Comunikin VOl.4 by Comunikin

CONTRIBUTIONS Khan Shadid (EDITOR) Jessica Lester (Senior Correspondent) Michael Behlen (Art Director) Devin Harold (Guest Contributor)

Lawrence Garza (ARTIST Interview) TOKYO DEATH MARCH Before the First Step GREEN LIVING

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7 Lawrence Garza Khan Shadid

We’re sitting in his room, with Lawrence

"I just kind of fell into it"

at a chair beside his desk and me sitting on the bed. Around us, the walls are covered with paintings and sketches that commemorate a

Over the years Salvador Dali inspired a lot journey into the world of art. It is Lawrence’s of people, and not just artists. Influenced by Freud private gallery. and prone to using symbolism in his images, Dali

“I began painting at the end of my college

was a master of surrealism. For artists and life,” Lawrence continues, “I got commissioned by admirers, young and old, his work continues to pique family members, which is big because it’s curiosity and drive people to learn more about who someone giving you a chance without questions. he was as a person.

That’s been the best thing about coming back to

I’ll never meet Salvador Dali, but I’ve met Fresno. I have so much family here and their Lawrence Garza.

emotional support is a big step towards my

Born in Fresno, California, Lawrence is only 24 years creative freedom.” old and was raised in San Diego. He is back in Fresno

Like all artists Lawrence sometimes

to seriously focus and hone his craft. It’s struggles with motivation and inspiration, necessary to talk to Lawrence to fully comprehend something that gave him a rocky start. “I didn’t he is the artist of Anthisesis of Obsession, feel like painting,” he says absently looking at one because other than his curling Salvador Dali inspired of his paintings, seeing something that I don’t, mustache he could be anyone on the street.

“Once I started, I just kind of fell into it. I use

Lawrence is the difference between an different things like music to get into the mode of artist and an art student. He dropped out of but after that I just let it come out.” school mid 2007 with his General Education

The painting he’s looking at is the

classes completed, along with a host of art Anthiesis of Obsession. When I look at it, I get classes that included: Print Making, Color Theory, the same reaction as when I see a Salvatore Film, and 3D design. “I always felt that while you Dali painting. For one, it’s impossible to verbally can learn in the class room, you could always learn theorize what you’re looking at without sounding more outside,” defends Lawrence in his decision.

pretentious. When I first saw the painting, I

11 Lawrence about all the little things that are between the two cities comes to life in going on in the painting and he patiently answered Lawrence's

descriptions.

It's

the

same

them. After a few failed guesses at the meaning observant details that make his art so of the painting, I settled for wishing I could buy interesting. In a sense these details provide the it off him.

realism in his surrealistic style, while the vision

Although painting is now his bread and is provided by the mind that turned them into butter, Lawrence did not always prefer it. “I had commenting images. to [paint] in a class and my teacher saw potential I guess she’s really the one that started everything.” A teacher isn’t the only one that has supported his art. For one, there is the girl that helped him get into art. “After she left that’s all I had.” Lawrence says, simply. “What happened, needed to happen, and I wouldn’t be who I am and where I am if it didn’t.” That is a story we will never know, but adds Lawrence to the list of countless artists in history whose work was inspired by thwarted love. That is how Lawrence always speaks. He answers questions openly without revealing how he truly feels about the topic. I could see him pondering these same questions on his own as he paints. When he speaks of his friend Danny Mercado, he’s more expressive and emotional. “He influenced me more than my art. I met him when I was buying art supplies in San Diego. I had my skateboard so I decided to skate a nearby school, and Danny just showed up. He was older than me and in the same place emotionally as I was with his girlfriend. Donny actually introduced me to one of his friends who commissioned me for a two thousand dollar piece.” As I listen, Lawrence goes on to describe his life in San Diego and Fresno. The contrast

