is because – by dint of being non-adversarial – it gives a voice to victims, rather than cross-examining them. The primary objective of restorative justice is to redress harm in a controlled and discursive environment, while emphasising offender accountability. The model provides a space in which more complicated scenarios, particularly those involving offenders known to the victim, can be addressed productively, and it is flexible enough to accommodate different cultures, ages and abilities. According to the NZ Ministry of Justice, '77 per cent of victims were satisfied with the overall experience of restorative justice; 74 per cent felt better after participating in the process; and 80 per cent would recommend restorative justice to other victims in a similar situation.' Adopting a restorative justice model would not solve every problem, but it would be a step in the right direction. It would also provide many of the things feminists have been demanding of the legal system for years.
In late February, a protracted legal dispute between pop singer Kesha and Sony producer Lukasz 'Dr Luke' Gottwald became worldwide news when a judge ruled that Kesha was obliged to continue in her contractual arrangement with Sony despite her allegations that Gottwald had sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions. #FreeKesha trended; public figures spoke out in support of the singer; Taylor Swift reportedly donated US$250,000 to assist her legal campaign. But while this support is no doubt meaningful to Kesha herself, what does it really change? The allegations of assault are not themselves the subject of criminal charges; the case is a lawsuit to void a contract. The structures that put her at risk are still in place.
Incidents of sexual violence that have media currency are rarely representative of the vast majority of victims or abusers. Using the media as a vehicle to condemn one man at a time – men with public profiles, with power and influence, whose crimes create headlines and appeal to the voyeur in all of us – might give a handful of victims a sense of closure, but what does it actually change for all those women who don't have access to that kind of support? For women of colour who have every reason not to trust the police; for women whose financial security or residency status depends on them not making waves; for people whose livelihoods are built on precarious work and who understand that putting one foot wrong could easily result in being blackballed by an entire industry? Perhaps what is an appropriate personal response – to offer trust, comfort and faith in the story of a friend in trouble – does not necessarily translate to an effective political strategy.
It seems to me that the things we need to be fighting for are less about punishment and more about (to use that tired old word) empowerment. Rape is, after all, less about sex than it is about power. And fighting for empowerment means fighting for things like adequate single parent payments. Like welfare and public housing. Like strong unions with a focus on workplace safety, job security and rigorous standards against sexual harassment, to support the victims of workplace harassment or violence and to ensure proper protocols are in place to investigate, monitor and issue sanctions. Indeed, one might argue that in the case of Kesha, and even in the case of Stoya and Deen, unionism and strong industry-wide sexual harassment policies might have made a huge difference for those performers whose workplaces also happened to be the site of their alleged assaults. It also means recognising that a world without sexual violence will not be achieved through the expansion of the prison industrial complex. And that means fighting for a justice system that is built around true rehabilitation and accountability, that is focused on the goal of effective community reintegration. What would such a system look like? There are many people trying to tell us. We should listen.
The fact that this is a difficult problem does not mandate silence. It does not mean we should stop talking about sexual assault. It does not mean we can or should do nothing. On the contrary, it means that we should be interrogating our political strategies ever more closely, being more creative about our responses to violence, and holding our communities to a higher standard.
Editor's note: An earlier version of this article suggested that Phil Cleary called for the reintroduction of the death penalty at the 2015 Enough is Enough rally. This is not the case and the essay was amended to reflect that on 19 July 2016.
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Stephanie Convery is the deputy culture editor of Guardian Australia and the former deputy editor of Overland. On Twitter, she is @gingerandhoney.
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Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Three extremist white nationalists who plotted to blow up a Somali-American apartment complex in Kansas have been sentenced to 25 years in prison. The men made and tested explosives to use on the Somali immigrants, whom they called "cockroaches" and other terms that CNN couldn't repeat. Somalis are Sunni Muslims. If it hadn't been for an informant who warned the FBI, the men could well have carried out a major atrocity.
And she was marked for murder in our society just as her husband had been marked for murder in East Africa.
