Author: MB Page 47 of 227
WashCycle picks up something I somehow missed in October:
ASSAULTS
LYNN ST. N., 2100 block, 5 p.m. Oct. 13. Two bicyclists collided on the street. One man allegedly assaulted the other and damaged the man’s bicycle.
That’s the miserable intersection of Key Bridge, cross-over to the MVT from the Custis, etc. I’d expect a little more violence there, to be honest. I know, it’s not funny, but still . . .
Received this from an Open Government list I’m on, and think that it’s well worth sharing. Try it here, after you read the original accompanying email:
In preparation for Redistricting 2011, the company I work for, Avencia, started building a web-based redistricting tool for collaborative/ community-based redistricting projects: http://www.redistrictingthenation.com/search.aspx and
http://www.redistrictingthenation.com/draw.aspxType your address –> get a shape of your legislative district(s) and get a compactness score (less compact is **sometimes** a sign of gerrymandering — some exceptions apply for geographic irregularities.
For instance:
shoreline, mountain range, rivers, etc.) + (first phase of) draw your own district.Our hope is that a tool like this could be developed into a more complete toolkit used by political advocacy organizations to let citizens or groups of people fully participate in the redistricting
process by enabling the sharing, publishing, and voting of sample redistricting plans through
the Internet/ Twitter or other outlets. Ultimately, these plans might be used to influence final decisions. Screen shots of  a full blown redistricting toolkit: http://www.redistrictingthenation.com/services.aspxWe know there are some pretty important players in the redistricting world (especially software wise). There are also some great free initiatives like Dave’s Redistricting App:
http://gardow.com/davebradlee/redistricting/launchapp.htmlSo I’d love to hear your feedback not only about our idea, but also about what features an ideal community-based “redistricting tool” might provide users (i.e., if you had a dream app what would it be?)
This is going to be consuming a lot of state legislature time soon – best start getting prepared for it.
Irving Berlin’s Let’s Face the Music and Dance? Has yielded much. How could it not?
There may be trouble ahead
But while there’s moonlight and music
And love and romance
Let’s face the music and dance
Before the fiddlers have fled
Before they ask us to pay the bill
And while we still
Have the chance
Let’s face the music and dance
Ella Fitzgerald’s take:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8o1jfByi3aE[/youtube]
And then, well, there’s Taco:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3wEs0cS84c[/youtube]
I love me some Ella. And Taco? Wish I could pull that off. But my favorite? Comes courtesy of Nat King Cole:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFI0rFFp8j8[/youtube]
Still, I can’t help but thinking that there’s a sublimely perfect version out there, somewhere . . .
So I’ve been joking (sorta) about Northern Virginia seceding from the rest of Virginia since, oh, about a year after I moved to Arlington (this makes it many many years). In my original formulation, I was all about reconstituting the original DC – it was going to be Arlington & Alexandria re-forming with the District. Then a year or so later, I realized that Falls Church isn’t the sleepy ‘burb I thought it was, and it would be unfair to leave them suffering in Virginia, so I added them in. And then – as all successful political strategies must do – my vision compromised a bit, and morphed to include Fairfax County. It’s not really my kind of place (as best I can tell, anyway – I only ever see it from a bike path or Dulles Airport), but it seems to work for a lot of people, and any state I’m going to help form has to have an international airport. So. That’s the plan that I’ve been pushing at parties for the past decade. Now? Well, perhaps it’s time to consider another addition.* Loudoun County.
I know, I know. Why would I want a place that is mostly low-tax-base horse farms** in a political unit that is otherwise urban/suburban?  And nevermind the political makeup, right? I mean, the whole point of something like secession is being able to pick your friends, no? For example, a friend in Loudoun recently wrote to tell me about a situation where:
A local committee was working to evaluate what to do with all the requests that come in throughout the year to use our County courthouse lawn here in Leesburg. They decided not to allow any use because there we so many applications for things such as bands. Many of the locals (many religious folks) protested because that would also mean no annual Christmas tree or nativity scene. Well the supervisors backed down to this protest and now are allowing up to 10 holiday “displays”.
Totally not the kind of place that would fit in with the new state, right? Except, well, here are summaries for the seven applications pending for the 10 spaces available for display:
* The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1177, in Leesburg, has applied to put up a Christmas tree from Dec. 10 through Jan. 1. Post members would provide the tree.
* Along with the VFW, the Knights of Columbus Holy Family Council #6831, of Leesburg, is applying to place a Christmas tree from Dec. 10 to Jan. 1. The tree would be provided by the organization, which would also provide the installation and removal of the tree on the requested days.
* Leesburg resident Dennis Welsh has requested to place a crÂche, or Nativity scene, on the southwest corner of the grounds.
* Loudoun Interfaith Bridges has requested permission to put up an interfaith display to include a Menorah, crescent, and Sikh display to honor the Jewish, Muslim and Sikh holidays in December. The group is requesting that the display go up the week of Dec. 14 or Dec. 21, in the corner with the crÂche.
* Leesburg resident Richard L. Wingrove is requesting the placing of a six-foot banner provided by Freedom From Religion Foundation, saying “At This Season of the Winter Solstice, May Reason Prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural World. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.” Wingrove is requesting the banner be placed in same area as the Nativity scene.
* Sugarland Run resident Edward R. Myers is applying for three signs to be placed on the fence around the courthouse in time for the Leesburg holiday parade to commemorate the Dec. 15 anniversary of the signing of the Bill of Rights. Myers put together a parody of the “12 Day of Christmas” song to include “12 master debaters, 11 cunning linguists, 10 percent jobless, 9 niggardly noobs, 8-speech as gay tweets, 7 teabagger tools, 6-ting safety screws, 5 birther-control rings, 4 sucky health care, 3-dom disappearing, 2 many bills and a red FCUK to you too.”
Any place that can produce that last application? Has a place in my future state.
*No, no, not Prince William. Are you crazy? That nutjob county is welcome to form its own country, fence and everything. I’ll help them build it.
**Actually, I don’t know if this is true. Like Fairfax, 95% of my experience with Loudoun is from the seat of my bike. And? There’s a lotta horse farms.