A grassroots social networking movement takes wing seeking an explanation about the departure of Star Tribune columnist Nick Coleman.

The text on Facebook's "Where's Nick?" page is pretty funny, and a bit poignant:

Nick’s last column appeared Feb. 8... Two new columnists have been introduced since then, but the newspaper has not said ONE WORD about what has happened to him, or whether he is even still employed at the paper where his successful columnist career began in 1983. He might have disappeared! Could he be buried in a 55-gallon drum in a half-empty Strib parking lot where Zygi Wilf wants to put an end zone and Tim Pawlenty can shake his pompoms? We have a right to know!

I think I know the answers, but it will be more fun getting the official management and Coleman responses, which will have to wait until Friday unless the principals want to chip in a comment.