A year means nothing.

A year had passed since that day Doraemon give me a good scolding regarding to my Chinese. There is not much changes other than school-life become more hectic. This few days had been filled with celebration. Izumi's birthday on Sunday and Abe's on Wednesday. Well, there is no need to mention mine, I would rather had it as normal day. No pranks. I still remember that last year Abe and the Ninja bought me a Rubik's Cube. It had been broken due to excessive play. I still keep the parts though. It will be a memento to keep, since it will be hard for us to meet each other next year.

What a peaceful day today. I had the same wishes every year.
I just want a good book to read.

Cause of cold war, fact sheet

Security need

-Russian History of Invasion

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  The West did not put much care on Russian history of invasion as they see that as a normal thing during the war.
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  USSR feared foreign invasion as they have been invaded a lot of time.
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  This made them adopt protective foreign policy.
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  Most of the recent invasion comes from West of Russia, therefore USSR fear of invasion from The West.
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  As they fear of invasion from the west, they sometimes being aggressive towards the west.

-German Question & Reparations

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  The Allies wanted strong Germany to restore Western European economy and contain communism.
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  Stalin feared of German revival.
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  Demanded huge reparations for tremendous damage done.

-Polish question & Buffer Zone

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  The Allies seen it as expansionism of communist empire, failed to understand USSR's need for security.
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  It is a matter of life and death for Stalin to have The Balkans and Eastern Europe as buffer zone.

-Atomic Factor

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  The weapon is believed to end the war faster.
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  It closed the need of Soviet intervention in Pacific.
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  Lessened the need for Red Army to help control Germany and thus made The US less willing to acquiesce in A Soviet Sphere of influence.
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  Stiffened Soviet's determination to control Eastern Europe to build air defense.
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  US atomic monopoly made the Soviets less willing to compromise on key issues lest they appear intimidated, and thus invite further pressure.
• 
  
  US possession of atomic weapon increased Soviet's determination to develop its own atomic arsenal.

Policy makers

-Kennan Long telegram

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  Believes that Soviet leaders worked on fixed assumption that they were surrounded by capitalist enemies and the security of the Soviet could only be achieved by total destruction of their rival.

-Iron Curtain Speech

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  Called for an American-British alliance to prevent Soviet expansion.
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  Enough information was leaked for Time magazine to publish a full page article including a map that showed Iran, Turkey and Manchuria 'infected' and Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Afghanistan and India 'exposed'.
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  Stalin attacked Churchill and USA, comparing them as Hitler in that they held to a 'racial theory' that the English-speaking people should rule the rest of the world.
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  Stalin imposed subservient governments on Poland, Romania and Bulgaria.
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  Cared out exclusive sphere of influence in East Germany.
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  Refused to remove troops from Iran
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  Pressed Turkey aggressively for concessions.
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  However, allowed relatively free election in Hungary and Czechoslovakia.
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  Cooperated in the formation of representative governments in Finland ans Austria.
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  Restrain communist parties in Italy, France and in Western Europe.
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  Engage in negotiations with the Western in the Council of Europe.

-Truman Doctrine

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  Formal abandonment of US Policy of avoiding entanglements in European politics.
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  $300 million for Greece and $100 million for Turkey.
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  First clear step towards containing communist expansion.

-Marshall Plan

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  Seen as a way to solve Western Europe's economic problem.
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  A large prosperous market is needed to contain communism.
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  It would also build a political structure into which West Germany, or perhaps Germany, could be integrated and contained.
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  Molotov together with his eight-nine economic adviser rejected Marshall Plan as it would require a joint European programme, rather than each individual state sending in separate list of request.
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  Stalin feared that a joint programme would enable the US economic power to undermine Soviet's influence in Eastern Europe.
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  Orchestrated strikes in Italy and France to disrupt Marshall Plan.
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  Countered with Molotov's Plan which eventually evolved into establishment of COMECON.
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  Establishment of Coninform (information bureau).
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  Created division of Europe.

-Berlin Blockade

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  2000 tons of supply airlifted everyday for 11 months.
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  Lead to the formation of NATO.
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  (Failure in unification of Germany under pro-Soviet government led to lost of industrial area of Ruhr.
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  Unification of West Germany and introduction of Deutschmark provoked Stalin.
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  86% victory of democratic member on Berlin city council election.)
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  Perhaps executed to squeeze the western power out of Berlin
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  Perhaps executed to consolidate Soviet zone
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  Perhaps he wanted to force a negotiation on a complete Germany on his favour.

