WHERE (OR WHEN) IN THE COSMOS IS HOMO SAPIENS?
EPIGRAPHS
"WHERE are we?
WHEN are we?
WHAT are we?"
From the Contents page of Superforce
by Paul Davies ©1984.
“You’re here.”
—found on certain maps (e.g.,
supermall, subway or astronomical maps)
"Kilroy was here."
—a pre-graffiti handwriting on
bathroom walls
FLORENTINO’S LAW(S):
Every THING is a work-in-progress.
Corollary 1:
Every BEING is a work-in-progress.
Corollary 2:
The UNIVERSE is a work-in-progress.*
[* since 15 billion years ago]
--------------------------
THIS is a work-in-progress (started in 1988).
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WHERE (OR WHEN) IN THE COSMOS IS HOMO SAPIENS?
--------------------------
Alberto Florentino's
COSMIC CALENDAR,
EARTH DIARY, &
HUMAN CHRONOMETER
Introduction:
ALBERTO FLORENTINO
ONE
To look for the PLACE of Man in the Universe is to look for
the TIME of Man in the Universe.
We must pinpoint Man’s location in SPACE:
on EARTH,
in our SOLAR SYSTEM,
in our (“Milky Way”) GALAXY,
and ultimately
in THIS UNIVERSE (among OTHER Universes),
and probably
in THIS COSMOS (among OTHER Cosmoses)*.
[*the Universe and the Cosmos being two
different things NOW].
We must also pinpoint Man’s location in TIME:
in the HISTORIES—
of the EARTH,
of LIFE (on THIS Earth),
of our [“Milky Way”] GALAXY, and
of our SOLAR SYSTEM,
&,
ultimately, in the histories—
of THIS UNIVERSE (among OTHER Universes) and
of THIS COSMOS (among OTHER Cosmoses).
Man has been trying to do this for centuries, but the latest
in our century and our generation—and one of the
earliest too—was the astronomer-cosmologist CARL SAGAN.
In Sagan's THE DRAGONS OF EDEN (© 1977 Ballantine;
his third book since Broca's Brain and Cosmos),
on two-and-one-third pages (pps. 14-16), Sagan—visually,
spatially, temporally—located Man in TIME and in SPACE,
in THIS Universe and in THIS Cosmos.
Sagan brought in a one-year earth-calendar as a template and
fitted in the “age” of the Universe, at that time
(but not anymore?) "accurately" set at 15 billion
years.
From the first second of the first day (January 1) of that
earth-year calendar 2001, Sagan marked the beginning or birth
of the (then) known Universe.
At close to "midnight" of the last day (December
31)... the last hour... the last minute... the last
microsecond of the earth-day—one microsecond short of
"midnight"—Sagan marked what Man has, always,
variously, called "the Present"...
“Today"... “Now!”
Inspired by Sagan’s sagacity, for more than 20 years, I
worked out the details of HIS concept in his THE DRAGONS
OF EDEN.
Using the one-year earth-calendar with its 12 months (for the
early life of the Universe or the Cosmos, before the birth of
the Earth which supplied the basis for the calendar day,
i.e., the Earth’s ROTATION on its axis for “one
day” and the Earth's REVOLUTION around the
parent-sun-star for “one year”; and the use of the
diary (think: “book of days”) for breaking down the
“day” into 24 “hours,” the
“hour” into 60 “minutes,” the
"minute" into 60 "seconds" and the
"second" into "micro- (or nano-?) seconds...
With these givens, Sagan sought to seek—
Man’s PLACE IN TIME,
Man’s TIME IN SPACE,
Man’s PLACE IN SPACE,
by marking the months...
weeks...
days/and/nights...
hours...
minutes...
seconds... and
microseconds that transpired before the
LATE, LATE appearance of MAN on the scene.
Sagan discovered—NOT to his surprise—that if the
“Big Bang” takes place on the FIRST SECOND of
January 1, 2001, Man makes his appearance almost in the VERY
LAST SECONDS of the year 2001.
Here, below, are marked the “Big Bang” that gave
rise to this Universe and other major “happenings”
in the Cosmic Calendar—the birth or appearance
of—OUR [“MILKY WAY”] GALAXY,
OUR SOLAR SYSTEM,
THE EARTH,
LIFE ON EARTH,
HUMANKIND,
HUMAN CIVILIZATION,
HUMAN HISTORY,
MODERN MAN IN THE MODERN AGE.
