It’s becoming more and more common. Another company has suffered a data breach. Two weeks ago from the time of writing it was Dischem. Not too long ago, it was TransUnion. And Nedbank. There have been questions raised on social media commonly asking “why is this becoming more common?”. I have thoughts on this.
Continue reading “On Data Breaches”Author Archives: Pat Kayongo
Human.
On Agility
Earlier this year, Kauai, the healthy food restaurant, released a new mobile app. I’m a regular user of the Kauai app, because I purchase their subscriptions, a sweet deal where one can get smoothies for 30 days for only R399.
Continue reading “On Agility”On Digitisation, Obscurity and the Tyranny of the Quantitative
Every business needs to be digital. Maybe.
Continue reading “On Digitisation, Obscurity and the Tyranny of the Quantitative”On Bank Zero
I want Bank Zero to succeed. I really do. But I have some concerns.
Continue reading “On Bank Zero”The Outside World
“Can I go play?”, Senzo asks his mother after changing from his school uniform.
“First, have you finished eating your lunch?” his mother asks. “Yes, I have, and put the plate in the sink. So can I go play?”
“Ok, you can go. But be back by 5”
Continue reading “The Outside World”A house on a hill
I once took a picture of a house on a hill A house on a hill A house on a hill With a red roof and a wooden door Bright green grass Like the pictures kids draw
I longed to go back to the house on the hill The house on the hill The house on the hill To remember the trees and flowers The feelings I felt In a more naïve hour
At my bedside sat the house on the hill The house on the hill The house on the hill As a door my daydreams could enter through So that somehow older beliefs Could be magically renewed
In today’s paper I saw the house on the hill The house on the hill The house on the hill Reconstructed and transformed Unrecognizable from The nostalgic world my memories had formed
All that’s left is my picture of the house on the hill The house on the hill The house on the hill Held together by my heart’s frame My mind’s filter And the day’s shame
Columbia
* According to Wikipedia “Columbia is the female national personification of the United States.”
Within the extra-fortified walls of yet another Broadacres townhouse estate, Columbia rides her merchant bicycle, selling her wares. She gives the impenetrable security guard her usual friendly universal smile, as he escorts her in, interrogating her, seemingly knowledgeably, on her state of affairs.
Continue reading “Columbia”On Asset Management
There is the biblical narrative of Yossef, a man sold into slavery by his brothers, eventually finding himself as a prisoner in Egypt. As time goes by, the monarch of Egypt, the Pharaoh, has a perplexing dream, and is unable to understand its meaning. After hearing the dream, Yossef helps the king understand that a time of plenty and abundance is expected within his realm of authority, proceeded by a time of famine and drought. The recommendation of Yossef in light of this foretelling was to store up in the time of plenty, so that there will be sustenance in the time of lack.
Continue reading “On Asset Management”Debt Comes To Fourways
As the red sun sets over the Northern Suburb hills, and signals the call of the moon over the darkening night’s sky, the spirit known as Debt begins its ward rounds within the plush suburbs of Fourways:
The night is young But I’m of old Looking for more to embrace In my choking hold
Beginning her regular routine of visiting the temples built to satiate her with living sacrifice, she starts off at Lonehill Shopping Centre. As dusk draws and commerce begins to rest its head, she sees James and Ayanda walking tensely to their car with a full trolley from Woolworths.
“But you know with the school fees and home loan, we can’t afford a new car”, says Ayanda to James.
“Yes, I know, but clients don’t take me seriously with this Polo. I can feel that I’m on the cusp of something good, and if I can score a few more contracts, we’ll live the comfortable life we’ve always wanted” explained James.
“You said that about the school and its supposed networks. You said that about the house and its supposed community. Now we find ourselves here living month to month, just getting by, forever on the ‘cusp of something good’” said Ayanda.
But why is she stubborn Why all the prudence Maybe a much longed for holiday May be just the influence
In the car on their short trip home, Ayanda gets a WhatsApp from Tracey. She’s suggesting their families do a short holiday during the upcoming long weekend to Bela Bela.
“It’s been a really long year, and my soul needs this” thinks Ayanda to herself. “But James will never say yes to this after I said he can’t get a new car”
Sheepishly, Ayanda says to James, “maybe I do need to support you better in fulfilling your dreams. We can move a few items in our budget around and consider getting the car I guess”.
Oh, but this one Was way too easy Surely there’s a challenge That’s more worthy
So up Debt goes into the darkening skies, hovering through the light breeze blowing against unsuspecting homes. Approaching Dainfern Square, he sees two friends, Ayodele and Oluwafemi entering a restaurant to sit down.
“It’s now been 30 years since leaving home” remembers Ayodele. “My children know very little of their history and where they come from”
“Why didn’t you ever go back?” asks Oluwafemi.
“We were so disillusioned when the promise of a prosperous Nigeria became a nightmare” replies Ayodele. “I don’t think I had the capacity to endure the thought of going through that again”
“When that oil price was good, man, it was good.” reminisces Oluwafemi. “But when those stupid IMF fools came and brought those foolish so-called ‘structural adjustments’ with their loans, man, things became bad bad.”
“Promised us dreams of prosperity. Left our country forever broken” depresses Ayodele. “And our children forever lost” adds Oluwafemi.
What a glorious reminisce Of my beautiful craft The shattered societies My work of art The night is young And I’m of old Let me find more to embrace My choking hold
How far can a name travel?
How far can a name travel? How many new worlds can it see? Before the changing scents and ever-molding patterns Change its pronounced identity.
How far can a name travel? How many worlds can it see? Before the tugging blood threads from its ancestral home Start invoking their mythical nostalgic fantasies.
Patrick Kayongo 