Something to ponder: A year is not a year until it ends. A decade is 10 years, including the 10th year. A century is 100 years, including the 100th year. A millenium is 1000 years, including the 1000th year. Why did we perceive the year 2000 to be the start of a new millenium, when it was perhaps the end of an old one? If the Gregorian calendar is a model for our chronological system, then there was no year "zero". Hence, starting from the year 1, the new millenium would have begun with the year 2001. Any thoughts floating around out there?

Wondergirl

People feel happy thinking the zeros make it a new millennium. We talked about this 9-10 years ago. All the savvy people agreed 2001 was the beginning of the millennium, but the hoi polloi won.

The same is true of centuries and decades. 2011, not 2010, will be the beginning of that decade.

KC13

You are the first I've heard express that viewpoint. Back then, everyone I suggested that to thought I was stupid. Maybe it WAS them after all...

Wondergirl

The majority rules.

KC13

Suggestion #5: PUT THE DAMN SEAT DOWN WHEN YOU ARE FINISHED!

KC13

By the same logic, 9 one dollar bills should sufficiently pay for an item with a $10 price tag...

Wondergirl

No. It's not 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 = $9. It's 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 = $10. The majority sees the two (in the thousands place) in 2000 and thinks "new millennium," and we smart ones count the numbers in the ones place.

s_cianci

I agree with you. But why bring it up 10 years after the fact?

Wondergirl

It will happen again soon. Does the new decade start with 2010 or 2011?

s_cianci

It can actually go either way. A "decade" is a 10-year period. So the years 2000 through 2009 inclusive constitute a decade. Likewise, the years 2001 through 2010 inclusive constitute a decade.