I'm afraid that I'll be away for some days.

I'm not willing to leave here, but I have to do that.

As we know, Graduate Candidate Test will be held next January. It's one of the most examinations I have taken and will take during my lifetime. It can be said to be a crucial point which will impact on my life. It will be a determinant turn. All the plans I will make in future rely on it.

Whether I have been ready or not, it's coming. I can't avoid being tested. I'm upset now. And I thought a lot about the question that how it will affect my future. So it's not necessary to talk about it again.

Making such a painful decision is very difficult. I'm not sure whether you can feel what I am feeling. But don't worry for me. I will be back in twenty days, I promise. I won't update entries here in the following days. However, I will still come in and see your comments every day. Sorry for that.

I don't care what the result is. I will accept anything that happens to me.

If you want to read the next entry of me, wait for a few weeks, maybe. You can also send me an E-mail when you are free.

See you.

P.S. The weather forecast says it will snow heavily today. Really? No evidence at present. I'm looking forward to feeling the coming white scene.

  -----------------------------------

Tonight is Christmas Eve. It's one of the most beautiful nights in western countries. Santa Claus, Christmas trees, Christmas carols, and even stockings and gifts. We are all familiar with all these beautiful things. They really sound very nice.

But today, I won't talk more about Christmas here. I have written some posts about Christmas during the past few years.And I also talked about the cultural exchange between China and western countries. That is, I have no comments now.

With the thorough development of the Reform and Opening-up, Christmas Day is more and more popular in China. We couldn't avoid commenting on it any more. Christmas Day has been a worldwide festival. 

So I just come here and say Merry Christmas to all of you.

Besides, Happy New Year!

Many of users in Mainland China are Google Fans. We love products and service which Google supplies us with. Such as Google search, Gmail, Google Talk, Google Earth, etc.

After Google acquired Blogger, the largest blog platform all over the world, we can own a blogspot account. That's so great! I'm sure that many bloggers like its service. We write posts there and exchange everything with people from many countries. We have been fond of Blogger, I think.

But then, something happened unexpectedly. The website of Blogger, www.blogspot.com was blocked in China. Till now, users in Mainland can't still visit their blogspot site. What a pity!  It means that quite a few visitors can't read what we post on blogspot. Incredible!

I also use blogspot service. When blogspot blocked, I felt helpless. How can visitors and me visit blogspot directly again? I had no idea.

Last night, I unconsciously found some easy ways to visit blogspot. Some must have known the solution, but still more users don't know it. I think it's necessary to share the details with you.

I will show you how to do it below.

• Visit blogspot with the help of website mirrors                                                                                       We are lucky for we can visit www.inblogs.net and www.pkblogs.com. We can visit our blogspot sites via either of these two websites. It's so easy to do that. If your blogspot URL is blogname.blogspot.com, you just need to type http://www.inblogs.net/blogname or http://www.pkblogs.com/blogname in your IE address bar. By clicking on the link, you will see the blogspot site immediately. Convenient! Huh?
• Use RSS readers                                                                                                                    You can subscribe to any blogspot you like in your RSS readers. For example, add subscription of blogspot to Google Reader. Paste the blogspot URL and click on Add.                                                                                    Or you can subscribe to the blogspot site by using the link which displays within inblogs.net or pkblogs.com.  But I think this kind of ways is not very valuable. Since you have entered the blogspot directly in IE browser on a website mirror.

There are some other ways to visit blogspot. But they are inconvenient. So I won't show them to you here. And if you have any better way or question, please contact me. We all don't want blogspot to disappear from our sight.                                                                    

Hey, do you know MySpace? Are you using MySpace? I guess many of you must know and be using it.

What is MySpace? MySpace is an online community that lets you meet your friends' friends.

Create a community on MySpace and you can share photos, journals and interests with your growing network of mutual friends!See who knows who, or how you are connected. Find out if you really are six people away from Kevin Bacon.

MySpace is for everyone:

• Friends who want to talk Online
• Single people who want to meet other Singles
• Matchmakers who want to connect their friends with other friends
• Families who want to keep in touch--map your Family Tree
• Business people and co-workers interested in networking
• Classmates and study partners
• Anyone looking for long lost friends!

MySpace is now popular and still growing up. It's the largest social network in U.S., according to a report released by a research institution this November.

I heard of MySpace as early as two years ago. Nevertheless, I didn't use it at that time. On the contrary, I am using Window Live Spaces all the time. Because I thought of Live Suite including Hotmail, Messenger, Spaces better than MySpace. What I needed most is blog service, so I chose Window Live Spaces which was called msn space.

This afternoon, after reading the report, I thought that maybe I should try MySpace. I wouldn't miss any good website or service. I love well-known brands. So I signed up for membership. It's very good. Its features and contents fascinated me so much. I have been falling love with it. I also downloaded the MySpaceIM, with which we can enjoy some service and not having to do things in IE browser. And this client enables users to call Skype users without installing additional Skype software.