But let me just underline another point. Like the Norwegian terrorist Anders Breivik, whose favorite reading was Islamophobes like Pamela Geller and Daniel Pipes, these creeps initially were apparently going to attack other white Americans with whom they disagreed.
They considered assassinating local public officials! That sounds like terrorism to me. In fact, since they clearly had a political motive in wanting to shape public policy, and since they clearly intended to harm innocent civilians and even local or state officials, they fit the textbook definition of terrorism. (They weren't charged with terrorism, because the law is written to make it hard to lay that charge against domestic terrorists; but they were charged with intent to use a weapon of mass destruction).
They considered blowing up a Sunday church service of white Christians who were following Jesus' teachings, e.g. Matthew 25:41 . . .
The polarized and hyper-racial atmosphere in the US being created by Trump's rhetoric is a public safety and public health concern. There are about 3.5 million Muslim-Americans, and hate speech and hateful actions against them have multiplied, especially under Trump.
Then there are the three angry young men who stockpiled weapons and plotted an attack on the small New York village of "Islamberg," home for decades to a Black Muslim group. The Islamberg residents are nice people and entirely nonviolent.
A big problem is that television news covers a similar plot by a Muslim 357 times more than it covers plots by the Western far right wing.
Trump's rhetoric of hatred hasn't caused these threats. But it has created an atmosphere in which they are more likely to thrive and take practical effect.


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Art at Play
Light & bright, a young family's new home combines clean lines with playful art and a sense of fun.
By Kim Hill
Photography by Megan Lorenz
A study in sophistication, the sitting room is the wife's favorite room in the house. With a table for the little girls to color and swivel chairs for reading, it's a true "living" room, says Jewell. Fabric is a Worlds Away geometric chenille in turquoise. The John-Richard lacquered cabinet features reverse-painted glass of golden dunes. The cabinet houses the girls' toys and games. The large oil painting is entitled "Falling Flower."
The reclining chairs covered in Romo cut velvet set the tone for the colorways used throughout the house. In the adjacent kitchen, maple cabinets appear black but are painted a custom-mixed deep navy blue. The family room's white alabaster chandelier from John-Richard blends beautifully with bold pendants from Jonathan Adler.
For the homeowner, utilizing wallpaper in fun, unexpected ways was one of her great pleasures in the home's design. Wicker-sided chairs pull up to a mother-of-pearl inlay table. Buffet is a John-Richard burl wood.
The homeowner "didn't want bunny rabbits and balloons" dominating the design style of the children's bedrooms, says designer Maggie Jewell. The mother wanted furnishings and décor that would work long-term.
The dramatic light fixture "was a big driver for the master bedroom's design style," says Maggie Jewell. The room's 20-foot-tall ceiling easily accommodates the poster bed from Modern History. Rug is an Australian sheepskin obtained by the homeowners on vacation in Idaho.
The same tile on the floor continues halfway up the wall but it's laid horizontally. Wallpaper mimics paint splatters. "It feels like a watercolor painting," says Jewell. "It's very calming."
When the young couple who owns this home first got married, they did what most newlyweds do: combined their stuff and made do for a while. "It was kind of conglomerated together with anything we'd had in the past," says the wife. "They kind of knew what they liked, but I don't think they really knew what their style was," says interior designer Maggie Jewell, who knows the couple well. "By the time they got ready to plan for this house, they were more in sync as a couple, and they knew what they wanted."
This house is a stunner of a new build located in Glendale. Builder Monte Herring vividly recalls early meetings with the couple. "They absolutely had a vision of what they liked," says Herring, principal of Herring Design & Development. "A very bright, light home with black windows, tall ceilings throughout and a front porch." Herring says the couple had examples of favorite elements, which were sent to Chicago-based architect Michael Abraham. "We sent the architect some photos from Pinterest or Houzz and described what we were looking for," says the wife. "He came back with the drawings and we just said, 'that's killer.' It was everything we were looking for."
