This is not a good way to wake up in the morning. If anyone is in New York on Feb 24, try to show up.

ARREST OF FEBRUARY 18, 2011

Very early in the morning (6:00 am according to Assistant U. S. Attorney Mermelstein) of Friday, February 18, 2011, my daughter Judy noticed lights flashing on our cars parked across the street. One Teaneck, NJ police officer rang the doorbell and informed Judy that someone was trying to break into our cars. She opened the door to talk with him. Immediately 9 police officers swarmed into the house. Four were from the Teaneck, NJ police. They held my daughter hostage downstairs. They would not permit her to return to her room to dress.

The five police from the Federal Protective Service, an arm of the Department of Homeland Security, went upstairs and into the bedroom where my wife and I were sleeping. They surrounded our bed and then awakened us. They informed me that they had a warrant for my arrest, and that I was under arrest. I asked them to identify themselves, but they refused. They ordered me to dress. I went to the bathroom and clothed myself in a shirt, underpants, regular pants, sock, and Patakis (the slippers issued to me when I was a prisoner in Rikers Island).

Again I asked them to identify themselves and informed them that they were under obligation to do so. They refused. I repeated my request, but they refused again. I went limp and fell to the floor. They carried me downstairs, out the door, put me in a paddy wagon and took me to Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck, NJ.

At the hospital, I was given a medical exam. My pulse, temperature, and blood pressure were taken. Blood was drawn from my left wrist, a finger was poked with a needle for a blood sugar test. An electro-cardiogram was taken. The doctors informed the police that I was medically sound and could leave. Then a strange thing happened. I was not tortured, as was previously done at 5 other hospitals. Apparently the Department of Homeland Security has not yet notified small towns like Teaneck that the hospitals are required to torture patients brought by the police. Another example of government inefficiency.

At this point, I was handcuffed and placed horizontal in the paddy wagon for the ride to the U. S. District Court in Manhattan, NY. Three other police cars accompanied us. At the federal courthouse, I was placed into a wheel chair and taken to the police section of the federal building at 500 Pearl Street. Fingerprints and pictures were taken. Then I was wheeled to a cell with a toilet. The handcuffs were removed, and I was left alone. Immediately I urinated to prevent my bladder from bursting.

I was left in the cell for some time. I took a nap. Then four guards handcuffed me and wheeled me to another cell in the court facilities. Again I was fingerprinted and pictures taken. I was moved to a third holding area just outside the courtroom. After several minutes, I was wheeled into the courtroom in handcuffs. I lowered my head and did not look at the judge or anyone else. I refused to speak.

Magistrate Judge Ellis presided over the hearing. Rebecca Mermelstein was the Assistant U. S. Attorney, who was the prosecutor representing the U. S. Government. Judge Ellis appointed Sabrina Shroff from the public defenders office of the U. S. government as my stand-by counsel.

Prosecutor Mermelstein informed the court that I had missed many previous appearances. She stated that I had influenced another juror on a case in which I was a juror, and influenced jurors in other cases. She asked that I be held in custody.

Ms. Shroff wanted to intervene on my behalf. Judge Ellis asked if this was acceptable to me. I spoke for the first time, since I fell to the floor in my home. I asked to speak with Ms. Shroff privately before I made a decision. I was wheeled out of the court room, still in handcuffs, to a cell where Ms. Shroff and I spoke. She advised me that I should accept whatever terms that would get me released.

We returned to the courtroom where I stated that I did not appear at my court appearance date, because the Court would not guarantee a jury trial, as I had requested and because the deadline set for a speedy trial, as set by the court rules, had passed. Ms. Mermelstein informed the judge that the charges against me had a maximum prison time penalty of 6 months, so I was not entitled to a jury trial.

The Sixth Amendment to the U. S. Constitution states, in part: “In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury ...” Why is it that lawyers, who do not understand English, are allowed to participate in legal matters? They do not understand what the words “all” and “speedy” mean. The federal court rules state that “speedy” means within 70 days. How come lawyers cannot count to 70? Legal matters, in particular, require and understanding of English and addition. (This paragraph did not occur in court. It is my editorial opinion added after the fact.)

I gave Judge Ellis a lecture. I said that my court appointed Attorney, Shroff, said that he was a fair judge.

I informed the judge that the US Attorney, Ms. Mermelstein, had jst committed perjury twice. I was not a juror on any case in this court and could not have been a juror, because I do not reside in the jurisdiction of the Second Circuit, which includes NY City. I am not even on the potential juror list. Furthermore I stated that I had never served on a jury. I asked him if he would ever let me sit on a jury, and he stated he would not. I informed him that neither would any other judge.

