#sde progress

[dongw1]

Week 11

This week truly marked the start of the final phase in our SDE course. Our instructor provided us with helpful learning materials and video discussions that gave us a clear direction moving forward. We were given both individual and group assignments, with the unique requirement of submitting them in both digital and handwritten formats. I found the individual tasks quite doable, especially with the insights I gained from the provided resources. The group work also went well so our team communicated effectively and worked together, which made the experience smooth and even enjoyable.

[tavolgisvist]

In 1967 the Daily Telegraph, no less, produced a special on ‘the New Culture of Beat City.’ The prince of it all, perhaps, was a roly-poly poet and painter named Adrian Henri. With his fellow poets Roger McGough and Brian Patten he was responsible for a Penguin paperback, The Mersey Sound, which became the best-selling poetry collection of all time. And, this being Liverpool, Roger McGough found time to be in a chart-topping pop group, the Scaffold, as well. Once again Liverpool was not a provincial outpost but a creative hub which attracted progressive thinkers from far and wide. Henri would play host to the American beat poet Allen Ginsberg - who was, in his heart, something of a Beatle groupie and was moved to declare, ‘Liverpool is at the present moment the centre of the consciousness of the human universe.’ One day, the obscure performance artist Yoko Ono materialised, as Spencer Leigh recalls: ‘I am very proud of the fact that I touched Yoko Ono before John Lennon did. She came here in 1966 to the Bluecoat Chambers and had a “happening”. I had never been to a happening before, but it sounded very exciting and mysterious and avant garde so I went along. She invited members of the audience to wrap her up in bandages, so that is why I touched her before John Lennon did. I was doing her feet very delicately while Adrian Henri was doing the top half. She was covered in all these bandages and I remember John Gorman of the Scaffold shouting out, “You’re wanted on the phone!” ‘You could really see the influence she would have on John Lennon’s work. She had the black bags on stage and she invited people to come up on stage and take their clothes off inside the bag. About eight people did. It was an entertaining evening which went on for about two hours. Part of it was just watching her eat a tuna hsh sandwich. At the end of the happening she put a vase on the table and her husband Tony Cox smashed it and invited people to come up and take a piece. So I did and Yoko Ono said, “I want us all to meet in ten years’ time and piece this together.” I’ve never met her since.’

(Liverpool - Wondrous Place by Paul Du Noyer, 2002)

Part (I), (II), (III), (IV), (V), (VI), (VII), (VIII), (IX), (X), (XI), (XII), (XIII), (XIV), (XV), (XVI), (XVII), (XVIII), (XIX), (XX), (XXI), (XXII)

Mike McCartney:…I knew Yoko before John, she came to Liverpool with her husband and some American bloke. Q: Oh, that’s interesting… Mike McCartney: Yes, she was in the Bluecoat [Chambers], we went to see her in the Bluecoat in Liverpool because we’d heard about this Japanese artist. Q: He was putting on an exhibition or something? Mike McCartney: She did these wonderful exhibitions. In fact, we got thrown out of one of them because we were satirists… Q: You weren’t taking it that seriously then? Mike McCartney: We didn’t… Yoko, I’m sorry, now! I don’t know whether you remember this, but she did this thing where she would get people on the stage – and thank god she didn’t ask us to get up –  and she would wrap them in bandages. You know, what I mean? She’s taking it so seriously, and we’re scouting you know. Then, “any suggestions from the audience” and there’s these people wrapped up in bandages and John ‘Tiswas’ Gornman did a ‘mummy’ joke. And, we were thrown out –  “you’re not taking this seriously”.

(Mike McCartney talks to SDE about the reissue of his 1974 album ‘McGear’, September 2019, interview with Paul Sinclair)

[girlactionfigure]

🟢DEAL PROGRESS? US SAYS YES - HAMAS SAYS NO, GAZA EVAC ORDERS, NORTHERN BARRAGE

(1 o f 2)

ISRAEL REALTIME - Connecting to Israel in Realtime

Shavua Tov - After Shabbat in Israel - may we be blessed with a good, successful and safe week, may our soldiers be successful, our hostages return home, and our enemies plans fail badly.

