Showing posts sorted by relevance for query glossary. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query glossary. Sort by date Show all posts

Thursday, February 15, 2024

Immersion Chapter 18 Let's Go Swimming (Pleasure and Pain)

Welcome to Immersion, you have reached Strata 18

Let’s go swimming 

Where the ocean never ends

Where the lost and lonely people

Catch up with their friends

Where the water babies go

These seas to ever roam

In search of mother’s love

Thrown from the ships above 

Let’s go swimming 

Where no one ever grows

Where time stands ever still

 For the crying ones who chose 

To walk the sandy beds

With the bubbles of the dead

To guide them without dread

Let’s go swimming 

Under the seven seas

Naked in our dreams

Where warrior women freed

Search their babes in weeds

Let’s go swimming 

With angels mighty wings

Whose death songs always sing

In the echos from the shells

With lovers saved from Hell

Let’s go swimming 

Let's stop this marching time

Enrapture love sublime

To save it from the tide


©2022 Sarnia de la Maré FRSA


Pain and pleasure are sensory and emotional experiences constructed in the brains of humans. Chemicals, experiences, and situations perpetuate the effects of these mamallion phenomenon which stem from almost identical internal processes deeply rooted in biology.
Endorphins can block pain as well as create euphoria, activating and stimulating the human brain's limbic and prefrontal regions – those similarly activated by music or by passionate love affairs.
The mammalian central nervous system has pleasant touch-specific neurons that transmit enjoyable or ecstatic signals up through the human spine.
Machines lack these complex systems and do not hurt when threat or actual force is applied to their parts. But for the same reason, they do not feel the pleasure of touch. The best they can do is pretend. But this process would be for a human's pleasure, not their own.

Abstract painting of swimmers underwater
Flex removed his clothes and left them in an untidy pile on the grass.

Renyke, still somewhat unstable on his feet, followed suit.

'Come on, don't be scared,' shouts Flex from the water, 'I'll teach you how to swim.'

The blue water was cold and yet exhilarating. It rippled over Renyke's skin like a moving shroud. He stared at his hands floating on the surface of this strange organic compound. The water stroked him like a lover and he remembered Shabra.

'This is how she feels....' Renyke mumbled holding his closed eyes toward the sun.

Flex ducked him under the water and after a short time and a few panicked moments to the bottom of the fjord, Renyke got the hang of staying afloat.

'If you want to swim under the water,' Flex explained, 'take three slow deep breathes before thrusting downwards and slowly let air out as you swim deeper for equilibrium. It's important to stay calm. Panic wastes air. You will find you can hold your breath longer under water than above it. If your ears hurt, you went too deep. Oh and remember to come up for air in case you pass out and die.'

Armed with alarming but good advice, Renyke disappeared to play with fishes and check for mermaids, recalling his seemingly prophetic dreams. 

Maybeline and Flex played tag amongst the reeds and the warm sun rays hit the river with a blanket of human promise.

'Oi!' Flex shouted with urgency, exiting  the water at speed.

Renyke and Maybeline watch the commotion on the grass.

'Pleases don't hurt me, please don't hurt little Nigel.'

A small pale strangely formed man, around three feet tall, wriggled his feet as Flex held him up to the sky.

'What were you doing with our stuff?' demanded Flex. 'I saw you Mr. *freak. Don't be taking me for no *fucksyfool.'

'Look, look, I bring the new clothes for the guests....look look.'
Nigel pointed to two piles of clean clothes and towels on the grass next to their dirty things.
'Nigel just *welcummin da new guest to da tunnels, promise.'

'Hmmmmmm,' said Flex suspiciously, lowering Nigel to the ground.

Renyke was already putting on a crisp shirt and clean pants. 

'They feel nice, you should put yours on,' said Renyke, 'you stink, Flex.'


'We bin *epsceting da misters, very long time. Please dress quick-quick, we got foodstuffs for the misters,' explained Nigel beckoning his well dressed guests to an opening near a tree.


©2024 Sarnia de la Maré FRSA

to be continued......


Thursday, February 8, 2024

Winter Depression Busters on a Budget



Coping with depression during the winter months when you're on a tight budget can be challenging, but there are still many strategies you can employ to lift your mood and improve your mental well-being. Here are some depression busters tailored for winter without spending money:

Get Moving Indoors: Exercise is a powerful tool for combating depression. Look for free workout videos on YouTube or utilize bodyweight exercises like squats, lunges, and yoga in the comfort of your home. Even a short 15-20 minute session can boost your mood.


Sunlight Exposure: Lack of sunlight in winter can exacerbate depressive symptoms. Maximize your exposure to natural light by opening curtains and spending time near windows during the brightest part of the day. If possible, go for a short walk outside during daylight hours.


