Hi, I'm Alistair

I write stuff about technology. I’m also the founder of PlainSpeak, a consultancy focusing on the intersection between media, technology and business.

• Progressive regressions No 1 - Orthodoxy
• Reactionary rubbish No. 1 - Paedos everywhere
• Right vs Left? Newsflash - you're all assholes
• The dangerous allure of contrarianism
• He-Man and the Masters of the Culture Wars
• Why do so many South Africans (still) love Donald Trump?
• Why we can't have civil conversations anymore
• Why cancel culture will destroy itself
• Why FNB's new password policy makes its customers less, not more, secure
• The certainty trap and the filter bubble
• Drones: a new frontier for journalism
• How African journalists helped crack the Panama Papers
• Review: LG’s G5 is a good competitor to other high-end phones but modularity is a gimmick
• Canadian police have the master key to millions of Blackberrys around the world
• The economics of League of Legends’ new feature
• WhatsApp encryption – what does it mean for you?
• Unicorns are on the endangered list
• Make an underprivileged child’s year for just R300
• Kak haircuts make me happy
• Here’s how to check if your phone has been subscribed to “premium services”
• Depressing data: South Africa is still #9 on global murder tables (but it could be far worse)
• Bullard and Gordin epitomise rape culture
• Niche South African eCommerce players are popping up everywhere
• Why travelling to Pluto is quicker than surfing the web
• Glenn Greenwald vs Newsnight – when did the BBC become the lackeys of the security state?
• My complaint to the ASA against a misleading e-tolling advert (open letter)
• Native Advertising is the future
• If the NSA is losing hawks like me, it’s in trouble
• 22seven acquired by Old Mutual
• WARNING all iPhone and iPad owners – iOS6 and iCloud (may be) eating all your mobile data
• On promotions, sabbaticals and revelations
• Why I’m doing the Sleek Geek Challenge
• How I calculated the internet’s electricity bill
• 7 reasons I love Masterchef Australia, even though I loathe reality TV
• Why recessions, like forest fires, are natural and good
• I have tasted the Mango, and found it unexpectedly sweet (Sorry, Microsoft)
• 6 reasons why RICA is a waste of everyone’s time and money
• Black Swan – requiem for a dancer
• An open letter to Patrick Craven and COSATU
• Only 100 years before you earn your Facebook investment back (and why it’s still worth it)
• Quantitative easing – what’s the big deal?
• A passage to India
• A fond farewell
• Speak out for our freedom! Join #SpeakZA today.
• The saga of Cherry McSweetbottom – Vol 2
• South African social media stats