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Articles by John McGregor
An Introduction to Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE)
For Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we're republishing our most read post over the last four years, Nataliya Shevchenko's 2020 piece on model-based systems engineering (MBSE). This post provides an introduction to MBSE and outlines how the methodology can be used to ensure that systems are secure by design.
MODS IN MOJACAR!
By John McGregor Costa Blanca Scooterists were away on tour again last week, returning to one of their favourite places, Mojacar, a lovely little town down in Andalucia on The Costa Del Sol. Twelve members on ten scooters set off on the first day of four to travel down from Torrevieja, although the journey was not without incidents – first an accident and then a breakdown.
LUCY´S SECRET
By John McGregor ´Bletchley Park? I used to work there´. ´Where? When was that, wasn´t that the code-breaking place in the war, top secret´. ´Yes, Bletchley Park! I told you, I used to work there´ ´Are you sure Mum? You know as you get older your mind forgets and your memory plays tricks on you -´. ´You cheeky sod. Yes, it was a long time ago. But we weren’t allowed to talk about it – and we didn’t´. ´Wow – do the others know?´ ´Well no, I don’t think I´ve ever mentioned it.
1967
By John McGregor ´Ít was Twenty Years Ago Today Sergeant Pepper Taught The Band To Play ´ Well, yes, it wasn’t twenty years ago today that The Beatles released their masterpiece, for the mathematicians it was fifty-seven years ago – in 1967. That year was an amazing time for me – and Sergeant Pepper played his musical part in my young life. The year had begun dramatically. On 30th January I joined The Royal Air Force.
ON YER BIKE
By John McGregor I hate cyclists – there, I´ve said it. No, not your regular, fairly harmless geriatrics from various European countries – I mean the rat pack, the would be professional Sunday morning brigade in their Lycra-clothed hordes hurtling along our Spanish Carreteras. Confession: I never really took to cycling. It all started when I was about five when my grandad came to stay with us. I got a hand-me-down discarded bike from my big sister and´Gramp’ said he would teach me to ride it.
I CAN’T DO IT…
By John McGregor ´It’s the only time I go anywhere these days – I look forward to it every year…´. ´To see everyone again, to relive all those great times is just wonderful…´ ´I was so upset last year, I was diagnosed with cancer two days before and they kept me in hospital, so I missed it…´ I´m just back from two weeks in the sunny UK – well, it was some of the time.
Mazón again demands urgent construction of second Alicante runway
Carlos Mazón has again demanded that the Government “immediately” launches the second runway at the Alicante-Elche airport, so as not to lose 800 million euros and 14,800 jobs annually.
THE QUEEN By John McGregor
I’ve been doing it so long it just seems normal. I saw a tee –shirt the other day that read ‘It’s only kinky the first time’ – and that’s how I feel about it. I’m not harming anyone, am I? I’m not sure exactly when it started, some years ago, in a small way at first, but now we do it most afternoons, she even expects it. She likes it, I can tell the way she lets out little squeals of happiness and ecstasy. My wife Anne works all day so she doesn’t see us, but I think she knows all about it.
A rant for everyone
What I am going to firstly write about this week may upset some elderly people – but I make no apology. If they read it and inwardly digest it, it may save their lives. I am going to describe some of the antics of pedestrians, cyclists and motorists in Orihuela Costa, which should be renamed Costa Geriatrica. I have no doubt that if you can safely drive in this area, you can drive safely anywhere in the world. Why do I say that?
Dale Who? By John McGregor
Hands up, then – who knows who Dale Carnegie is? If you know you are likely to be an old git, like me. This man became famous in the 1930s in America (he’d have to be American with a name like that). He is most well-known for writing *How to Win Friends and Influence People amongst other similarly-titled self-improvement books. For me personally he did a great job in the 1970s: he gave me self-confidence.