I asked him to charge Ms Mermelstein with perjury. He refused. I replied that settles that evaluation. I accused him of violating my rights under the First, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments to the U. S. Constitution. Furthermore I reminded him that I had asked that Judge Wood, who is the judge appointed to the case, be recused because she had threatened me for exercising my legal rights in a previous case, from which she was recused.

Judge Ellis said that he did not have the authority to do anything but set my release conditions or lack thereof. He said that there were four possibilities:

1. Hold me in prison with no bail
2. Set bail for my release
3. Release me under bond for failure to appear at future court appearances
4. Release me unconditionally.

He decide to release me under bond. The prosecuting attorney requested that the bond be for $10,000. My stand-by counsel argued for $1,000. Judge Ellis set the bond for $2,500.00 to be paid if I failed to appear at court appearances on Thursday, February 24, 2011 in Newark, NJ and on Friday, February 25, 2011 in Manhattan.

The court gave me the copies of documents relating to my case which Ms. Mermelstein, but not I, had received. I signed the bond and was released at 6:45 pm. I arrived home at 8:00 pm, at which point my wife and daughter noticed a hole that the police had made in my pants.

---

My daughter Judy gives her story:

This morning the Teaneck Police knocked on the door about 6:15 am. They told me that someone had broken into our car parked on the street (a lie) so I opened the door. Five agents from the Federal Protective Service (DHS markings on their coats) barged in and demanded to see Julian Heicklen. They had a warrant (which they did not show me, but they did show him) and they went up to his bedroom to wake him.

Special Agent Badge 27 and the four Teaneck Police officers (Detective Hayes, Officer Caruso, Officer Ortiz, and Detective Fisco) detained me downstairs so I don’t know exactly what happened upstairs, but my understanding is that he was cooperative (e.g. got dressed, etc…) until they refused to tell him their names and badges, at which point he fell to the floor. They called the ambulance and four medical attendants carted him off about 6:55 am.

The warrant was for jury tampering and was issued by the Southern District of NY. I believe he was taken to Holy Name hospital in Teaneck, to be transferred to 500 Pearl Street in Manhattan when ready.

---

My wife Susan gives this story

She continually called the court throughout the day. She reports this timeline:

1:35 pm: Janice informed her that I was in pre-trial.

2:45 pm: Jim told her that I was about to go into the courtroom now. Call back in 45 minuted.

3:30 pm: Doing the case now. Call back in 25 minutes.

3:53 pm: Vinny told her that I had not seen the judge yet. Court stays in session until 5:00 pm.

4:26 pm: Gilbert says that I am seeing the judge.

4:55 Jim told her that I am seeing the judge.

5:25 pm: Court told her that I am being released on bond.

6:07 pm: I have been released.

---

The Indictment

“The Grand Jury charges:

From at least in or about October 2009 up to and including in or about May 2010, in the southern District of New York, Julian Heicklen, the defendant, attempted to influence the actions and decisions of a grand and petit juror of a court of the United States, to wit, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, upon an issue and matter pending before such juror, and before a jury of which he was a member, and pertaining to his duties, by writing and sending him a written communication in relation to such an issue or matter, to wit, HEICKLEN distributed pamphlets urging jury nullification, immediately in front of an entrance to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, located at 500 Pearl Street, New York, New York.”

Signed by Breet Bharara, United States Attorney.

Of course, the U. S. Attorney committed perjury. I could not possibly have been a juror in the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of NY, because I do not live in its jurisdiction. My name cannot even be on the eligible juror list.

I never knowingly sent any juror a written communication, because I do not know who was juror , or even what trials were in progress, except for my own. I suppose that the U. S. Attorney will get someone to lie and say he received such a communication by promising him a reduced sentence. That is why it is important that I have witnesses at the hearing.

Court dates
My court appearance at which I have agreed to appear are at the:

U. S. District Court, Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Building and
United States Courthouse , 50 Walnut Street, Room 4015, Newark NJ 07102
Telephone: 973-645-3730 at 10:00 am on Thursday, February 24, 2011.

Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse
500 Pearl Street, Room 120, New York NY 10007-1312.
Telephone: 212-805-0136 at 10:00 am on Friday, January 25, 2011.

