#shkedi

[lior-shkedi]

[mesencouragements]

© Lior Shkedi 

[stevensaus]

Just Beause The World Wasn't Built For You Doesn't Mean You Have To Change

Nobody is going to argue that being left-handed is easy. In ways both large and small, our society is built around a right-handed norm. There are ways for left-handed people to adapt to a right-handed world when they need to. Some of them can be really small, but make a big difference. I remember how excited my then-wife was when she discovered gel pens that didn't smear her words across the page. A small $2 pen made a huge change for her, but did not require anyone else to do anything. There are entire storefronts full of products specifically designed for lefties. There are ways that the right-handed world can work with people who are left-handed. These can be more extensive, like having left-handed desks, scissors, kitchen implements, and power tools. And then there's what we used to do. We used to tell lefties they were "bad," both by our words and our actions. We used to force them to do things the "right handed" way, causing untold amounts of emotional harm, learning disorders, dyslexia, stuttering, and other disorders. We used to force lefties to be someone they weren't, because that was easier. It was more convenient. There is a big difference between acknowledging limitations and giving people tools to overcome those limitations as they choose to -- and forcing someone to conform. The first acknowledges the humanity of the person. The second -- no matter how well it's wrapped up in pretty language or "reformed techniques" -- tells the person that they are "less than." Less important. Less worthy of time, attention, or effort. Less convenient.

In the late 20th century -- about the time I was born -- our society began to treat left-handed people as people. People that may have different needs, people that may need to have some special adaptations or tools in order to navigate the world as well as they might like, but people nonetheless. A person's worth should not be based on how "useful" or "convenient" they are to schools, employers, or parents.

This post is actually about autism, neurodivergence, and "Applied Behavior Analysis" (ABA) therapy and "Autism Speaks," which pushes the same mindset.

Embedded in ABA therapy is a viewpoint that autism must be "cured" and that autistic traits must always be minimized or eliminated for the convenience of allistic persons. This mindset -- rather than one that empowers the autistic person to advocate for themselves and work with the rest of the world -- implicitly tells autistic persons that they are "wrong." In my lifetime society has finally stopped trying to force left-handed people to be "normal" for the convenience of others. I hope that someday that same grace will be extended toward autistic and other neurodivergent persons. References and Further Reading: - Shkedy, G., Shkedy, D. & Sandoval-Norton, A.H. Long-term ABA Therapy Is Abusive: A Response to Gorycki, Ruppel, and Zane. Adv Neurodev Disord 5, 126–134 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41252-021-00201-1 - The Applied Behavior Analysis Controversy: Normalizing or Cruel?: https://nursingclio.org/2022/05/05/the-applied-behavior-analysis-controversy-normalizing-or-cruel/ - The biggest autism advocacy group is still failing too many autistic people (Washington Post): https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/02/14/biggest-autism-advocacy-group-is-still-failing-too-many-autistic-people/ - The Autism Speaks Controversy, Explained (The Mary Sue): https://www.themarysue.com/the-autism-speaks-controversy-explained/ Featured Image by Elisa from Pixabay Read the full article

[globalworship]

Psalm 1 sung in Hebrew by MIQEDEM (Israel)

Based out of Tel Aviv-Yafo ([Jaffa], Israel, Miqedem’s music reflects the culture of a city with history going back to about 7500 BC and a future-facing population.

I saw them in a US concert in 2018, an amazing show, and have enjoyed their albums since then.

Here is their recently-released acoustic trio version of Psalm 1. English subtitles are in the video.

Guitar/Vocals: Jamie Hilsden Percussion-guitar/Vocals: Shai Sol Cello: Leat Sabbah

Find their 3 albums and several singles at https://miqedem.bandcamp.com/ https://www.facebook.com/miqedem

Their full-band version of Psalm 1 is below.

