Nobody Knows How to Pronounce 00s

Recently, I did a simply search through Google images for 00s. The first thing I noticed was my logo was the 2nd result listing. Although seeing this should make me excited this is not my point. Rather my point is how few times people actually used the 00s. The reason why nobody uses it is because they don't know how to pronounce it.

Take for instance 90s. Do a simple Google images search for the term 90s. You will notice there are way more visual examples of 90s in the results. Especially when comparing a few pages of each to each other.

The reason is more likely, that people just don't know how to pronounce the word 00s. Well, I will simply let you know now how to pronounce the word....the Unies!

Joel's Take on the 00s and 10s

I have known Ryan Guerra for most of this decade, during which time he has been trying to name it the "unies." Despite ribbing him for continuing this fools errand, I admire his tenacity and have to agree with him; this decade needs a name. The only alternative name for this decade, that I have heard so far, is the awkward phrase "The two thousands." While this works as a noun, it is impossible to use and an adjective. For the previous eight decades, we been able to describe (mainly cultural) phenomena with adjectives denoting the decade in which they (mainly) occurred: "sensitive nineties guy", "big hair, eighties rockers", "seventies hippies", etc. Hopefully the English-speaking world will soon rectify oversight, and adopt Ryan's proposed name of "the unies" for this decade, and "the decies" for the next decade, which is just around the corner, and also does not have a name!

Joel Froese
Strategy Consultant
Columbia, SC
International MBA, Moore School of Business, University of South Carolina, 2005

I Love the 00s Goes to Dry Tortugas

Cathy Ferreira interviews Ryan Guerra at the exotic Dry Tortugas in Key West, Fl about the 00s and the 10s. She asks questions about the origination of the 00s (pronounced unies) and the 10s (pronounced decies), upcoming plans and future events to promote the 00s and 10s.

Miami Seen Through Blackberry

As I was standing on MacArthur Causeway in Miami for a photoshoot for Island Queen Cruises, which provides sightseeing cruises in Miami. I decide to be a little creative with my Blackberry Edge. So I snapped this photo!

The Drive to Name the Decades Helps Complete Half Ironman

The same passion and drive to name the decades, 00s and 10s, has helped Ryan Guerra complete the Miami Man Half Ironman triathlon.

The 00s and 10s heads to the Dry Tortugas in Key West, Fl

While on vacation at the Dry Tortugas in Key West, Fl, Ryan Guerra constantly works on getting the 00s and 10s heard.

My take on Naming the Decade

It was a little over a year ago, in the late "Unies," when I first met Ryan and heard his pitch about naming the decade. It took me awhile to grasp the idea, but after hearing his deposition and seeing some of his grass root marketing efforts, I decided that I too would join the "Unies" Campaign.

Take a moment and do some research...do a simple "Google" search for "Naming the Decade" and see what you find. Ryan's relentless efforts are clearly evident through postings on social media sites, You Tube Videos, and even a blog dedicated exclusively to the Unies! He is so passionate about naming the decade that going back to the exact table where he pondered the idea 10 years ago was emotional for him. Don't you see it? This guy is serious!

We are taking the Unies Campaign to the next level by visiting colleges and universities across the United States and Europe. We will have free shirts and we will also be taking video footage. There's one catch: tell us what you think about the "Unies" or what the last decade means to you. Some of our scheduled stops include my Alma Mater, Florida International University; San Francisco State University; University of San Franciso; San Jose State University; and the University of Amsterdam. Oh yes, and be sure to help spread the word by simply wearing your "Unies" shirt. We will even have the Unies logo in your school colors! How sweet is that?!

What I truly don't understand is "What are people waiting for?" This decade has nearly come to an end and still no decision has been made. Join this campaign and help us spread the word - you too can be a part of history!

'00s Logo in FSU Colors

Freelove Logo Created in late '90s

Island Queen Cruises Logo Created in '09

Jimbo's Place Late '00s

Cathy's shirt reads 1977 while visiting Jimbo's in '08.

