Handy translations linkspam

• the Language Log compiles Anglo-EU translations, plus others
  
• PhD Comics on the subject of deciphering academese
  
• interpreting statements in scientific papers
  
• a visuals-only approximation to the Language Log post

Helpful odds and ends

I keep finding myself recommending this set of things to people (having been recced them in turn!) and overall feedback tends to be pretty positive, SO. Here are some things I use that make my life easier:

• Medimemo 7-day pill organiser - 7 small boxes which fit easily in pockets & take all of my drugs.
  
• folding walking sticks are available extremely cheaply (starting at well under a fiver, with price increasing as max load increases, but still generally available at less than £20)
  
• Chris Boyle's timer app, for Android (or, if you ask REALLY nicely, PalmOS ;) - it does awesome stuff like letting you set the interval between meds, choose whether or not it should keep nagging you before restarting the countdown after it beeps at you, etc. (Chris hasn't yet implemented the "FUCK OFF" button I keep asking for, but that is probably actually reasonable of him...)
  
• my prescription pre-payment certificate. They're ~£100 for 12 months in the UK. If you've got more than a couple of drugs on repeat it's almost certainly worth looking into it, if you're under the aegis of the NHS.
  
• my pharmacy's ability to collect scrips from my GP. It took approximately 5 minutes to set up and the difference in manageability is ENORMOUS.
  
• your very own prescriptions for neat codeine & for amitriptyline (NB side effects may apply, this is probz most appropriate for other people with chronic pain, etc). More details on request.
  
• silicone jar openers.
  
• glass straws that can be used in hot drinks, for days when I REALLY WANT SOME TEA but don't feel totally confident lifting mugs full of hot liquid.
  
• my Bambach saddle stool, bought second-hand via the eBays (price new ~£500).
  
• WHEELCHAIR. Like, we are here rapidly getting into the realms of "proper expensive" - my titanium sports chair was £500 off eBay - but if you are even slightly thinking that maybe you'd like to know what one is like, then I have two chairs and can arrange to loan one out (depending on queue length), have people round to try sitting in them, etc. And at later stages I can help shout at Wheelchair Services until they are useful.