McCafferty’s of Cabo Roig Golf Society Raise a Whopping €4247
McCafferty’s Golf Society, led by its hardworking committee, have raised a staggering €4247 in this year’s St. Patrick’s Day fundraiser golf outing. The annual fundraiser took place on February 13th at the famous Roda Golf Course, with a 100 participants. There was an abundance of prizes for those who played on the day. All funds raised are in aid of the 11th Cabo Roig St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
PLAYERS PLEASE! By John McGregor
I loved it at John Player and Sons for the sheer difference to anything I’d ever experienced in the forces and the pure pleasure of people-watching: everyday working-class characters from the tough city I had grown up in. I hadn’t seen this side of life while at school and then going straight into the RAF at seventeen.
Google Rolls Out Urgent Pixel Update For Android 14 Media Bug
-- NurPhoto via Getty Images Google is rolling out a fix for users who have been affected by an Android 14 bug, which is causing some storage issues on select Pixel phones. To quickly recap: some Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 7 and Pixel 7a users noticed that they no longer had access to their local files, or that their devices were stuck in a bootloop and experiencing crashes.
CBS ON TOUR!
Costa Blanca Scooterists are alive, well and growing. Ten tenacious members recently strutted their stuff up to the Northern Costa Blanca for three days to enjoy some great scootering and stunning scenery. These stalwarts set off from Torrevieja led by Phil ´Two Satnavs´ and stopped for a welcome lunch at the popular tourist town of Guadalest.
It May Never Happen
Occasionally, seeing your furrowed brow, someone might say to you, “Don’t worry, it probably won’t happen!” Little realising you were mentally choosing lottery numbers, or contemplating proposing marriage to your long-suffering partner. Good luck in both endeavours, by the way; if you could choose only one, which would it be? Do you worry a lot? Do you sometimes worry that you worry too much? It can be quite worrying, when you worry as much as that.
WEIGH TO GO, GLADYS! By John McGregor
I impatiently waited my place in the queue, and then at last my time had come. Encouraged by our leader Gladys I leapt on the scales. She fiddled with the weights before (almost) announcing the words I had been waiting to hear. ‘Well done John, you’ve lost another kilo and a half – that’s 84 kilos you are now. Well done!’ I was elated. ‘Well, that’s it Gladys. That’s my goal weight – ‘ ‘Oh no, John, that´s only a guide to start with.’ She consulted her chart. ‘Right, then: your Goal Weight is 76 kilos.
Acts Community Theatre
ACTS will be performing an extremely amusing farce at the Benijófar Cultural Centre on 9th 10th and 11th November. If you like to laugh. and have fun with the cast of this play within a play, do book your ticket it is one not to miss! The story weaves the ins and outs of an amateur dramatic group rehearsing, dress rehearsing an Edwardian Melodrama, then facing first night performance.
Closest ever results on first SAMM Race Day
SAMM’s autumn racing season got underway on September 10th with a good turn out of competitors that allowed 6 boats to come to the line for the first race. In a good ENE wind of 10 knots and a fairly flat sea four boats got away well, unfortunately Sirocco, a Sailfish 18, struggled and started 5 minutes late and Dos, a Laser 2000, was delayed when their rudder downhaul failed and they had to return to the shore to replace it.
THE F WORD… By John McGregor
Forces – flowers – fairies – fun… Flippin ´eck, what did you think I was going to say? I´ll put you in the Olympics for jumping to conclusions. Aged just eighteen in 1967 I signed on to serve my Queen and country in the Royal Air Force. Fighting fit after eight weeks brutal basic training, the following four months were fearful, firmly fixed in a classroom learning about aircraft radios: few… I mean phew! Flowers – 1967 saw the famous ´Summer of Love´, and flower-power was all the rage.
WHAT DO YOU SEE?
By John McGregor What does this picture mean to you? Fear? Rage? Laughter? Amazement? If you live on Mars you might not know this is THE ´mug shot´ of ex-President Donald J. Trump, taken as he addressed his latest batch of appalling charges at Fulton County jail in Georgia last week. Apart from being carried there by his own jet emblazoned with ´TRUMP´ on the side, how did he ever get to this lowest point in his very-eventful life?
