I realized recently that if my young daughter matriculates in the usual way she will graduate from high school in June 2000, which, as I have learned from your book More of the Straight Dope, is pronounced “June of the year two thousand.” My question is, what will her class be called? I know how they’ll write it, of course: Class of ’00. But how will they say it? Class of Zero- Zero? Class of Oh-Oh? (Hmm.) Please hurry with your answer; she may be valedictorian and I don’t want her to say the wrong thing in her speech. –Jeff Greenberg, New York
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Cecil has been banging the gong about the pending crisis in decade names (of which your question is merely the latest reflection) for nigh on 20 years–so far, I am obliged to say, without noticeable result. What will we call the decade after the ’90s, I ask–the Nothings? The Nixies? The Voids? Later, say the nation’s leaders. Right now we’re worrying about war, genocide, and national decline. It’s always something, sez I.
Recently you mentioned fishing for clues on the Internet. Many of us who have just begun to wiggle a toe in those waters would appreciate a description of just how you go about fishing for clues on the Internet, whether about merkins, gherkins, or jerkins. –Neal Bozarth, Takoma Park, Maryland
Art accompanying story in printed newspaper (not available in this archive): illustration/Slug Signorino.