Construction began in spring 2018. The homeowners and Jewell, who is principal of MKS Designs, went to work to realize the couple's vision of incorporating bright pops of color onto a canvas of white walls and smooth lines. "We like aspects of Mid-century Modern, clean along with the classic," says the wife. "We also wanted to keep it fun."
Setting the tone for fun, the family room's reclining chairs covered in a Romo fabric helped establish the colorways used throughout the home. "It's a cut velvet with blues, pinks, black, aqua and a little orange," says Jewell. Neutral sofas pair with a burl wood coffee table.
"The house is very open," notes Jewell. "You don't want everything to be matchy-matchy, but it all has to go together." The light fixtures are a great example, she says. In the family room, a John-Richard white alabaster chandelier with gold tones coordinates beautifully with dynamic Jonathan Adler pendants in the adjacent kitchen. "They're different, but they have the same sort of feeling," Jewell says.
For the wife, selecting the light fixtures was one of the most fun aspects of the design process. She compares them to jewelry. "They break up the straight lines of the home and provide something to pick up your eye," she says. "They bring so much life and a kind of levity and art to the rooms."
Indeed, artwork takes center stage in the home. With white walls and clean lines, "it's almost like an art gallery feeling," says Jewell. She helped the couple pick artwork in a mix of mediums—oils, watercolors, prints—that evoke a sense of movement and playfulness.
Yet, this is a family home throughout, as two little girls have now joined the family since planning began for the new home. Considering how life changes when children enter the picture, a front room of the home was originally envisioned as a playroom. Jewell suggested utilizing the space as a sitting room that would meet everyone's needs, not just the youngest family members. The designer envisioned the parents reading to the girls or the children coloring on a round coffee table in the space, which is now as stylish as any "Mad Men" set. Turquoise chenille swivel chairs give off a Mid-century vibe, particularly when paired with an adjacent lacquer-topped cabinet housing the girls' toys and games. "I like spaces where kids can still go in them but if adults come over in the evening, they can sit and have a glass of wine and converse with each other," says Jewell, herself a mother of four.
A sense of sophistication continues in the children's bedrooms. "She didn't want bunny rabbits and balloons," Jewell says of the homeowner. Thinking long-term, the young mother wanted beds and dressers that could grow with the children and could also work in another home if the family ever moved, says Jewell. Case in point: the artwork in the older daughter's bedroom. A silk screen of butterflies with gold leaf detail "is kind of playful but yet will still look great and work as she gets older," says Jewell. The designer also utilized Mid-century Modern chairs the homeowners already owned by reupholstering them in a Schumacher cotton blend. "We even had the fabric treated so if the kids spill something on them, it will still wear like iron," says Jewell.
The designer was at the home recently when Jewell asked the homeowner if she could believe she actually lived in such a beautiful home. "I said, yes, because you made it happen," the homeowner laughs.
At the same time, the homeowner appreciates the craftmanship and attention to detail the entire team of architect, builder, designer, craftsmen and trades brought to the project in making the couple's dream home a reality. At the end of the day, however, it's not about perfection. "It's our house now and this is where we live," says the wife. "We recently got a puppy, and my mom said we were crazy, that the dog, who's going to be monster size, would ruin the house. I told her I wasn't worried about it. It's not about the house, but what we do in it. If things get a little scratched, that's OK. I might as well have a little fun while that's happening."
Appliances: AUTCOhome
Architect: Michael Abraham Architecture
Interior Designer: MKS Designs
Buildewr/Remodeler: Herring Design & Development
Granite Fabricator: E & B Granite
Plumbing Fixtures: Immerse
Tile/Granite Supplier: Global Granite & Marble
Window Treatments: KDR Designer Showrooms
Window/Door: Marvin Window & Door
Woodworking/Millwork: Herring Design & Development


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MEXICO CITY — During its nearly four-year crackdown on major drug trafficking organizations, the Mexican government has repeated the mantra that most of the nearly 30,000 people killed have some association with the illicit trade.