THE HEROIC HERCULES
From my vantage point in the air I looked down at the advancing Lockheed C130 Hercules as it approached the aircraft carrier. Surely, I thought, that huge transport aircraft is not going to attempt to land on the deck? But yes, the Herc lined up and prepared to land – my heart was in my mouth. The pilot put the plane down immediately at the beginning of the very short runway.
What’s Your Name?
By John McGregor Part Two In 1865, two hundred years after Rob Roy reigned, a young Scot named John McGregor and his wife Janet bravely sailed to the other side of the earth. Together with their baby son on the good ship Resolute from Glasgow to New Zealand they began a new life, as far from their roots and family as is humanly possible. Life was tough for those early settlers, especially when they arrived amid a very harsh winter.
What’s Your Name?
´I noticed that the fuel gauges were reading differently… losing petrol at a tremendous rate… would have to force land… saw a clearing in the bush… touched down… felt the plane lurch and the nose sink… propeller struck the ground… nose dug into the ground.
SOUND ADVICE - The Leader
By John McGregor ‘So, John. You’re about to change direction in your life and career? ‘Yes, Fiona. I’ve just left the Royal Air Force and I’m looking for a fresh challenge.’ ‘OK. Well, actually here at the Job Centre we’re pioneering a new way of trying to help people re-settle in their lives. We want you to take some tests, but our way might surprise you. I am going to give you a booklet and – a pin! Not a pen, but a pin.
Something To Shout About
‘You don’t need to come in with me, I’ll only be a minute.’ Chas said abruptly and jumped out of the car before I could argue. Hmm, I thought, definitely something to hide there. Never mind, I’ll catch up with him later, I thought. I already had his number, I had met his sort before. Flash, cheeky, typical London wideboy salesman with a terrible taste in suits. In my new job as his Area Sales Manager, I had plenty to get my teeth into – when I was ready.
THE KAMIKAZE KID (AKA Prince Harry, Seventh in line to the throne).
Harry, what have you done? I think you’ve spectacularly blown it now! After Ms Meghan’s misgivings gave grave cause for concern, you have now quickly picked up the baton – and really ruined everything. First Oprah Winfrey, then the Netflix noughties, but now the explosive book and the in-depth interviews, British and American versions in case anything important was missed.
LADY CHATTERLY’S LOVER (AKA OOH-ER MISSUS)
In case you don’t know LCL is back in the ‘hot’ news 🤪. Netflix are the latest to tap into this D H Lawrence bonkbuster with a very sexy version of country life in the 1920s. The actual story by one of our great British classic authors has a lot going for it: First World War and its effects, politics, class wars, upstairs/downstairs, love, passion – and a lot more. The two main actors are young and largely unknown – but they won’t be after this ‘exposure’.
SPIKED! - The Leader
By John McGregor The huge mangy brute went mad as soon as it saw me, and a rabid race raged between us. But this time the beast wasn’t chained up – and on his home turf the odds of meanly mauling me were very much in this favour. My annual RAF reunion takes place in May every year. It entails my flying to the UK for a long weekend, usually staying with my old mate from all those great years many moons ago.
BEE CAREFUL! By John McGregor - The Leader
‘That’s nice, a queue’, I thought, as another person appeared to be standing in line close behind the rather boring ex-RAF chappy I was talking to. It was only twenty minutes into my first-ever book-signing at Waterstones in the lovely old town of Chichester in Sussex. I was feeling quite smug as I’d already signed and sold two books, and so I shifted my position slightly to get a better view.
Where Did You Get That Hat? by David Aitken
Hats were commonplace before 3000 BC. One of the earliest known hats was worn by a Bronze Age man called Otzi — was his name written inside his hat? Otzi was found frozen inside a mountain between Italy and Austria, where he had lain since 3250 BC. Presumably his hat had long since ceased to keep his head warm, but it was a bearskin cap, so he must have been a pretty tough guy when he was alive.