⚠️AGAIN WARNING NORTHERN TOWNS TO STAY CLOSE TO SHELTER (20:10).. we ask the residents of Kiryat Shmona who remained in the city to stay near protected areas until we are notified otherwise.  As well as Kfar Giladi, Gosherim, Ma'ayan Baruch, Dafna, Dan, Shanir, Kfar Szold, Amir, Sde Nehemiah, Kfar Blum, Shamir, Naot Mordechai, Lehavot Hashan and Gonen (20:25).

♦️EVAC ORDER - GAZA BEIT HANOUN, GAZA MAGHAZI.. The IDF is calling on Palestinians in the Beit Hanoun area of northern Gaza to evacuate and head to "shelters in the center of Gaza City."  The IDF will "forcefully operate" against terror groups in the Beit Hanoun area.  As well the Maghazi area of central Gaza to evacuate.

♦️A commander in Hezbollah's elite Radwan force was killed in a drone strike in southern Lebanon earlier today, the IDF says.

🔸DEAL NEWS.. Prime Minister's Office:  The negotiating team regarding the hostage deal informed the Prime Minister today about the status of the talks in Doha (Qatar).  The team expressed cautious optimism to the Prime Minister regarding the possibility of moving forward with the deal, based on the latest American proposal (which is based on the May 27 outline) - which includes elements acceptable to Israel.

.. Per the US, the deal is only a few minor points away.  

.. President Biden: I spoke with the ruler of Qatar and the Egyptian president about the great progress made in the Doha talks over the past two days.  I am optimistic about reaching a ceasefire agreement in Gaza. We have an opportunity.

.. Per Hamas, nothing has changed on the unacceptable points.  

.. Senior Hamas official Muhammad Mardawi told "Arab TV" a short time ago that Hamas will not accept any solution that is not compatible with the proposal that was put forth on July 2nd.  Mardawi added that the Palestinian people will not pay the price of the American position covering for Israel and its crimes.

.. Senior Hamas official, Sami Abu Zahari, in a statement to the French news agency: Biden's words that we are close to a ceasefire agreement are an illusion.

.. Senior Hamas official Ghazi Hamed in an interview with the Al-Mayadeen channel about the ceasefire talks:  We expected the negotiations to reach this result.  Netanyahu spoke honestly when he said he would not stop the war. It was in the media.

The occupation set new conditions regarding the Philadelphi border corridor after we previously agreed that Israel would withdraw from it.  The  Wall Street Journal regarding an Israeli withdrawal from Philadelphi is not true.

Netanyahu blew up the agreement from the beginning.  We will not allow an Israeli presence on any piece of land in the Gaza Strip.

Israel wants there to be a loophole in the agreement that would allow it to return to fighting.  Israel blew the Doha agreement, there is no progress.

The talk about negotiations, about coexistence with the occupation and about peace - is all a lie.

🟢DEAL PROGRESS? US SAYS YES - HAMAS SAYS NO, GAZA EVAC ORDERS, NORTHERN BARRAGE

(2 o f 2)

ISRAEL REALTIME - Connecting to Israel in Realtime

⭕ Major ROCKET BARRAGE from HEZBOLLAH at northern towns, 55+ rockets, over Shabbat, including Safed - with a major barrage aimed at the civilian town of Ayelet Hashachar.  Ayelet Hashar is located about 10 kilometers from the border with Lebanon, and therefore its residents are not evacuated. 2 soldiers seriously injured by rocket hit fired at Misgav Am.

⭕ 8 rounds of ROCKETS and SUICIDE DRONES at northern towns over Shabbat.

▪️A HERO SOLDIER HAS FALLEN.. Yotam Itzhak, 34, from Rosh Ha’ayin, fell in battle in Gaza.  May his family be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem, and may G-d avenge his blood!

▪️ARGENTINA ARRESTS TERROR SQUAD.. planning on attacking the Jewish community in Mendoza.  All the arrested are of Afghan origin and associated with the Taliban and/or ISIS.

