So, we represent the only knowable "Speed of Life"? ChatGPT said: Yes, we— Homo sapiens —currently represent the only knowable “Speed of Life” in the universe, as far as we can tell. Here’s why: Ch 1. We Are the Pinnacle of Known Evolutionary Speed From the spark of life billions of years ago to the present, human beings represent the most complex, adaptable, and rapidly evolving form of life that we know of. The trajectory of human evolution, from early hominins to modern civilization, showcases the fastest path that life has taken toward intelligence, culture, and technology within the observable universe. 2. Human Civilization: The Fastest Expression of Adaptation While biological evolution unfolded over millions of years, cultural evolution has accelerated at an unprecedented rate over the last few centuries. Humans have moved from stone tools to digital networks, from isolated tribes to global societies, in what is an evolutionary blink of an eye. Technological inn...
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That Time I Met Richie Cole
At this Jazz jam session in Boulder Colorado USA, Mark Diamond would always introduce each player before they came on stage. Being from Fort Collins, for me, he would typically say something like, “tonight, we have a special guest, all the way from Fort Collins, (an hour drive from Boulder) Jon Long on Trumpet”. I remember on Nov. 3, 2013, at the Boulder Outlook, a hotel bar, after Mark and crew finished a smoking set, and I’m next to sit in on “the list”. I’m sitting there, valves oiled, trumpet in hand, “known” songs ready to call, nerves under control. Then, Mark says over the mic: “Tonight, we have a very special guest”….me getting ready to go up and play, banging my valves, blowing warm air in my trumpet, walking toward stage…..”world renowned saxophonist”….wth?!….”RICHIE COLE!!!” What?! I go back to my seat in the darkly lit bar, sheepishly abandon my trumpet and sip on my wine. Then get a 3 song set of killing bebop in stereotypical Richie Cole style, super fast b...
Secrets to a Happy Marriage
Jon Barb Dec. 2019 Not all marriages are bliss and happily ever after and virtually all "teen marriages" end in doom and disaster. I understand that we are not the norm. Barb and I have been married since August 22nd, 1981. She was 18, I was barely 19. We had a 6 month old baby boy(Josh). We were best friends for 3 years before that. At 15 years old, I fell in love with her. I never questioned our friendship. It just was. That's how love started and continues today for me. Jon Barb Priest Aug 22 1981 And so, Barb and I are celebrating another anniversary today. Perhaps there is a formula for this type of success. I've always been asked what our "secret" is. I don't have an answer. Perhaps there are things that we "do" that could be contributing factors in long term successful marriages. And so, I've compiled this list of things that may be important or not. These are purely from my perspective. I have not consulted with Barb for consensus...
Vicious
Released Jan. 21, 2022 Play in Spotify Credits: Jon Long is the producer, creator and plays EWI on nearly every sound you will hear. Cover Art by True Archdale Vicious is available on every streaming site on the planet. Here's a few... https://open.spotify.com/album/0BUbJYyPcXltKcGgxUEFKW?si=RKiNK5ATSHeKl01Lf7cVow https://music.apple.com/us/album/vicious/1599871630 https://open.spotify.com/album/0BUbJYyPcXltKcGgxUEFKW?si=FbJNoJ8ZTK62ps0BSDBiRg All songs mastered by Mark Raynes There’s a bunch more stuff here: https://soundcloud.com/jon-long-52905 … https://longtones.com/ https://www.youtube.com/user/jonwlong
Roller Coaster Flight
I saw the kids, all Indian boys and girls between 8 and 10, as we went through security at the Coimbatore airport, a bunch had their bags re-checked manually, careless packers, obviously. They had some type of uniform on. I saw them again at the gate. I wondered where they would be sitting. They all seemed super excited. I didn’t really pay attention after that and since I was in row 1, didn’t notice where they sat. As we taxied to takeoff at 11:15 AM IST, it was just another flight. Except I had an aisle seat with an empty seat to my left, very rare for a domestic Indian flight that was fully booked. I guess someone didn’t make their flight for some reason. Anyways, the plane accelerates for takeoff and I heard the entire back 10 rows erupt in oohs and ahs and whoas and wows and screams. Then it reached peak decibels as we took flight. I didn’t look, but I’m sure all the kids had their hands in the air waving them with as much enthusiasm as they sounded, like they’re on ...
The Last Time I Went to an Indian Hospital
For my Mom who asked for a thorough account of my experience. I remember the last time I went to an Indian hospital. It was today. Here's the story as I weave in and out of real-time and past tense, since I'm not that fast of a typer on my phone. On the way, I saw an elephant painted like a gypsy, Hindu signs on its forehead, led through the busy rubble filled streets and gutters by its owners. Cars, bikes, carts, kids, goats, dogs and cows competing for the same path thru the rubble as if it’s on a regular. This is just a typical Indian street in the middle of Coimbatore, a typical Indian city. Nobody seemed to notice the elephant but me, on my way to the hospital. This visit is the 3rd to a hospital in India on the 14th day of my 6th trip to India in the past 2 years. 3 days to the hospital in over 160 total days combined in India? That's about my average in US Indian hospitals are nothing like you would see in the states, not even in Montana. The crowds of the stre...