I've lived in Toronto for seven years and have moved through a dozen or so social circles in my time here. Things are generally tight and without prodding, most groups tend to avoid long-term co-mingling. People move in and out but a core group tends to remain.

I've also had my share of fun and several relationships but I've noticed a distinct shift in terms of whom I choose to get closer with. Most of my hook-ups are close friends that I've known for awhile. While I've dated some of them briefly, all of them are people I feel comfortable with.

According to the ever-useful NOW Magazine Love and Sex Guide "35 percent of men and 39 percent of woman" identify as single while engaging in sexual relations with a friend.

Allowing for the demographics of those who cared to respond to the survey, that's still a substantial number.

Photo: "Contact @ MOCCA" by Peter Grevstad, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.

Your Toronto morning news roundup for Friday May 09th, 2008:

With oil prices up to $125 a barrel, the price at the pump will correspondingly be raised to a rather steep $1.25 per litre. I remember when it used to be only 79 cents... it was only a matter of time before we fell in line with the rest of the world.

Parents (and fiscally-responsible taxpayers everywhere) are shocked after a government report showed that Catholic School Board trustees were living high on the hog and claiming excessive personal expenses to the overall tune of $1 million. A $100,000 average per official suggests they're claiming more than just travel expenses and health benefits.

Photo: "Cleaners" by Metrix X, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.

Your Toronto morning news roundup for Thursday May 8th, 2008:

After much hemming and hawwing plans to open an Africentric high school will come to fruition by 2010.

Need another reason to quit driving? Hundreds of dump trucks are planning a protest that will see large portions of Toronto's highways tied up as part of an effort to improve their wages and working conditions.

Photo: "crystal palace" by jhccheng, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.

Your Toronto morning news roundup for Tuesday May 06, 2008:

In a move that will piss off drinkers everywhere, we can expect to see beer prices rise $2-$3 more per case over the year. It's one thing that they raise gas prices but when my personal fuel becomes more expensive, I start to question exactly why I'm living here (and just as beer was becoming so much more interesting in Ontario).

Buyer beware if you're thinking about buying a condo around Yonge & Sheppard: City councillors in North York voted to provide a warning to would-be residents concerning the massive traffic gridlock in the area that has experienced rapid growth as of late.

Photo: "Stay on Track" by VladGlebov, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.

Your Toronto morning news roundup for Tuesday May 06, 2008:

Robert Smith, better known as "that Scottish dude who loudly extols the virtues of a pint of Keiths", admitted to possessing and distributing child pornography which will likely net him some jail time. No word yet on whether beer ads will get any better.

In a significant about-face from the usual talk of increased police enforcement, Toronto's executive committee earmarked nearly $5 million dollars towards the hiring of new social workers to help our city's panhandlers. People with no fixed income don't really respond to well to tickets anyways...

I've always wanted to hate the Social. I dislike Queen St. West in general and nearly every time I go there, whether by myself or with friends, I find myself stuck in some corner, watching bored people evaluate their standing on the social ladder and rehash the same-old misadventures they hope to top that night.

My roommate, being a newcomer to the east end, is still very fond of the opposite side of the city and has often insisted that I accompany him on the $10 cab ride for what he always promises will be "a good time".

I pretty much always refuse, even in the face of admittedly excellent artists such as Rye Rye, but it wasn't until I heard that Erol Alkan was due to hit the Social that my resolve started to crumble.

Here is one of the most reputedly down-to-earth DJs of the day spinning at a club I have an admitted (albeit unproven) bias against. Not only that but he's very talented and he usually plays much larger (and more expensive) venues in other cities.

What was I to do? I couldn't exactly pass this kind of opportunity up.