Revolution T-Shirts

14 TOKYO DEATHMARCH Kevin Figurea- Bass, Tambourine Edward Moreno- Guitar, percussion, keys Ernesto Brajas Drummer, Samples Randy Gomez- Guitar, Producer How did you guys start playing music together? Kevin, Randy and I started playing together in high school [then] we stole Ernie from another band. Edward and Kevin used to play in Rockwell (post hardcore, 13-14 y/o). We started doing it because there was really nothing else to do in Fresno, and we are all music lovers. Our motto is ‘we rot or we rot doing something good.’ We are pretty much the only band of our kind. You guys play “classy instrumental songs.” Can you elaborate? We always played instrumental because we always wanted to. We didn’t want that whole boundary thing- when you have a singer the songs just come out different. We just wanted to play and we all wanted to be the front men, as one. E: Our sound has progressed a lot from the beginning. We used to be a lot more urbanish, now it’s little more progressive. We pretty play what we feel, because those emotions are what trigger our sound. K: We never say we want to play music like this it just comes out this way. Our first half hour of playing is mostly bullshit, it’s a bunch of noise, and eventually someone does something cool and we just use it as a bridge [and] start with this small little thing and make it a big long bridge[Soft Break]connect or just bridges. E: It’s like building a machine; we get sharp, shiny, hard, pretty. Ern: When the bad shit begins to happen and I just go with it, I really enjoy improvising to get the groove going and make it as good as I can. In a way it’s better when it’s fucked up, like when you look at a really fed up person you really want to get to know them, but when you see someone handsome you’re like been there done that. The bad shows reminds us of how talented we are and shows us what we can do when we are at our least best and motivates us to just keep getting better. When was your first show?

2007 at the Elks in Reedley. 3 piece Dean played keyboard for us (Edward was not there). It went really well, and a lot of people liked us. We were rowdy, we were young, it was a first new show, and we were all scared, nervous, scared of what people would think of us. Our first show was perfect, because it taught us that the crowd always made us feel good, and were accepting to the point where we were rejuvenated to keep going. Best Show? E: It’s hard to say, man. We’ve have a had a lot. R:The House Shows and The Escorts good-bye show. We always seem to play our best shows during rehearsal because we play better when the crowd is more intimate. When the crowd feels as comfortable we are its great. If the atmosphere is awkward we have to watch ourselves and not respond. We mainly try to keep everything in the name of good fun. Other shows were Maps and Atlas at the Metal Mansion, in May 2008, because Maps and Atlas is are our favorite band, like a long time ago, 2004ish. Twain Heart (Livermore). “our favorite guys ever” Phantom Float played to. Stoked on being able to share a house bill with them. Worst Show: E: Sanger, music shop, (Sanger Music Shop)(2009, Nov.) I was drunk. I dropped my pick and couldn’t find it because I was so drunk, and there was nothing but dead air. I stopped playing, and my face was facing the ground. Meanwhile everyone was staring at us, yet we somehow found our rhythm and kept going, using a small shitty bass amp. K: We played Wood Lake, with like, 8 hard core bands. We opened for them and everyone who saw us was like “what the fuck.” The audience had no respect, a shit load of people were there to watch us; it was bad. We were wearing cut offs, and they had their affliction shirts, unearth and basketball shirts, giving us dirty looks, making fun of us because we looked so damn weird. It was the most uncomfortable show I have ever played. R: Span Speak (Sept. 07). The turn out was so good, and we had a great spot. Then we started playing and none of my shit worked. There was nothing I could do about it. Favorite kind of venue?

17 Definitely houses house shows, house parties: but a venue if we couldn’t play house shows anymore, I would have to say, Roller Town!!!! That was really cool! Venues ain't good, Kuppa Joe, and Club Fred (Kuppa Joe has a sweet sound set up.) it’s more “punk rock” and people friendly.

We haven't fully captured our sound yet. We felt just music was enough for us, and tried about 2-3 singers before, but we just decided to stick to instrumental so there's no language barrier. Explosions in the Sky, Mogway, Santana, stuff like that we are big on that instrumental hip hop: mad lib, underground music.

Best band story? Funniest thing that’s happened so far? We fight a lot. We get in some crazy arguments because we live together and known Local Acts: Race Legs! Circles and Circles! each other for a pretty fucking long time. At I know you guys released an EP a couple months the end of it all we are always friends. We are always there for every brawl at gas ago, how's that been selling? stations, when Edward got jumped and tried to We haven't sold any copies, so we’ve been giving run them over for it, Ernie took on 3 dudes for it away for free. It’s cool though because we our little buddy. aren't about making money at this age. We want to get respect first, enjoy playing for the sake of playing, have everyone hear us then How do you think the Fresno/Central Valley music scene is? work on the sales bit. Who is your favorite local artist?