+++

Poster for some of their trio concerts in 2023:

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Here is their full-band version with 8 musicians plus 3 backing singers (credits below):

MIQEDEM || ASHREI HA'ISH Psalm 1:1-4 in Ancient Hebrew

Shahar Haziza - Drums Vadym Sokolyk - Bass Shai Sol - Vocals Jamie Hilsden - Classical Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Electric Piano, Lead Vocals Yakir Ben Tov - Synths, Keys Meira Segal - Ney Yaron Cherniak - Saz, Electric Saz, Vocals Yoni Sharon - Percussions (Riq, Dohola) Yazid Sakhnini - Backing Vocals Shay Moshe Moshe - Backing Vocals David Shkedi - Backing Vocals

[jenovacomplete]

Psychologists observe [self-injurious behaviours] in children and adults in the typical population and have conceptualized SIBs as a result of difficulty regulating extreme negative emotions, and physical and/or psychological pain (Skegg, 2005). Meaning, many of these individuals do not have the skills to regulate or communicate and therefore it is their only way to cope. This is also why SIBs are typically associated with hopelessness and low self-esteem. In the field of psychology, SIBs are often conceptualized as a“ cry for help”, meaning that the person needs and may be trying to obtain help, but is unable to do so in an adaptive manner. SIBs can be viewed as a nonverbal means to cry for help when the language and coping skills are not available, and/or the pain is unbearable. In persons without ASD, the communication deficit is not referring to speech ability but is referring to effective communication and interpersonal effectiveness. That is, one can have full verbal abilities but is unable to express themselves in an adaptive and effective manner, or they do not have a supportive environment to do so. For example, some individuals who engage in SIBs may theoretically be able to communicate effectively but they are oppressed by their environment and so they are not free to do so. The results are that the individual cannot openly ask for help and resorts to SIBs-a silent cry for help.

-> Treating self-injurious behaviors in autism spectrum disorder by Gary Shkedy, Dalia Shkedy & Aileen H. Sandoval-Norton

[caregivingresources]

ABA Therapy

You may not know this, but ABA therapy’s roots are extremely ugly (featuring techniques such as electric shock), and wasn’t founded with the well-being of the autistic child in mind, just on superficial behaviors to make the child appear more “normal”. Most of the most violent methods have changed, but it still has a tendency to run on compliance rather than understanding. If you do seek this kind of therapy, make SURE that your child’s well-being is first and that you’re not overworking them with so many therapy hours a week. Just like any child, autistic children deserve to have a childhood where they can play and learn at their own pace. 

Many autistic adults who had ABA as children have said that they have trouble enforcing consent or control over their lives ever since. On top of that, many ABA therapists out there have little training (40hours then a test), and can be extremely costly to you. A study of 460 autistic adults and caregivers of autistic people has shown that 46% of those who had ABA therapy met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD (Kupferstein, 2018). 

The goal of ABA is to make the autistic child conform to society’s standards of behavior. Schools, ABA specialists, and researchers are learning that the intense and chronic conditioning present in ABA has instead amounted to compliance, low intrinsic motivation, and lack of independent functioning—the latter of which is the presumed goal of ABA therapy in the first place (Wilson, Beamish, Hay, & Attwood, 2014). Essentially, ABA relies on external motivators, which aren’t as driving and important as internal motivators.

Autism needs to be understood, not changed, fixed, or cured. 

ABOVE ALL: Do what you feel is best for your child, just make sure you’re not accidentally exposing your child to trauma in the name of therapy!

I highly encourage reading Autistic Self-Advocate’s well-researched page (<-click that) on ABA therapy.

Click “continue reading” below for the full references.

References:

Kupferstein, H. (2018). Evidence of increased PTSD symptoms in autistics exposed to applied behavior analysis. Advances in Autism, 4(1), 19-29. https://doi.org/10.1108/AIA-08-2017-0016

Sandoval-Norton, A.H. & Shkedy, G. (2019) How much compliance is too much compliance: Is long-term ABA therapy abuse? Cogent Psychology, 6:1, 1641258, https://doi.org/10.1080/23311908.2019.1641258

Volumes, S. S. (2020, April 14). Problematic and Traumatic: Why Nobody Needs ABA. Autistic Self-Advocates Against ABA. https://autisticselfadvocatesagainstaba.wordpress.com/2020/04/13/problematic-and-traumatic-why-nobody-needs-aba/

Wilson, B., Beamish, W., Hay, S., & Attwood, T. (2014). Prompt dependency beyond childhood: Adults with Asperger’s syndrome and intimate relationships. Journal of Relationships Research, 5. doi:10.1017/jrr.2014.11

[the-garbanzo-annex-jr]

THE TARGETED killing of al-Ata was not that different from the many others the IDF has carried out over the past decade. It was characterized by meticulous planning meant to reduce collateral damage, precise intelligence and the utilization of advanced technology, aircraft and munitions.

