September, 2008 Archive

Microsoft DreamSpark – Free Developer & Design Software

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Following on from yesterday’s Microsoft Office 2007 bargain, I’ve been alerted to this DreamSpark Promotion offering loads of free software to students.

So roll up and download:

  • Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition
  • Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition
  • Expression Studio (includes Web, Blend, Media and Design)
  • SQL Server 2005 Developer Edition
  • Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard Edition, with SP2

Not bad for a Thursday morning eh?!

My Ulcerative Colitis (UC) Is In Remission

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Earlier this year I ran the London Marathon for a charityNational Association for Colitis and Crohns – which helps people like myself who have either disease.

I’ve had Ulcerative Colitis for 11 years.

Ever since I got back from a holiday in Mexico where I had food poisoning my guts have never been quite right.

Basically the infection kicked off what is a generic condition where you end up with an over-active immune system.

Your guts constantly think they’re being attacked and so are on red alert – with dire circumstances!

For the last 7 years I’ve been taking immunosuppressant drugs, the sort they give transplant patients to stop them rejecting their organs, and I’ve been fine.

But those kind of drugs aren’t great in chronic conditions, so a few weeks ago I went for a colonoscopy and was given the all clear.

My colitis is in remission! 🙂

I’m now part of a trial where I’m undergoing hypnotherapy every week because they’ve discovered a link between IDB and stress!

Hopefully this’ll work and it’ll never flare up again but at least I’ve gone from taking 8 pills a day to only taking 4, my immune system is back to what it was 7 years ago and I don’t have to be so worried about the long term effects of the drugs.

I heard from the NACC yesterday that we raised the most out of the 30 NACC runners in the marathon this year, contributing nearly £8k to a £46k pot which will go to help fund research and support for folks a lot worse off than I am.

Thanks again to everyone who supported me and here’s to the next 7 years!

HealthVault & How To Pulled A Hamstring Playing Cricket

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I tore my hamstring yesterday while playing cricket!

Turning to make another run and I slipped on the wet wicket. As I got up and pushed off my right foot, my hamstring went pop and a bolt of pain went up leg.

Somehow I manage to hobble the next 15 yards but in agony, collapsing in a heap but thankfully not run out!

I “retired hurt” and had to be carried off the pitch 🙁

Anyway, not having clue what I should do I checked out HealthVault

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It’s got a load of cool features and is badged as “putting you in control of your health information.”

But I just like it for looking up stuff, finding out what a condition or disease is and what kind of treatment you can expect.

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Needless to say I’ll be on the phisio’s table in the morning! 🙂

Microsoft Charity Party On Saturday In Aid Of Barnado’s

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Our adCenter Team are throwing a party this Saturday 6th September in aid of Barnado’s in Central London.

The venue – http://www.adamstreet.co.uk/

It’s part of a drive to raise £10k to re-vamp and spruce up the Sunrise Children’s Center in Kent

Check out more details here:

http://www.justgiving.com/microsoftadvertisingcommunityproject

If you’re interested in coming please email me through the blog or ping me on Twitter:

http://twitter.com/MelCarson 

I’ll sort you out some tickets in return for a donation 🙂

It should be a great night and all for a very worthy cause!

Email Spam Depends On First Letter Of Address

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According to the BBC, you’re more likely to suffer more at the fingertips of spammers if your email address begins with S, A or M with the 5th most violated letter being P!

Now, do you think Dr Richard Clayton from Cambridge University is taking the M, I, C, K, E, Y?

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