How was it produced? The EP was my first band recording. We used a 16 track, mixed the drums, guitars and positioned our amps certain ways. After 9 tracks and half span almost 2 years but we did it in a lot of different locations bedrooms, our parent’s homes, in our house in Reedley. How was it received? People have been really happy and really nice, the thing is after shows everyone comes up to use and really want a cd, we just say take it, thanks for loving us, we like how nice you are. It counts to be respectful after shows. How do you guys feel about it? Thankful for the ears and for anyone to say they really like us. We’re very proud of the recording and we are re-mastering to make the sound lot better and completing some songs. Some tracks are half tracks, and we are going to release another one in mid Sept. with a music video, “illusion trails by street car or “the swap meet.” Who are your influences?

I think its starting to come together more. We need to work together because it’s more about support, celebrating music and loving each other. In the Fresno scene, more people are coming out to shows. Maybe it’s just the time of the year, but lately it's been great. How do you feel about clubs becoming +21? It’s a good thing socially, but we don’t really give a shit because we're 19 and up already so that’s who we mostly play for. It sucks for the younger crowd but it had to happen.

SPANSPEK MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL Where: Orosi Memorial Hall, 41645 ROAD 128 OROSI CA 93647 When: Friday, September 17 from 6:30 pm to 11:30 pm

By Jessica Lester

20 I am settling in a black leather armchair. It is the chair I prefer most at Starbucks because they are the best for channeling the most productive conversations. The doors open for a steady stream of customers coming to obtain their daily coffee intake. An aura of bliss settles around people who enter, even those who sit solo at the small tables. The melodies of jazz music produce comforting vibes, offering the works of various artists familiar to some and new to those of the younger generation. This atmosphere tends to draw everyone: teenagers, college students, writers searching for inspiration, seniors, and adults seeking to eradicate the last remnants of sleep before heading to the office. Starbucks seems like it was a place designed to encourage other great ideas to grow, which is why Khan Shadid, CEO and co-founder of Comunikin magazine, prefers to have our team meet here to discuss the future. Khan sees me and grins, I gesture toward the other chairs surrounding the small table I snagged upon my early arrival for our Saturday meeting. He takes a seat and sets his bag on the floor, and makes himself comfortable. Not too much taller than myself, Khan’s short dark hair is slightly tousled, but his dark eyes dance in anticipation of talking business and brainstorming ideas for the next issue. Our notebooks cover most of the surface of the table, and he engages me in easy conversation. We catch up on each other’s latest idle-yetsemi-important news and wait for Michael, the third member in our growing family. Khan fills me in on what he is looking for in my upcoming article. “I want to remind our current and new readers what Comunikin is all about, how it got started and the fact that this magazine is designed for them. We are the creators, but our readers keep it going.” Khan emphasizes to me. I begin the article by asking him to continue this thought, and remind us of the inspiration which began Comunikin. He sits back in his chair and relaxes his shoulders, but

continues in his down to business tone. “We started as just a couple of college students with an idea. I was in a business class one day and my teacher asked us to make a list of things we hated about Fresno and to pick one that we could make a business out of. It felt like an odd assignment, but as I got going soon I had a little over a page of reasons and my irritation grew with each thing I wrote down, but I loved making that hate list. Later that evening I read the list again, and I realized there was a lot about this list that I could fix, the first being that there always seemed like there was nothing to do here. I thought to myselfwell there is actually a lot to do, even if you are a broke college student- it’s just a matter of knowing where to go. That sparked the idea for Comunikin.” I nodded in empathy. I was born and raised in Clovis, and up until you are about fourteen, there is plenty to do (water parks, pizza arcades, movies, parks, hanging out with friends at the mall) but then you land in a somewhat limbo phase until you get older. There is nothing new to do except repeat the activities you enjoyed as a preteen until you reach twenty-one. Now you’re over that last legal restraint that made you feel like a child; you’ve got a license, hopefully a car and a job, some extra cash to go out but where to go in Fresno that won’t get you killed in a gang fight or leave you feeling like you wasted your money and time? Comunikin is doing what many people have made efforts to do as Fresno continues to surpass a half a million people improve the accessibility to worthwhile entertainment. While our focus is primarily on art photography, music, and featured writing we strive to let our readers in on concert dates, social networking opportunities, and more. www.FresnoFamous.com already has an impressive update of things to do in Fresno, geared toward all ages. The independent newspaper “Undercurrent” is also available in many stores located in the Tower District, reporting on the