Hoarder Found Dead in Torrevieja Home
A woman, said to be an 82-year-old British resident of Torrevieja, was found dead in her home, where she could have been for at least two weeks. The woman, named locally as Josephine, lived on Avenida Alfred Nobel, and was said to be suffering from Diogenes Syndrome, also called compulsive hoarding disorder, is defined as a behavioural disorder that usually affects elderly people who live alone.
TEARS FOR FEARS...By John McGregor
‘Does this mean I can go on holiday now?’ I asked the lovely little Spanish oncologist. Her name is Aranjutu or something. I call her Orang-utan – but not to her face. ‘To where and for how long?’ she asked politely. ‘Erm, America, about three weeks?’ I replied. ‘That’s the first I’ve heard about this!’ piped up wife Annie from her customary seat beside me. Orang-utan smiled.
Nobody Cares About The Labour Files
By John McGregor, a translator and political violence researcher In late September, Al Jazeera’s investigative unit released a documentary series called the Labour Files. This in-depth investigation is based on a 500GB leak of British Labour Party documents, an enormous story in its own right. It shows how Labour Party officials worked against the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn, attacking and expelling other members of the party, and suspending constituency groups.
Oil Traders Are Cashing In on Volatile Markets
Oil traders are making the most of oil price volatility and a global energy crisis, leveraging their storage facilities, their global network of terminals, and their shipping fleets. Industry giants such as Vitol, Glencore, Gunvor, and Trafigura have all continued to lift Russian crude, although some have made commitments to stop business with Russia.
Links 10/3/22 | naked capitalism
Posted on by Lambert and I, and many readers, agree that Ukraine has prompted the worst informational environment ever. We hope readers will collaborate in mitigating the fog of war — both real fog and stage fog — in comments. None of us need more cheerleading and link-free repetition of memes; there are platforms for that. Low-value, link-free pom pom-wavers will be summarily whacked. And for those who are new here, this is not a mere polite request.
Death Is Anything but a Dying Business as Private Equity Cashes In
John here. This piece on private equity working its way into the funeral industry is a bit optimistic but identifies many of the important dynamics of the process. There can’t be that many $20 billion industries that are 80% privately owned and operated, and are guaranteed to have a market forever, so the appeal to private equity is obvious.
Dependancy As a substitute of Taxation | bare capitalism
By John McGregor, a translator and political violence researcher The 2023 Irish funds will embody a 50% improve on the tax on a packet of cigarettes. The Irish Coronary heart Basis argued that the rise ought to have been greater to help within the battle towards tobacco. Australian governments have proven an identical dedication to crushing smoking by means of tax will increase during the last 20 years.
Addiction Instead of Taxation
By John McGregor, a translator and political violence researcher The 2023 Irish budget will include a 50% increase on the tax on a packet of cigarettes. The Irish Heart Foundation argued that the increase should have been higher to assist in the fight against tobacco. Australian governments have shown a similar dedication to crushing smoking through tax increases over the last 20 years.
Links 10/2/22 | naked capitalism
Lambert and I, and many readers, agree that Ukraine has prompted the worst informational environment ever. We hope readers will collaborate in mitigating the fog of war — both real fog and stage fog — in comments. None of us need more cheerleading and link-free repetition of memes; there are platforms for that. Low-value, link-free pom pom-wavers will be summarily whacked. And for those who are new here, this is not a mere polite request.
Pharma-Funded FDA Gets Drugs Out Faster, But Some Work Only ‘Marginally’ and Most Are Pricey
John here. This article about the pharma-funded system at the FDA highlights a number of its downsides. Importantly, it shows that the process is becoming more prevalent and, because of the funding structure now in place, will not be easy to unpick. With such a large proportion of the drug regulation budget deriving directly from drug makers, and more input from drug makers at every stage in the process, the divide between the FDA and drug makers is rapidly shrinking.
