Vibrant TV and radio station dedicated to promoting a healthy and creative lifestyle. Elderescence features a variety of fitness programs for all levels, energizing music channels with Suzuki music lessons in strings and piano, dance music to keep you motivated, and inspiring art segments showcasing diverse forms of creative expression from photography to life drawing. Whether you’re looking to break a sweat, find new tunes, or explore the world of art, this station has something for everyone.
A Troubled Man is a jazz ballad by the Tale Teller Club.
'I used some very jazzy syncopated piano for this track to underpin a bit of a folk ballad. I played piano, actually two improvised tracks, and then I used pizzicato strings for a bit of edge.'
Flex is the main singer on the single A Troubled Man with iServalan on backing vocals. As the title suggests it is a poignant look at the angst of a man who leaves his troubles with the world when he dies. But it isn't a bleak song, the jazz underpins quite an upbeat vibe and overall it was written tongue in cheek by iServalan.
The track works well with Strata 6 which looks at violent urges in humans and some trouble that Renyke, the main character in this chapter, comes across at the bank.
Sarnia de la Maré FRSA
If you love books and musicals check out the new animation series by Tale Teller Club, the Book of Immersion
Find out more about the Tale Teller Club
The Tale Teller Club Official Podcast is called the iServalan Show and is available on iTunes, Spotify etc.
What is the Tale Teller Club? Band, Orchestra, Filmmaker, Podcaster, Set Designer, Author, Lyricist and Musician in no particular order
The Tale Teller Club is a captivating platform that weaves together art, literature, and music. Founded by British author, artist, and composer Sarnia de la Maré (also known as iServalan), it offers a multisensory experience for the cerebral cortex. Here are some features of the club:
iServalan Show: A podcast covering topics like AI, culture, and music.
Tale Teller Club Academy of Arts: An online learning platform teaching skills such as drawing, dancing, and playing instruments.
Tale Teller Club Publishing: Produces and distributes audiobooks, ebooks, and short plays.
Tale Teller Club Inked: A show spotlighting tattoo designs and techniques.
Music Therapy: Based on the theory of Rife Healing Vibrations, exploring resonance therapies.
Let’s delve into the enchanting world of iServalan’s cello—a vessel that resonates with both human emotion and digital echoes:
🎻 iServalan’s Cello: A Symphony in Wood and Wire 🎻
The Body:
The cello’s body is carved from aged spruce and maple, its curves a testament to centuries of craftsmanship.
The top plate (soundboard) is spruce, chosen for its resonance. It bears the scars of countless performances—a map of memories etched in grain.
The back, sides, and neck are maple, sturdy yet yielding. They cradle the soul of the music.
Varnish and Patina:
The varnish—amber, like sun-kissed honey—clings to the wood. It’s a secret recipe passed down through luthiers’ whispered tales.
The patina tells stories: sweat from fevered concerts, tears shed over lost love, and the gentle touch of iServalan’s fingertips.
F-Holes:
The f-holes, delicate and precise, channel sound. They’re like portals to other realms—the bridge between the mundane and the ethereal.
When iServalan draws her bow across the strings, the f-holes breathe, releasing harmonies into the air.
Pegs and Tailpiece:
The pegs—ebony or rosewood—turn with ancient wisdom. They hold tension, tuning the cello to the heartbeat of the universe.
The tailpiece, adorned with a silver eye, anchors the strings. It’s said that it watches over the music, guarding its secrets.
Strings:
The strings—gut or steel—sing their own songs. Each note plucked or bowed is a conversation between iServalan and the cosmos.
They vibrate, resonating with her every emotion. Joy, sorrow, longing—they all find voice in those slender threads.
Bridge and Soundpost:
The bridge stands proud, a wooden arch connecting earth and sky. It transfers vibrations from strings to soundboard.
The soundpost, hidden within, is the cello’s heartbeat. It whispers encouragement during late-night rehearsals and midnight musings.