China has a large market for its population and consumption which no multinational enterprise could ingnore. Hence, MySpace provides a Chinese version, www.myspace.cn. Quite a number of Chinese people are using its service. Whereas, I do prefer English version.  

But I am a newer here. I'm not very familiar with its running. If you have been a MySpace user, you can find me on MySpace and be friend. We may exchange the feeling when we use it. I'm also looking forward to posting my feedback here not before long.

Hey buddy! Why not try Yahoo! Messenger 9.0?

Yahoo! Messenger 9.0 Beta was released on November 30th. But I didn't download it at that moment.

I have used Yahoo! Messenger for several years. Like what I did in the past, I preferred English version. But I couldn't do it. Because English version of Yahoo! Messenger 8.1 don't support E-mail address like sample@yahoo.cn. As you know, @yahoo.cn is used widely in China. So I gave it up.While an Chinese version, Yahoo! Messenger 8.3 can be signed in with an id like sample@yahoo.cn. So I chose this version.

I ever took it for granted that all English versions of Yahoo! Messenger couldn't support @yahoo.cn. Then when 9.0 Beta came out, I didn't try it out at once. Last Saturday, I reinstalled the operating system. And I had an idea of downloading the latest version, 9.0 Beta. I did it. I just wanted to see what new features included in this new version. So I didn't sign in with a sample@yahoo.cn id when the new version was installed. I signed in with another id @yahoo.com.

An hour ago, an odd idea impacted me suddenly. Why not try singing in with my @yahoo.cn id and see what happened then? That's a good idea, I think.

I certainly tried it. It displayed Signing in as sample@yahoo.cn. But to my surprise, this @yahoo.cn id was successfully on-line. Oh, my God! Version 9.0 has been available for signing in with @yahoo.cn. That's great!

Let's have a look at what new features included.

• A whole new look for your contact list
• Brand new skins and emotions
• New Flickr integration in the photo sharing feature
• A new in-line media player
• New features for voice calls

You can download it here. Yahoo! Messenger 9 Beta

Be known that, it's not important that the address you are using is either @yahoo.com or @yahoo.cn. No matter which domain you use,  you can enjoy it perfectly. If you are fond of Yahoo! Messenger, why not try this latest version right now?

This morning I received an alert from www.liveside.net . Then                                                             I clicked on the link in this alert. Oh, that's great! Live Search Maps announced via their blog that a new Chinese version is now available. Users can visit http://ditu.live.com to use this service.

In this version, business search, collections, and public transit features were emphasized, covering over 100 cities with 7 million business listings.

In Chinese market, Products and Services of Microsoft are always released later than they do in other market. We must try other versions before Chinese version is available.

How about this new version? Useful or just so-so? Before knowing this, you can visit the website and begin your search tour. Maybe there are something you need.

And you can also compare this website with Google Maps. Then you will distinguish that which one is better.

Sorry, everyone. I apologize if I am letting you down.

These days, I have been complaining about my situation. I made complaints about my being alone and lonely. I thought no one was concerned about me except the family. I took it for granted that I was fighting by myself. So I always seemed to be unhappy.

But now, I find that I am completely wrong. Because the fact is just the opposite.

Many a friend is concerning about me. Although they don't always speak it out. Actually, I didn't know it until yesterday.

It snowed yesterday, the first snow of this year. Looking at the white outside, I felt depressed. There was strong haze in the sky. It made me not able to see everything clear and then depressed me. Just at this moment, my cell phone rang. Some were sending short messages to me.

Some were thinking of me!

In the messages, I was asked about the present progress of my preparation for the Graduate Entrance Examinations. All the words showed their care and kindness. They asked me how I felt, whether I was tired and also about the situation of me. They were encouraging me and told me to COME ON. From these messages, I was deeply moved. I misunderstood your meaning during the past days.

I must say sorry to you.

I'm such a person that always have a bee in my head. I couldn't help imagine something at times. I know that it's not helpful. But I can't just control myself.

So if you hadn't been in touch with me for a long time, I would think that you were not caring about me any more. That's funny.

Now I will change my mind. I know you are always missing me. And you are always concerning about my everything. I know that.

I'm sorry for my possibly letting you down. I won't be.

And I won't think more. It's not necessary, she once said that to me.

If you are reading this entry, you must understand my feeling -- I hope so.

Unbelievable!

To my surprise, some alert functions of Windows Live Messenger are available in my computer again.

Since WLM 9.0 was installed in my notebook, there have been many problems about this program. For example, the program can't be connected to the Internet directly. And the alerts can't display normally. The former was already repaired well several days ago. Then the later appeared. The program couldn't display alerts when it's necessary. When contacts come online, I can't see alerts on the lower right of the screen. And I can't hear alert sounds, either. I can only see the toolbar wink.

I thought all these were because of bugs. I even tried uninstalling this new version and returning to version 8.5.

Fortunately, these problems were all gone suddenly. I'm too lucky! I don't know why!

Who helped me fix these problems up? God or the computer itself? It sounds very funny.

Now, if you send me a new message, I can see and hear the alerts at one time. It's perfect!

