What Does zeromile Mean?

The name zeromile (no caps, very pretentious and artsy) began while driving down interstate 5 in 1991. On many freeways in California there are occasionally a series of "mile markers", signs that let you check your odometer against actual measured miles. There are, I believe, 5 signs in a row, beginning with "Mile 4" and subsequently counting down to "Mile 0." So, they count down, even though odometers count up - welcome to Californ-i-a.

0, the null set, is generally thought of as a beginning but, in this case, its an end. That's irony, Alanis.

In 1996, while researching zeromile as a possible band name, I discovered a town in India called Zeromile. Through various emails that I sent to city residents (at random) I learned that there is a stone that the town is built around called the "Zero Mile Stone" and it is at the exact geographic center of India. The people of the town had a tremendous reverence for it. It seemed so spiritual and unique. I mean, India has like 4 million gods - who probably all hang out at that stone. "Wow!", I thought, "What an amazing and mysterious legacy for a band name!" And zeromile the band was born.

Later I learned that in almost every continent, country, county, state, parish, township and city in the world there is a "Zero Mile Stone." Well, actually it's called a "Zero Mile Marker." They are usually located somewhere near a city hall. When a map says it's 220 miles from Fresno to LA it's really saying it's 220 miles from the Zero Mile Marker in Fresno to the Zero Mile Marker in Los Angeles. Still kind of cool, but not 4 million gods cool. [insert sound of air escaping runaway balloon]