▪️A DAY AFTER THE UN ASKED FOR A CEASEFIRE TO VACCINATE.. for polio, the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza: The first confirmed case of polio has been located in the Gaza Strip.  (That’s convenient.)

▪️LEBANON GOES DARK?  The Lebanese Electricity Company: The supply of electricity to the national grid was stopped all over Lebanon, including to the airport, the port of Beirut, the water pumps, etc. Reason: lack of fuel for the power plant.

[eyyde-sync-blog]

Week 1 Day 1: First Meeting

First meeting in CpE 221: Software Design and Engineering (SDE)

Our instructor, Sir Carl, kicked things off by walking us through the course outline and roadmap-- which were all set to the rhythm of Maki's songs!

Now, Sir Carl opted for us to group ourselves into 4 for our business opportunity PIT. These are my fellow members: Ian, Loraine(Lompia), and Rona!

Right after Sir Carl finished his instructions, we started brainstorming ideas for our PIT.

Now, it's Brainstorming time!

One of our brainstormed ideas was a Marketplace for Students—a hub where students can buy and sell goods and services tailored to campus life which was inspired from the USTP fb page: Freedom Wall. While it sounded promising, we hit a creative block trying to expand on it. So, we decided to keep the conversation going via chat for any lightbulb moments.

And then, inspiration struck!

What if we create a mini Foodpanda-inspired business exclusively for USTP? Starting small, we could test it out using the main cafeteria as our base. Picture this: students ordering food online during peak hours and skipping the lines entirely.

Later on this day....

Kuya Ian took the lead and set up a Trello board for all our project planning. Right now, it’s looking a bit empty—but don’t worry, it’s only the beginning!

We’ll be filling it up with ideas, tasks, and progress soon enough.

[alexguardaquivil619]

Week 6: No Rebus Puzzle, Topic 3 and Consultation

Key Testing Methods, QA Practices, and Project Progress

Last August 17, 2024, no rebus puzzle to start off the session this time, but the subject matter was just as engaging. Our focus was on ensuring that software not only works but also meets high standards of reliability and usability. Testing is at the heart of this process, and our discussion began with two main types of testing Black Box Testing and White Box Testing. The Black Box Testing is all about functionality and the White Box Testing digs into the internal workings of the software. Both approaches have their strenghts, and a balanced combination helps ensure robust software. we also tackled about the regession testing, which is crucial after making changes to a software system, keeping this process efficient is where test automation comes in. Automating tests saves time and reduce human error. It's especially useful when projects grow larger, and more functionality needs to be tested repeatedly. We also discussed about Quality Assurance practices. QA isn't just about testing—it's a holistic approach to maintaining software quality throughout its development lifecycle. This includes adhering to coding standards, conducting peer reviews, and tracking issues as early as possible.

One of the highlights of the session is seen in the photos above, it was learning about User Acceptance Testing (UAT), particularly John Brook's Method. This method focuses on measuring the usability of software not only functions correctly but is also intuitive and easy to use.

Of course, after our discussion we are group into 6 groups and I am teamed up with Apus, Calalin, Diaz, Gonzales and Mahinay. We have our assessment or class activity every after our discussion. Engr. Suasola showed us 5 items on what to improved about the given UI and for the last item it was where we applied the John Brooke's Method and I am the one who was tasked to do that part. As a group, I can say that we did pretty well and everyone contributed to the answers we came up with.

Ending the class with a groufie with Engr. Suasola <3

Earlier, today, August 20, 2024, we had a consultation with Engr. Suasola regarding the revisions from our last consulation. the citation of the Appendix in the Requirements Gathering section was approved! However, we still have a few tweaks to make, specifically in our Data Normalization. During the consulation, we were also reminded of our deliverables before midterm and were informed that our presentation after midterm will be crucial in demonstration our progress. It's a lot to work on, but we're on the right track!

It's clear that testing and quality assurance are more than just final steps in the software development process. They are continuous efforts that start early and are vital to delivering a successful product. I found the exploration of different testing methods enlightening, and it deepened my understanding of how comprehensive testing strategies lead to higher-quality software.