But in the span of a week, a devastating wave of attacks has killed dozens of civilians, rattled a public not easily shocked anymore and forced the government to concede that innocents are being swept up in the violence.
In the latest attacks, gunmen killed four people early Thursday and injured 14 when they fired on three buses carrying workers home from a late shift at a manufacturing plant near Ciudad Juárez. The authorities said the assault — on workers from one of the large so-called maquiladoras, or factories, on and near the border that have fueled an economic and population boom there — had no precedent.
The buses bore the name of the company where the employees worked, Eagle Ottawa, an automobile upholstery manufacturer based in Auburn Hills, Mich., that has two plants in Ciudad Juárez.
Jorge González Nicolás, an assistant prosecutor in Ciudad Juárez, told a radio interviewer that it appeared the attackers were searching for an unknown man and opened fire indiscriminately, similar to an attack at a birthday party last week that left 14 young people dead and the apparent target on the run.
Bus operators transporting workers have faced extortion demands recently, but it was not clear if the police were looking into that as a motive. Officials at Eagle Ottawa did not respond to requests for comment.
In a separate attack, seven young people were gunned down Thursday in a working-class neighborhood in Mexico City. The police had not determined a motive or whether it was linked to organized crime, but the city has long feared that mass violence would reach here.
The two attacks followed three massacres in different parts of the country since Friday, all in a year of brazen tactics, including car bombs and the assassination of several mayors.
"As the organized crime groups are pressured by the government and in a sense the military strategy, as people are arrested and drugs taken away, you are going to see internal strife and intergroup competition over the market," said Allyson Benton, an analyst with Eurasia Group, which advises businesses on the political and security climate.
The recent loss of innocent lives has heightened the anxiety in the country and seemed to buttress statements by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton that the cartel violence was taking on shades of terrorism and teetering toward the strife of Colombia in the 1990s.
Her remarks initially ruffled diplomatic feathers, and government officials fired back with a barrage of figures they contended showed how much worse Colombia was then in terms of violence and political infiltration.
One sign: Mr. Calderón struck a conciliatory tone this week toward the victims, including drug addicts — a large number of victims in two of the massacres — whom he commended for trying to improve their lives.
Antonio Betancourt and Elisabeth Malkin contributed reporting.


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Which breeds of horses compete on United Arab Emirates (UAE) racecourses?
Thoroughbreds and Purebred Arabians
How many spectators attend race meetings in the UAE?
There no official crowd figures (due to free admission), though it is estimated Meydan & Jebel Ali have attracted crowds of up to 10,000 for their regular meetings. The Dubai World Cup meeting held each March at Meydan plays host to crowds in excess of 50,000 people.
Provide a brief description of the two breeds? What are the differences?
Thoroughbred racehorses have a pedigree that can be traced back to one of three founding stallions i.e. Godolphin Arabian, Darley Arabian & Byerley Turk. The history of the Purebred Arabian stretches back to early civilization.
Thoroughbreds are generally bigger in size, and have more speed over shorter distances. Arabians while smaller are better suited to steadier speeds over longer distances.
The two breeds are registered separately with parentage & blood typing carefully monitored and controlled, in order to maintain purity and traits of the breed.
Where are the UAE`s racecourses located?
There are currently four racecourses operating in the UAE. Meydan, Abu Dhabi, Jebel Ali, Sharjah and Al Ain. Meydan, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain stage evening meetings (under floodlight), Jebel Ali races on Friday afernoons and Sharjah race on Saturday afternoons. There is usually a minimum of six (6) races at each meeting. Racing commenced at Sharjah in 1983 at Abu Dhabi in 1991, Nad Al Sheba in 1992 , Jebel Ali in 1993, Meydan in 2010 and Al Ain in 2014.
At what time of the year are race meetings staged?
Horseracing season runs from late October/early November to end of March.
Is it easy to attend a race meeting in the UAE?