-Formation of NATO (military alliance)Integration of Europe.

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  European states recovered their nerve against a possible Soviet attack.
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  USA, Canada and 10 European state joined.
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  Formation of West Germany.
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  Countered with Warsaw Pact (military command based in Moscow) between USSR and 7 other communist state (including East Germany) for collective defense.
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  Undertook to consult together on all international questions involving their common interests.

Security/Mistrust

-Allied Intervention

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  The Allies intervene in Russian Civil War to protect their interest.
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  The Allies see that intervention is necessary to keep Russia joining the Allies to fight Germany in WWI.
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  The Allies developed deeply negative views and attitude towards Bolsheviks.
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  The Allies treated communism as enemy.
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  Lenin and Stalin convinced that western countries will do anything to destroy communism whenever they have the chance.

Mistrust

-Munich Agreement

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  The Allies view that USSR did not want peace as USSR was willing to confront Germany to save Czechoslovakia. Soviet's proposal was rejected, they also not invited.
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  Stalin believed that the West did it on purpose so USSR and Germany will crush each other.
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  Stalin lose faith with The West to stop Hitler.

-Nazi – Soviet Pact

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  The West distrusted Stalin as he aligned himself with Hitler.
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  Stalin view The West did not understand that Stalin agreed to the agreement just to buy time.

-Hitler's Betrayal

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  Stalin could no longer trust anyone even when an alliance was in place.

-Second Front Controversy

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  The delay in launching the second front fueled Soviet suspicions about Anglo-American motives.

-Katyn Massacre

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  The massacre strained relation as The West view that USSR do it to gain full control of Poland.

-Polish Uprising

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  The Soviets handling of the Warsaw uprising convinced many western observers that Soviet callousness had few limits.

-Percentage Agreement

• 
  
  Churchill made an agreement with Stalin on division of Europe before consulting Roosevelt.
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  Roosevelt indicated that the agreement was not valid.
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  Stalin believed that his desired sphere on influence have tacit Western Approval.

-Stopping Land-Lease Aid

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  In February 1946, United States refused Soviet's request for loans as America could no longer afford to do so.
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  The soviets interpreted those acts as economic leverage for hostility.

-USSR's policy towards Eastern European country

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  The West see this as a violation of Yalta conference.
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  They could no longer trust Stalin.
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  Stalin was aware that free elections would probably result in the rejection of communism.
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  Poles will never elect a pro-Soviet government resulting from bitter memories of tragedies such as Katyn Massacre and Polish Uprising.
• 
  
  Stalin decided to impose one forcibly.

Ideology

-Irreconcilable political differences

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  US wanted to protect economic and political freedom.
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  Promote capitalism and Trade. (IMF, World Bank, General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.
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  Protecting Democracy and Freedom in Western Europe. (Marshall Plan)
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  The want to export communism.
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  Establishment of Comitern (1920s-1940s).
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  Soviet's Policy in Eastern Europe (Polish question, supports for pro communist political party).

The past might be obsolete, but we might still need it.

History (Historia in latin), a study of the written past might had been seen as one of the most useless subject. There is not many useful application of the study in real life. There are only a few job that require historical knowledge, mainly historian and history teacher or probably politician and writer. Sound like a useless subject to study isn't it? If studying history is useless, why in most part of the world we are required to know at least some historical knowledge of the particular piece of land. Well, basically there are several reason for it.

First off we can say that History is learnt to appreciate what the past generation had done for us. The past generation had brought us peace and subsequently freedom. Peace and freedom is not something that we can take for granted. The previous generation fought battles to obtain them. Many lives are lost in the process of obtaining them. To obtain peace we had to solve a conflict. Blood is spilled in the process. Not drops of blood but a river of blood. The past is filled with many unhappiness that could ignite to a conflict at anytime. A lot Men died because of the explosion of hatred. It only come to an end after one party surrenders or both party had come to mutual acceptance. Many lives lost in the middle of conflict, those who are trapped inside and those who try to stop it peacefully. Dag Hammarskjöld died in the middle of his pursue of peaceful Africa. Africa had nothing to do for him, yet he cares deeply about them and risk his life as middle man in peace negotiation. Freedom didn't come cheap. A fight for freedom of African American had come to a civil war. Not only Africans fight for their freedom. The united army was also consist of the Whites who fight for them. The past generations has fought for freedom from oppressive colonial rule which does not come without blood (maybe doesn't applies to Singapore but it does in many others). We studied history to honour their sacrifices for the current society.