TWO
From the time I read Carl Sagan’s THE DRAGONS OF
EDEN (ca. 1978) and saw his attempt to place the birth
of this Universe and the appearance of Man on the
scene—up to the acquisition of my first computer (a
MacSE) in 1988—I had been at work on this Cosmic
Calendar.
Therefore, this is truly a “work-in-progress” on
this Universe that is itself an ongoing “work-in-
progress.”
In its computer format that has been at least a 10-year
project, I had planned on completing the Cosmic Calendar in
time for the turn-of-the-Century and the
turn-of-the-Millennium.
Unfortunately, I suffered a serious setback since I was
(still am) a LAYMAN who has not studied in a university, much
less studied astronomy, cosmology, or cosmogenesis, who needs
to interface with a real, professional astronomer who could
give credence and credibility to my project.
I had planned on going from my homebase in Manhattan NYC to
nearby Ithaca NY to seek help from the Ithaca's most famous
resident, Carl Sagan himself. But when I reached Ithaca,
Sagan was already dead.
Now, as I write this introduction, the year 2001 is upon
me/us, and my project remains a layman’s intrusion into
the ranks and circle of true, professional astronomers.
With the advent and growth of the Internet I am now able to
project my scheme as it has always been: a layman’s
derring-do foisted upon the public’s consciousness.
And I dare do this with full awareness of what it may take.
—ALBERTO FLORENTINO
New York NY,
2001 July 28
The Florentino
COSMIC CALENDAR,
EARTH DIARY, and
HUMAN CHRONOMETER
--------------------------
A Millennial Project
Created by Alberto Florentino
--------------------------
© 2000 New York City, NY, USA
by Alberto Florentino and
THE PESO BOOK FOUNDATION
(Registered S.E.C., Manila, Philippines)
* * *
Let us play this serious game:
--------------------------
If we reduce
the [15-billion-year] history of
THIS UNIVERSE
to
12 Months
52 weeks or
365 days
of the (Leap) Year 2001
(1 January to 31 December)
of Millennium III—
When was the birth of—
THIS UNIVERSE?
OUR [“MILKY WAY”] GALAXY?
OUR SOLAR SYSTEM,
THE EARTH?
--------------------------
When was the birth of LIFE ON EARTH:
The Living Cell?
The Nucleated Cell?
The First “Green” Plant?
The Oxygen Gas?
The First Worm?
The First Fish?
The First Land Plants?
The First Land Animals?
The First Insects?
The First Flying Insects?
The First Trees?
The First Reptiles?
The First Dinosaurs?
The First Hominids?
The First Man?
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When was the start of HUMAN CIVILIZATION:
Man’s First Tools?
Man’s Discovery of Fire?
First Agriculture?
First Alphabet?
First Metals?
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When was the start of HUMAN HISTORY:
Birth of Jesus Christ?
First Paper?
First Printed Book (by Xylography)?
First Printed Book (by Moveable Types)?
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When was the start of THE MODERN AGE:
First Locomotive on Rails?
Telescope?
Photography?
Internal-Combustion Engine?
Quantum Theory?
First Heavier-Than-Air Flight?
Television?
Discovery of Penicillin?
Jet Engine?
First Computer,
Transistor?
Hydrogen Bomb?
Space Travel?
First Moonlanding?
The Optical Computer?
The Internet?
