I have to figure out whether I can mend my troubled marriage.  Since we get along so well, it's easy enough to ignore the problem, on a short term basis.  Nonetheless, there are some very basic needs that don't get met, and certain incompatibilities exist that would never go away completely, even if we did resolve our issues in a general sense.  But, aren't such issues a part of making any marriage work?

I feel kind of betrayed by a friend, right now.  She's wrecklessly taken certain actions that jepardize the well being of people that I'm fond of, and there's not a damn thing I can do about it.  I still care for her a great deal, but if she could screw them over this way, I have to reflect on what else she might be capable of  where I'm concerned.  As is, her recent actions certainly aren't doing me any good.  She's over reacting to a perceived wrong that's been done, and I really think she should have addressed it in a less extreme way.  I have made the mistake, in the past, of not reacting to the wrongful actions of friends.  When I was younger, I tended to disregard certain disputes between my friends and others as not being my business.  I ultimately paid for this when those friends, one specifically, unleashed their venom on me.  The lesson was clear:  When people show you who the are, you really ought to believe them.  I need to be mindful of this now.  But what exactly shoud I do?

I hope to start my animal rights website soon, and on that note, I've decided that the animal of the day is the African elephant. 

Also called the African bush, or savanna elephant, the African elephant is the largest of the three species of elephants.  When food is scarce, these animals can travel over 50 miles in a single day.  New research shows that these elephants rely on ancient knowledge, passed down from generation to generation, about what paths to take in order to find food and water throughout the seasons.  This knowledge is especially crucial during droughts.  Last year, during a severe drought, 80 elephants were lost in a single month, in Kenya alone.  These elephants died not only from dehydration, and the drought's depletion of their food sources, but were also killed by ranchers who were trying to acquire ivory to make up for their loss of income, due to drought related livestock deaths.

Ranchers also kill elephants in order to seize upon their watering holes, in national forests, when water is scarce beyond forest boundaries.  Farmers have been known to kill elephants for trouncing through their properities.  Fences that block the elephants' ancient migration paths also lead to elephant deaths, as the elephants often know only one way to get to a particular life-giving water supply.  Research is currently underway to determine where these ancient paths are located, so that the elephants'  migration paths could potentially be cleared.  This would require a great deal of cooperation on the part of local governments, and private landowners. 

One major threat to the maintenance of these pathways, at this time, involves the proposed creation of a highway that would run through the Serengheti Natonal Park.  This roadway would have a devastatig effect on the African elephant, and a vast number of other creatures.  An alternative route, that would actually benefit more people, has been proposed.  If this alternative route can gain the necessary funding, the elephants, and other endangered animals, could be saved, and the integrity of this beautiful park could be maintained.  I hope that all of you will join me in supporting a petition asking world governments, development organizations, and lending institutions to help Tanzania protect this priceless world treasure, and ensure that the people of Tanzania benefit from its preservation.