6 July 2003 - mrowdata

It used to be that information (Latinate) was called data (Latinate), and everyone was happy. Then, a rash programmer noticed that some data is about other data, and started calling it metadata (Greekoid). The attraction was too much; gradually it was realized that all data is about something, and that that something can be de-reified as data. Today, nearly all computer-stored information is in danger of being termed metadata.

To forestall further breakdown of the Englishistic language, we need a sexy new source to borrow words from. I suggest cats, because everyone will want to invent the word “mrowdata”, but no one will want to say it.