With our project work moving forward, it's a busy but rewarding time in SDE. We're to refine our revisions and prepare for what's next!

[chariebelssss]

082924 | CPE312 Software Design and Engineering | 12:00 - 3:00 PM

WEEK 3

On August 29, 2024, we present our initial progress of our CitizenShield Net Project to Engr. Carl. My team had been diligently working on the front-end design, focusing on important components of login, sign up, and the homepage. The anticipation was palpable as we prepared to showcase our efforts and seek valuable guidance from our mentor.

The consultation with Engr. Carl provided us with invaluable insights and feedback. While we were pleased with the progress we had made, it became evident that there were areas where our project could be enhanced. The suggestions offered by Engr. Carl were instrumental in identifying potential areas for improvement and ensuring that our project aligns with the highest standards of quality and functionality.

Looking ahead, our team is eager to apply the lessons learned from last week's consultation to our ongoing development efforts. We are confident that by incorporating the feedback and continuing to work collaboratively, we will be able to deliver a project that not only meets but exceeds our initial expectations.

#SDE #CPE

[the-garbanzo-annex-jr]

Each year, for two and half weeks in August, dozens of young pianists from all over the world gather in Midreshet Sde Boker, an educational center and boarding school in the Negev desert in southern Israel, to practice their craft with the world’s most celebrated piano teachers.

This year is the 32nd anniversary of Tel-Hai International Piano Master Classes, and the initiative is showing no signs of slowing down.

The organizers expected at least 78 participants from 17 countries to attend the event, which opened July 30 and ends August 17. Students who excel will get the chance to perform at respected piano concerts and even win prizes.

From Juilliard to Sde Boker

Emanuel Krasovsky, 77, who cofounded the project in 1992, immigrated to Israel from Lithuania over 50 years ago. He studied piano at Tel Aviv University and later at the Juilliard School in New York.

He opted to return to Israel after graduating, hoping to “raise the level and quality of piano playing in the country,” which he felt left much to be desired.

Krasovsky is currently the artistic director of the Tel-Hai International Piano Master Classes, as well as the chairman of the piano department at Tel Aviv University’s Buchmann-Mehta School of Music.

“You can’t progress by only practicing with the same teachers. Young people need to expand their horizons in order to get better. Across the world there were always masterclasses for that purpose, but in Israel it didn’t exist,” Krasovsky tells ISRAEL21c.

“I attended similar masterclasses in the US, and they had the most profound effect on me. But, it was very expensive and difficult to travel abroad for the masterclasses. So I thought, ‘If the mountain won’t come to Mohammed, then Mohammed must come to the mountain,’” he laughs.

[neworange]

Project Driven Learning - Dumped in notion today's morning😅

Vision

[ ] Job But in a good organization that I can be proud of

[ ] Worked for interesting companies at the beginning of my career which are also easier to get into and can provide valuable experience and a learning environment

[ ] I want to build visionary solutions for an organization like Sundar Pichai did for Google.

Projects

[ ] Meaningful projects - projects that I want to use myself

[ ] Find clone development projects of popular apps

[ ] I'll just have to build Just good enough projects

[ ] Project Matrix - Value / Complexity / Skills / Scope

[ ] Projects that are not just learning coding and development but also cloud computing and other skills

[ ] Don’t just build what you are passionate about but build what resonates with the target audience for which you are going to be applying for

[ ] What’s the enterprise-level business problem for which a solution can be coded equivalent to the exercises I’ve done from the book

[ ] Enterprise level Solving some Business Problems

System

[ ] Build the developer's Brain

[ ] Setting up a system to efficiently complete projects after projects

[ ] Build using AI and Google → Do the same projects using tutorials → Build a similar project of my own on my own

[ ] Keep reflecting to improve the project system and workflow

[ ] What are the outcomes of working on that project?

[ ] Pivot when projects not working or when gotten stuck

[ ] Which projects to take

[ ] Each project must have Skill/ challenge/ value/ purpose criteria

[ ] aligned with your immediate goals, if not add to the project backlog

[ ] Create mini frameworks to build project-efficient, effective and robust solutions.

