Re: [LEAPSECS] how posterity will measure time

From: Poul-Henning Kamp <phk_at_phk.freebsd.dk>
Date: Mon, 04 Dec 2006 11:19:32 +0000

In message <20061204072454.GA28355_at_ucolick.org>, Steve Allen writes:

>So it seems that when it comes to communicating a span of time
>to a civilization other than our own the solution that the best
>minds have produced is an astronomical one.

The main reason for this is that the underlying charter specifically
mentioned that one or more discontinuities in higher civilization
must be expected.

In that context, and because the problem is purely earth-bound, an
astronomical solution seems to be a good idea.

Although, likely as not, when some future arkæologist finds the
inscriptions he will look at them without any formal training in
any kind of physics or natural science and conclude that "they
probably have religious significance" which is the default
explanation in that branch of history.

--
Poul-Henning Kamp       | UNIX since Zilog Zeus 3.20
phk_at_FreeBSD.ORG         | TCP/IP since RFC 956
FreeBSD committer       | BSD since 4.3-tahoe
Never attribute to malice what can adequately be explained by incompetence.
Received on Mon Dec 04 2006 - 03:29:51 PST

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