Alan Williamson

Observations on software, leadership,
and thinking like a CTO

  • Inside the FTX Scandal: Michael Lewis on a Crypto Catastrophe

    The book recounts the rise and fall of the FTX crypto exchange, led by Sam Bankman-Fried, resulting in a $8B loss and his 25-year imprisonment. Michael Lewis explores the complexities and naivety of those involved but leaves the true story unclear. The narrative is engaging but feels incomplete due to ongoing developments.

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    Inside the FTX Scandal: Michael Lewis on a Crypto Catastrophe

  • Viva Las Vegas (1964)

    Okay so let us get this out of the way quickly, you don’t watch an Elvis Presley movie for its in-depth, multi-dimensional story line.  If you even attempt to rate or review an Elvis movie on its story, then you have already missed the point of the King’s musical escapade. Long before Michael Jackson raised the bar Read Post ⇢

  • Burn After Reading (2008)

    The Coen brothers unite for another clever character driven comedy.  The setup is fairly simple but quickly turns into a farce.  A gym trainer who works at the local gym where many of the government agencies come to train, finds a disk of sensitive information.  He then attempts to sell it both to the USA Read Post ⇢

  • Filth (2013)

    How do you describe a movie that is quintessential Scottish to an international audience?  Based on the Irwin Walsh book of the same title, we chart the journey of a corrupt, drugged fueled detective, who is manipulating his situation to gain promotion in order to win back his wife. If you are wondering the style Read Post ⇢

  • Bottle Shock (2008)

    I stumbled upon this little gem of a comedy a number of years ago, and every so often, I will throw it on in the background.   The dialogue is top notch, the pace is just right and the soundtrack is extremely catchy. The movie retells the story of when Californian wine broke through to Read Post ⇢

  • True Story (2015)

    As the title suggests, this movie is based on a true story, in fact, the book of the same name True Story.  Michael Finkel was a New York Times journalist who was fired after fabricating a story on African child slavery.  Disgraced and excommunicated from the writing community he is struggling to find a writing gig. Read Post ⇢

  • Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)

    John Cusack in one of his finest and career defining roles.  Martin Blank is a professional killer, a fact he never actually hides from anyone, yet people think it is so outlandish they don’t believe him. Martin is getting tired of the hitman business, particularly after one botched kill that was meant to look like natural Read Post ⇢

  • Local Hero (1983)

    It was a Friday, and a Friday demands a classic for the evening and this evenings classic never fails to deliver.  Local Hero, tells the story of an American coming over to Scotland to buy basically a whole town for subsequent oil exploration. Peter Riegert plays Mac, the American, more use to the hustle’n’bustle of oil Read Post ⇢

  • Hot Pursuit (2015)

    This movie travels the well trodden script path of a by-the-book-cop who isn’t allowed out on real cases due to a previous over zealous incident, suddenly finds herself in the midst of a high profile case where she has to go against everything she believes to get the job done. Reese Witherspoon takes on the role Read Post ⇢

  • Life of Brian (1979)

    What more can be written about the Monty Python classic, Life of Brian?  A firm favourite in any movie aficionado’s collection that just keeps giving and as it comes up for 40 years old, shows no more sign of aging than the day it was released. I refuse to believe there are people who do Read Post ⇢

the leg-end that is, Alan Williamson.

For over 20 years, I’ve shared my thoughts whenever the muse strikes. It’s unpredictable, honest, unedited, and occasionally witty. I’m living the best years of my life, working harder than ever, and enjoying every second.