Practice Mindfulness and Meditation: Engage in mindfulness exercises and meditation to cultivate a sense of calm and reduce stress. Many resources for guided meditation can be found online for free. Dedicate a few minutes each day to focus on your breath and let go of negative thoughts.


Stay Connected: Reach out to friends and family for support. Schedule regular phone calls or video chats to maintain social connections, even if you can't meet in person. Sharing your feelings with others can provide comfort and perspective.


Creative Outlets: Expressing yourself creatively can be therapeutic. Try writing in a journal, drawing, painting, crafting, or playing a musical instrument. These activities can help you process emotions and distract you from negative thoughts.


Volunteer Virtually: Helping others can boost your mood and provide a sense of purpose. Look for virtual volunteering opportunities in your community, such as online tutoring, writing letters to seniors, or participating in virtual fundraising events.


Limit Screen Time: While technology can be a valuable tool for staying connected, excessive screen time can contribute to feelings of isolation and worsen depressive symptoms. Set boundaries around your use of social media and prioritize activities that promote mental well-being.


Practice Self-Care: Take time to care for yourself and engage in activities that bring you joy. This could include taking a relaxing bath, cooking a nourishing meal, practicing a hobby, or simply curling up with a good book.


Set Realistic Goals: Break tasks into smaller, manageable steps and celebrate your achievements, no matter how small. Setting realistic goals can give you a sense of accomplishment and boost your self-esteem.


Seek Professional Help if Needed: If you're struggling with depression and it's impacting your daily life, don't hesitate to reach out to a mental health professional. Many therapists offer sliding scale fees or free counseling services, and community health centers may provide low-cost or no-cost mental health care.

Remember that it's okay to ask for help and that you're not alone in dealing with depression. By implementing these strategies and seeking support when needed, you can better manage your symptoms and improve your overall well-being, even during the challenging winter months.

Thursday, February 15, 2024

Immersion Chapter 19 Freaky Celebrations (Stimulation)

Welcome to Immersion, you have reached Strata 19



underground Homotech from the book of immersion by Sarnia de la Maré FRSA
Boredom is common among humans who usually need stimulation to function well. Stimulation can breed invention and creative problem-solving. Humans tend to seek out pleasurable activities to counteract boredom and are often prepared to take risks. Boredom can be alleviated with things that are new and different. Feeling unsatisfied by an activity, or uninterested in it, can lead to problems for individuals and societies.

Artificial intelligence that experiences some kind of boredom simulation, might avoid squandering its resources, thus being drawn to new problems and continuing to develop. The search for novel experiences allows increasingly flexible learning for machines and humans. More simple robots have been used repeatedly for hundreds of years to carry out menial tasks but learning machines are different. They are greedy for knowledge and understanding and are often unprepared to be idle unless someone or something shuts them down.



The Freaks are a tribe of underground humans who suffered deformities due to the extreme use of radioactive and noxious gasses during the Russia-China Wars. The use of these barbaric practices resulted in DNA copy errors in those humans most exposed. These deformations had become normalised over generations within their society. Some rare human alterations are considered so beautiful that they are highly praised and allow ease of upward social mobility. The Freaks were able to build bionic body parts where they were lacking and their use of these additions made light work of many tasks.

They entered a dark tunnel lit by occasional dimmed lights. There is a sharp decline which is tricky to navigate. Maybeline began scurrying around, nervously checking the new smells at ground level.
Nigel was ahead walking extremely quickly and making it difficult to keep up in the darkness.

The tunnels were a mix of old transport networks, mines, and dig-outs. They were complex and it would be impossible to understand their direction if Renyke did not have his onboard compass. 

The POS was unexpectedly working again.

'How far to Redact,' asks Renyke?

My information is being scrambled by an unknown source but I am able to decipher that Redact is very close, as the crow flies. At upper ground level, there appears to be an impenetrable forcefield creating a perimeter approximately 1 mile due east. My stats currently have a 25% chance of being correct.

Flex checked his compass from inside his coat but it too seemed unreliable.

'Did you know about the tunnels?' whispered Flex.
'Well, yes,' replied Flex, 'everyone knows they are here. But we know they are occupied with tribes. Generally speaking, it is best to wait for an invitation as they can be vicious. Besides, we thought they were poorly equipped scavengers in terrible living conditions. We may have got that wrong.'

There is noise ahead. Music and revelry.

Nigel leads them into an opening, a highly decorated cavern with colourful fabrics made from old clothes. There is bunting made from old shoe tops fashioned into bunches and stars, painted with bright pigments. There are throne-like chairs carved in wood.

There is a pentagram made from coloured stones on the floor in the centre.
Portraits of diverse characters are painted in murals all around the walls. 

'Ah, says Flex.' I see your portrait, brother Nigel. It is a great likeness.'

Nigel nods a bow.

'I will take you to a room so you can prepare,' says Nigel.

'Prepare for what?' Asks Flex.