[ ] Learn from the experts - So many online have built projects with so many functional things

[ ] How they approach building a new project

[ ] How they plan to Strategically set up for success

[ ] How they start a project from scratch

[ ] How do they plan architecture?

[ ] Build a project-building system and improve it along the way while building and learning

Resources

[ ] Theory management by reflecting on the progress of the project

[ ] Cross-check the concepts learnt in the theory

[ ] Find books & courses with enterprise-level application project

[ ] Full in-depth tutorials with examples

[ ] Reverse engineer Portfolios and Github

[ ] Research the expert people in building projects.

[ ] Medium, Github contributors

[ ] Udemy SDE project tutorials

[ ] Workshop → Software Development

[ ] Job boards require analysis to practice skills for software engineering

[ ] Agile certification

[ ] Cloud Certification

[ ] Software development online communities to ask for help and feedback and get to know about new things

High-Quality Questions

[ ] How to become a GitHub star

[ ] How to become an open-source star

[ ] what it takes to create a software from scratch till deployment

[ ] How to become a modern software engineer

[ ] What are the skills apart from coding and development?

[ ] What skills to acquire to go from to great engineer

Profession

[ ] Gather a network of support system

To help out of the stuck zone

Get feedback on stuck projects

[ ] Find a few developer friends

[ ] Ask them if they have built projects and hosted them on GitHub

[ ] Ask them to give feedback on my progress & help me make it functional

[ ] Software development online communities to get to know about new things

[alientastesubject]

Finding someone on tw*tter (evil awful place that I am horrifically addicted to, but dw dw I set an hour timer for myself now😁👍 and have been for months. I'm not perfect but I'm making progress) who is "normal" about L*S and L*SDE is like finding a needle in a haystack😭 it was so nice scrolling through someone's page and seeing them not be horrible awful terrible like wow, I did not think that was possible for f*ndom spaces especially on tw*tter...

[delightfulsublimewhispers]

Best Online Distance Universities in Kerala

As the times change, so does the education system. The old boundaries of classrooms are a thing of the past as education steps into the virtual and distance learning system with its positives of flexibility and convenience to students and working professionals alike. Kerala, being the very progressive and literate state that it is, hasn't been far behind either, and most universities in the state have started quality distance learning courses. Regardless of if you want to upskill, switch careers, or pursue further studies at your own convenience, Kerala's online distance universities can be the answer.

Below is an in-depth examination of Kerala's top online distance universities, what they have to offer, and why they are so popular.

1. University of Kerala (School of Distance Education)

Overview:

One of the oldest government institutions of Kerala, the University of Kerala has established its School of Distance Education (SDE) for distance learning of students who are unable to study in the regular mode. The university is UGC-DEB approved, and the courses are standardized and quality assured.

Courses:

Undergraduate: BA, B.Com, BBA, B.Sc (Computer Science)

Postgraduate: MA (English, Hindi, Economics, etc.), M.Com, MSc (Mathematics)

Highlights:

Reasonable fee structure

Learning centers throughout Kerala for personal contact programs

Printed and online study material in detail

2. Mahatma Gandhi University Distance Education

Overview:

Mahatma Gandhi University of Kottayam is a popular name among Kerala's higher learning colleges. Its distance education program has been running for decades and serves a good number of students within and outside Kerala.

Courses Offered:

Undergraduate: BA, B.Com, BBA

Postgraduate: MA (various courses), M.Com, MSc (IT), MBA

Highlights:

Excellent academic program

Blended learning system of online courses and study material in hard copy

Structured examination and assessment mechanism

3. Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) Kerala Regional Centre

Description:

Even as a non-Kerala university with its regional centre at Trivandrum with several study centres, IGNOU happens to be a familiar university in the state. It is India's largest open university and international brand for its flexibility-based and reach-based courses.

courses at UG, PG, diploma, and certificate levels

Bachelor of Arts, B.Com, Master of Arts, M.Com, Master of Business Administration, Master of Computer Applications, B.Ed

Highlights:

Accreditation from national and international agencies

Online platforms such as SWAYAM, eGyankosh, and Gyan Vani

Well-equipped support units and efficient regional centers

4. Calicut University (School of Distance Education)

Overview:

University of Calicut School of Distance Education is a large distance education university in the Kerala state. The institution has been providing courses to students for more than four decades and is reported to be greatly preferred by students because of its strong academic facilities.

