Over a month ago, a family friend, 47 years old, was with his family and calmly asked his parents for some money. They gave him $60. He told everyone he was going to the cottage. That was the last time anyone saw Bob.

Every time I ride the subway, another face is flashed across the screens installed in the stations. Today, it’s sadly the same kid who I saw on the screen last year. The people on these bulletins have usually been missing for five years or more. Is there even a point of searching for them anymore?

I always wondered how the police could not find a missing person. Perhaps they did not wish to be found, but many of the faces I saw were only kids. They could have at least sent a letter saying they were okay.

Being so close to this investigation gave me a grim look into the search for a missing person. With no transactions on bank accounts and no sightings since leaving Toronto, there were no leads for police to follow. After a month of investigation, police divers searching the waters close to the cottage and countless friends searching surrounding areas and camp areas, everyone came up empty.

The question begs: Where is his silver Honda? Where is Bob? And why can no one find him?

I was thinking about this the other day. Similar to MySpace, a social networking site that many North Americans will likely be familiar with is a site called Facebook. Facebook was originally created specifically for university students to network, send messages and share photos, among other things. At one time, it was only open to university students and you could only signup using your registered school email account.

While not all of my friends have Facebook, those who don't login using other user's accounts to check what is happening regularly -- without doing it, you find yourself out of the loop on friend's lives. This just goes to prove that right now, Facebook is essential to most student's social lives.

Today, anyone can join -- students at any age level, adults, teens and even those who are not attending school. I find now that more than ever, my life revolves around Facebook. Want to know what everyone is up to this weekend? Check Facebook. Want to see photos from the other night? Check Facebook. Need to message your friend who isn't online? GO TO FACEBOOK.

I find that increasingly, it becomes a central place for friends to meet online and share what is going on. Without it, those who are not already insanely social miss out.

Similar to checking email and phone messages, most students today seem to login to Facebook at least once per day -- and that's just the start. More and more frequently now, people will reply faster on Facebook than to emails, especially when it comes to social interaction and with that, people are on MSN less often.

What I wonder is this: Will there be a day when online social networks such as Facebook, MySpace or even TIG will become a manditory part of your day? Let me know what you think!

Yesterday I mentioned that a woman had lost her purse to a motorcycle thief.

All day, I was extra careful with my camera bag with all my new toys in it (new leses, etc)

When we sat down for lunch, you ordered and then sat down and they would bring your food. I sat down after ordering to let my mum go order and I put my bag down and basically looked out the window. While I was waiting, I suddenly felt my spidey senses tingling and turned around to notice a man leaving with a bag similar to mine. I quickly looked down quickly to check on the satus of my bag and put it together -- he had MY bag. I immediately got up and ran after him as he was quickly making his exit out of the restaurant. As he got to the door, I grabbed the bag and him, and told him that he had my bag as well as adding a few choice words in Spanish that I learned from Yaz (thanks!!) and walked back into the restaurant to the surprise of some Spanish citizens who had figured out what had happened.

Had I lost it, my camera and money would have been gone. NOT FUN.

So, lesson # 2 learned. Don't detatch my bag from my body -- ever.