Scroll and Scrollwork:
The scroll, a flourish of artistry, crowns the cello’s neck. Its volutes spiral like galaxies, hinting at cosmic origins.
Scrollwork—subtle vines, stars, or mythical creatures—adorns the edges. Each luthier leaves their mark, a blessing for the musician.
Endpin and Spike:
The endpin, telescopic and unyielding, anchors the cello to the stage. It’s a lifeline for iServalan, grounding her in the chaos of performance.
The spike digs into wooden floors, stage after stage. It knows the weight of her dreams.
Case and Rosin Dust:
The cello’s case—weathered leather or sleek carbon fiber—holds it safe. It’s a cocoon for the instrument’s fragile soul.
Inside, rosin dust clings to velvet. It’s the residue of countless bows, a testament to iServalan’s dedication.
And there you have it—the essence of iServalan’s cello. When she plays, it’s as if the universe leans in to listen, and time itself holds its breath. 🌟🎶✨
Find out more about the Tale Teller Club
The Tale Teller Club Official Podcast is called the iServalan Show and is available on iTunes, Spotify etc.
What is the Tale Teller Club? Band, Orchestra, Filmmaker, Podcaster, Set Designer, Author, Lyricist and Musician in no particular order
The Tale Teller Club is a captivating platform that weaves together art, literature, and music. Founded by British author, artist, and composer Sarnia de la Maré (also known as iServalan), it offers a multisensory experience for the cerebral cortex. Here are some features of the club:
iServalan Show: A podcast covering topics like AI, culture, and music.
Tale Teller Club Academy of Arts: An online learning platform teaching skills such as drawing, dancing, and playing instruments.
Tale Teller Club Publishing: Produces and distributes audiobooks, ebooks, and short plays.
Tale Teller Club Inked: A show spotlighting tattoo designs and techniques.
Music Therapy: Based on the theory of Rife Healing Vibrations, exploring resonance therapies.
Immersion V1 Strata 6 Trouble at the Bank (Animal Instincts)
The instinct to fight has been observed in both humans and animals. Dominance protects vulnerable species from harm. Neural circuits of rage, anger, and violence exist because humans and animals need them to protect offspring, and to secure food, drink, and safety.
But to be aroused or entertained by violence is more particular to humans than other species. Some humans have even fetishised the power of winning: they seek it out and are physically stimulated by it.
This pleasure in violence, along with the thrill of danger, comes from a deep innate human psychology. It is linked to a desire for competition, thrills, and excitement, as well as the promise of adrenaline which humans find stimulating.
Androids do not experience pleasure in this way. They do not experience the effects of pleasure chemicals, like dopamine, or a motivational salience which can lead to the desirability of an outcome. All androids however have been programmed to protect an asset or assets at all costs. Often these goals will result in violent acts.
But the excitement of a fight remains uniquely human and is a self motivated, self fulfilling exhilaration often irrespective of intellectual advancement.
*****
The oversized droid tried to nudge Renyke into the chair. This small movement, a deliberate, forceful action, raised alarm bells. This droid and this place were dangerous.
POS was now completely unresponsive.
The Droids were staring intently, too close for comfort. The finger clicking was getting even more intense.
Renyke took a few moments to compose himself.
'I seem to have made a mistake,' said Renyke, 'I have nothing to exchange after all.'
Queenie, looking worried near the door, demanded access to leave.
'Let me out, this is not my affair,' she said to the door guard who had stopped her exit with his thick arm. She kicked his shin and he laughed. 'That just tickles,' he said, bending down and scowling in her face, too close for comfort.
Still nothing from the POS......
Renyke realised he was on his own. This was new. total autonomy was not possible for artificially created learning machines. There was alway a system in place. The system was paramount to seamless function.
One of the droids got closer to Renyke and explained, 'You gotta have something useful for your friends at the bank. We like useful things. Must be something nice you got for the banker.'
The other droid looked at Renyke's bag. 'What's in the bag?' he said moving forward to remove it from Renyke's shoulder.