Courses:

BA (diverse subjects), B.Com, BBA

MA, M.Com, MSc (Mathematics)

Highlights:

Readily accessible study materials and internet resources

Far-sighted student support infrastructure

Timetable contact classes and workshops

5. Sree Narayana Guru Open University (SNGOU)

Overview:

Sree Narayana Guru Open University, with its headquarters located in Kollam, is the new but rising Kerala player in the sector of distance education. It is a state government-funded university that was founded in 2020 and has been incorporated with just a single aim of giving emphasis to open and distance learning.

Courses Offered:

Undergraduate: BA, B.Com

Postgraduate: MA (English, Sociology), M.Com

Highlights:

State-of-the-art learning management system (LMS) for effortless e-learning

Emphasize local reach and accessibility to education

Customized academic guidance and e-libraries

Why Kerala Online Distance Education?

1. Ease: The universities enable learners to learn at their own convenience, the best for working professionals, stay-at-home parents, and rural residents.

2. Affordability: In contrast to traditional on-campus education, distance learning is affordable with the same curriculum and learning outcome.

3. Recognition and Quality: The bulk of the courses are UGC-DEB recognized, thereby ensuring standardization and employability and eligibility for postgraduate education.

4. Diversity of Courses: From conventional arts and commerce graduation to newer computer applications and management courses, there's a wonderful diverse range.

5. Online Support: Most of the universities now possess computer classrooms, video lectures, and electronic libraries, which enhance the process of learning.

How to Choose the Perfect University?

During choosing a distance education university, the following needs to be kept in mind:

Examination Process: The examination is online or offline.

Student Support: Check if help desks are operating, mentoring is available, and there is a provision for interaction with the faculty.

Alumni Feedback: Search for testimonials and communicate with existing or past students.

Conclusion

Distance education via the medium of the Internet in Kerala is changing faster by the day, and this is a simple and handy way to higher education. Whatever may be your desire—is career transition in process, a new vocation, or, for that matter, a fantasy—Kerala's distance universities put the master key of success in your hand, your own time. With pioneers like the University of Kerala, MGU, and more recent ones like SNGOU, the students can now enjoy quality education with confidence, without spatial and temporal constraints.

[itsmelerra]

Hi, it's been awhile!

SDE UPDATE! 🦾

I'm working on the frontend customer home page part, and the backend is also in progress.

[merrikstryfe]

The most striking chapter of the book is titled “A Professional Army of Militias,” in which Hazani describes the army as he encountered it in this war—chaotic and undisciplined at worst, creative and improvisational at best, and usually everything all at once. These qualities would only become more pronounced after the early stage covered by this book, when units became increasingly strained by exhaustion and brutalized by combat far longer than any scenario ever envisioned by planners of Israel’s reserve army. But the indiscipline was present, according to Hazani, in the war’s first months and is in fact endemic in the IDF. Sometimes, Hazani writes, soldiers destroyed houses in Gaza when there was no operational need to do so. Sometimes soldiers didn’t use explosives but just set the houses on fire, which he sees, in at least some cases, as a primal enactment of revenge. He describes the ubiquitous smartphones, forbidden by army rules in theory but present in practice, even in the hands of senior officers — a failing he sees as symptomatic of an army that says one thing and does another.

...]