When Labor isn’t Labor and Liberals aren’t Liberal
By John McGregor, a translator and political violence researcher The Australian electoral and parliamentary programs, together with necessary voting in any respect ranges of presidency, lends itself to centrist insurance policies and two main events of presidency. After the earliest years of Australian nationwide politics, one aspect of the political spectrum has been dominated by the Australian Labor Occasion, the commerce union affiliated social gathering of organized labor.
When Labor isn’t Labor and Liberals aren’t Liberal
By John McGregor, a translator and political violence researcher The Australian electoral and parliamentary systems, including mandatory voting at all levels of government, lends itself to centrist policies and two major parties of government. After the earliest years of Australian national politics, one side of the political spectrum has been dominated by the Australian Labor Party, the trade union affiliated party of organized labor.
Links 9/29/22 | naked capitalism
Lambert and I, and many readers, agree that Ukraine has prompted the worst informational environment ever. We hope readers will collaborate in mitigating the fog of war — both real fog and stage fog — in comments. None of us need more cheerleading and link-free repetition of memes; there are platforms for that. Low-value, link-free pom pom-wavers will be summarily whacked. And for those who are new here, this is not a mere polite request.
Indian Anger at Khalistan Referendum Costs Canadian Higher Education Sector
By John McGregor, a translator and political violence researcher On 19 September, a large number of Sikhs in Canada voted in an entirely unofficial referendum. On the ballot was the question of independence from India for a Sikh homeland, Khalistan. The Indian government has increasingly focused on the issue of Khalistan in its international relations, and was not pleased by the Canadian decision to allow the vote to go ahead.
We Need to Elect More Leaders From the Labor Movement Into Government
When a group of custodians in York County, South Carolina, learned their bosses planned to sell them out to save a few pennies, they knew exactly who to turn to for help—a fellow worker who’d walked in the very same shoes. County Councilman William “Bump” Roddey, a longtime member of the United Steelworkers (USW) and a former custodian himself, assured the county workers that he had their backs.
Research into 1930s commuting in London shows how public transport boosts the labour market
John here. The Tory evisceration of public services in the UK has effects across all aspects of life. In the light of the recent cancellation of bus lines and an announced tube fare increase, this piece looks at the historic benefits to workers and the economy of a functioning public transport system. Nonetheless, as much of the “public” transport in the UK is fully privatized, services that do not return a profit to their operators continue to be closed. By Andrew J.
Is the Blame Game Politically Correct? by David Aitken
It seems the man in the street must now be referred to as “the average person.” That doesn’t apply to me and you, of course. And anyway, shouldn’t the average person be walking on the pavement? I learned recently that the slum district in which I grew up was actually “an economically deprived area.” It was certainly deprived of pavements, now I come to think of it. I spent years dodging traffic on a road no chicken would ever want to cross.
My London Marathon By John McGregor
‘Go on ‘Shell, you can do it gal!’. I looked round behind me, and realised with horror she was slowly gaining on me. The woman looked terrible, face purple, hair soaked with sweat, feet splayed out to either side, but…..she was gaining on me. ‘She’ was Michelle from Eastenders, in real life the actress Susan Tully. I knew from my wife’s magazine she was running in it six months before the event – with a personal bloody trainer, of course.
You can’t be Serious - The card is the new king … - The Leader
‘The king is dead – long live the king!’ Cash used to be king, but like all reigns, the king eventually died and was replaced by the king-in-waiting – the credit card. Already there are shops and businesses which refuse to take cash – even though, as far as we know, it is still the only real legal tender. There is no law in Ireland which compels a shop to take cash and some banks have gone totally cashless. It is years now since you could book a flight or hotel with real money.
Links 9/27/22 | naked capitalism
Lambert and I, and many readers, agree that Ukraine has prompted the worst informational environment ever. We hope readers will collaborate in mitigating the fog of war — both real fog and stage fog — in comments. None of us need more cheerleading and link-free repetition of memes; there are platforms for that. Low-value, link-free pom pom-wavers will be summarily whacked. And for those who are new here, this is not a mere polite request.
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