ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************

In a previous life, I worked in archaeology, which has already solved 
this problem. They use the term "B.P." Sorry Clifford, this does not 
stand for "Beyond Petroleum," (for those familiar with that advertising 
slogan) but for "Before Present," basically, an absolute reference, but 
also a standardized abbreviation for it. Avoid the use of B.C.E. (Before 
Common Era), which is a pseudo-secular version of B.C. and A.D.

- Steve

Clifford Wagner wrote:

> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related 
> institutions.
> ***************************************************************************** 
> 
> 
> On Apr 19, 2005, at 11:29 AM, David Smith wrote:
> 
>> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology  
>> Centers
>> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related  
>> institutions.
>> *********************************************************************** 
>> ******
>>
>> For many purposes, I would agree that this is a useful solution.  For
>> some dates, however, it is helpful to have an absolute reference.  This
>> is especially true for more recent dates.  Einstein's "magic year" of
>> 1905, is 100 years ago, but only for this year.
>>
> 
>  I just thought of a good candidate for a reference date that is pretty  
> close to now that has major implications for our age:
> 
> BOWP and AOWP
> 
> You ready?   Before Oil Was Precious  and After Oil Was Precious
> 
> Problem is, it doesn't have an exact date.
> 
> Can we declare one?  How about today?
> 
> Clifford Wagner
> 
>> David L Smith
>> Director of Professional Development
>> Da Vinci DiscoveryCenter of Science and Technology
>> http://www.discovery-center.org
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Informal Science Education Network
>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Creel, Wesley
>> Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2005 10:48 AM
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: Science, religion, BC, and AD
>>
>>
>> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
>> Centers Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and  related
>> institutions.
>> *********************************************************************** *
>> *****
>>
>> Good Morning All,
>> All seriousness aside.....why don't we just say, "2,000 years ago,"
>> (instead of 5 A.D or 5 C.E.) or "15,000 years ago?" (instead of 12,995
>> B.C or 12,995 B.C.E)?  Uhhhh.....am I adding/subtracting this stuff
>> right? Wesley
>>
>> Wesley S. Creel
>> Administrator of Programs
>> Pink Palace Family of Museums
>> 3050 Central Avenue
>> Memphis, TN 38111
>> U.S.A.
>> www.memphismuseums.org
>> Office telephone 901.320.6370
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Informal Science Education Network
>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of David Smith
>> Sent: Monday, April 18, 2005 6:15 PM
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Science, religion, BC, and AD
>>
>> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
>> Centers Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and  related
>> institutions.
>> *********************************************************************** *
>> *****
>>
>> While we are all busy discussing science and religion, may I offer a
>> request for all those of you who use dates in the historical era on  your
>> center signage to use the CE, BCE (Common Era, Before the Common Era)
>> nomenclature instead of AD and BC.  Both of the latter refer explicity
>> to Christ, and AD refers explicitly to Christ's divinity, making CE/BCE
>> a more inclusive usage.  The years are counted identically, this is  2005
>> CE, so there's no issue of conversion, just a change in initials.  For
>> more see the wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Era.
>>
>>
>> David L Smith
>> Director of Professional Development
>> Da Vinci DiscoveryCenter of Science and Technology
>> http://www.discovery-center.org
>>
>> ***********************************************************************
>> More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
>> Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at
>> http://www.astc.org. To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L
>> list, send the message  SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
>> [log in to unmask]
>>
>> ***********************************************************************
>> More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
>> Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at
>> http://www.astc.org. To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L
>> list, send the message  SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
>> [log in to unmask]
>>
>> ***********************************************************************
>> More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
>> Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at  
>> http://www.astc.org.
>> To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
>> message  SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
>> [log in to unmask]
>>
> 
> ***********************************************************************
> More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
> Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at 
> http://www.astc.org.
> To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
> message  SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
> [log in to unmask]
> 

-- 
Stephen Miles Uzzo
Director of Technology
New York Hall of Science
47-01 111th Street
Flushing Meadows Corona Park
New York 11368     U.S.A.
v. +1.718.699.0005 x377
f. +1.718.699.1341
http://www.nyscience.org

***********************************************************************
More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at http://www.astc.org.
To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
message  SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
[log in to unmask]