Maybeline crawled out onto Renyke's collar snarling and spitting. She was screeching violently and standing on her hind legs.
'We take anything, old phones even. Anything with data, or storage, or files, photos, NFTs. We take hardware too, your bank is really *frienly. The watch looks tasty. We like watches at the bank. Don't we like watches?'
His thick-set assistant nodded, wires and cogs vibrated inside a hole in his cheek.
Suddenly POS was available again and activated defence and attack modes.
Renyke engaged his bionics and with lightning speed, head butted the first droid who flew back and smashed the other's head with the force of a truck. Cogs crushed and whirred and they both hit the floor.
Maybeline screeched and began removing wires from orafices in the droids heads.. Then she stood victorious on her hind legs looking around for another victim.
Human, age 48, ID: possibly David Shrewen, wanted for murder, extortion, fraud, by *CASM
A short well dressed man approached trying to calm the situation. He lifted his hands in surrender. He was nervous without the protection of his now defunct droids.
The Door guard held the female guide by the neck and she was screaming, 'Let us go we're no trouble honest, no trouble!'
'Quiet', said the door guard squeezing her neck tighter and choking her.
'My name is David Shrewen and I have a reputation to uphold. One of professionalism and integrity. I must apologise for my overzealous staff.' He put his hand out to shake Renyke's hand.
Shall I lock weapons on target? asked POS.
Renyke engaged an army-issue laser bolt-gun in his hand that would take out the whole room and anyone in it.
He would prefer not to use it but he pointed it at Shrewen's face fixing a menacing stare.
'Duuuuude, we got no ishy here. No ishy, just data. A misunderstanding my friend?' Said Shrewen.
'Drop the lady!' Shouted Renyke, 'we are leaving.'
'Let them go', shouted Shrewen, without hesitation and putting on a brave friendly smile.
The door guard released Queenie, as the banker backed off with his hands still in the air.
Renyke reversed his way towards the door watching the room through his the 360-degree embedded viewfinder.
There was a bag on the counter.
...Contains bits, may I suggest we take it.....? said POS
Renyke grabbed the bag. It was heavy. The Banker protested. 'Not the whole bag man ......I got bills to pay!'
Renyke pulled out a handful of the contents and threw the bag on the floor. He didn't need it all, enough to get some kind of vehicle to get him to Redact. The last thing he wanted was a gang of stupid droids after him in this Hell hole. They might hold him up.
The banker was yelling as Renyke and Queenie took their exit.
Shrewen was shouting as they made their way back through the market, 'You got some neat tools man, we could use you at the bank!'
Strata 5, Immersion V1, The Tiger Queen (Memories)
Welcome to Immersion, you have reached Strata 5
To function correctly, humans depend almost entirely upon memories. Memory is an integral part of human cognition. It allows individuals to recall and draw upon past events to frame their understanding of the present. Memory also gives individuals a paradigm through which they make sense of the future. Memories are tried and tested experiences where deep knowledge and understanding are fostered. The future becomes less of an unknown with an arsenal of information based on what we remember. Memory can also be evolutionary, cultural, and non specific, based on a collective experience of tragedy, persecution or success.
A machine that remembers too little will not be able to do anything that requires connecting past experiences to new ones. Many droids are prone to catastrophic forgetting as well as over-learning, either leading to gross malfunction. Humans are able to pick and choose their memories for a better life. Even false memories have proven to be advantageous for human emotional balance.
**************
Renyke attempted a face-recog on the woman but the makeup or tattoo caused a data malfunction. Flex, the one with probable knowledge about trusting her had disappeared amongst the crowd.
After a lingering interlude for summing up danger, but with no logical conclusion, Renyke followed his guide with some trepidation. The woman was effervescent and attractive, seemingly unfamiliar attributes that Renyke was surprised to have noticed. Such exuberances were not encouraged in the Midcasts but Renyke was inexplicably drawn to her zeal and fervour as she moved through the streets like a tiger queen.