But it also shows the results of an amazing journey the State of Israel has taken over the past 20 years, going from dropping one-ton bombs on apartment buildings in the Gaza Strip to take out a single terrorist, to firing a missile with amazing precision onto a bed, killing just the target and his wife and not injuring their five children sleeping in the next room.

Around the world, a story like this would not make headlines. Instead, the focus would be on the damage caused to Gaza and the death toll. People would ask why al-Ata’s wife had to die with him. They wouldn’t focus on the length of the mission, how much detail and effort went into its planning and how precise it was in execution.

This journey, though, is unique to Israel. Other Western countries fighting terrorists around the world rarely invest even a fraction of the effort Israel does to minimize collateral damage. Issachar recalled a large international air drill he had participated in a few years ago where he met pilots from Italy, Turkey and other countries. Almost all the pilots he met, he recalled, asked why Israel waits so long and invests so much. “They are shooting at you,” the foreign pilots said. “You need to respond.”The success Israel has met is the result of three key components – intelligence, technology and the values that make up the backbone of the IDF.

“This is a Jewish value,” explained former IAF chief Eliezer Shkedi. “This is who we are.”

[royelmo]

johnatan shkedi from Supremacist playing live levontin7 march13th2019

[nwdsc]

(▶︎ Harninu | MIQEDEMから)

Harninu by MIQEDEM

2022年10月9日リリース Lyircs: Psalm 81:1-3 Music by Yaron Cherniak and Miqedem Mixed by Dan Zeitune Master by Asaf Shay Produced Recorded by Shahar Kaufman at The Onyx Studio Strings arrangment by Ismet Diril Musicians: New World Strings - Turkish Strings Turgut Özüfler - Kanoun Shahar Haziza - Drums Vadym Sokolyk - Bass Shai Sol - Vocals Jamie Hilsden - Acoustic, Electric Guitar, Vocals Yakir Ben Tov - Synths Meira Segal - Ney Yaron Cherniak - Saz, Electric Saz, Oud, Mini Korg synth, Lead Vocals Yoni Sharon - Percussions (Riq, Ceramic Darbuka) Yazid Sakhnini - Backing Vocals Shai Moshe Moshe - Backing Vocals David Shkedi - Backing Vocals Cover Layout - Sharona Cantor Cover photo - Katie Evensen

[lior-shkedi]

retro bat

[etherhurragan]

shkedimoto / lior shkedi https://lior-shkedi.tumblr.com/

[eretzyisrael]

The First Priority The Directorate of Military Intelligence and Mossad’s (Israel’s National Intelligence Agency) efforts bore fruit in late March, 2007, when the suspicions regarding a covert military nuclear program in Syria was verified. The information was relayed to Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister, Amir Peretz, who instructed the IDF to prepare a number of optional aerial operation plans for the destruction of the reactor.

Two days after the verification of the intelligence, then IAF Commander, Maj. Gen. (Res’) Eliezer Shkedi, first consulted a small forum of senior commanders in order to formulate an operational plan for the destruction of the facility. The forum consisted of IAF Directorate Heads, Head of the IAF Operations Department and Military Intelligence Directorate representatives. Maj. Gen. Shkedi emphasized that the mission had become a first priority and stood above all other operations. He ordered the establishment of an operational intelligence planning team, with the mission of designing an operational plan for the attack of the Syrian reactor. By command of the Chief of IDF General Staff, the existence of the reactor was classified under the highest secrecy.

“I was in the second year of my tenure as Head of the Operations Department and the IDF was heavily debriefing the 2006 ‘Second Lebanon’ War. The intelligence was given to the IAF around March 2007, and the IAF Commander initiated a battle procedure that I was responsible for executing”, shared Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin, today the Commander of the IAF.

