h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

http://www.h2g2.com/A466184

Read this detailed and well-written entry by the researcher Tana. The topic: the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, site of the Temple built by Solomon and currently a catalyst for much of the conflict between Israel and Palestine.

What do you think?

Maybe I shouldn't have said "catalyst" - but it is a very strong motivating element in the conflict as it is spiritually and historically very important for both sides and each side sees each other's claims on the Temple Mount as being threatening to its interests. Read the entry for a more accurate view!

I really shouldn't slag off other people's spelling, but this is the first time I heard of the Ark of the Convent!

You use BC for dates before Christ and CE for dates after. The normal usage is BC and AD if you're traditional, or BCE and CE if you're modern and attempting to be "politicallly correct".

I was told by a Muslim that the Dome of the Rock was not built by people but by the Holy Spirit, in one night. Is this a common story and is it worth mentioning here?

I did not hear the story about the dome being built by the Holy Spirit. An inscription on the building says the Caliph Omar built it. It also states a date, but the date is wrong, a later ruler trying to claim credit changed it. The true date is 692 CE.
About the spelling, you will have to excuse me, English is not my native tongue, so I have slips here and there.

Hi Tana,

A great read, I really enjoyed this. Gnomon was right to draw attention to the BCE and CE stuff, but in an article of this nature I reckon BC and AD would work better. Actually, I reckon BC and AD work better full stop. I've had this debate quite recently, but what exactly does the 'C' in BCE and CE stand for? The fact is that the birth of Christ, or roughly that date, is our reference point for measurement of the passage of the years, even if Christ and Christianity are politically incorrect or whatever. Say what you like, it is not possible, as things stand, to take the Christ out of 'C'. Hide it, camouflage it in a contrived politically correct blancmange of an expression, but the uncontestable fact is that we measure our years by reference to the birth of Christ.

It's up to you Tana. Using BC and AD won't get you sent to the fiery furnace - although you may be interrogated and castigated by the PC thought police.

Walter

The C in CE and BCE stands for current. I think we should stick to BC and AD.

Actually, Walter, what I was saying was that it is wrong to use BC and CE together. You should either use BC and AD or use BCE and CE, but don't mix them. I agree with you that CE is ridiculous.

Wow Wow!

This is one of the best Entries I have seen so far. If I knew a shortcut to get it straight to the Front Page of the Guide, I would do that right now.

Any scout who is going to pick this Entry for Inclusion in the Guide can be absolutely sure of my support!

Hi Gnomon,

Yes cobber, no worries, I had caught your drift but was just using your point to jump on to one of my favourite hobby horses. In my view, the change to CE and BCE is perhaps the prime example of rampant political correctness totally beyond logic as well as control. The real concern is that we, the masses, actually allow ourselves to be manipulated by these clots. Anyway, enough of my rant - I re-read this article last night and agree with the earlier comment that it is an outstanding fully deserving of edited guide status.

Walter

Tana, just read your entry over once or twice again and fix the remaining small typos - by the way, what it SHOULD be is "Ark of the Covenant". I'm not sure where, but one place you wrote "Isalm" instead of "Islam", and another "Damscus" instead of "Damascus". And Gnomon's suggestion to make the dates consistent is a good one. But this is really a good entry, as you saw the Post also picked it up very quickly so you shouldn't have any problem getting it accepted. Unfortunately I'm neither a scout nor a subeditor, but I say well done!

A few points.

1: A Good article - Excelent content.

2: Spelling - Thats why we have Sub-Editors.

3: The C in CE & BCE stands for Common - CE= Common Era & BCE = Before Common Era

Hi Happy Dude,

Thanks for the info on what the 'C' means in CE and BCE. Do you happen to also know what is common about the 'common' era, and common relative to what? Your point about spelling is well taken.

Walter

Common as the system in current use - Due to the western world deleping first in the modern world the world has got stuck with a date system based around the belifes of the Cristian Church, now in these days of PC they had to come up something to make it politicaly acceptable & CE + BCE was it.

"Thanks for your recommendation. You'll be glad to know that we think this entry is great, and it has now gone into the Editorial Process for future inclusion in the Edited Guide. When it does get into the Edited Guide, we will email to let you know, but please bear in mind it can take a while for entries to go through the sub-editing system. Thanks for writing for the guide!"

Well Done.

Congratulations, UMP!

To the (Sub)-Editors:

Please give this Entry a VIP-status. It helps to understand what's going on in the Middle East right now. I'm convinced not to be the only one who would like to see this Entry on the Front Page ASAP!

And, yes, I try to tell you how to do your job (just this once, no offence intended!).

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Congratulations!