I would appreciate it if as many of you that can appear at the hearings, so that I can have witnesses to counter the court lies. The courtrooms have not been assigned, so that the room number given above are for the Clerks’ offices. Also a demonstration outside the courthouses would be useful to generate publicity.

Yours in freedom and justice

Julian

Varsity Xtra: Sun is setting on Schenley High

Article on Pittsburgh Schenley. Varsity Xtra: Sun is setting on Schenley High

Skiers should wear helmets - coroner | Stuff.co.nz

Skiers should wear helmets - coroner | Stuff.co.nz

All skiers and snowboarders should wear ski helmets, the Canterbury Coroner says.

Regional coroner Richard McElrea made the comment at an inquest in Ashburton yesterday into the death of American student Rachel Swett, 21, on Mt Hutt last year.

''The fact is that had she been wearing a ski helmet properly, there would have been much greater chance of survival,'' he said.

Iowa wrestling star refuses to face girl - Sports - Salon.com

Iowa wrestling star refuses to face girl - Sports - Salon.com

A standout Iowa high school wrestler refused to compete against a girl at the state tournament on Thursday, relinquishing any chance of becoming a champion because he says wrestling a girl would conflict with his religious beliefs.

Joel Northrup, a home-schooled sophomore who was 35-4 wrestling for Linn-Mar High School this season, praised his first-round opponent, Cedar Falls freshman Cassy Herkelman, and Ottumwa sophomore Megan Black, who became the first two girls to make the state wrestling tournament in its 85-year history.

But in a brief statement issued through his school, Northrup said he defaulted on his match with Herkelman because he doesn't think boys and girls should compete in the sport.

Mt. Lebanon commissioner enters county executive race

Run. Got running mates?

Mt. Lebanon commissioner enters county executive race

Swimmer found near start line: Sport: Other Sport

Swimmer found near start line: Sport: Other Sport

Swimmer found near start line
2011-02-17 09:42

Midar Dam in KZN Midlands

Durban - Police Search and Rescue teams have recovered the body of the swimmer who went missing during the aQuelle Midmar Mile over the weekend.

Nico Mellet, 45, is thought to have drowned during the event on Saturday.

Officials realised he was missing when his coded tag did not register at the finish line on Saturday.

More than 16 000 swimmers participated in the event, which is the largest open water swim in the world.

According to the EastCoastRadio website, Jack Haskins, who is with the Police Search and Rescue Unit, said they found Mellet's body on Wednesday afternoon near the starting line following a massive search operation at the dam in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands.

“At approximately 14:00 the deceased surfaced. He was approximately 500 metres from the start of the Midmar Mile,” Haskins said.

"We've had eight navy divers, as well as 10 South African Police divers from Pietermaritzburg and Port Shepstone, as well as two Search and Rescue dog handlers that were all involved," he said.

Haskins says the discovery will give the family some closure.

"The family has been by our sides from day one. They've sat with us from day one, right up until the last minute," he said.

A post mortem will be conducted.

Other links:
http://www.midmarmile.co.za/

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Midmar-Mile-swimmer-still-not-found-20110216

Another County Executive Race is brewing in Pittsburgh this year.

The RMU Documentary program presents "Portrait of a Campaign", a behind the scenes look at the 2003 race for Allegheny County Chief Executive.

Tuesday 3/1/2011, 10:00 AM

Tuesday 3/1/2011, 10:30 AM

Thursday 3/3/2011, 7:00 AM

Monday 3/7/2011, 9:00 PM

Thursday 3/10/2011, 7:00 AM,

Thursday 3/10/2011, 7:30 AM

Monday 3/21/2011, 11:00 PM

Ex- UConn hooper (W) get off the hook in doping troubles in Europe.

Thank goodness this gets behind her.

------Original Message------
From: SI com Alerts
To: mark@rauterkus.com
ReplyTo: cnnalerts@cnn.com
Subject: 2004 Athens Summer Games News
Sent: Feb 16, 2011 2:04 PM



Alert Name: 2004 Athens Summer Games News

Turkey lifts provisional doping ban on Taurasi
02/16/11 12:44 PM, EST
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) -- Turkey's basketball federation lifted American star Diana Taurasi's provisional doping suspension Wednesday after a lab retracted its finding that she tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance.
Read the full story at http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/basketball/wnba/02/16/taurasi.ban.removed.ap/index.html

______________________________________________________________________

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Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Fw: Tiger Polo Spring League

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

---

From: "Jim Staresinic" <jimstar@connecttime.net>

Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2011 09:30:57 -0500

To: <scottdmg@aol.com>; <mark.rauterkus@gmail.com>

Subject: Tiger Polo Spring League

With the assistance of a couple of club parents, we’ll be launching our marketing/communications for the Spring League this week. The competitions dates are:

 

April 3^rd and 10^th

May 8^th, 15^th and 22^nd (on the 22^nd we will be at Chartiers Valley

 

All but the last date will be at North Allegheny and times are TBD but likely noon to 4.