“We met with Head of the Operations Department on April 10, at 07:00 AM, and he told us that there was a nuclear reactor in Syria. Just like that, very concretely. The command was that we needed to be able to attack the target in one month. We had to formulate an operational command, a model validating the attack plan and an operation plan for war, if it were to break out as a result”, recalled Lt. Col. (Res’) Shay, who headed the team that planned the operation. “I remember that I was supposed to be on call in my squadron that weekend, I called the deputy squadron commander and told him that I couldn’t make it, which was very unlike me. When he asked me why, I told him it was work matters. I need to know what it is, he asked. I told him that in due time, he will know. A few years later, he told me that that was the first clue to the fact that something special was happening in the IAF”.

[witchofeindor]

I’ve just seen someone refer to Orian as bi and Lia as lesbian??? It’s sooo the other way around, mate

They like literally talk about this???

Lia says it’s cool that one can be attracted to both (pls don’t forget she’s only recently found out she’s attracted to women too only recently and she is taking her baby gay steps) while Orian says she could never be romantically attracted to a guy, maybe physically, but never emotionally

And also like

Even if we ignore that, we know that Lia can be both romantically and sexually attracted to dudes bc 1) Romantically - She talks with Daniel in one of the episodes of having been in love and uses masc pronouns (plus it happens before Liorian become canon, and since we know Orian is her first gay love, it’s safe to assume it was a dude) 2) Sexually - we know that she and Shkedi used to be fuckbuddies 3) Both - SHE SAYS SO HERSELF, even if not using the term itself explicitly.

Whereas Orian clearly states she has NO interest in men so sorry, pals, Orian is a lesbian and Lia is bi.

I could accept that Orian is a homoromantic bi bc of what happened in that episode we mustn’t talk of (I’m still in denial about that one) but like, she is definitely NOT biromantic. And Lia defo is.

But maybe this comes from someone who only watched the few subbed clips on YT and not the entire show so they may not have watched those bits so idk, I’ll try giving them the benefit of a doubt

[craigbrownphd-blog-blog]

API Security Weekly: Issue #43

This week, we have a conference talk recording demonstrating API pen testing; see how the w3af web scanner can be used for APIs; look at SAP’s API security best practices; watch Cisco pay $8.6 million for not fixing vulnerabilities quickly. Conference talks The OWASP Global AppSec Tel Aviv conference has published a video recording of the “Testing and Hacking APIs” talk by Inon Shkedy. http://bit.ly/2GUNnm4

[manifestanimation]

Manifest countdown: Tommy Ventevogel

Just 10 or so todays until our next animation discussion event here in Rotterdam, on Tuesday, July 16th at WORM. Last week you read about animator Lior Shkedi, who will be sharing an animation he finds inspiring. Let’s meet our second show & tell-er, writer and artist Tommy Ventegovel:

Tommy Ventevogel is a writer for theater, film, television, games and new media. He graduated from the HKU as a Writer for Performance, and from the Grafisch Lyceum Rotterdam as an audio visual designer. He is striving to find the balance between audiovisual and expressionism in theatre. His texts often have an expressionist core, a transmedial form or a pulp aesthetic. 

Photo by Dora Timmers. Kaatje Kooij performing Cloyne – A Sound Of Spaces In Between, with text and music by Tommy Ventevogel

Tommy’s work has been performed at the Ro Theater, MC Theater, Club Gewalt and Theater Collective Macabre, among others. He has also participated in Roodkapje ROT (T) TERDAM, Time Window Festival, the Parade, Over Het IJ-Festival, Oerol and other places. He is now working on Idiotrope, a graphic novel, in collaboration with illustration duo Trompette de la Mort.

What will Tommy bring to share? You’ll have to come to find out!

See you Tuesday, July 16th, at 20:00, at WORM! Here is the Facebook event, and the WeOwnRotterdam listing. You can also sign up for our monthly e-mail, and don’t forget that Manifest is on Twitter, @ManifestRoffa!

Remember, Manifest is always free, open to the public, and in English!

[jewishbookworld]

Thoughts on “The Abba Tree” by Devora Busheri and Gal Shkedi

Thoughts on “The Abba Tree” by Devora Busheri and Gal Shkedi

How do you feel when you hear the world “infotainment”? Some people have positive association with it, because they believe that is an effective way to educate people. Others feel that it is diluting education and is a waste of time compared to old(er) school methods. I am somewhere in the middle: if it is done well it doesn’t matter as long as it works. 

I admired “The Abba Tree”, because it…