dotinthesky: (Default)
Dot in the Sky ([personal profile] dotinthesky) wrote2008-11-25 07:02 am

A Penny for Your Thoughts, A Dime for Your Dreams

I had no idea how bad things were for America until last night, when I watched this terrifying documentary on BBC2: This World: American Time Bomb. I have my first new year resolution for 2009: pay off my credit card by the end of this month and start a hardcore savings account that I'll never dip into. It's ridiculous that I'm in my early 30s and I've got nothing saved.

Kevin and I went for coffee this past Sunday at Elbows cafe, a comfy little place north of Victoria Park. While I read an interview with Seamus Heaney in the Guardian Review, Kevin pulled out his sketchbook and did a drawing:

Elbows Cafe


He's friends with a collective of artists based in Stoke Newington who have put together a blog dedicated to sketches and drawings: [livejournal.com profile] sketchbookblog.
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[identity profile] commonpeople.livejournal.com 2008-11-25 10:12 am (UTC)(link)
What boggles my mind is how awful Bush's presidency was. And the guy was even re-elected! The optimist in me thinks that Obama has some tough years ahead, but hopefully with the right people behind him he can achieve the same as Clinton and bring down the debt. The documentary made me realize how much I care for my friends in America and the country they live in.

[identity profile] desayuno-ingles.livejournal.com 2008-11-25 01:39 pm (UTC)(link)
The conspiracy theorists among us don't believe he was elected, that he was placed in the presidency - twice. That idea is further bolstered by the fact that many disgusting things happened while he was in office that didn't necessarily need continued Republican "guidance" to keep going. I'm not a fully-versed conspiracy theorist, nor very well-versed in politics, so I wouldn't be able to edify you as to exactly what I mean.

[identity profile] commonpeople.livejournal.com 2008-11-25 02:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Even if there was some vote rigging, I still think a vast number of people voted for him - twice. There are still many people in America who think he was chosen by God, and that's worrying...

[identity profile] desayuno-ingles.livejournal.com 2008-11-26 02:05 am (UTC)(link)
It's true, it is super scary.

[identity profile] sallypointzero.livejournal.com 2008-11-25 11:56 am (UTC)(link)
I recognised you from that straight away and I've only ever seen photos of you.
Impressed!!

[identity profile] commonpeople.livejournal.com 2008-11-25 12:02 pm (UTC)(link)
If you ever recognise me on the street, you must come over and say hello!

[identity profile] desayuno-ingles.livejournal.com 2008-11-25 01:36 pm (UTC)(link)
I love his style!

One of the reasons I've been wondering if it really is a good idea for me to go to Spain is that I've been able to save quite a lot of money and I've never had such savings before. It's still only half of what we are advised to have in the bank and I don't know when I'll get a job in Spain or how much I'll be able to make there. I've considered still leaving my apartment but just finding a cheap-ass place somewhere and continuing to work at GJS and at GH for the next year and save, save, save! But I have to go. I can't put this off any more. It took someone kicking my ass to get me out of the country and I don't want to miss this opportunity.

[identity profile] commonpeople.livejournal.com 2008-11-25 02:28 pm (UTC)(link)
It's all about the mentality: if you are someone who has always saved, and this has to do with the pursuit of your dream (i.e. once you are settled you'll begin to save again) then there's nothing wrong with it. I'd only be worried if you were moving there while being dead broke and full of bills!

[identity profile] desayuno-ingles.livejournal.com 2008-11-26 02:07 am (UTC)(link)
TRUE! No, seriously, now that I know how easy it can be to save (if you have a decent job, of course) I'll save again ASAP. It's important, yo!

Life, for instance, a client of mine is about to put money into Apple stocks again. I wish I could do this but I just don't have enough liquid assets to put in stocks right now.

[identity profile] moral-vacuum.livejournal.com 2008-11-25 02:58 pm (UTC)(link)
It's very Posy Simmonds in style. VG 10/10.

[identity profile] moral-vacuum.livejournal.com 2008-11-25 11:41 pm (UTC)(link)
It's how some teachers used to mark things. The 10/10 speaks for itself, the VG stands for "very good".

What one always wished to avoid was "2/10. See me."

[identity profile] commonpeople.livejournal.com 2008-11-26 02:09 pm (UTC)(link)
I've passed on the comment to him. :-)

[identity profile] rag-and-bone.livejournal.com 2008-11-25 03:26 pm (UTC)(link)
i love the sketch so much! what a great skill he has!

oh, woe, america. woe.

[identity profile] commonpeople.livejournal.com 2008-11-25 03:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Woe for those in America that don't save and have no thrift store skills. I'm sure you girls will be fine. But if you are not, there's that commune in Brasil...
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[identity profile] commonpeople.livejournal.com 2008-11-26 02:09 pm (UTC)(link)
I've let him know you guys liked it. :-)
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[identity profile] commonpeople.livejournal.com 2008-11-26 02:08 pm (UTC)(link)
No, that's me drawing a pentagram upside down on the newspaper.

thought you'd enjoy this....

[identity profile] idioticpoet.livejournal.com 2008-11-26 08:07 pm (UTC)(link)

Re: thought you'd enjoy this....

[identity profile] commonpeople.livejournal.com 2008-11-27 12:30 pm (UTC)(link)
:-)