One of my resolutions for the new year is to be less of a crackpot about the use of the word "metadata". So, I think I've come to terms with what is going on, and can make one last, final, blanket statement about this:

Folks just always say "metadata" when they want to talk about data now, because metadata sounds 21st century Internet-chic and data just sounds 1980s nerdy

Oh no, you can't just share or collect data, it's got to be metadata. And, no way is anyone going to announce that their incredible metadata repository is just a friggin' database.

Anyway, this is just a reminder to myself: before releasing anything official describing the iCite net, do a search on the word data and replace with metadata ;-)