21 underappreciated artistic events in the valley. What then, I ask Khan as an impartial reader, sets this magazine apart from these other sources? “Comunikin is unique in the sense that we are the first online magazine to feature a solely artistic voice in Fresno linked with social networking apps, [with] hopes to inspire targeted readers aged 18-30 to help improve Fresno for the next generation through the arts and featuring small businesses that thrived in Fresno.” All it takes is one person with an idea. I first met Khan in an undergraduate creative writing class at Fresno State, and while we became friends during the semester, we didn’t really keep in touch other than a few sights on campus. I saw him on campus a few years later and we informed one another what we were doing and things we hoped to accomplish with our degrees. I told him about the writers’ group that my boyfriend and I had founded in Clovis, and he was excited about our endeavor. Although I already knew about his idea for Comunikin, he told me that he had already finished the first draft of the first issue and that he planned to publish it soon. I offered to read it and he promised to email me a copy, and to also attend the next meeting of the writers’ group. Later that day I read the draft he sent me, and my editing itch sparked as I scanned the pages, brushing my blonde hair out of the way as I found more errors in each section I read. I took out a pen from my desk and started making notes on a yellow legal pad. When Khan came to the writers’ group that week, I couldn’t hold back. Eagerly, I showed him my notes on nearly every page, offering my thoughts and suggestions. As I expected, he was surprised at what I had done, but was grateful and I offered to be an editor, free of charge. He accepted. In the midst of my interview with Khan, Michael Behlen strolls into

Starbucks and smiles at us, laptop bag slung over his right shoulder. The bag looks as though it is going to take over his wiry frame, but he walks over to us with confidence. He finds a seat on the couch opposite Khan and myself and gets his laptop settled. His fingers are thin and delicate as he types commands on the keyboard, sporting his blue heart peace sign on one of his fingers. I tell him what I am doing for the next issue and he wholeheartedly agrees to have me interview him during our meeting. As the main photographer of the magazine, Michael is a key player in keeping the artistic feel alive. CM: What goals do you have for the magazine? MB: I want to produce the most cost efficient, well run online magazine Fresno has ever seen. I am going to everything I can to help cut cost and increase profits without losing the soul of Comunikin. CM: What do you like the most about Comunikin so far? MB: I was really excited about the mission of Comunikin and I love the fact that we have such a diverse and dedicated staff. We have our own opinions and don’t see eye to eye on everything, but that is what keeps things interesting. Comunikin also plans to get in on the social networking phenomenon. There are several apps for the iphone and computer in the works that will enhance the goal of Comunikin: not just lending a helping hand in where to go to find something to do, but find out where your friends are and meet new people to attend these events with. Abhishek Agnihotri meets with me and Khan a few weeks later on the Fresno State University campus. The Fresno sun is blaring overhead as the clock barely tolls ten a.m. When

22 Facebook. We are trying to build a social network that works with actual social networking. Similar to Facebook, people will have profiles, however it is going to be more than just an organized template. You will be able to build more of a collage consisting of your interests on your page, and if there are people who share your interests, they can add your page to theirs and vice versa. Time Control will also help you to organize your daily and weekly schedule, find out who is also available to hang out during that same free time, and everything will be linked to events around town reflecting the interests you both share. We will encourage more organization to separate fields of interest, so you can really get to know the people who truly enjoy the same things and get to know them rather that person being just an added “friend” on Facebook. Our goal is merely to bring the connection back to the person behind the profile and encourage other ideas to get off the ground. CM: What do you hope to see from CM: How did you meet your future business Comunikin? partner? AA: We actually met in a philosophy class AA: I hope that people will realize again during a spring semester in 2008 and then that anyone can achieve anything. Any ideas that Khan brings to me I always were reunited at a party through a say, why not? People forget how mutual friend who told him I was designing websites for other companies, powerful ideas are and give up before they try. and Khan told me about the magazine. Khan and I continue our conversation CM: What inspired you to get involved from Starbucks as he elaborates his with Comunikin? dreams for Comunikin and relish over the good luck of our unique staff- four people AA: Mainly the internet and vast connections to people it would provide. We who would not have met or reconnected if want people to forge real connections to we did not have the magazine as a common ground. real people that share their common “Everyone I talk to about this interests without all the bullshit of Facebook. These will be people who really magazine and our goals to help their livesespecially college students- love the idea. become your friends and flourish through common interests. This app is called Time It is something I hope each town will pick up and begin, and then cities, until Control and will be an extension of the Comunikin spreads across the country and magazine that enhances our goal of then the world. With the economy the communication. way it is, we are very much a beat CM: In this digital age, what about Comunikin and the social networking apps generation. People feel beaten by the stress of not being able to get a good is more unique then everything out there job, hanging onto any money they can, and already? they are tired. There is a lot here [Fresno] that isn’t here and we can AA: We are not trying to be the next Abhishek joins us in front of the revitalized state-of-the art library, we seek refuge by the trees neighboring the satellite student union at a small cheap patio table. Shade is plentiful, the highest priority as we get situated. Abhishek pulls out his white Macbook, his appendage, reflecting his role as Comunikin’s software developer/ lead designer. While generously taking the time to be the magazine’s tech guy, he is also finishing his Engineering degree at Fresno State. He grins, nodding as Khan begins reminiscing about their first meeting and the pool of ideas they have come up with since, for everything from computer applications to improving the world as we know it. A white baseball cap provides additional shade for his dark hair and caramel skin. His dark eyes project warmth and an open mind to anything he hears. He also holds an irreplaceable position with Comunikin on a larger scaleKhan’s business partner and co-founder of the magazine.

