BUSINESS

Checking into Facebook sporadically while writing my review of "The Social Network," I notice my hairstylist commenting on how freakishly hot it's been in Los Angeles, an old friend announcing she's flying back to Dallas from a business trip in New Jersey and a sports colleague posting a photo of himself while on assignment in Wales covering the Ryder Cup.

WASHINGTON -- The Pentagon is reviewing the use of Facebook and other social networking sites on its computers with an eye toward setting rules on how to protect against possible security risks.

LAS VEGAS - Social networking Web sites such as MySpace.com are increasingly juicy targets for computer hackers, who are demonstrating a pair of vulnerabilities they claim expose sensitive personal information and could be exploited by online criminals.

Colleges are now using social networking sites to recruit students through posting pages about their school. At the same time, however, many of these same colleges may be looking at the student’s social networking page (Facebook, MySpace, etc.) to get a better idea about the student as a candidate for their school. Keep this in mind when posting things (comments, pictures, etc.) on a social networking account.

I normally like to inject some humor into this column but, occasionally, there are topics that need to be discussed that are very serious. Such is the case with Internet predators, cyber-bullying and other commonplace occurrences on social networking websites like Facebook and MySpace.

I was reminiscing the other day about my high school days and how things have changed since those glorious times. We didn’t have computers, e-mail, only the seniors had cars (and not very many of them), no cell phones, no iPods or iPhones, no MTV and no social networking. That’s right! No Facebook, MySpace, StumbleUpon, Plaxo, Photobucket, Pandora or any of the other social networking websites.

Calls to boycott Arizona over its immigration enforcement law are spreading across social media sites. A Twitter tweet, a Facebook message, and protesters can quickly spread the word to stay away.

Users of the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 video game consoles can now brag about their achievements on Facebook.

LOS ANGELES — Dougal and Romeo live in different countries and have never met in person. One's a dog, one's a cat. But they're quite the party animals.

FARGO, N.D. — When Kevin Tobosa got word Thursday that a friend needed help building a sandbag dike, he immediately posted a status update on his Facebook page: "Heading to 2825 Lilac Lane in North Fargo — needs to be raised another 2 feet."

SAN FRANCISCO - Yahoo Inc. plans to make its Web site a social hub by hosting applications from other online services, part of the Internet pioneer's effort to spawn more advertising opportunities.

President Barack Obama countered Mitt Romney's Big Bird and binders on Monday night with horses, bayonets and Battleship. Who won? The Internet, of course.

In my review of Catfish I discussed how Facebook and other social networking sites had the potential to provide inspiration for numerous fascinating film projects. I had problems with Catfish, although few others seem to share my reservations. Only one week later though, we get another movie centered on Facebook that's not only the best film ever made regarding social networking, but also the most culturally relevant movie of this young century. The name of the film is The Social Network, an absorbingly entertaining depiction of one of the most influential individuals of the past 10 years.

In my review of Catfish I discussed how Facebook and other social networking sites had the potential to provide inspiration for numerous fascinating film projects. I had problems with Catfish, although few others seem to share my reservations. Only one week later though, we get another movie centered on Facebook that's not only the best film ever made regarding social networking, but also the most culturally relevant movie of this young century. The name of the film is The Social Network, an absorbingly entertaining depiction of one of the most influential individuals of the past 10 years.

Stephanie Kahn wanted to bask in her engagement for a few hours before diving into the task of calling aunts, uncles and good friends with the big news. And even before she could call them, she had a surprise party to attend, one that her fiance had set up for their parents and her "closest group of girlfriends."