[...] Anyone watching this war or talking to soldiers, or anyone who has served in the army — or in any army, in any war — understands that there are constant lapses of discipline both light and severe. These days, some violations are caught on smartphone cameras by people not only immoral enough to commit them but stupid enough to film them: soldiers amusing themselves by wearing women’s clothing in homes they’ve commandeered on the urban battlefield of Gaza, for example, or stealing things from the apartments where they take cover. Property is vandalized and walls sprayed with graffiti. There have also been outright war crimes, only a fraction of which, presumably, are known — like the violent abuse of detainees in the military prison at Sde Teiman, where military prosecutors recently charged five soldiers with severely beating a Hamas prisoner, leaving the man with broken ribs and bleeding from a wound in his rectum. Making things even harder is the fact that some of this hostility has seeped into the Israeli left. When the daily Ha’aretz, for example, whose owner recently called Palestinian terrorists “freedom fighters,” reviewed Hazani’s new work, the headline was, “Reservist’s Explosive Book on Gaza Exposes Israel’s War Machine from Within.” This kind of ideological sensationalism was certainly not what Hazani hoped to provoke with his field notes, and it cripples any honest discussion we Israelis need to have about how to fight implacable and ruthless foes without losing our soul. The army’s ability to investigate itself is flawed but does exist, our civilian judiciary is embattled but present, and Israeli citizens and soldiers deserve to have crimes prosecuted and the truth known. Violence can never be fully regulated, and this is an inevitable part of war. The American massacre of more than eighty German prisoners at Chenogne in 1945, for example, doesn’t mean the Allies were wrong in World War II. The challenge faced by anyone trying to write critically about the Israeli army, however, or about Israel, is that any critique will be seized on by the country’s legions of virulent opponents from the ideological world that produces calumnies like the “genocide” in Gaza, a fiction designed to tie Israel’s hands and enable its enemies. This world includes not just organizations like Amnesty International and arms of the United Nations but also much of the formerly mainstream Western press, which now mostly serves a progressive left that has a near-theological obsession with the villainy of the Jewish state. Making things even harder is the fact that some of this hostility has seeped into the Israeli left. When the daily Ha’aretz, for example, whose owner recently called Palestinian terrorists “freedom fighters,” reviewed Hazani’s new work, the headline was, “Reservist’s Explosive Book on Gaza Exposes Israel’s War Machine from Within.” This kind of ideological sensationalism was certainly not what Hazani hoped to provoke with his field notes, and it cripples any honest discussion we Israelis need to have about how to fight implacable and ruthless foes without losing our soul.

[...]

I have a friend who serves as a major in my old reserve brigade, the Fifth, who left his wife and five children at home on October 7 and spent most of the next year fighting in Gaza. […] I asked him to read part of Hazani’s book and tell me what he thought, particularly about the idea that the army was undisciplined and motivated by vengeance. It’s hard to understand the Gaza battlefield, he said when we spoke in his kitchen in Jerusalem, if you haven’t been in it. Even Israeli generals who fought in older wars can’t fully understand it. Every building may house a tunnel entrance and be booby-trapped. You don’t risk soldiers searching the house if it’s possible to just destroy it, and as the units advance through the neighborhoods, they blow up anything behind them — if not, they risk a bullet or RPG from behind. If the soldiers have enough explosives, they’ll use them, but if they need to use kerosene and a match, they’ll use those. I didn’t really need to be convinced: Early in the war, the principal of my sons’ high school was killed with three comrades while searching a booby-trapped house. But although vengeance isn’t and can’t be a military order, my friend said, it is a legitimate human response. The Palestinian population that produced and applauded the October 7 massacre needs to see that such actions have a terrible price, as do any of Israel’s neighbors weighing similar acts. And Israelis need to know that their blood isn’t cheap. He remembered arriving at Nir Oz and seeing a trail of stolen items dropped by Palestinian looters who’d followed the armed fighters into the kibbutz. The items included children’s scooters and tricycles. (Thirty-eight kids were murdered by Palestinians on October 7, and with the confirmed murders of Ariel and Kfir Bibas, who were kidnapped from Nir Oz, the number of murdered children is forty.) “The IDF is a people’s army,” my friend said. “You’re a soldier and you’re a civilian. Maybe your brother was killed on October 7. The soldier who sees the tricycle is also a father.” The characteristic of the IDF that Hazani’s book seems to suggest is a failure of the organization, the major said, is the organization — it’s an army not of professionals but of citizens, and this helps explain both failure and success in this war.

