There are a few ways that adverts appear in my life in 2025:

1. Podcasts – sponsored shows will throw up a mix of local (South African banks, mainly) and international companies – anything from nutrition to software to, again, banks – all from USA which is hard to relate to.
2. Billboards. Traffic is still an opportunity for advertisers. I can tell you about the ¨Wealth Managers” and the Insurance companies.
3. TV – I know who sponsors the sports teams i support. Live sport is still a huge opportunity, clearly – but the normal TV shows are not as effective. I used to have to sit through long chunks of ads in order to watch the best TV shows. No longer – although this is changing fast, moving back to the way it was with advert subsidised subscriptions appearing from Netflix etc.
4. Kindle – the Home screen features adverts for books and kindleunlimited subscriptions which i see all the time.
5. Gmail – the promotions tab is flat out trying to show me stuff. I am flat out trying to unsubscribe from all the stuff.

I am not on TikTok or any other social media anymore. I don´t watch Youtube either. I am something of a luddite these days but there are still avenues to reach me as an advertiser.

Happy Monday, chimps.

I recently read an article on the new wave of romanticism that is gathering pace as we realize the full extent of the reach of technology. Like a witch’s twisted and mangled claw, we are feeling the way in which algorithms are controlling and squeezing us. We are wishing for something else while at the same time being under a spell and attached. We have had too much of a good thing.

So what is the fuss all about? What repulses us after this 20 year experiment living online? It is about truth and finding common ground. It is about humanity and truth. It is the sense that we have been deceived and something important has been taken away from us.

Contrast what is happening now with the Socratic dialogue that allows Plato to wrestle with the truth. Long, winding discussion, back and forth in order to reach the truth of a matter. Instead of a surefire way to find honesty and sincerity, tech gives us instant knowledge. No more long slog of dialogue. Shortcuts to algorithmic certainty are now presented to us in a trashy, convincing way by our screens. Intellectual humility has been replaced with algorithmic hubris. We, as humans, have clear limitations, and that is what makes life so ridiculously interesting. AI and tech give us the impression of total knowledge, of a world only made of data and devoid of Logos and mystery.

Neo-Romanticism could perhaps use Platonic dialogue as a model for reclaiming human connection, for returning to human values in the face of technological de-humanisation. Ancient ideas are still relevant. If you want proof, give your mum or dad a call.

Happy Wednesday, Chimps.

Throughout the lifespan of this blog, I’ve grappled with two fundamental questions: Who am I writing for, and what purpose does this serve?

In my more idealistic moments, I envisioned cultivating a vast audience—a tribe of like-minded individuals who would find exactly what they needed in my words. The pandemic brought clarity: this blog isn’t about changing the world; it’s a personal sanctuary for exploring creativity and collecting thoughts.

This site has evolved into a mirror for self-reflection, a canvas for ideas that emerge despite sleep deprivation (thanks kids). It’s my digital journal to accompany my steady retreat from social media, and I’ve come to embrace that reality. Post-pandemic, As my focus shifts, I’m branching out. While this blog will remain a creative outlet, I’m launching a Substack (@rossandrews) dedicated to my professional aspirations in ESG analysis.”

Whether you choose to follow my professional journey or simply enjoy the musings here, I wish you clarity and purpose.

I’m on holiday with my family and the in laws. A few nights in, and it’s proving to be one of those classic holidays….you know the ones….all the relaxation, sun, fun and joy that you could hope for. In my mind’s eye, everything here is tinted with a golden glow. Without wanting to jinx it – here are a few thoughts on why our holiday rocks the way it does….which is mightily….like a sweet Led Zeppelin track, with a glass of wine, at sunset, by the sea:

• The weather – Even though it’s the start of autumn, we have been lucky with the sun – which means we have been able to take the little ones outdoors every day. A kid outside is a different beast to a cooped up, tv-addicted, frustrated indoors monkey. Bike rides, hikes, beaches = Happy tired monkeys.
• The house – Some houses just have a good energy. I’m no mystic shayman (ha!), but the forces of good design and feng shue are strong in this place. Out of the wind, in the sunshine. Cool, comfortable spaces for all 8 of us. Energy flows through the right doors and cozy furniture to chill, eat, sleep and work in.
• The children – every now and then our children hit a vein of form which will melt your heart. The way they have played together, looked after each other, and grabbed the bull by the horns this holiday makes me so very happy. Fingers crossed for more bull grabbing.

These holiday combinations matter – if you mess with any of the three elements listed above, it will change the vibe completely. Also, because we all age the combinations necessarily are never the same, year on year.

All this is to say i am celebrating and enjoying a successful holiday break when it hits me in the chops.