23 that. Business potential, growth, and talented people with college educations are already here that can take the great things about Fresno and improve our hometown to make it a better place to live. I am about to be a graduate of Fresno State University and Comunikin is one of my ways of giving back to my community.â&#x20AC;?

Before The First Step Whether your starting something new or leaving behind something old and familiar, the first step is always the hardest. This is especially true for businesses. Many people contemplating entrepreneurship seem to either underestimate or overestimate the process. It's true that if you have a challenging concept, the start up process may be tricky; on the other hand, if you happen to apply good strategy to an already good concept, you might have your work cut out for you. Though strategy and concept are great and necessary, there is something else that is equally important. Before that let's set some ground rules: 1. A business should be created out of passion. It's easy to leave and forget an endevor that only peeked our interest, but it's hard to give up the things we are your passionate about. Think of it as love vs. lust. 2. Always have multilayered plans. Strategy is the name of the game and the prize is a sucessful enterprise. The best strategy is also the easiest to understand: if you're prepared, you're close to infallible. Multilayerd strategic planning helps you be prepared for mistakes, bad luck, and other things that you can't control. Plan A should be your primary focus, Plan B should always be ready and have minimum risk, Plan C (optional ), Plan D (you're being paranoid). 3. Remember, you're not Superman You don't have to be your biggest fan, you don't have to do everything unknown and asking for help isn't a waste of time. When your business grows up it will be, hopefully, constantly dealing with customers. Which means you will be dealing with customers. Get in the habit of talking about the general idea of your business with friends, family and people with more experience than you. It'll help improve your business pitch and you can get feedback out of it. With these rules in mind, before you even start writing a business plan come up with a Vision. The vision should be something you feel passionate about, it should be cohesive, and it has to be profitible. Having a vision gives higher meaning to business strategies as well as a trajectory for the direction of business. Whether your in it for the money or independance, before you take the first step take your time and develop a vision.

Here are a few ideas that came together to form Comunikin.

25 8. "I a m an a enoug r h freel tist to d of r imag y upon aw -- Al inatio my bert n E i n s ." t e i n.

n o s a e r "E v e ry t hi nk I could ave of to le ." o n s e r F

6. "It m all of ay not of pe us, bu have u worl ople al t it did nited d ace l ove get a ss to r the lot e ac h othe r."

AGAINST ME! s r a t s ic t s a l p r s e 5. e d l n c s u u g m n i t s t g i in l "S i e d c n o a t l o h o c glued l " a g g n n i i n r o m burn ry e r v o e F e d e in k t r o o c i W n t We -Wha

4. SOCIAL SOCIALENTROPYENTROPYInstitutions Institutionsdepended depended on onan anenergy energysource source will willmove movetowards towards chaos, chaos,ififthe thesource sourceisis removed. removed.

CLERGY CLERGY

Believers Believers

Faith Example: EX: GOD GOD

Energy Input Input

"How did you know what's been killing me? Slowly, for years, driving me to hate people when I don't want to hate.... Have you felt it, too? Have you seen how your best friends love everything about you--except the things that count? And your most important is nothing to them, nothing, not even a sound they can recognize. You mean, you want to hear? You want to know what I do and why I do it, you want to know what I think? It's not boring to you? It's important?" "Go ahead," said Roark. Then he sat for hours, listening, while Mallory spoke of his work, of the thoughts behind his work, of the thoughts that shaped his life, spoke gluttonously, like a drowning man flung out to shore, getting drunk on huge, clean snatches of air. [The Fountainhead.]

