5866. 75 -300mm lens. Gout and colchicine

 

Gout in the big toe is a form of inflammatory arthritis caused by uric acid crystals depositing in the joint, often causing sudden, severe pain, redness, swelling, and extreme sensitivity (even to the weight of a bedsheet). It frequently strikes at night and typically lasts for a week or two. 

Why the Big Toe?
The big toe is the most common site for a gout attack because it is the furthest point from the heart, making it cooler than other joints. Uric acid is sensitive to temperature and turns into needle-like crystals in cooler areas. 

Symptoms of a Gout Attack

• Intense Pain: Usually peaks within 24 hours and often starts at night.
• Inflammation: The joint is red, swollen, and feels very hot.
• Mobility Issues: The pain can make it difficult to walk. 

Treatment and Relief

• Medication: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or naproxen are common for reducing pain and inflammation.
• Ice Packs: Applying a cold pack for 20-30 minutes several times a day can help relieve pain.
• Elevation: Elevate the affected foot higher than your chest.
• Lifestyle Adjustments: Drink plenty of fluids (water) and avoid alcohol and sugary drinks during an attack. 

When to See a Doctor
Seek medical attention if you experience extreme pain, frequent attacks, or signs of an infection (e.g., fever), as untreated chronic gout can cause permanent joint damage

 

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Colchicine is a medication used to treat acute gout flares and prevent future attacks by reducing inflammation caused by uric acid crystals. It works best when taken at the first sign of a flare, often providing relief within 12–24 hours. Common doses are 0.5–0.6 mg, usually taken with food to reduce side effects. 

Key Information on Colchicine for Gout:

• Purpose: Treats acute attacks (pain, swelling, redness) and prevents recurring gout by inhibiting white blood cells from attacking uric acid crystals in joints.
• Dosage for Acute Gout: A common regimen is an initial dose of 1 mg (two 0.5mg tablets or similar) followed by 0.5 mg one hour later.
• When to Take:
   It is most effective when taken within the first 12-24 hours of a flare-up.
Side Effects: The most common side effects are gastrointestinal, including diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
Precautions: Do not consume grapefruit or grapefruit juice, as it can increase the concentration of colchicine in your blood. It is not a general pain reliever and will not work for non-gout pain. 

 

5865. A smile that reaches the eyes

 

A smile that reaches the eyes, known as a Duchenne smile, is characterized by the contraction of both the zygomatic major muscle (raising mouth corners) and the orbicularis oculi muscle (raising cheeks and creating crow's feet). It signals genuine joy, warmth, and emotion, as opposed to forced social smiles. 

Key Characteristics and Science:

• Muscular Engagement: The distinguishing factor is the action around the eyes (orbicularis oculi), often called "smiling with the eyes" or "smizing".
• The Difference: While a regular smile only involves the mouth, a Duchenne smile produces crinkles in the corners of the eyes.
• Limbic System Control: True smiles are controlled by the brain's limbic system, whereas forced smiles (like "saying cheese") are controlled by the motor cortex.
• Evolutionary Link: It is named after 19th-century neurologist Guillaume Duchenne, who studied the facial muscles involved in genuine emotional expressions. 

Significance:

• Authenticity: It is generally considered a reliable indicator of real happiness, enjoyment, or amusement.
• Social Connection: Duchenne smiles tend to appear when an individual is near people they know and trust, signaling positive emotion.
• Physical/Mental Health: They are linked to higher levels of well-being, reduced stress, and increased social cohesion.
• Anatomical Markers: Beyond eye-crinkling, these smiles often involve narrowed eyelids and a shiny appearance of the cheeks. 

While historically defined as the only true smile, some studies suggest that Duchenne smiles may also represent high intensity or specific social situations, not exclusively felt pleasure, but it remains a strong marker for social warmth, says Carnegie Mellon University. 

 

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Non-Duchenne smiles shouldn’t necessarily be considered “fake,” however. A more accurate way of describing them might be “polite.”

Polite smiles can communicate social pleasantness, and they can even signal discreet psychological distanceTrusted Source, which may be an appropriate response in many situations

 

 

 

5864. Writing Tips: @CrimsonVengeance. My son texted me don't come to my wedding

 

 @CrimsonVengeance. My son texted me don't come to my wedding  (He was a mechanic with calloused hands)

 

(He sold his house etc)

I opened a new account, the Katherine Kowalski Scholarship Fund. Ir was for kids who want to go to trade school, for kids who want to learn how to weld, how to plumb, how to build things that lasted. It was the best investment I had ever made.

