Extensor tendinitis or pre-gout

 
Claude's diagnosis: 

Stable, non-worsening swelling over two days with mild redness and no severe tenderness points strongly toward extensor tendinitis — nothing alarming.

Just stick with the simple approach: rest, cold packs, topical Voltaren gel, and loose footwear. At 80, tendons take a bit longer to settle down, so give it 5-7 days of consistent rest and you should see gradual improvement.

The main thing to watch for is any sudden worsening — increased swelling, fever, or the pain becoming severe. If any of those appear, see a doctor promptly. Otherwise, this looks like something that will resolve on its own with conservative care.

And do keep an eye on that blood pressure — if it stays above 150/95 consistently, it's worth a conversation with your doctor about adjustment of medication.

Probable cause : (1) obesity (2) wearing schoes that fit poorly. 

AOC

New York radicals/Marxists have a rising star - Alejandra Ocasio-Cortez.  She is a populist Puertoriquena, with little knowledge of the world but full of energy and daring. She does appeal to the Caribbean and Mexican recent immigrant population, a massive voting bloc that will decide the future of America. Trump may be the last Republican (non-mestizo) President. On the other hand, the USA was prospering under Barack Obama and Joe Biden, as it is now. The country is very solid, and it may survive Latino politics. 

Memorandum

 

To remember: The US dollar has lost 15% of its value vis-a-vis the Euro and other currencies. One can hear the air escaping from it. Most economies are stagnating; only India is growing forcefully. Israel, too, is growing. Stock exchanges are static or falling everywhere. President Trump has seized much power and has frightened medio mundo. I have lots of work orders and am earning money. I have no more goals to fulfil nor a program to achieve anything. This is the way it should be at eighty, but somehow it feels empty. 

Switzerland to cap the population at 10 million

 The proposal to be voted on in June 2026 caps Switzerland's permanent resident population at 10 million by 2050.  Triggers government intervention when the population reaches 9.5 million. Switzerland's population currently stands at around 9 million. The country has grown about 5 times faster than the EU average, 40% of the population has a migrant background, and 31% are foreign residents. There is also differential reproduction: 1.33 children born/Swiss woman vs 1.86 children born/non-Swiss woman.

It is one of the richest countries in the world, and they do not like foreigners. Japan has reached a similar undeclared decision to limit its population. They don't feel the need to grow; they are sure they can survive and defend themselves, despite being few in number.

 It is very different in Israel. 

Estancia La Porota

 Celebrating the foundation of the city of Alvear, Corrientes, Argentina. 

La ciudad fue fundada oficialmente el 10 de febrero de 1863 bajo la sombra del legendario "Ombú Protector", árbol que aparece en el escudo comunal. Según el censo de 2001 tenía 7.917 habitantes, aunque estimaciones más recientes la sitúan cerca de 10.000 habitantes.

Claude, the Uberchochem

 
My NICE stock has lost about 50% over the last three years, and I tend to sell underperforming stocks. Today it was rising 1%, so I sold it all. The stock is now rising 2%. I asked Claude to analyse if I made a mistake, and he made a very long analysis and said that NICE was cheap, and I made a panic mistake. That was the article in The Economist that AI is going to harm software factories, and I was in panic. He gave me a long list of advice. 

Later, I asked him to make a long-term analysis, and yes, it must be in some kind of price-trap and did well in selling. It is confusing, too clever and a half, capable of explaining any decision very intelligently. Anyway, I am out of NICE and looking for an alternative. I'll not ask this chatty AI, too uberchochem and parlanchin. 

Family a Hundred Years Ago

 

The tall man standing on the left is my grandfather Duved, and the beautiful woman sitting second from the left is my grandmother Anna. I think that she is sitting next to her mother, that is, my great-grandmother.