 

Entry deadline will be Monday, March 28^th which will give us about one month for people to sign up. More details to come this week, but wanted to get you guys in the loop early so that you can start recruiting. We hope to make this much bigger than last year.

 

Jim

 

Loss of school pools linked to drownings | Stuff.co.nz

Loss of school pools linked to drownings | Stuff.co.nz"We are losing our culture of swimming education and it is having disastrous effects," she said.

"We really need the government to make this a priority... it is a life or death issue."

Pittsburgh schools want more students in AP courses

A HUGE mistake from Pittsburgh Public Schools.

Pittsburgh schools want more students in AP courses

They needd to say that more students are desired for AP and IB courses.

Airport here desires overflow from East Coast

Bribery and restrictions of freedom loom large.

Airport here desires overflow from East Coast

Fw: SSSNA E-Blast 2/14 - Meeting Tomorrow 2/15, Soup Contest this Saturday

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

---

From: South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association <sssnapgh@gmail.com>

Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2011 07:10:32 -0500

To: South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association<sssnapgh@gmail.com>

Subject: SSSNA E-Blast 2/14 - Meeting Tomorrow 2/15, Soup Contest this Saturday

2/15 - SSSNA General Meeting -  
The next meeting of the SSSNA is February 15 at 7:00 PM.  The rescheduled program from our January meeting includes Dr Lindenbaum from UPMC Urgent care Center,  Zone 3 Police, and Councilman Bruce Kraus.  The meeting is held in the main lounge of St Paul of the Cross Retreat Center, 148 Monastery Ave. in the south Side Slopes.

  

2/19 South Side Soup Contest - Volunteers Needed

See below for a message from Jennifer Jeffers, Committee Chair for the Soup Contest:

 

The Seventh Annual South Side Soup Contest will be held on Saturday, Feb. 19, from noon to 3pm. 
 
Last year's event far exceeded expectations, raising over $20,000 and more than 1,000 canned food items for The Brashear Association Food Pantry.  This is a wonderful event that showcases the South Side neighborhood and a great opportunity for South Side residents and local business owners to work together for a good cause. 
 
A large event such as this takes a lot of time and energy, which is why we're reaching out for volunteer support.  Right now, we're specifically in need of Soup Captains.  The Soup Captain acts as the onsite manager at each of the soup stops overseeing volunteers, checking in contest attendees, and monitoring soup and other supplies.  In addition, the Soup Caption will be the direct point of contact for the event management staff.  The Soup Captain must be present at the retail location for the duration of the event and are integral to the management and success of the event.
 
Below is a link to WQED OnDemand, who did a feature on last year's event.  The short video provides further information about the contest and the Brashear Association's Food Pantry.
 
http://www.wqed.org/ondemand/onq.php?id=734
  
If you're interested in being a Soup Captain this year, please contact me.  There will be a Soup Captain Orientation meeting on Wednesday, February 16th at 6pm at the Brashear Association, where we will go into further detail.  If you aren't able to be a Soup Captain but would still like to volunteer, please let me know.  We have many duties available for our volunteers.  Any time that can be offered is greatly appreciated! 
 
For more information about the South Side Soup Contest, please visit www.southsidepgh.com.
 
Thank you for your time,
 
Jennifer Jeffers
Committee Chairperson
jeffersjh@hotmail.com

 

 

 

Thank you for being a part of the South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association - Neighbors working together to make the Slopes a more livable, beautiful, and safe community.  The SSSNA hopes to keep the community informed about upcoming events, news in the Slopes, and volunteer opportunities through this E-Blast.  If you do not wish to receive this E-Blast, reply to this email and you will be removed. Feel free to forward to any neighbors you think may be interested.

Helmets and heads

Sports such as hockey and football should start to use throw-away helmets, much like bike helmets. A bike helmet works once. Then it breaks or cracks. Then it is worthless and needs to be tossed away.

In hockey, some have called for the removal of helmets to make the game safe. Rather than remove the helmet, make it a helmet that breaks if it has an impact that is too hard. Then the player and his broken helmet would need to sit out the rest of the game.

