I use Visual Studio 2008 Express and Windows SDK 6.1 (Microsoft Windows SDK for Windows Server 2008 and .NET Framework 3.5). Since I am doing some DirectShow application, and using Sample Grabber filter, “qedit.h” is needed. However, this “qedit.h” includes a “dxtrans.h” header file. I installed DirectX SDK February 2007. There is no problem during compilation.

However, my friend uses newer version, DirectX SDK June 2008, and the coding cannot be compiled. This is because “dxtrans.h” is missing. Therefore, I go to search the solution. You can find the solution here.

Last time, there is a Firefox addon, that is MinimizeToTray. Since I am using portable Firefox, it requires some time to start. Using MinimizeToTray, I just minimize it without exit, so that I can open the Firefox later without starting the Firefox again. However, Firefox 3 does not support MinimizeToTray. This is sad.

But, I just found a powerful freeware, that is Tray It!. Using it, you can just minize any application to the system tray. I like it. Because I am using portable OpenOffice also. Like Firefox, it requires some time to start. Using Tray It!, both Firefox and OpenOffice can minimize to tray without using the space of taskbar.

I prefer freeware rather than commercial software. However, since recently I needs to involve some 3D modelling, I am wondering which 3D modelling tools is better.

I have tried both Blender and Autodesk 3ds Max. There are other 3D modelling software. You can find the comparison of 3D modelling software from CG Society Wiki and TDT3D [from Wikipedia].

Blender can be said is the best of the other free 3D modelling software. However, the user interface for 3D modelling is quite different from other commercial software, such as 3ds Max, Maya, and MilkShape3D. For the usability perspective, Blender is difficult to use. If compare to the 3ds Max, 3ds Max is far more better than Blender. If Blender follows the interface as other software, I think it would be better during modelling.

A nice song, by 宇恒，幸雁，戴丽金 and William. I searched this song, but very hard to search. And finally found it, but in .flv format.

最美好时光 - 宇恒+幸雁+戴丽金+William

If you like it, you can download. Do you know the trick to download?

And if you want to convert to mp3, you can use FormatFactory. And just convert the .flv file to mp3, it is okay.

Long time ago, when I was reading the bible (Chinese version, Studium Biblicum), there was a commentary in Genesis 1:26-28, which explains about the human.

人相似天主是按灵魂说的相似天主有理智、意志和记忆。[Studium Biblicum commentary Gen 1:26-28]

Translated to English (by me): “Man is similar to God, is according to the soul which is similar to God, who has rational thinking, mind, and memory.”

Therefore, recently I searched from the internet about the “rational thinking, mind, and memory”. Then I found that, actually these three attributes are “memory, understanding, and will”. They are the faculties of a soul, according to St Augustine of Hippo.

Today is special, because All Souls Day falls on Sunday. Just go to church on Sunday as usual, you will celebrate the All Souls Day.

Besides that, according to Richert (2008), we can gain a special plenary indulgence for the souls in Purgatory today. That is nice.

I have written a commandline using python, which can download the comic in “tieba.baidu.com”.

Because I can find the updated comic in “tieba”. But I prefer to use my own comic viewer to read the comic images. However, the image files in “tieba” are not named in sequence. So, if I want to save the images, I need to download the image 1 by 1 and rename them 1 by 1 in sequence. That is a repetitive and boring task.

My friend creates a cel-shading 3D aeroplane, by following the a tutorial from internet.

This is the result:

Just finish an old game, Suikoden II. Easy to play. The story is good, with good ending. Though there are 4 kinds of ending, but still has a best ending. All the main characters survived at the end. Besides that, there are 108 stars (characters) can be recruited. And you can switch anyone you like in the game.
刚玩完一部旧的游戏，“幻想水浒传Ⅱ”。容易玩。故事很好，有很好的结局。虽然有四种结局，但是有个完美结局。所有的重要角色都活着。另外，有108个星（角色）可以录用。你可以换上你喜欢的角色。

An old game doesn’t have 3D objects and beautiful scenes, but if the story is good, even it is old, it is valuable to be played.
一部旧的游戏，没有三维物体和美丽的画面，但是如果有好的故事，就算是旧的游戏，还是值得玩的。

Recently, I played Devil May Cry 4 PC version. This is very nice, because Devil May Cry 4 not only released in PS3, but also XBox 360 and PC version. This is cross-platform. Hope that all the games in future will target cross-platform.

I seldom play the action game. And this is the first time playing DMC, never played the series before. Firstly, found that it is quite difficult, because the game system uses “Proud Soul” to equip new moves. And earning “Proud Soul” is quite difficult. Because I played RPG game, thought that secrets are the important part of the game. So, I tried to play DMC by following the walkthrough. And this makes the game become boring. Because secrets are few, and wasting time to look for the secret items causes the final score of the mission decreased. Finally, just play to finish the mission. Then, I earned a lot of “Proud Soul” in every mission. This should be the correct way to play DMC4.