Maybeline is agitated and suddenly jumps onto Renykes shoulder.

'Why, the *party-party of course,' explains Nigel, leaving the room.

The room is a man-made chamber with ornate carvings in mud and stone. 

The POS has information

....There appear to be at least twenty large generators and hundreds of solar-sensitive platforms above ground. If I am not mistaken, energy is also being harnessed via several subterranean waterfalls...

Renyke and Flex explore the chamber. It is very clean and there seems to be a lot of advanced technical apparatus.

Maybeline still seems agitated.

Two people enter the room.

They are light and willowy with extra fingers that are longer than usual. Their heads seem larger than other humans and their faces are gaunt with happy expressions.
A blue clouded film covers their eyes and their skin is white with blue marbled veins.

The lights simultaneously dim as they enter.

Renyke asks his POS to check if the Freaks can move things without touching them.

There is indeed an urban myth Renyke that certain humans damaged in the China Russia Wars developed the mental skills necessary to channel kinetic energy through mind control, but this has never been legitimately confirmed.

Would you like me to examine them Renyke?


'Yes,' Renyke replies.

These creatures are siblings. They share DNA. They are unable to see in bright light.
They are young adults, around 19 years and 5 months. They have two sets of certain organs including reproductive organs. I believe them to be gendered females who have not reproduced.


The two visitors put trays of food and drink onto the table along with a pile of fabrics. Looking at each other under low eyelids, they giggle intensely whilst fluttering their long fingers like butterfly wings.

They wear sheer gossamer robes that show their long limbs beneath.

They approach Flex in unison and study him closely, touching his hair and face and running their hands down his body.

'Oh, excuse me, do you mind? said Flex, lifting up his hands apologetically and moving backwards.

They turn to Renyke and do the same.

Renyke has never experienced touching in this way before and is slightly more receptive.

'What do I do, Flex, is this appropriate?'

'Well,' said Flex 'you could just stand there and see *whappens, go with your *bioflow. Or you could ask them to stop, maybe, if you don't like it. Your choice brother. You are on your own here.'

The creatures giggle again and step back, both looking longingly at Flex and Renyke.

'We've brought you some *toggies,' said one of them pointing to the pile of freshly folded clothing.

'We are indeed siblings,' said the other. Then they turned to exit the room giggling together with their long slender arms entwined.

As they left, the lights automatically brightened.

'Did they read our minds,' asked Flex.
'Nah, man, lucky guess is my guess,' answered Flex, immediately doubting himself.

'Thank you for the toggies, sisters,' shouted Flex as the ghostly figures left the chamber.

The garments were impressive; beautifully handmade with tiny hand stitches. Kaftans, jackets, headgear, feathers, colourful Patchwork, accentuated with mismatched buttons and decorative plastic beads.

'So tonight I suppose we best wear them,' answered Flex, silently wondering about the safety of his possessions and where he will put them.
Urchs are notoriously possessive over their nomadic essentials.

One of the quilted overcoats has sequins made of little flecks of metal that shimmer and pick up the light from overhead lamps. There are rainbow reflections all around the room that move with the jacket. A kaleidoscope of dancing fireflies is reflected on the ceiling and floor, even on their skin.

'I'll have that one,' said Flex.
'No,' shouted Renyke,' grabbing the coat, 'I'll have that one, thank you.'

'No! yelled Flex,' appearing more annoyed, 'I'll have it,' snatching the coat back with steely determination.

A small tussle ensues and the coat tears slightly on the sleeve.

Another Freak enters the room and scurries towards the coat.

'No fret, no fret,' they said, taking the coat and making quick work of its repair with tiny fingers that moved at lightning pace.
'No fret, no fret,' they muttered again as they left the room.

Surprised and somewhat speechless Renyke and Flex look to the pile and discover another identical coat that was there all along.

the POS cuts in.....

Stubbornness,
noun: a dogged determination not to change one's attitude or position on something.

greed
noun: excessive consumption of or desire for something such as possessions or power.

Greed and stubbornness are traits peculiar to humans. No other species on planet earth takes more than it needs or feels embittered at defeat.


'I didn't ask for your input,' replies Renyke.

I have been programmed to educate and inform you Renyke, in order that your human transition and your journey to Redact go smoothly.

'Who programmed you?' Renyke asks.

