http://blog.andrewchamberlain.net Wed, 23 Dec 2009 15:32:20 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Yey! I am still here, alive and kicking and working at Direct Marketing Giant Wunderman in their London office. Wunderman are part of the even larger WPP group, and so I find myself working (along with tens of thousands of others) for the famous Sir Martin Sorrell. It's hard work ... http://blog.andrewchamberlain.net/?p=41 For all those people who are caught in the snare of the work / life / kids balance( or imbalance) can I suggest you take 6 minutes out to listen to Lucy Kellaway's podcast on the subject of working parents and wayward kids. It's required listening. I think Lucy's podcast touches ... http://blog.andrewchamberlain.net/?p=39 Gerry McGovern has written a very interesting article on why marketers should stop treating their customers like fools; you can read the article here. Sadly, the truth is that, in the short term at least, irritating and misleading web banners will generate response. The trouble is they also generate resentment, ... http://blog.andrewchamberlain.net/?p=37 I had the opportunity today to take part in a discussion on UCB's mid morning talk show, exploring the subject of loneliness. A fascinating discussion, which ranged across a dozen or more topics, from loneliness in the church to bereavement, to singleness; each of these things would warrant a series ... http://blog.andrewchamberlain.net/?p=36 I’ve been reading Barack Obama’s book ‘The Audacity of Hope’, and it’s reminded me that this most beautiful and encouraging of virtues is in desperately short supply at the moment. The media are full of stories that reflect humanity at its worst: fear and darkness, violence and extremism. Perhaps because ... http://blog.andrewchamberlain.net/?p=35 ..is... well there were a number of things I wanted for Christmas, and in terms of the physical things on that list I pretty much got most of them, so thanks very much family and friends! My list included the iphone, and that's quite a surprise for me because I don't ... http://blog.andrewchamberlain.net/?p=33 Now this is funny actually. Atheists groups and individuals have clubbed together to run an ad campaign on London buses. Their slogan 'There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.' just left me laughing. In a time where the church is buffeted on all sides by aggressive ... http://blog.andrewchamberlain.net/?p=31 I was amused to see Cherie Blair saying this week that history might judge her husband, the former Prime Minister Tony Blair, as having made as much of a contribution as Winston Churchill, the wartime PM. Her comments have been ridiculed by the Tories and treated with some amused derision ... http://blog.andrewchamberlain.net/?p=30 Browsing the channels last night I came across a program about children's fantasy literature. Some of the contributors I recognised: Philip Pullman and China Mieville (whose work I actually enjoy). What was telling was that this  collection of very post modern writers and commentators talked about the Harry Potter series ... http://blog.andrewchamberlain.net/?p=29 This from the Director of Strategy at Saatchi and Saatchi, Richard Huntingdon: "Much advertising is self indulgent nonsense that serves simply to wate the client's money and the consumer's time." Now this guy has a senior role at a global ad agency; he isn't a Consumer Rights champion, or a data protection ... http://blog.andrewchamberlain.net/?p=28