RSS is very popular in Web 2.0 era. We can subscribe RSS feed to get update via this new technology. And many websites provide their visitors with RSS feed now.

Several days ago, I spent hours acquainting myself with RSS technology. I heard of it two years ago. But till now I know well about it. It indeed advantages readers of a website.

Then I put some feed buttons on my home page. Such as Add to Google, Add to Yahoo and Subscribe by Anothr. E-mail subscription is also available. I want to make all of you know what I have updated more conveniently, i.e. I hope there will be more readers visiting my blog.

How many people visited my blog? Or how many people concerned about my blog?

I'm not sure about the number of readers who often visit my blog. But I really want to know that.

So, if you subscribed my blog, either RSS or E-mail subscription, please let me know.

FeedBurner or FeedSky? It's an option that Internet users must do in Mainland China.

Recently, I pay much attention to RSS Feed service. It's a brand new thing in Web2.0 era. I have dreamed of provide some RSS Feed service for my blog visitors for several months. This service should contain RSS Feed, E-mail subscription and RSS subscribers statistics. So I began to search for the RSS service provider.

Generally speaking, I prefer to overseas products and services. Because multinational enterprises supply better services than domestic. Especially for the customer service.

I found FeedBurner first. It seems that its service is very good and professional. But there is a problem. Many of my blog readers know little English. Whereas, FeedBurner doesn't have a Chinese version. It means I'd better to find a domestic service provider. I visited lots of blog webpages written in Chinese and found many users using service provided by FeedSky. What about FeedSky?

Then I visited FeedSky homepage. To my surprise, it's simply a Chinese version of FeedBurner, I thought. Formats, structures and modes, all these are nearly the same. Why? They are two different companies. At first, I took it for granted that FeedSky was a branch of FeedBurner in China. Then I found I was wrong immediately. FeedSky is a company owned by a Chinese merchant.

And they are many articles about service quality of FeedBurner and FeedSky. People compare FeedBurner with FeedSky. Most think of the former better. They say that service of FeedSky contains some imperfect designs and the service quality level too low. Someone sent an E-mail to FeedSky in order to ask for some help. But he hadn't received any reply for many days. There are so many complaints about FeedSky service.

Many users want to use FeedBurner service. But they can't. Because FeedBurner has been blocked by GFW. Users can't visit webpages of FeedBuner unlimitedly.That is to say, they can't enjoy the excellent service provided by FeedBurner completely.

What is GFW? GFW is short of Great Firewall of China. You can't visit some sites which contain contents forbidden by Chinese government with GFW. GFW has had great power. Users in Mainland can't visit Blogspot. And pictures in Flickr can't display. GFW blocks many webpages which contain contents about advacacy against China and pornographic information.

How to evaluate the effect of GFW? It indeed blocked some pornographic sites which do harm to children and young people. That's very good. But if the site you would like to visit is blocked and it doesn't contain any illegal content, what do you think?

And how to provide better service, it's what domestic company should consider. We shouldn't be scared of competition. We can't be protected all the time.

Several days ago, I introduced Windows Messenger 9.0 Beta to you. I also put a download link of mutli-login patch there. Honestly, WLM is so nice.

But then I found some bugs come out.

With this multi-login patch, I could sign in more than one MSN id at the same time. It indeed advantaged my use. However, a problem existed. That is, I could only sign in MSN through a LAN proxy. If I connected to Internet directly, some errors would occur.  And these errors would disappear through a SOCKS proxy.

Why? This problem puzzled me so much.

I tried many ways to find out what the problem was. Then I found that it was arise from the mutli-login patch. After I replaced the file which was modified by this patch with a backup file, the problem showed in the picture above disappeared. I could connect to .NET Messenger Service directly again.

One of my friends used this multi-login patch, too. And there was nothing wrong with the program running in his computer. So it was my computer that aroused this connection problem?

Did anybody encounter this problem like me?

Without the multi-login patch, I couldn't sign in more than one MSN at the one time. Then I tried some other patches. I tried A-Patch141rc1b1_WLM.exe. Many users said it's good. Unexpectedly, an error occurred after installing this .exe patch.

Right now I found an easy way to solve my problem. It's UltraEdit! Open msnmsgr.exe with UltraEdit, Ctrl+G and type 0xb38d6. Then modify B7 to B6. Click on Save to make the modification take effect. Now double-click on the shortcut to Windows Live Messenger, you will find that you can sign in more than one MSN id at one time! Cool!

If you want multi-login, it's the easiest way, I think.

To realize multi-login, download UltraEdit here.

http://1.gobee.cn/FTP/2007-12/01/36%20UltraEdit-32%20V13.20.rar?0000000367530942130tflag=1196612913opin=206a57a6cff75993ebf35c94a249e3cd&ip =202.112.90.6.rar

Update on 2007/12/24

Acctually, the latest version of MSNShell which includes the function of multi-login was released five days ago. This version is available for 9.0. Many users in China like MSNShell very much. You can also try it.