FLORENTINO'S
COSMIC CALENDAR, EARTH DIARY, & HUMAN CHRONOMETER
1 January 2001
--------------------------
On this day the
“BIG BANG” marks the
Birth of THIS UNIVERSE
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February 2001
March 2001
April 2001
May 2001
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1 MAY 2001
Birth of
Our “Milky Way” Galaxy
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June 2001
July 2001
August 2001
September 2001
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1 September 2001
2 September 2001
3 September 2001
4 September 2001
5 September 2001
6 September 2001
7 September 2001
8 September 2001
9 September 2001
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9 SEPTEMBER 2001
Birth of the
SOLAR SYSTEM
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10 September 2001
11 September 2001
12 September 2001
13 September 2001
14 September 2001
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14 SEPTEMBER 2001
Birth of the EARTH/
LIFE ON EARTH
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15 September 2001
16 September 2001
17 September 2001
18 September 2001
19 September 2001
20 September 2001
21 September 2001
22 September 2001
23 September 2001
24 September 2001
25 September 2001
26 September 2001
27 September 2001
28 September 2001
29 September 2001
30 September 2001
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OCTOBER 2001
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1 October 2001
2 October 2001
3 October 2001
4 October 2001
5 October 2001
6 October 2001
7 October 2001
8 October 2001
9 October 2001
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9 OCTOBER 2001
First LIVING CELL
(Bacteria, Algae)
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10 October 2001
11 October 2001
12 October 2001
13 October 2001
14 October 2001
15 October 2001
16 October 2001
17 October 2001
18 October 2001
19 October 2001
20 October 2001
21 October 2001
22 October 2001
23 October 2001
24 October 2001
25 October 2001
26 October 2001
27 October 2001
28 October 2001
29 October 2001
30 October 2001
31 October 2001
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NOVEMBER 2001
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1 November 2001
2 November 2001
3 November 2001
4 November 2001
5 November 2001
6 November 2001
7 November 2001
8 November 2001
9 November 2001
10 November 2001
11 November 2001
12 November 2001
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12 NOVEMBER 2001
Birth of “GREEN” PLANTS
(Photosynthetic)
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13 November 2001
14 November 2001
15 November 2001
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15 NOVEMBER 2001
First CELL
(with a nucleus)
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16 November 2001
17 November 2001
18 November 2001
19 November 2001
20 November 2001
21 November 2001
22 November 2001
23 November 2001
24 November 2001
25 November 2001
26 November 2001
27 November 2001
28 November 2001
29 November 2001
30 November 2001
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DECEMBER 2001
(Last Month of
December 2001)
Birth of ANIMAL LIFE
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1 December 2001
2 December 2001
3 December 2001
4 December 2001
5 December 2001
6 December 2001
7 December 2001
8 December 2001
9 December 2001
10 December 2001
11 December 2001
12 December 2001
13 December 2001
14 December 2001
15 December 2001
16 December 2001
17 December 2001
18 December 2001
19 December 2001
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19 DECEMBER 2001
First FISH
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20 December 2001
21 December 2001
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21 DECEMBER 2001
First INSECTS
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22 December 2001
23 December 2001
24 December 2001
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24 DECEMBER 2001
First DINOSAURS
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25 December 2001
26 December 2001
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26 DECEMBER 2001
First MAMMALS
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27 December 2001
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27 DECEMBER 2001
First BIRDS
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28 December 2001
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28 DECEMBER 2001
First FLOWERS
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29 December 2001
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29 DECEMBER 2001
First PRIMATES
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30 December 2001
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30 DECEMBER 2001
First HOMINIDS
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31 December 2001
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31 DECEMBER 2001
[Afternoon of the last day of the last month, broken down