Apple and Meta have recently released VR/AR goggles. My brain started to wonder. Picture this:

Over the next few years, Apple does what Apple does – it iterates on the Vision Pro to create an affordable, high-end device which we can all slap on our faces. Developers pile on to make sure that we can block out the real world entirely. We dive in and immerse ourselves in movies, events, games, memories, relationships, and surroundings that are just not actually there – they are Virtual. Fake. Generated. Is this a heavenly scenario? Or is it dystopian? Maybe it’s because of the AI drama playing out in real time, but I tend to lean towards dystopian.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m desperate to try the goggles. I love tech. Having a 100 inch tv in your house but not actually in your house? So cool.

BUT, I am also aware that the most fun I have had in my life has happened in the analogue world. Family. Friends. Sport. Music. These cannot be replaced online and I don’t think these goggles will change that fact.

Or maybe they will – but I hope not. We’ll find out sooner or later I guess.

What in your life is governed by a contract? and furthermore, what in your life is governed by a covenant?

Are you buying pencils? Are you asking someone out on a date? Are you looking after someone else’s children? Are you looking after your own children? Are you lending a company some money? Whatever the activity is, there is likely some sort of agreement at play. Formal or informal. Conditional or unconditional.

I work in the world of contracts. Procurement is quite a dry subject because it is so caught up in process, detail and legal paperwork. But the truth is that an effective contract solidifies a business relationship. It serves to protect both the buyer and seller. It is often about risk mitigation more than anything else. A good contract is a reference for all sorts of details in a relationship which might be the source of contention such as the quality of the materials to be used, the parameters of the services to be provided, delivery times, fees, and costs. Fundamental to this form of agreement is the concept of negotiation. The details in a good contract are negotiated and work for both parties. This means it is conditional, optional and it is temporary.

A covenant in the ancient and religious sense is different. Each covenant established the basis of a relationship with God, conditions for that relationship, promises, and consequences if promises are broken. However, a covenant is more of an oath invoked, rather than an agreement negotiated. There are no conditions for the covenant. A covenant once invoked cannot be broken. There is no end to a covenant. Whatever one party does, you have to also do 100%. One of the most familiar examples of a covenant for us today is marriage. Til death do us part. The motivation is love rather than money or risk management.

Interesting to me is the interplay between the covenant of marriage and the many contracts of marriage. They work in parallel with each other. In my marriage, it helps me to think of them as working concurrently, but at different levels. The covenant of marriage is endless and no matter the condition. In sickness and in health. It is looking far, deep, and wide at the commitment. It is a permanent and spiritual oath that gives comfort and joy. The covenant will get me through the unforeseen risks that I cannot manage.

The contracts and negotiations of marriage, in contrast, will get me through the risks I can foresee. They are for the day to day commercial, operational, functional and emotional aspects of marriage which will turn into chaos if there is no attention paid on a regular basis.

Constant negotiation for the contracts. Deep comfort and faith in the covenant. A good marriage likely involves constant negotiation, even though the underlying covenant is non-negotiable. The idea of contracts and a covenant being both present in marriage is beautiful. To rely only on one and ignore the other is probably a mistake.

Happy Thursday, Chimps.

I am trying to get back into the more arty side of things – this is a constant battle with the busy schedule we have at home. At the same time it is fundamental part of me – I love art and reading and writing…and so, a blog post and Dickens!

I have started to assemble one of those laughable bookshelves, full of pretentious and important novels I intend to read someday. Dostoyevsky has a plastic cover tightly wrapped around, sealing the pages. I am intimidated by his name and I am claiming to be unable to open the plastic cover, so I likely won’t touch him for ages. But, Dickens’ “Tale of Two Cities” is open and ready to be read immediately. I ran out of excuses today, and so I just started (at the beginning) and am thankful that the novel includes liner notes for every chapter – Context is good.

Wish me luck… and remember to always exclaim “What the Dickens!” whenever possible.

Some of the funnest tech I own is also some of the oldest. An Onkyo amplifier, stereo speakers, an old TV and cable box/decoder. I have owned this stuff for ages and have set it up and broken it down multiple times as my family has grown. I feel like the master and the AV tech is my slave. Feeling in control is fun.

What I don’t like is when the tech is acting without my input and out of my control. That’s frustrating and sometimes downright scary. I challenge you to play ping pong with your cell phone in the same room for a few days in a row – and then look at what Facebook ads pop up. The tech is creepy and it is listening to you with a life of its own. (There’s a movie script in there somewhere?….horror movie….I’m sorry, Dave. I’m afraid I can’t do that….where was I).

I can set up, tune and sync all the Audio Visual gear in our house multiple times and it never gets boring for me. Part of this satisfaction is the syncing up of a ‘perfect’ solution given the constraints of my tech. Constraints are good. I have used the same components in many different scenarios, always trying to make it sound that little bit better.

Part of it is my affinity for anything audio. The sweet sound of my bookshelf speakers more than makes up for the hours of labour.

Anyways, just a small thought for the Saturday – don’t automatically get rid of that old tech. Joy can be found in mastering something rather than relying on the new.