Week 9: A Summary #23

# 23  I have been joined for a glass of tea by Zhar-Ptitsa, who has been singing in a current production of The Firebird. He is very familiar with quests, having been much sought after in folk history, and excitedly asks if I have returned with any of the magic secrets of Web2.0, would I recommend his undertaking the same journey, what were my favorite roosts, and so on. "Stop, a minute," I say, waving my wings to cool his burning curiosity. "This odyessy of discovery takes hours, days, weeks, but, of course, time is of no matter to immortal creatures such as ourselves who have eons of life during which to learn." My more impetuous friend hesitates, "Really, it took that much time?" he murmurs. "Indeed," I reply. "Yet, I would fly off again in an instant if the call came." Then I describe the fascinations of Flickr, playing tag on Del-icio-us, hunting articles in CiteULike, planning a podcast of poetry. He brightens. "Perhaps we could travel together, share expenses, explore fewer roosts with more care and exchange impressions?" "Yes," I agree. "It's always helpful to chat before putting stylus to tablet." "And eat, too," he adds, examining a sugared square of loukomi. "Well, if my goal was mental food, I certainly returned with a hamper full. However, the trouble with questing is that one quest inevitably leads to another, just as finishing breakfast suggests beginning lunch." I pause for a sip of tea, "As several very famous creatures have remarked in their memoirs, this learning path goes ever on and on, and Alkonost must follow, trilling her blog's Sirin song."