Yes, entrance to the public enclosures at all racetracks is free; complimentary racecards & magazines are distributed, and there is a free competition at most meetings involving the selection of the first three horses home in each of the first six or seven races. Attractive prizes are offered.
All UAE race meetings are covered by local television.
How many owners, trainers & racehorses are there in the UAE?
There are almost 350 registered owners and syndicates with horses in training, more than 35 trainers, approximately 650 Thoroughbreds and 350 Purebred Arabians currently competing.
How did the Dubai World Cup originate?
Nad Al Sheba hosted International Jockeys Challenges in 1993, 1994 and 1995, which led to the staging of the first Dubai World Cup (the world's richest horse race) in 1996. The American champion Cigar ridden by Jerry Bailey won the inaugural contest. In 2012 the Dubai World Cup carried prize money of US$ 10 million and was the feature event of the world's richest race meeting with total purses of US$ 27.25 million.
Has Purebred Arabian racing evolved and improved in the UAE?
Over the past 10 years Purebred Arabian racing has been significantly promoted. Events such as the Maktoum Challenge races, the Arabian Triple Crown series, and the world's richest Purebred Arabian horse race, the Dubai Kahayla Classic (prize-money of US$ 250,000), have acknowledged the importance of Purebred Arabian horses both in breeding and racing in the UAE.
How do I buy a horse?
Public auctions are usually staged in the months of May and October (the Emirates Racing Authority homepage will be updated with full details before each Sale). Alternatively, trainers may be contacted directly (see appropriate section on this website).
What are the major benefits of racing my horse in the UAE?
The UAE offers a number of attractions for racehorse owners:
The perfect climate during the months from October through until March.
A racing industry that is Government subsidised.
Prizemoney offered in comparison to the costs of training and upkeep.
Each race is worth a minimum of approximately US$15,000.
Average field size of 10 with prizemoney paid down to fifth.
Races for all classes of horses and on all weather, dirt and turf.
In recent years the benefits of racing horses in the Emirates have increased, this supported by figures published out of the Conference of International Federation of Racing Authorities in Paris.In 1998 the returns to racehorse owners as a percentage of keep and training costs was AED 132 for every AED 100 spent. That figure rose to AED 185 in 1999 and for 2000, the growth continued to AED 230 and is expected to increase again when the next set of figures is released.
Where can I get information on Importing, Exporting and Transiting horses, to/from/through the UAE?
Contact the Equine Veterinary Advisor's Office, for information on: Regulations, Approved Countries, Procedures, Testing and Vaccination, Costings, Quarantine availability; Shipping Agents, etc. Tel: +(971 4) 336 1671 Fax: +(971 4) 336 1579 Email: [email protected] The Veterinary Advisor works closely with the Equine Division of the UAE Ministry Of Environment & Water and the Advisor's Office processes applications and prepares paperwork on behalf of the Ministry
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Thoroughbreds - Contact the Registry Department at ERA (see appropriate link in 'Contact Us').
Purebred Arabians - Contact the Emirates Arabian Horse Society (see appropriate details in 'Links' section).
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No. All forms of gambling are illegal in the UAE.
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Ashley Gross has been a public radio reporter since 2003, most recently with KNKX in Seattle covering business and labor. She's also worked for WBEZ in Chicago, where she focused on telling the human side of the mortgage meltdown and foreclosure crisis, and for Alaska Public Radio Network, where she traveled the state reporting on everything from the lack of indoor plumbing in villages to the effect of climate change on oyster cultivation. For the academic year 2016-17, Ashley is studying at Stanford as an affiliate of the John S. Knight journalism fellowship.