into 24 hours]
First HUMANS (Homo Sapiens)
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31 DECEMBER 2001
1:00 AM
2:00 AM
3:00 AM
4:00 AM
5:00 AM
6:00 AM
7:00 AM
8:00 AM
9:00 AM
10:00 AM
11:00 AM
12:00 NN
1:00 PM
2:00 PM
3:00 PM
4:00 PM
5:00 PM
6:00 PM
7:00 PM
8:00 PM
9:00 PM
10:00 PM
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(The 10th hour
of the evening
is broken down
into 60 minutes)
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31 DECEMBER 2001
10:01:00 PM
10:02:00 PM
10:03:00 PM
10:04:00 PM
10:05:00 PM
10:06:00 PM
10:07:00 PM
10:08:00 PM
10:09:00 PM
10:10:00 PM
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10:12:00 PM
10:13:00 PM
10:14:00 PM
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10:21:00 PM
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10:24:00 PM
10:25:00 PM
10:26:00 PM
10:27:00 PM
10:28:00 PM
10:29:00 PM
10:30:00 PM
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31 DECEMBER 2001
10:30:00 PM
Birth of HUMANS
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31 DECEMBER 2001
10:31:00 PM
10:32:00 PM
10:33:00 PM
10:34:00 PM
10:35:00 PM
10:36:00 PM
10:37:00 PM
10:38:00 PM
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10:52:00 PM
10:53:00 PM
10:54:00 PM
10:55:00 PM
10:56:00 PM
10:57:00 PM
10:58:00 PM
10:59:00 PM
11:00:00 PM
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31 DECEMBER 2001
11:00:00 PM
(last hour of 31 December 2001)
Start of HUMAN PROGRESS &
Man’s First Use of TOOLS
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31 DECEMBER 2001
11:01:00 PM
11:02:00 PM
11:03:00 PM
11:04:00 PM
11:05:00 PM
11:06:00 PM
11:07:00 PM
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11:39:00 PM
11:40:00 PM
11:42:00 PM
11:43:00 PM
11:44:00 PM
11:45:00 PM
11:46:00 PM
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31 December 2001
11:46:00 PM
First Use by Man of FIRE
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31 DECEMBER 2001
11:47:00 PM
11:48:00 PM
11:49:00 PM
11:50:00 PM
11:51:00 PM
11:52:00 PM
11:53:00 PM
11:54:00 PM
11:55:00 PM
11:56:00 PM
11:57:00 PM
11:58:00 PM
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31 DECEMBER 2001
11:59:00 PM
Primitive CAVE PAINTINGS
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11:59:01 PM
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(Last Minute of 31 DECEMBER 2001, broken down into 60
Seconds)
HUMAN CIVILIZATION
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31 DECEMBER 2001
11:59:01 PM
11:59:02 PM
11:59:03 PM
11:59:04 PM
11:59:05 PM
11:59:06 PM
11:59:07 PM
11:59:08 PM
11:59:09 PM
11:59:10 PM
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11:59:16 PM
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31 DECEMBER 2001
11:59:20 PM
AGRICULTURE
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11:59:21 PM
11:59:22 PM
11:59:23 PM
11:59:24 PM
11:59:25 PM
11:59:26 PM
11:59:27 PM
11:59:28 PM
11:59:29 PM
11:59:30 PM
11:59:31 PM
11:59:32 PM
11:59:33 PM
11:59:34 PM
11:59:35 PM
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31 DECEMBER 2001
11:59:35 PM
First CITIES
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31 DECEMBER 2001
11:59:36 PM
11:59:37 PM
11:59:38 PM
11:59:39 PM
11:59:40 PM
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11:59:42 PM
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11:59:45 PM
11:59:46 PM
11:59:47 PM
11:59:48 PM
11:59:49 PM
11:59:50 PM
11:59:51 PM
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31 DECEMBER 2001
11:59:51 PM
First ALPHABET
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11:59:52 PM
11:59:53 PM
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31 DECEMBER 2001
11:59:53 PM
First METALLURGY
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11:59:54 PM
11:59:55 PM
11:59:56 PM
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31 DECEMBER 2001
11:59:56 PM
The Wheel (BC 5000)
Bow & Arrow (BC 2500)
First Irrigation (BC 2001)
Mathematics (BC 1000)
Great Wall of China (BC 215)
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11:59:57 PM
11:59:58 PM
11:59:59 PM
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31 DECEMBER 2001
11:59:59 PM
Birth of Christ [?]
Discovery of Europe
Invention of Paper (AD 100)
Moveable-Type Book (AD 1456)
Locomotive on Rails (AD 1604)
Telescope (1608)
Uranium (AD 1785)
Steam Locomotive (AD 1860)
Photography (AD 1835)
Internal-Combustion Engine (AD 1860)
Quantum Theory (1900)
Heavier-than-air Flight (1903)
Theory of Relativity (1905)
Television (1925)
Penicillin (1928)
Jet Engine (1935)
Computer (1942)
Transistor (1947)
First Space Travel (1961)
First Moonlanding (1966)
Optical Computer (1986)
Internet (1995)
--------------------------
“The Present”... “Today”...
“Now!”
--------------------------
“Have Come, Am Here.” (Title of Jose Garcia Villa's
first major book of poems) (AF)
[But] "Am Late." (AF)
"Came Late." (AF)
Post-Apocalypse:
"Man WAS here." (AF)
"Last in, first out"? (AF)
