Re Naomi Baron's point on past-generation messenger boys, in 1970, the head of the sociology dept at the Univ of Ghana Legon had a @boy@ (really a man) squatting next to his desk all the time I was there. To deliver handwritten messages across campus. And unlike email, the receipt of the message was confirmed. Re Frank Thomas' point on long distance ties documented by community social network analysts, see a bunch of my papers from the 1970s thru early 1990s. Summarized in my @The Network Community" - intro chapter to my Networks in the Global Village, and in draft form (for those who want something for nothing) on my website. Barry ___________________________________________________________________ Barry Wellman Professor of Sociology NetLab Director wellman@chass.utoronto.ca http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/~wellman Centre for Urban & Community Studies University of Toronto 455 Spadina Avenue Toronto Canada M5S 2G8 fax:+1-416-978-7162 ___________________________________________________________________