Listening to a Tree Trunk: A Unique Musical Experience
Have you ever taken a moment to truly appreciate the sounds of nature? The calming chirping of crickets, the harmonious songs of birds, or the rhythmic croaking of frogs? These common sounds are often overlooked, simply accepted as part of the background. However, have you ever thought about listening to a tree trunk? Yes, you read that correctly – a tree trunk!
When discussing the act of listening to a tree trunk, we are actually referring to the rings found inside it. These rings contain important data about the tree’s lifespan, providing insight into its age and the environment in which it thrived. Surprisingly, these rings have the potential to produce music, similar to a vinyl record. Although it may seem improbable, artist Bartholomaus Traubeck has successfully brought this concept to life.
Traubeck has developed an innovative record player that translates the colors and patterns of tree rings into captivating melodies. By utilizing light, his device captures the intricate patterns of the rings in a tree’s cross-section and converts them into musical notes and instruments.
Traubeck’s creation may leave you pondering its feasibility. The process is remarkably straightforward, yet captivating. By utilizing a PlayStation Eye camera and a motor for the record player’s arm, he gathered the necessary data, which was subsequently uploaded onto a computer. This data was then converted into a piano track using a software known as Ableton Live.
The outcome is a captivating arrangement that offers us a peek into the sounds of nature as interpreted by Traubeck’s record player. In contrast to conventional harmonies and chords, these musical pieces exude a haunting beauty reminiscent of the atmospheric background music found in silent films.
This is further enhanced by the fact that each tree’s rings are one-of-a-kind, resulting in its own unique melody. Traubeck’s innovation has paved the way for a vast library of distinctive records, where each tree shares its own story through enchanting melodies found within its rings.
The next time you are immersed in the beauty of nature, pause to admire the harmony that resides within the trunk of a tree. It offers a fresh perspective on engaging with the extraordinary wonders of the natural world – not only through vision or touch, but also through the enchanting music that reverberates within the tree’s rings.
Cardi B Finishes Testifying As Hostile Witness In Civil Assault Trial
Cardi B Faces Hostile Cross-Examination in Civil Assault Trial
A Tense Morning in Court
“Good morning. Good morning.” Cardi B greeted the courtroom politely as she took the stand once again. But despite the calm opening, the atmosphere quickly turned tense.
Cardi was testifying as a hostile witness in the ongoing civil assault trial against her, stemming from an altercation that took place on February 24, 2018 at a medical building on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles.
The plaintiff, former security guard Immani Ellis, alleges that Cardi attacked her, leaving a two-centimeter scar on her face that required plastic surgery. Cardi, however, maintains:
“I never touched her.”
The Confrontation in the Hallway
Cardi described the events of that day: She had arrived for a doctor’s appointment when Ellis confronted her.
“When I got off the elevator, her phone was right here, facing me. I said, ‘Yo, why are you recording me?’”
According to Cardi, the dispute escalated quickly. Ellis ordered her to leave the building, while Cardi insisted she was a patient simply going to her doctor’s office.
The two women ended up
“I was nervous more than anything,” Cardi said. “I was pregnant, three to four months, and I felt like she was about to beat me up. She was bigger than me.”
Heated Words Exchanged
When pressed on the exact language she used, Cardi admitted:
“I said, ‘Bitch, get the fuck out my face. Why are you recording me? Ain’t you supposed to be security?’”
Ellis, she recalled, shouted back:
“You’re gonna get the fuck out my building. I don’t give a fuck who you are.”
The verbal fight was brief but intense. Cardi admitted to using profanity, but she firmly denied any physical violence.
The Alleged Injury
Ellis’s attorneys pointed to the scar on her cheek as proof of an assault, arguing that Cardi’s long nails—decorated with rhinestones—could have caused the injury.
Cardi dismissed the claim:
Her nails that week were “square coffin” shaped, not sharp.
None of her nails were broken after the incident.
She saw no blood or skin under her nails.
“There was no physical contact. None,” she insisted.
Pregnancy and Fear
Much of the questioning centered on Cardi’s pregnancy at the time.
Lawyers argued she was not physically disabled.
Cardi responded: “When you’re pregnant, that’s a disability. I couldn’t defend myself, and she was twice my size.”
She admitted being both angry and frightened, but insisted her priority was protecting her unborn child.
Witness Intervention
As the shouting continued, Tiara Malcolm, a receptionist, stepped out of the doctor’s office.
“She said, ‘What are you guys doing?’ and tried to get between us,” Cardi recounted.
Moments later, Dr. Frinky himself appeared and directed Cardi to come inside his office. From that point, Cardi said, she never saw Ellis again.
The Aftermath Online
In the days following, Ellis allegedly went on social media claiming Cardi had assaulted her. Cardi quickly fired back online:
“That’s a fucking lie. Fuck outta here. She’s just trying to get some money.”
Indeed, Ellis later filed her lawsuit seeking $24–25 million in damages.
Cross-Examination Pressure
The questioning became aggressive at times:
“Did you block Ellis from leaving?” — “No, she blocked me.”
“Did you ever call her fat?” — “No, I called her a bitch.”
“Could your spit have landed on her while shouting?” — “I don’t think so.”
At one point, lawyers even asked about the exact color of Cardi’s hoodie, the time she ate that day, and whether her nails had one rhinestone or three.
Cardi remained defiant, repeating again and again:
“I didn’t touch her.”
Closing the Morning Session
After nearly two hours of rapid-fire questioning, the judge finally called for a recess.
“Let’s take our morning break. We’ll resume at 10:50,” he instructed, reminding all parties not to discuss the case outside the courtroom.
Cardi stepped down from the witness stand, her face tight with frustration. The trial is far from over, but in this round of testimony, one message rang loud and clear:
Cardi B insists she never laid a hand on Immani Ellis.
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