[...]

When I asked another officer I know — also a major in the reserves, attached as an engineering officer to the staff of a regular infantry brigade — for his thoughts on the book, his attention was caught by Hazani’s use of the term “militias.” He didn’t disagree with the use of the word but thought the author missed the most relevant ways in which it applied. Retired generals like Yair Golan and Noam Tibon heard the news on October 7, got in their private cars, and drove into the war zone, fighting with improvised units and weapons taken from casualties—this heroism, he said, could also be described as “militia behavior.” In his own unit, he saw that as the men were worn down in long months of fighting, as fewer reservists showed up, and as equipment began to run out, the vacuum was filled by improvisations conducted outside the military hierarchy. When no more engine parts were available for the D9 bulldozers vital for urban warfare, a civilian genius in his unit had the parts 3D printed by a friend in Israel and sent down to Gaza. The casualty and burnout rate of D9 operators is high, and when they ran out, the unit found civilians who knew how to operate heavy machinery and were willing to sign up despite the extreme risk. One of them was killed. And when the unit ran out of antitank mines with which to detonate buildings, someone got a civilian factory to donate tens of thousands of paint buckets that could be filled with liquid explosive. The militia instinct, he said, “is what saved the army over the past year.” At the same time, there have been fatal accidents involving explosives in Gaza, and this completes the picture—that of an army that makes up for a lack of manpower, gear, and professionalism by winging it. There are discipline problems, this major said, and breaches of army orders, some of them severe. He saw crimes like looting punished by commanders. Most soldiers are doing the best they can, he said, and the army is a reflection of the society it serves. “Immoral acts happen,” he said, “but they’re on the fringes.”

[skinnyskellyy]

Week 6: Balancing Act

This week, we focused on finishing our website while also preparing for our SDE quiz. It was definitely a challenge trying to balance everything and decide what to prioritize first. Despite the struggle, we managed to push through and make progress on both tasks. Hoping for a smoother week ahead!! 🤹‍♂️💻

[vins0nbitara]

Log#3 - Intrams(week 3)

Nothing much has happened this week but one of our subject gave us a option to answer the bunch of assignments in advance for that subject and since its better to finish it in advance so that it wont hinder my progress with other subject so that's what I did. As for what I did for this subject(SDE) I can only read and watch videos in youtube to see how backend works, its actually more confusing for now that I haven't yet begun and I'm just hoping that it will be clear to me once I begin working on the backend. As for why I haven't yet start on working on it I was still waiting for my upcoming loptop as to not make myself setting up everything again on the new device that I will have since my younger brother will take over my previous device.

[crastyyy]

WEEK 3 - PAUGNAT 2025

This week highlighted the values of sportsmanship and teamwork. The Paugnat 2025 brought out the best in every athlete, showcasing dedication, perseverance, and unity in competition. As a member of the CEA Men’s Volleyball team, I couldn’t be more proud of our hard work and determination that led us to win the championship.

Outside of the games, I also spent time with my groupmates—not just for our SDE project, but also to enjoy Paugnat Week together. We didn’t make much progress on our project this time, but honestly, it was nice to take a break and have fun.

Overall, this week was all about balance—pushing hard for a goal, celebrating victories, and taking time to enjoy the journey. Now that Paugnat is wrapping up, it’s time to refocus, and get back to work.

[4priing8]

Nov. 29, 2024 "WELLNESS WEEK" Wellness Week was intended to be a time for rest, rejuvenation, and a reprieve from the typical stress of school. But it wasn't at all peaceful to me. Rather than relaxing, I had a busy day balancing our SDE activity with assignments for a minor subject. That day, I completed all of my assignments and some activities related to my minor courses. I then moved on to our major project, Software Design and Engineering, and we held a group meeting to discuss updates, resolve issues, and make plans for the future. It's always satisfying to work with my teammates, and the progress we've accomplished together has made all the effort worthwhile.