 not moved too far from the Minneriya /Sigiriya area this year.
In addition, there seems to have been a larger number of Human Elephant Conflict (HEC) incidents reported this year. Already there have been three recorded deaths of humans due to altercations with wild elephants within the last three months in the Sigiriya/ Habarana area alone.
Elephants have been sighted often in the evenings and nights on most roads. Last week a mature male elephant was seen beside the main Dambulla – Polonnaruwa highway, nibbling at the foliage as early as 6 p.m. Recently the new Vil Uyana Boutique Hotel in Sigiriya was visited by wild elephants who had caused slight damage to the walkways.
Certainly more careful observations and studies will have to be done before any firm conclusions can be arrived at.
The Minneriya Gathering is probably the largest gathering of Asian Elephants in one and the same place. However, it is important that we guard against over-visitation of the Park.
As it is, unregulated movements of jeeps in the open plains, not only disrupt the movement of elephants from the surrounding jungles to the water, but also damage the young sprouting grass.
The Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) with the help of environmentalist and CEO of Jetwing Eco Holidays Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne has conducted a few awareness programmes for jeep drivers of the area. The public who visit this park, also need to understand the delicate balance of this whole event, and ensure some form of self discipline themselves.Male friend rage quit our friendship because I need to "get off my soap box"

I use my instagram stories to share things that are important to me and my community - I always figured people would pay attention if it resonated with them and just swipe by if it didn't - well anyways I've been posting a lot lately about violence against women and sharing my lived experience regarding that and overall just trying to be vulnerable and open to people viewing my space at this time. Well a good (or so I thought) male friend ended up telling me off before blocking me.  I was shocked to my bones. I didn't see this coming at all - I liked this friend, I trusted him, I thought he had my back - he very much did not apparently. I can't help but feel a bit torn up about this - as I become more active and vocal in uplifting others and myself, I find myself losing friends and family left and right, but they've all quietly stepped away - this exit was filled with rage, all directed at me. I am now very scared there are a lot more people out there who "rage lurk" my space that I mistook for being supportive, and I'm also just feeling really lonely I guess. I wish I could have some proximity to the people who inspire me to continue in this fight, but it seems like as soon as I go into the "real world" no one is having the same conversations and no one wants to engage. The world just seems lonely, and scary, and cruel lately. I hope you're all doing ok at this time - my heart is with you if we're in a similar boat.

Edit and (TLDR) thank you!!!:

Wow - I am overwhelmed by the support of this community, in the very best way, but also as an introvert I clammed up immediately ha, I just wanted to update this to let you all know I really value the time you took to hear me out, respond, and comfort a complete stranger - it was very much needed and well received. I'm so grateful for this space.
For clarity to some, I am not a minority so I mostly repost from others to allow their voices to be heard from my platform - I try to limit my comments and opinions to my own lived experiences and how they might help inform people why I care about what I care about.
Someone mentioned verbiage like "engage" that may be off putting, and I can see where this is coming from - I have learned some technical skills for communicating from therapy and I have found I'm fond of the question, "is this something you feel capable of engaging with right now?". I will consider how this might affect others and look a little more closely at how and why I use the words I choose to use. Again, thank you for all the insight - I appreciate your time and hope you have a lovely weekend.Tailgating in 2010 sees new changes and temporary locations
September 15, 2010
Filed under Sports, Uncategorized
Hang on for a minute...we're trying to find some more stories you might like.
Tony Gorder, & Marcus TraxlerEditor-in-Chief & Sportswriter
Tailgating prior to SDSU football games returns in 2010 but not without long-term and last minute changes.
For the first time, SDSU students will have their own designated tailgating lot. The lot was supposed to be directly north of the Coughlin-Alumni Stadium lot; however, due to the wet weather, the lot has not been finished.
Just four days before gameday, SDSU Students’ Association passed a resolution calling for the university to take action and find an alternative lot. A phone conference was held among SA senators, Vice President for Student Affiars Marysz Rames, Executive Assistant to the President Bob Otterson and Director of Athletics Justin Sell said Kate Wegehaupt, SA at-large senator and administrative assistant.
It was decided that the temporary student lot will be in a sectioned area of Black Lot directly north of the Wellness center and west of the Performing Arts Center for Saturday’s game against Illinois State. Students should enter the lot from 16th Ave, not North Campus Drive and have their student I.D. and drivers license.
Wegehaupt and Williams said the plan is to have the lot finished for the Oct. 9 meeting against Western Illinois.
“Last fall, we began exploring other opportunities to increase tailgating opportunities for other fans who may only come to a game or two and can’t commit to a full season in the Backyard,” said Christi Williams, assistant athletic director for ticket operations. “So we began the process of coordinating with the university on opening up additional areas (hard surface parking lots) where any fan paying to park in a controlled parking lot for the football game would have the ability to do some single space tailgating.”
For fans that want to tailgate on a single-game basis, SDSU is opening up the lots north of Briggs Library, the Ag Engineering Building, and Frost Arena on a game-by game basis for $5 a car.
The traditional Backyard area will remain open to season-ticket holders who have reserved their spot. Williams reported that the Backyard has sold out for the fourth consecutive season. The commuter lot immediately west of Coughlin-Alumni Stadium will be Priority Parking for those who made a donation to the Jackrabbit Club of at least $300, which supports scholarships for student-athletes.
The tailgating policy is reviewed every year in January, going over what worked and what did not. “We will pull in representatives from the student government, Student Affairs, UPD, Athletics, Facilities and Services, President’s Office and the University Attorney. In the discussions, we consider all our fans. We don’t focus on just one group,” said Williams. The talks do not revolve strictly around tailgating either, as socializing for students, underage consumption, children’s safety and reducing congestion in the backyard.
Some of the rules will stay in place for 2010. The tailgating lots will open four hours before an afternoon game and five hours before a night affair. The gates to the stadium will open 90 minutes before kickoff. Also still intact is the rule requiring all tailgaters to leave or enter the stadium 30 minutes prior to kickoff.
“The concept of tailgating is to add to the overall event experience. The football game is the number one priority. Tailgating, like the video board, the Pride performance on the field prior to the game, is an enhancement we have at the game to add to the overall game day experience,” Williams said. “In order to provide a good experience for everyone, we open the tailgating areas well in advance of the football game to provide significant lead-time prior to the game. Our goal is to not detract from the experience of other fans who may not have been tailgating but instead got into the stadium to get to their seat so they can see the entire game.”
Williams reiterated the ideals of tailgating at SDSU and to remember what gamedays at SDSU are all about.
“Again, our message this year as in the past is responsible tailgating and when the majority of the student body is under 21, the concern is trying to provide a good experience for those below the age of 21 as well as those above it,” Williams said.
“We think that by doing this our fans will actually get a larger feel for the whole gameday experience because now when a fan pulls into the areas surrounding the stadium they will see much greater activity all around and not just confined to one area.” Williams said.
If you want a picture to show with your comment, go get a gravatar.Home • Work • Art • Personal • Links • Bio
1997]>
We have been asleep.
We have not noticed each other. We have not appreciated ourselves.
Now it is time to wake up. We don't have a choice. The Shofar has already wakened us up.
We are now at the