[An Entrepreneur] is a person who organizes and manages any Anterprise, esp. a business, usually with considerable initiative and risk.

Why It's for Me

1. The Challenge: Any one who isn't at least a little intimidated by the risk involved, doesn't fully understand the risk he's taking. Entrepreneurs fail every time a business does, which happens a lot, but a true Entrepreneur.

2.The Thrill: The feeling of trying to bring an idea into reality is difficult to explain. Entrepreneurs don't gamble, they strategize. The reward of all that stregy is always the mission, but the way there is pretty exciting. 3. The money: I rather be paid for working on my ideas than someone else's. Making money is the reward for good business.

4. The Blend of Creativity and Pragmatism: It gives me the freedom to create whatever I can imagine, within reason, while also knowing how to make my ideas profitable.

1. Love What You Do! It may not be all you need It may not even pay the bills (legally). But it's what will keep you going, when nothing else is working.

For the most part a business is a lot like relationships: 1. It takes commitment, neither Rome nor Google, was built in a day. 2.You have to compromise, because what

your business needs may be differant from what you need.

3. Bad decisions affect both the business and the owner. Period. 4. When it works, it's amazing. When it doesn't, it's pretty frustrating. 5. How you came together doesn't matter, where you're going does.

Green Living By Devin Harold

There isn't a day that goes by were I don't hear people talking about living more green. I hear it for all kinds of reasons: “I want to live healthier”, “I want to save money”,and “I don't want to add to the pollution of the world”. However, is going green a reality for everyone? Or is being earth friendly simply for the rich? Surely there are circumstances that make it hard to make the lifestyle change into green living, but everyone can make more of a difference than they think. We have been contemplating going green for two years now and finally decided to just go for it. My son, my wife, and I live in a small lowincome apartment complex and have minimum wage paying jobs. For the past two years now we have been contemplating going green “when we get a house” or “when we get better jobs” but who knows what damage we'll do to our bodies, wallets and environment in the meantime? So we're going for it. Of course there are things that we wont be able to do like install solar panels, or double pane windows, but that doesn't mean we can't still make a difference. Over the next two years my family and I will be implementing a new living regiment, forcing us to do without and make greener choices. What we are hoping to accomplish with this change is to keep the world a beautiful place so our son can experience it's splendor and for us to hang onto more of our paychecks too. The first step that we have decided to implement is to lower our waste production. This means we can't buy things that come with trash, no bags, wrappers, boxes, in short nothing that will have to be thrown away. What this first rule also means is that we are going to have to start a compost pile, and according to a California Statewide waste characterization study for 2008, thirty-two percent of garbage taken to dumps is compost able. Thirty-two percent, that's a lot of waste! Wouldn't all those table scraps be put to better use in your garden, a city park, or best of all,

a community garden were everyone can enjoy the garbage. We also can't waste electricity, gasoline, or water. We are having to turn off all appliances after we are done using them and not just the lights, but everything. I unplug the microwave, television, Internet connection, and we try not to turn on the air conditioning. That last appliance has proved to be the hardest to go without in Fresno, in the summer, when it's up to 106 degrees! The gasoline is easy, we have already been conserving this since it's so expensive, unfortunately I depend on gasoline for my job. I deliver Italian food for a local Pizzeria and Italian kitchen. That takes up a lot of gas. Water conservation has actually been a lot of fun for us. Since times are hard we end up buying a lot of pasta for our food, when we boil the pasta I strain the water out into a large pot. This pot is were we dump all of our water we normally put down the drain. At the end of the day I take this water out and water all my plants with it. When we first started this I didn't know how well it was going to work, but all my plants have gone on an amazing growing spurt since. My mint is up to a foot and a half tall, I had to start using a lattice on it! The thing that is the most fun about lowering our water usage is the introduction of Navy showers. Navy showers are were you turn on the shower and get your whole body wet, then you turn off the water and lather up. Then turn the water on again and rinse off. The whole process takes about three minutes and when I'm done I feel a lot cleaner, not to mention a lot more green, than when I use to take thirty minute showers. The change into a green Eco-friendly life has started for me and my family. Some things will be easy and other hard, but in the end I am sure they will all be worth it.

SINCERELY, Universal Health Care