I am not permitted to say, answered the POS, turning itself off.



to be continued
© 2022 Sarnia de la Maré FRSA Tale Teller Club/Immersion

Friday, February 23, 2024

Let's Go Swimming Poem and Live Reading by Sarnia de la Maré FRSA

 Let's go Swimming

underwater swimmers figurative art illustration body blue orange water


Let’s go swimming
Where the ocean never ends
Where the lost and lonely people
Catch up with their friends

Where water babies go
The seas
to ever roam
In search of mothers' love
Thrown in from up above

Let’s go swimming
Where no one ever grows
Where time stands still
For those
who chose
To walk the sandy beds
With the bubbles
of the dead
To guide them
without dread

Let’s go swimming
Under the seven seas
Naked in
our dreams

Where warrior women
freed
Search for babes
in weeds

Let’s go swimming
With angels wearing wings
Whose death songs sing
In echos from the shells
With lovers
saved from Hell

Let’s go swimming
And stop this endless time
Capture love sublime
To save it from the tide




© 2022 Tale Teller Club/Immersion

Thursday, December 14, 2023

Strata 6, Immersion V1, Trouble at the Bank, (Animal Instincts)


Welcome to Immersion, you have reached Strata 6

Man with animal head
The instinct to fight has been observed in humans and animals. Dominance protects vulnerable species from harm. But to be aroused and entertained by violence is more particular to humans. Some humans have even fetishised the power of winning: they seek it out and are physically stimulated by it.
This pleasure in violence and danger comes from deep innate human psychology and is linked to a desire for competition, excitement, and adrenaline. 
Androids do not experience pleasure in this way. They do not experience the effects of pleasure chemicals like dopamine and motivational salience which can lead to the desirability of an outcome.
The excitement of a fight or dramatic event for a human remains a self-fulfilling exhilaration, irrespective of intelligent advancements.

Androids, however, have been programmed to protect an asset or assets at all costs. This is their driving force devoid of incumbent senses of pleasure or satisfaction.


The oversized droid nudged Renyke into the cubicle. This small movement, a deliberate, forceful action, raised alarm bells. This droid and this place were dangerous. 


Renyke had had no indication of danger from the POS yet, but still he felt uncertainty. The Droid was staring intently, too close for comfort.


Renyke took a few moments to compose himself.


'I just checked, the files are corrupted and I have nothing else,' said Renyke, preparing to make his way out of the enclosure.

Another droid approached. Renyke was now cornered in the cubical.
Holes on the droids' battered faces showed they had seen better days, but they still had size on their side.


Renyke checked the POS for other dangers in the room. But it was not updating.

The female guide, looking worried near the door, demanded to leave.
'Let me go, not my affair,' she said to to the door guard, who stopped her exit with his thick arm.


The POS was still not accessible.


Renyke realised he was on his own.


Maybeline crawled out onto his collar snarling and spitting, then mounted Renyke's head looking angry, spitting violently on her hind legs.


One of the droids got closer and menacingly explained, 'You gotta have something useful for your friends at the bank. We like useful things. Must be something nice in that head. What's in the bag?' 


The droid glanced up at Maybeline and considered grabbing her. He was not quite near enough so continued ....


'We take anything, old phones even. Anything with data, photos, NFTs. We take hardware too, and storage, 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 from behind, wires and cogs vibrated inside the hole in his cheek.

Renyke engaged bionic mode and with lightning speed, head butted the front 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.

Another man approached. 

Suddenly the POS was available again...


...Human, age 48, ID: possibly David Shrewen, wanted for murder, extortion, fraud, 
*CASM

The man lifted his hands in surrender. He was nervous without the protection of his now even more damaged 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.

The human said 'Duuuuude, we got no ishy here. No ishy. just data. A misunderstanding innit?' 


The POS interjected....


Shall I lock weapons on target?


Renyke engaged an army-issue laser bolt-gun from his shoulder that would take out the whole room and anyone in it.
He would prefer not to use it.


'Drop the lady!' Shouted Renyke, 'we are leaving.'

The door guard released the female guide as the banker backed off with his hands still in the air.
'Let them go', he shouted, without hesitation and putting on a brave smile.

Renyke reversed his way towards the door watching the room through the 360-degree viewfinder which had opened in his forehead.

There was a bag on the counter. 


...contains bits, may I suggest we take it.....? said the 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 the female guide took their exit.

'You got some neat tools man, we could use you at the bank!'


To be continued
© 2023 Sarnia de la Maré

Monday, December 11, 2023

Bubbles by Sarnia de la Maré FRSA (Lyrics with a Biro) #poem #poetry #aging


Bubbles by Sarnia de la Maré FRSA


Do my folds disgust you

Because I’m getting old?

Do you see the bubbles 

Trapped within the folds?


Bubbles made with good times

Filled with solid gold

Marks of gilded mines

The emblems of the bold.


©2018 Sarnia de la Maré FRSA



Links to episodes of Immersion written and illustrated by Sarnia de la Maré FRSA, published by Tale Teller Club

Strata 1
Strata 2
Strata 3
Strata 4
Strata 5
Strata 6
Strata 7
Strata 8
Strata 9
Strata 10
Strata 11
Strata 12
Strata 13
Strata 14
Strata 15
Strata 16
Strata17
Strata 18
Strata 19
Strata 21


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