I favor throw away helmets, not toss away players.

Post-Gazette.com: ".

After rejecting a proposal that would have forced players to sit out at least one play if their helmet is dislodged, the committee decided to gather data on how prevalent the problem is in college football."

The Eagle gives insights into Wikipedia and some kid named Donovan

The Eagle: "Wikipedia Ain’t So Bad, and Yes, I’m a Geek

-Ah Wikipedia, it’s the first thing up when you Google something, it contains more than 17 million articles, and has more than 365 million readers. Almost every kid in America has seen its white pages at least once in their lives. Wikipedia even has its sister sites that range from anything that focuses from video games to military secrets. But in schools Wikipedia and all of its sister sites are shunned, exiled, and segregated from the other articles on the internet. Teachers, or at least some of them, believe that Wikipedia will contain false information. And they don’t want anything Wikipedia-related in a student’s work. But just how reliable is Wikipedia?"

Chuck Tanner: The Last World Series Manager That Mattered

Yesterday, Major League Baseball lost a unique player, marvelous manager, and an incredible man.

Rest in Peace Charles William Tanner.

Welcomed to this world in New Castle, PA on the 4^th of July in 1928, Chuck Tanner was born to be a baseball man. A left-handed and hitting left-fielder, Chuck Tanner recorded a unique feat. On April 12, 1955, in his first at-bat for the Braves, Chuck Tanner laced a home run in Milwaukee. It was a statistic that would be remembered countless times, and duly so.

After a journeyman career, Tanner transitioned to a managerial career, starting in 1963 in the minor leagues. In 1970 his Major League Managerial career began with the Chicago White Sox. He piloted that team for five years before being fired. He immediately was hired by Oakland in 1976. His team recorded a ML record 341 stolen bases that year but Chuck didn't impress.

In another one of the most unique twists in Major League history, Chuck Tanner—a manager—was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Two years later, Tanner's “We Are Family” Bucs, lead by Wilver Dornell Stargell, won the World Series when Omar Moreno snagged a rather routine fly-ball in Baltimore.

Baseball in Pittsburgh has not been the same since.

Tanner had his share of ups-and-downs in the remaining six seasons of his Pirates career. He was let go for young Jim Leyland and moved on to Atlanta for three more seasons. Tanner's major league managerial career was 1,352 and 1,381.

In the years since, Tanner had been a regular site at Three Rivers Stadium, and then PNC Park. Most recently, Tanner was a Senior Advisor to management. He could be seen leaving the ball park early, taller than you might expect, thin and always in a good mood.

As a kid, Chuck Tanner was seen exclusively as a good man and a fantastic motivator. When Phil Garner, then the manager of the Houston Astros, managed the National League All-Stars in the game at PNC, he chose Chuck to be a special guest coach. Tanner also threw out a ceremonial first pitch.

A couple of years ago, I'd see Chuck leave PNC Park. One day in particular I excitedly saw him talk with the ticket takers near the Home Plate Gate, as I worked Security just outside the gate. I was impressed that a “Big League” personality by any gauge, was talking to the part-time workers in red vests. I couldn't imagine Tony LaRussa or Lou Pinella (who also was traded once as a manager) talk to the riff-raff at the ball park.

Then Chuck Tanner came my way.

“Hello Mr. Tanner, how are you?”

“I'm good. How are you?”

Chuck stopped in his tracks.

I extended my hand and he shook it.

“Do you know what I refer to you as,” I asked.

He looked inquisitive and smiled.

I smiled broadly back to him.

“You are the manager of the last World Series team THAT MATTERED.”

With that, Chuck Tanner registered the words. And smiled ever more broadly.

As I remember, he reached out and put his left hand on my shoulder.

Chuck Tanner then laughed with me and said, “Thank you.”

It was a light-hearted moment between two guys who loved the Pittsburgh Pirates.

At that moment, Chuck Tanner treated me like a friend.

Just like he has countless other baseball fans. They too were his friends.

The Pittsburgh Pirates, one of the most storied teams in the history of all baseball, lost one of its most storied managers. A true leader. A Man. Rest in Peace Chuck Tanner. And thanks.

Murphy pushes bill to shield U.S. from China's currency

Over-reaching looks like this.

Murphy pushes bill to shield U.S. from China's currency

After their efforts were rebuffed at the end of the last Congress, Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair, and Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, reintroduced a bill Thursday targeting China for its allegedly undervalued currency.