History is also studied to know more of our roots. It is much written in history about the exploration and migration of human. After living for many generations on the new land, we tend to forget of our identity, culture and tradition of our ancestors and where we come from. In today's society, many overseas Chinese especially those living as the minority had slowly suffering from illiteracy of their own language and ignorant of the culture and traditions. Introduction of history of migration will obviously helps to ignite more awareness among this people and eventually lead to more interest in studying the culture and tradition. It will be disrespectful to disregard our ancestors by not knowing them. Studying history let us knows from which part of the world our ancestor come from provided we at least knew some customs and tradition of our ancestors from our parents or grandparents.

History is important as we can learn from the success and mistakes of the previous leaders. Rise and fall of a great leader ought to be studied as it gives clear indication of their successful and bad policies. Li Shimin (Tang Taizong) trying hard not to abuse his power by allowing his officers to criticise him, using Emperor Yang of Sui Dynasty as negative example which proved to be instrumental as his ministers tries to stop him whenever he made bad policy, such as when he decide to conscript all able bodied man aged 18 and above. His minister stopped him as it would lead to lack of food since not enough manpower to manage the farms. Kublai Khan practiced tolerance and tried as much as he can to employ non-Mongolian in state affairs, balancing imperial and local interest so that they won't feel discriminated and not represented, much to what needed in modern society to avoid ethno-religious conflict. The rise of Hitler reminded the world not to be overly oppressive to defeated nation as it could lead to over nationalistic leaders who wants to reshape the country to what it was before through militaristic effort, leading to another war. The nightmare of WWII reminded us not to fight another war. The terror reminded the world not to fight another war, as what evidenced by the cold war whereby the the tension horrified the world of possible nuclear warfare.Therefore, history is important as we can learn from the past what kind of outcome an action will bring by studying the leaders.

Most historical records written by a country is more than often biased against their enemy, making it inaccurate and useless to be studied. The Cold War is an example. Records written by American historian (The Orthodox) heavily criticize USSR for causing The Cold War, depicting them as the evil. It is not until Gorbachev of USSR declassified USSR's historical archives the world realised that the Cold War was a mutual mistrust between both states (Post Revisionist). Even though historical records are biased, there are still other sources depicting the same event giving the ability for cross-referencing thus the fact could be drawn. However, when there is no other sources, history serve little or less value as the reliability to explain past events is biased and one sided. Thus, even though many historical records are biased it is still useful provided we had another source for cross referencing, reducing the bias.

History is still useful in this modern society as it is what shaped us now. It might be biased but with cross-referencing we can reduce it. Uncovering the truth of the past. Historical documents let us to understand the perception of people of the past, allowing us not to repeat their wrong decision. Without history, we might not know who we are, the reason we are here and why the world is shaped this way now. Howard Zinn, an American historian once said "If you don’t know history, it’s as if you were born yesterday. If you were born yesterday, then any leader can tell you anything." Therefore history is very important.

If it is possible prove it!

I have been thinking for quite a while, what is the difference between impossible and possible? Many answer come to mind. Ideals, practicality, evidence, calculations and recognition.

The idea of aeroplane come to my mind. The aeroplane was invented by Wright Brothers. At that time the general public consider them as lunatic for doing what Lord Kelvin cited as impossible (Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible - Lord Kelvin.) however in the end they manage to prove it and the concept was widely accepted in USA.

Not only Aeroplane but also the steam locomotive, something that we consider old fashioned. The idea of it come from Richard Trevithick a British Engineer who used Watt's steam engine as the main concept of the locomotive. Hundreds of people laugh at him for his ridiculous idea about this mechanical horse (at that time transportation is still powered by horse). He fought hard despite so many failure he face. He have not seen a single success in building this mechanical horse, but his hard work inspire his son to took over the dream and in the end his grandson manage to build the world's first perfect locomotive.

The idea of cold fusion had been a laughing stock of many physicist but does the idea really practical and applicable? We don't know yet. Martin Fleischmann and Stanley Pons claimed its possibility but same experiments done by other research centres could not produce the same result. What we can conclude is that it need to be explored more, not necessarily impossible since there is no evidence to prove it's impossibility (they can do it multiple times, why the others can't? Is it a hoax, or is it a conspiracy? The public is split in believing it or not.)