Now I sat in the seat 1A of a Boeing 777. The leather was soft, much softer than the seats in my truck. The air smelled of conditioned oxygen and expensive cologne. "Mr Kowalski," a flight attendant asked, leaning over with a bottle wrapped in a white napkin. "Would you like a glass of champagne before takeoff" ?

I looked at the bottle. Dom Perignon, the same stuff that had been going flat on the counter of the house my son had destroyed.

I smiled. "Yes,"  I said. "I would love one."  She poured the golden liquid into a crystal flute. The bubbles danced. rising to the surface in a frantic race to be free. I took the glass. It felt light in my hand.I looked out the window. The tarmac was busy with baggage carts and fuel trucks, men in neon vests doing the hard work that made the world move.

Beyond the airport, the city of Chicago sprawled out a grid of gray and green. Somewhere down there, in a county facility, my son was waiting for a plea hearing. He was learning how to make his own bed.He was learning that actions have mass and velocity.

I didn't feel angry anymore.The rage that had fueled me on the day of the wedding had burned itself out, leaving behind a clean slate. I had done my job. I had provided for him. And when he went astray, I had corrected him. The rest was up to him.  

The plane began to push back from the gate. The engines wind spinning up to a roar that vibrated through the floorboards. I rook a sip of the champagne. It was cold and crisp. It tasted like victory. Not the victory of beating someone else, but the victory of reclaiming yourself.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone. I looked at it one last time. There were no missed calls, no unread messages. I held the power button. The screen went black. I put the phone my my bag and zipped it shut. I wouldn't be needing it for a while. I was going to Italy.

Catherine had always wanted to go the the Amalfi Coast. She wanted to paint the light on the water. We never went because I was aways too busy working. Too busy building an empire for a son who didn't want it. 

Well, I was going now. I was going to eat pasta and drink wine and look at the ocean. I was going to sleep in until noon if I wanted to. I was going to spend my money on memories I could actually keep. 

The plane taxied to the runway. The pilot came over he intercom announcing our flight time to Rome. I leaned my head back against the headrest. I closed my eyes. For 66 years, I had been Bernie the contractor, Bernie the husband, Bernie the father and Bernie the bank account. 

Today I was just Bernie.The engine roared to full power. The force pushed me back into the seat. We gathered speed faster and faster until the bumps of the runway smoothed out and the ground fell away.

I opened my eyes and looked out the window. The city was gone, hidden beneath a layer of white clouds. The sun was shinning on top of them, brilliant and blinding. I raised my glass to the empty seat beside me. "Here is to you, Catherine," I whispered. "And here is to me." I took a drink. The champagne bubbled in my throat. I was flying. and for the first time in my life, I wasn't caring anyone else's weight.I was just flying.

We spend our lives trying to give our children the things we never had. But in the process, we often forget to give them what they actually need - character. I thought loving my son meant shielding him from the rain. But I only succeeded in raising a man who couldn't handle a storm.  True wealth isn't the balance in your bank account or the label of your suit. It is the ability to look in the mirror and respect the person staring back.       

Never allow anyone, not even your on blood, to treat you like a resource instead of a person. Dignity is the only currency that matters. And sometimes you have to be willing to lose everything else just to keep it. 

Would you have bailed your son out or would you have walked away just like I did? 

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 Dom Pérignon is a brand of vintage Champagne. It is named after Dom Pérignon, a Benedictine monk who was an important quality pioneer for Champagne wine but who, contrary to popular myths, did not discover the Champagne method for making sparkling wines. 

 

5863. 75 - 300 mm lens. Ramp control tower

 SINGAPORE - 14 MAR 2026: Beside the Departure Hall of Terminal 4, Changi Airport, a 68-m ramp control tower enhances the air traffic controllers’ visual line of sight of aircraft parking stands and taxiways near the southern ends of Runways 1 and 2. The 68-m tall ramp control tower will provide clearance to pilots on when they can push back from the gates, as well as give instructions on which taxiway to be used, before handing over communications to the Changi Air Traffic Control Tower.

 

 Canon R5 130mm, 1/2000 sec, f/4.5, iso 200
14 Mar 2026. 1.01pm

5862. Chilli plants from smartphone

 chilli plants from George Leong, Sydney

15 Mar 2026