Read more: http://post-gazette.com/pg/11042/1124607-84.stm#ixzz1Deq2l2rd

Murphy's meddling isn't what I want him to do.

Fw: [school-discuss] Open Source (and Open Data) bills in NH

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

---

From: Joel Kahn <jj2kk4@yahoo.com>

Sender: owner-schoolforge-discuss@schoolforge.net

Date: Thu, 10 Feb 2011 14:24:43 -0800 (PST)

To: <schoolforge-discuss@schoolforge.net>

ReplyTo: schoolforge-discuss@schoolforge.net

Subject: [school-discuss] Open Source (and Open Data) bills in NH

I don't know how many of you are following the activities of Open Source for America, so I figured it wouldn't hurt to pass this along. Hopefully, it will at least provide more useful material for discussions--so spread the word. I'm wondering if this could somehow come up during the fight for the 2012 New Hampshire presidential primary.... :-) Joel --- On Thu, 2/10/11, Cohn, Seth <Seth.Cohn@leg.state.nh.us> wrote: From: Cohn, Seth <Seth.Cohn@leg.state.nh.us> Subject: [state-local-wg] Open Source (and Open Data) bills in NH To: state-local-wg@opensourceforamerica.org Date: Thursday, February 10, 2011, 5:47 AM Greetings, I actually have hearings today on my New Hampshire legislative bills for Open Source and Open Data. If you'd like to weigh in... emails in support to ~HouseExecutiveDepartmentsandAdministration@leg.state.nh.us would be most appreciated (don't have to be today, but the next few days would be good...) The more they hear from folks in other states with successful use of Open Source, the better the chances of this bill... (and the Open Data bill wouldn't hurt either... but it's outside this mailing list's scope slightly) http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2011/HB0418.html http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2011/HB0310.html Please cc: me, so I can follow up with you... Thanks in advance, Rep. Seth Cohn Merrimack 6, State of New Hampshire legislator and open source geek _______________________________________________ state-local-wg mailing list state-local-wg@opensourceforamerica.org http://opensourceforamerica.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/state-local-wg

435 volunteers

Steve's idea makes sense:

With redistricting we will have 435 new US congressional districts by 2012.

How about creating a loose network of 435 non-partisan, non-aligned Facebook
Pages for each district?

Each page would be designed for people who live in the new district to
exchange views across the political spectrum.

My experience is that participation in each page will need to be built and
someone(s) needs to tend the garden so to speak to remove spam and really
abusive stuff IF you want sustained quality participation. (If you prefer
pitched battles among the most partisan 1% then run it on auto-pilot.)

So, why not have each page built as a student project with students from
different ideological perspectives working together to make it work and
learn how to facilitate and recruit online. Key is seeding discussions with
news and links of direct relevance to the district and local implications of
national policy.

Anyone want to take this idea and run with it? Contact us:
http://e-democracy.org/contact team@e-democracy.org

(P.S. There is actually an example of a virtual parlimentary constituency
discussion in Kenya like this. Why not in the U.S.?)

My mentor, Fletcher Gilders, talked about as a glory day flashback from Kenyon College

Fletcher was the best. I miss him greatly.

Kenyon Vaults Back ino Diving After a Decade of Rest - The Kenyon Collegian - Sports: "It wasn't until the mid-1980s that the diving program really came into its own. 'The diving team of the mid '80s up to the late '90s was better than any team in that time,' Steen said. The reason? The hiring of the 'best diving coach of all time,' according to Steen — Fletcher Gilders. Gilders, an NCAA Division I record-setting national champion for Ohio State University, was one of the most successful divers in collegiate history. He was so successful as a diver that his national record, set while at OSU, was not overturned until Greg Louganis came along. After a very successful and decorated career as the swimming and diving coach at Ohio University (developing three Olympic divers and winning eight Mid-American conference titles), he came to Gambier to coach the diving squad in 1985. During his 12 years coaching at Kenyon, Gilders produced three Division III champions and won three NCAA Division III Coach of the Year honors. Now deceased, he is remembered much fondness and respect.

The diving team took a turn for the worse after Gilders' retirement. Without such a dedicated, consistent and 'high-caliber, absolutely adored' coach as Gilders, according to Steen, the program had since fallen into somewhat of a rut for the latter part of the '90s and into the 2000s."

Fletcher retired -- but really, he died way too young. The guy was a lot like the recently departed Jack LaLane. Fletcher was shorter, fit like a bull, functional in his problem solving, and clever with his insights as to what movements to coach and what to ignore until later.