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FIRST NIGHT REVIEW
Opera: L'Incoronazione di Poppea at Colston Hall, Bristol
The flow is seamless, yet the fluctuating emotions of these cynical or anguished souls are captured in microscopic detail
May 10 2017, 12:01am, The Times
Hana Blazíková as an icy-toned PoppeaCOLSTON HALL/SHOTAWAY
Monteverdi's 400th birthday in 1967 barely registered except in the more recherché enclaves of academe. It's a different story for his 450th. The first great baroque composer has become mainstream and is everywhere. I doubt, however, that I will attend a more stylish celebration than this semi-staging of his last masterpiece: a Machiavellian triumph of sex and scheming over virtue and honesty. What a pity that John Eliot Gardiner's European tour of all three surviving Monteverdi operas visits only Bristol and the Edinburgh Festival in the UK. Do as Nero would do and ruthlessly bribe, cheat or bully your way to a ticket for the latter.
Gardiner sits in the middle, with the wonderfully alert instrumentalists of his English Baroque Soloists grouped on either side…


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Vitamin D supplementation may delay precocious puberty in girls
By Ralph Turchiano on June 21, 2013
Contact: Jenni Glenn Gingery jgingery@endocrine.org 301-941-0240 The Endocrine Society
SAN FRANCISCO– Vitamin D supplementation may help delay early onset of puberty in girls, a new clinical study finds. The results were presented Monday at The Endocrine Society's 95th Annual Meeting in San Francisco.
Among girls, puberty generally begins between the ages of 10 and 14. Boys undergo these changes later, usually between 12 to 16 years of age. Precocious puberty is diagnosed in girls when sexual development begins before the age of 8; in boys, it is diagnosed when these changes occur before age 9.
Recently, medical research has linked vitamin D deficiency to a number of diseases, including cancer, obesity and autoimmune disease. Low vitamin D levels have been found in girls with precocious puberty, as well, although the exact relationship between vitamin D deficiency and early development remains unclear.
To determine how low vitamin D deficiency is related to precocious puberty, investigators in the current study compared blood levels of the vitamin between girls with early and normal development.
They found that girls with precocious puberty were significantly more likely than those with age-appropriate development to have a severe vitamin D deficiency. Among the precocious puberty group, 44 percent had a severe deficiency in vitamin D, compared to 21 percent of the group with age-appropriate physical development.
Additionally, investigators examined the activity of neurons responsible for stimulating the release of a hormone that triggers the ovulation process. Specifically, investigators used the neuron-stimulating compound called N-methyl-D-aspartate, or NMDA, to activate the neurons responsible for releasing gondadotropin-releasing hormone, or GnRH. They found that vitamin D was associated with a suppression of the NMDA-mediated neuronal activities on GnRH neurons.
"If we understand more about the action mechanism of vitamin D on GnRH neuronal activities, we can find a clue to control of precocious puberty using vitamin D or related molecules," said study lead author Min Sun Kim, MD, PhD, assistant professor at Chonbuk National University Medical School in Jeonju, South Korea. "Our results suggest that vitamin D may inhibit early pubertal onset and/or the rapid progression of puberty, at least in part, through the suppression of NMDA-mediated GnRH neuronal excitation in humans."
Study participants included 110 girls between the ages of 7 to 10 years. Seventy-five girls exhibited normal patterns of development, while 35 were classified as having precocious puberty. Investigators used the Tanner scale, which assesses human physical development, to differentiate normal versus precocious pubertal development.
According to Kim, more research, including studies in animal models, is necessary to confirm this project's findings.
Founded in 1916, The Endocrine Society is the world's oldest, largest and most active organization devoted to research on hormones and the clinical practice of endocrinology. Today, The Endocrine Society's membership consists of over 16,000 scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in more than 100 countries. Society members represent all basic, applied and clinical interests in endocrinology. The Endocrine Society is based in Chevy Chase, Maryland. To learn more about the Society and the field of endocrinology, visit our site at http://www.endocrine.org. Follow us on Twitter.
Categories: Missed - Medical Breakthroughs
Tagged as: Doctor of Philosophy, Endocrine Society, Gonadotropin-releasing hormone, N-Methyl-D-aspartic acid, NMDA, Precocious puberty, Puberty, San Francisco
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