Naming the Decade, Everyone's Right

After ten years, it seems like everyone is right on what we should call this decade. Who am I to argue the point or tell them they are wrong. Look, with the rise of social media, tweeter, blogs, everyone has a chance to create a reason and a meaning for this decade. We are all right, by you reading my blog you give me a review, buzz, recommendation, or thumbs up to help valiadate my idea.



In 1999, I created a term and wrote a pamphlet titled, "Unification of the Unies." Who would have thought that in many ways I'm right. The Unies - the term created from a Latin prefix based on the numbers between 0 and 9 - not only answers the problem about pronouncing this decade, 00s but it also sums up the decade perfectly.

The years between 2000 and 2009 were about the world becoming unified. Social media sites have made people connected and brought the world together. Youtube has encouraged people to search and view for funny videos throughout the world. Today, a family get together means logging on to Youtube to have your cousin show you all the recent funny videos he found. (This is true in my family because in the 90s we made videos but we had no where to show them.)



We are more connected with iPhones, Palm Pilots, Blackberry's and other mobile communication devices. Today, when going on a date, we don't learn how to accept different ideas and arguments. Now, we quickly search to see who is right and who is wrong. Or we call someone who can help us remember a certain or forgotten memory.

We keep up with people's lives by reading blogs and tweetering about their daily events. Today, the people who comment on David Segal's article about the missing decade name are able to communicate with each other and read their opinions. It is amazing, we have a chance to be connected to other readers.

Even September 11, 2001 helped unify the world. More religions were brought together during the memorial services than at any other time in the world.

Then the Swine flu showed the world that we are more connected as we track the spread and outbreak happening in real-time across the globe. We always new the flu was contagious but nothing like the Swine flu.

The world and the people on it wanted to grow and connect through forums and communities. Look at Wikipedia, a site truly created by the entire world adding and documenting the facts. Imagine people working together for free in order to serve a greater good. This is a small example of a larger phenomenon, open source.

Although, Napster was started operating in June 1999 until July 2001, we saw how the world was ready to interact and share. It was an example of things to come. The Unification of the World.

There is a draw back to this crazy and unifying world. We see this with the collapse of the world economies. Not only is the world's finances unified but the reasons why are too. We are going through another revolution, the Information Revolution. The world's economies are changing rapidly since people are able and willing to work for free. Yes, I said the word free, but Chris Anderson wrote about it in his book, Free: The Future of a Radical Price.

The ramifications of the world being able to work together is about to hit a crisis. Imagine how many jobs were lost due to Wikipedia's growth. Imagine how much money Microsoft lost due to the Linux operating system. Imagine how many newspapers have folded due to Google's search engine along with Craiglist's free postings of classified ads.

Google's growth illustrates the Global marketplace or the unified marketplace. Today, a great website can acquire a global marketplace. No longer do you need to go to the local shoe store when you can purchase shoes from Zappos at unbelievable prices and 100% satisfaction policies.

We truly are more unified then ever before!!! The Unies was about unification. Even though every one is right, the Unification in the Unies is by far the greatest example and accomplishment the world has ever participated in.

More to come!!!

The Rise of Globalization, The Unification of the Unies

As I get older, I enjoy looking at old photos because they represent the fun times in life. Rarely, do you ever take photos of bad times. The majority of my photos are of my family vacations, birthdays, weddings, and a slew of other positive memories.

Unfortunately, naming the decade has just the opposite effect. It seems that the public wants to remember this decade with some negativity. Some expressions or names the public casts to represent this decade include: “Bubble Decade”, “Decade of Disruptions”, “One-der Decade”, and “Overshoot.” Most every name the public creates is negative

I believe this decade is about Unification. The years between 2000 and 2009 represents an era of unification, a time in which the world became a smaller place.

This decade includes the rise of Globalization. The Euro was introduced in January 1st, 2009 but it grew up in the 2000s. The world religions united after September 11, 2001. Social Media sites like Facebook, Myspace, Linkedin, Youtube, and Twitter were created. Diseases like the swine flu are global issues that effect countries all at one. Global warming is not just a problem with the United States rather it is a global problem.

Yes, there are tragedies and fears in this decade but let’s face it, every decade has the same the problem. Although, this decade '00s (pronounced Unies), we are able to communicate information to the entire world. With the Internet, I can communicate to someone living in Iran as they face the election crisis.

This decade birthed the rise of Globalization. We have become unified during the Unies. A small website can now have a global customer base. An individual can have the power of a huge media conglomerate.

Many other languages write the United Nations as Nations Unies. We are truly living in a time that is more unified now than ever before. The planet got a whole lot smaller.

SES San Jose Conference 2009

Ryan Guerra gets interviewed about the 00s and the 10s at the SES San Jose 2009 Conference. Cathy Ferreira captures the impromptu interview on camera as Ryan mentions the significance of naming this decade the Unies (00 - 09) and the next decade the Decies (10-19). Ryan also has the June 2009 Miami Herald article "A Singular Quest" on hand proving that he has started a successful campaign for naming the decade. 

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!