Market traders were selling an array of live animals, electronic devices, even workers by the hour for a range of uses from labouring, singing and even sexual services.
Renyke was feeling confused at the evidence before him. Things did not seem logical to his organised brain. The noise, the intensity, a million unrelated instances of life weaving through time and space. These were chaotic waveforms traveling horseback on a loud wind. It was making him giddy.
'What's with the frown Mr?' The woman seemed empathetic.
'I don't know, something familiar maybe, here, this street.'
'I would know if you had graced our streets before my friend.' The woman was staring intently into Renyke's eyes making him feel self conscious. You got stranger written all over that face, let me tell you.'
The woman greeted traders and passersby. She was well known here although POS was not able to ascertain much data.
The woman is 20, human,, she has had a child said POS...
They arrived at a unit with barricades and metal shutters. It was constructed from an old underground train carriage, probably from the twenty-first century.
'Here we go,' said the woman 'That's 50 G-bits for getting you here Mr.'
'I have to get some money first,' said Renyke 'What do I need, I have no ID?'
'You don't need ID here Mr. This is the *hiddens' zone, the Urchs got no ID. No ID, no problem. This is a very special bank just for people like you.'
'Well, how do I get money?' asked Renyke, now confused about accessing anything that may be stored in his POS and dubious about sharing his identity.'
The woman laughed. 'Ya gotta put sometin' up my friend.
'Like my coat?' asked Renyke.
'Na, not in the bank! Your software, course, or hardware, or files, whatever.....just plug in, give some data, get some g-bits innit. They take apps, software, POS.....
Day to Day Data..... is their wayta..... .....hahahahaha.'
The woman cackled then sighed, observing Renyke's discomfort.
'I'll take you in OK, I know the banker.'
Renyke pondered the likelihood of a successful solo effort and nodded in agreement.
The woman bashed on the metal door and a hatch opened.
'It's me, Queen,ie, got a client for ya big guy.'
Dark peering eyes checked them up and down through a small rectangle.
'Not the animals', said a loud booming voice after tentatively opening a heavily armoured door.
Inside was well guarded by large-framed menacing characters. They were standard issue security droids, the like of older versions that had been discontinued and recalled then disassembled and officially disposed of. Security in the Midcasts was controlled by forcefields and lasers with little need for big ugly droids.
Renyke was ushered into a small cubical with an array of plugs and wires.
The woman gestured he should go in as she waited near the door under the watchful eye of the droid.
POS was glitching.
Everything in the cubical looked antiquated, probably from the early tech years. There was a chair and Renyke was motioned to sit down.
He hesitated. 'How does this work?' He asked a large droid.
The droid seemed stupefied, slow and sluggish, as if he had been drained of power. He spoke slowly with slurred words. There were intermittent beeping noises and error warnings coming from inside his head.
'Here is the current exchange rate,' said the droid, pointing to a monitor with flashing figures. 'As soon as you are plugged in, we see what you got and make an offer. Then we transfer. You get a voucher here.'
He pointed to a small printing machine, 'then take it over there and get g-bits or s bits.'
There were hundreds of wires and plugs seemingly for extracting and monitoring every device from the last couple of centuries. Anything from antique video machines to digital clocks, and hundreds of handset devises seemed to have a lead on offer.
Renyke spotted the Mark 3 Droid Cable and shuddered.
He checked his applications. Then all the add-ons. He checked for any temp files he could get rid of. Then he checked the POS and asked if there was a clean-up they could run.
System is currently set to factory install. Removing program files or data could be detrimental to smooth function....this action is not supported.....
More searching......then finally
One file found Unknown origin Possible memory file from last OS Appears surplus to current operational needs but I am unable to access file contents
The big droid began clicking its fingers slowly and grimacing. His equally thug like colleague approached and joined in.
The woman, looking restless by the door, ushered Renyke to hurry up
Can we operate without it? Renyke asked POS'
There is a possibility, according to my calculations, of serious malfunction
The droids moved closer and the clicking intensified.