It seems like social networking has taken on a new dimension.  As entertaining as the sites like Facebook and MySpace are, now it’s not just for your friends and family.  Although there was always the possibility that someone insidious could be lurking at your private pics or cult-awestruck by your commentary, it seems a new threat is making its way out of the shadowy depths.  According to Joe Cannon’s morning show on 940 Montreal, fraud investigators are using these social networking forums to confirm allegations of welfare fraud.  Whether this form of cyber spying is actually being done, it brings new meaning to invasive investigation.  I also heard that employee or prospective employers may be doing the same.  So next time you are on your favourite social networking site and are just about to embellish a story, flirt with a difference of opinion or exaggerate a passion, remember all eyes could be on you!  

Just in case you missed it, on December 21^st, the CRTC announced that the infamous Do Not Call List (DNCL) is alive and well and the list should be launched by September 30, 2008.  Bell Canada (the only bidder to operate the National list) will be responsible for registering numbers, providing telemarketers with updates and  consumer complaints regarding telemarketing calls.  Does this mean that you will be able to eat your dinner in peace?  Well, there are exceptions of course and they include registered charities, political parties, daily circulation newspapers and survey companies.  In addition, exemptions include ‘existing business relationships’.  What are those?  You be the judge.  Check out S. 41.7 (2) of the Telecommunications Act. http://laws.justice.gc.ca/.

And the last time I called….nevermind.

Nova Scotia’s fiddling premier has taken his musical talent to the Internet as part of a quirky campaign to persuade late-night host David Letterman to visit the province.It all started when Halifax actress Ellen Page appeared on Letterman’s “Late Show” earlier this month to promote her movie “Juno.” During the exchange, Letterman said he’s heard that Nova Scotia is “beautiful,” and mentioned that he’d like to visit the Maritime province.

The local CBC Radio morning show latched onto the comment, and started urging listeners to send in their own top-10 lists of reasons why Letterman should make the trip.

Premier Rodney MacDonald joined in this week, reading his own list and fiddling on a video clip that’s been posted online and shown on local TV news broadcasts.

On the video, MacDonald pokes fun at the names of local landmarks including Balls Creek and Shag Harbour and notes that in Canada triple-bypass surgeries are free - a reference to Letterman’s heart surgery several years ago (although Letterman actually underwent a quintuple bypass).

His No. 3 reason pays tribute to the province’s wilderness.

“You haven’t lived until you’ve camped on the world-famous Cabot Trail and been chased by a love-struck moose,” MacDonald says on the clip.

And the premier’s No. 1 reason?

“Nova Scotia’s political leader, yours truly, plays the fiddle,” he says, before playing a few bars with a traditional step dance.

“Top that, Mike Huckabee,” the premier adds, referring to a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination who’s been seen playing the bass guitar on the campaign trail.

There’s no word on whether Letterman has seen the video, or whether he’s considering the invitation.

Letterman recently returned to air after a writer’s strike prompted a two-month break. His production company struck a deal with the union to allow his writing team to return to work, unlike other hosts who have also returned but without their writers.