Index: /modules/date/date_admin.inc
===================================================================
--- /modules/date/date_admin.inc	(revision 9)
+++ /modules/date/date_admin.inc	(working copy)
@@ -50,8 +50,8 @@
           form_set_error('default_value_custom', t('The custom default value is invalid.'));
         }
       }
-      if ($field['widget']['type'] == 'date_select' && !preg_match('@\-[0-9]*:\+[0-9]*@', $field['year_range'])) {
-        form_set_error('year_range', t('Years back and forward must be in the format -9:+9.'));
+      if ($field['widget']['type'] == 'date_select' && !preg_match('@\-[0-9]*:\+[0-9]*@', $field['year_range']) && !preg_match('/^-[0-9]*:now$/', $field['year_range'])) { 
+        form_set_error('year_range', t('Years back and forward must be in the format -9:+9 or -9:now.'));
       }
       // Munge the table display for text parts back into an array of text parts.
       if (is_array($field['text_parts'])) {
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@
       '#default_value' => isset($widget['year_range']) ? $widget['year_range'] : '-3:+3',
       '#size' => 10,
       '#maxsize' => 10,
-      '#description' => t('Number of years to go back and forward when using a year selection list, default is -3:+3.'),
+      '#description' => t('Number of years to go back and forward when using a year selection list, default is -3:+3. To count back from current year set forward to <em>now</em>, -3:now.'),
       );
     $form['input']['advanced']['increment'] = array(
       '#type' => 'select', '#title' => t('Time increment'),