I guess that it is just a matter of perception whether things are impossible or not. However the general public might see something that sounds absurd as impossibility unless you can prove it. The field of science and its application had so many aspect to be explored. There is no fixed law in science, it always had some exception. Let's take a look at the idea of teleportation. It went against Newton's Law but quantum physics had shown its possibility. Scientist manage to teleport a block of Rubidium under BEC (Bose-Einstein Condensation).

I guess that many of us know about Ludwig Van Beethoven. He still works as musician despite his diminishing hearing. It was really a tough time for him, something that most of us see as impossible but he had shown us that it is possible. It sounds as absurd as the sky collapsing but he manage to do it.

It is just a matter of perception whether something is impossible or not. If we think that it is possible, stick to the ideals and works hard to show the world that it is possible. We might not finish it in our lifetime like what Trevithick demonstrated but it was already and achievement to give light to an idea considered as impossible. Opening the eyes of the public that the idea is possible. An idea that is not recognised by the public will remain impossible unless it is proven to be possible.

Adobe Illustrator is not easy to use

Just installed it and tried using it. It was not as simple as I think, where is the pencil tool?

IT WAS A PITA TO BE IN SCHOOL TODAY

Yes, seriously it was a PITA. Wake up early just to be welcomed by 1 hour of wastage of time and 2 our of formal lesson. Too short to be called school day. Oh yah after our Physics lesson finished, I kill time with Abe by rearranging the score of だんご大家族, (Dango Daikazoku) to scientific form. Quite tedious but we decide to do it for the vocal first. The score was written in A-flat major/f-minor (not very sure which one, I will ask someone later.)

CO BBQ was fun. I was the first senior to get there. I took some photo of the course of event and recorded the ceremony process. Since a lot senior did not come, including some of the ExCo, they had to be represented by other member. It was one of the best BBQ I ever had, I wouldn't ask for more. I really appreciate the gifts from the juniors, it was really a surprise. We did discover some lovey-dovey couple, partying till late midnight (lucky that Clement want to fetch me). I'll upload the picture and video later....

~Ciao, still have my S&E Club, I wonder whether they will bother to organize step down ceremony. We didn't have one last year.

Well, there are so much to write today.

Yesterday I showed the NCT paper to Mr Yeo and tell him about the capacitor question. He tell us something surprising. The paper standard is much higher than A level, it had some H3 question. Today something funny happened. Our timetable is changed without our knowledge. We suppose to have Physics lesson before History lecture. Some of us ended up not attending the lesson and had to arrange "make up lesson" tomorrow. During the break before Chemistry STAR we did something that could be considered retarded. Pikachu photo taking. Don't ask me why the hell we had a Pikachu here, the story will be damn long. I'll upload the photos if I had the time later. We tried to do the IJC paper. It was tough as hell....

See, even Pikachu does mug.

Brick Thieves Die Horribly as Building Collapses

A pair of ladies who had been stealing bricks from a building were mortally surprised when the building fell on top of them, killing them and crushing a further 13 as it toppled into a neighbouring restaurant.

The thieves, apparently a group of five farmers who had migrated into the city of Liuzhou in China’s southern Guangxi province, had turned to stealing bricks from a derelict building nearby, digging into its walls to extract the bricks for sale.

However, it appears that they stole one too many bricks, for the entire building suddenly collapsed, toppling onto a neighbouring restaurant and crushing 13 of its patrons horribly, though they escaped death.

The brick thieves were not so lucky – firemen picking through the rubble discovered the crushed remains of two women in what was once the building. What happened to the rest of the group is not clear.

Copy pasted from Sankaku.

NCT was #@%$^%

Honestly, I dunno how to describe this. The Physics paper stunned me. The worst MCQ paper ever. The capacitor question stunned me. It wasn't in our H2 Syllabus (please correct me if I'm wrong). The dynamics questions were not easy. Overall it was much harder than all the prelims and A Level questions I have tried. The Chemistry paper was much easier than I expected. There is a lot of mole concept question but little of organics, but there is something strange in the questions. All the question that involve molar volume make me cringe because there is no answer in the MCQ. Reverse engineering shows that instead of using 24 as molar volume, 24.4 should be deployed. What the... Overall it was "easy". Get what I mean?