Fairly recently, METRO and NYPL sponsored a workshop on Linked Open Data, and also a lecture by Marcia Lei Zeng.  I attended the first session, which piqued my curiosity, but I need a review.  I also have some questions:

• How exactly does LOD relate to/interact with the old crosswalks of metadata standards familiar to libraries, museums and digital collections?
• There seem to be 200 implementations.  Where are they? What do they look like?
• Does LOD answer or help to the age-old question of access to all digital collections of libraries and museums in one place or one grand interface?
• Is LOD a new iteration of the web entirely?
• How is it possible to keep up with/migrate to/understand/implement new standards such as this?  I barely understand DAMS and CMS.  Now more!  What is the minimum technical knowledge required to keep current in the field and how is it possible to achieve it without spending $$$$ on a 2nd degree?

As must be obvious, I am not an expert on this.  Hopefully, someone more knowledgeable will join the session to enlighten us.  If not, we will together explore web sites and other resources explaining it.  I have a few session notes that will get us started.