Faster XML Ahead?

My ACM Tech Alert just zoomed into my inbox. Among the highlights, the lowlight: Faster XML Ahead?. What's XML?

<hey="what">
  <guess+what="already asked">
    <itsa="number">
      <oftha="floating point variety">
        <semantic_value="longitude">
          -90
        </semantic_value>
      </oftha>
    </itsa>
  </guess+what>
</hey>
<hey="what">
  <guess+what="already asked">
    <itsa="number">
      <oftha="floating point variety">
        <semantic_value="latitude">
          30
        </semantic_value>
      </oftha>
    </itsa>
  </guess+what>
</hey>

versus

30,-90

Types are nice. The XML solution? Binary XML!
All just to get to Nawlins?
What's wrong with types? Grrr.... That compile done, yet?