Espanola Way Logo Created in the 00s

SoBe Unique Shoes

'70s Military Wedding

Apple Plays Vital Role in Naming Decade the Unies

Original Unies Collage

Avinash Kaushik mentions Unies

In a recent trip to my first SEO Conference in New York City, I was able to spread the news about the Unies and Decies to Avinash Kaushik. He is famous in the Web Analytics world.

During Google's promotional book signing, I took a quick moment to mention to Kaushik that this decade and the next were literally nameless. Then I briefly mentioned to him my terms for this quandry. After agreeing to both my terms, he began to sign my copy of his book , "Web Analytics: An Hour a Day."

This interaction is to show everyone that even intellectual people, like Avninash Kaushik, may like an idea but do nothing about it. What is he going to do or say? Wow, good luck! Oh yeah, he did that is what he wrote in the book to me.

End of the Unies, Beginning of the Decies

It was nearly 10 years ago, that I sat at a lunch table, on the University of South Carolina campus, where I read article about the nameless decade.

The year was 1999, the whole world was preparing for the apocalypse or turn of the century. Media’s hottest term of the day was Y2K, Year 2000. In stating Y2K, one would be referring to the computer Year 2000 problem. Wikipedia describes Y2K as a “notable computer bug resulting from the practice in early computer design of representing the year with two digits.” How Celestine Prophecy is it when my goal is to establish the two-digit pronunciation of 00s.

Was no one listening? I can hear John Ruben now singing, “Hindsight is a beautiful thing,” because now I’m for sure no one, I mean no one is thinking about the missing term for this decade - the years between 2000 and 2009.

Shame on all of us! Where are the years going? I certainly don’t want to live without feeling something for this period of time. Where in the world is this word? Simply believe in the Unies. Let’s stand together in unity and choose this term. Will all the weather personalities Please Stand Up, I need you Brian Norcross. Al Roker pay attention and say it with me, “The weather’s getting cold tonight, it will be getting to the low to mid-unies.”

Please don’t feel bad for me if this word doesn’t catch-on, I’ve got a day job. I’ve channeled this energy and persistence into a Marketing and Production Manager position at Island Queen Cruises and Biscayne Lady Yacht Charters. But no matter how much fun this job is, there still a small piece of me that is getting ready to push again for the Unies to be heard. But now my focus is on the approaching decade once again, here comes the 10s! Deja-vu damn! Why me?

My life is kind of coming full circle and the trip to South Carolina once again, has rekindled the spirit. In early March 09, my girlfriend and I went back to the University of South Carolina, in which, I sat at the very spot where the legend of Ryan Guerra began. Only this time, it was reflective but almost certainly, exciting to name the next decade too. The Decies!

Social Media Sites Fail to Name Decade

Recently, I've tried taking the Unies and Decies to social media sites like Digg, YouTube, and Metacafe without success. Again there is only a small portion of society who gets the concept and understands the need for this term. There is even a smaller segment of society who will comprehend this idea and also have an influence in media or news. The problem of naming the decade is not going to be solved by a grassroots effort.

So what is the problem with society? Are we collectively becoming an ADD society without substance? It might seem so. We have 1000s of images, ideas, emails, advertising, billboards, and other new technology vying for our attention. This ADD society is unintelligent. We are not becoming smarter, we are more aware of our society but it is a shallow perspective. Not an intellectual perspective.

This problem originated 10 years ago when I came upon this missing word for the then approaching decade. Now, we are 10 years through the decade and at its finale without any resolution to this idea. Plus, we have the same exact problem we did 10 years ago with the next decade the Decies.

My efforts to name each decade will not be spoiled. I understand that there is no money to be had in this resolution. It merely is a public relations adventure of a lifetime. Currently, we are in the process of bringing my life to the independent film circuit through festivals and private viewings. This story will be told!