Nothing is more divisive in America today than its politics.

But it’s not the lines in the sand we should worry about. The Redistricting Game, an online game developed for the USC Annenberg Center for Communication, shows us that it’s the lines that define congressional districts that should concern us. According to the web site,

The Redistricting Game is designed to educate, engage, and empower citizens around the issue of political redistricting. Currently, the political system in most states allows the state legislators themselves to draw the lines. This system is subject to a wide range of abuses and manipulations that encourage incumbents to draw districts which protect their seats rather than risk an open contest.

By exploring how the system works, as well as how open it is to abuse, The Redistricting Game allows players to experience the realities of one of the most important (yet least understood) aspects of our political system.

(With a hat tip to The Map Room for the link.)

One of the brightest stars in the ADR blog firmament is celebrating an important milestone. Settle It Now Negotiation Blog, the result of the creative genius of Renaissance woman, lawyer, and mediator Victoria Pynchon, celebrates its first anniversary of blogging.

Congratulations, Vickie–best wishes to a fellow mediator, a respected colleague, and a cherished friend.

The World Directory of ADR Blogs has added two new blogs to its growing catalogue: its first Danish blog and an English blog.

They are:

Negotiating by Mikkel Gudsøe. Published by a multilingual Danish attorney and ADR professional, this blog discusses negotiation and negotiation tactics in both the Danish and English languages. (With thanks to my friend Christoph Stroyer, a German attorney and mediator who is kind enough to keep me updated on the state of European ADR blogging.)

From England comes Embracing Conflict, published by collaborative family solicitor Neil Denny. Neil describes his blog as a “space to explore conflict and how it impacts on our relationships, businesses and society. Designed in part as support to workshops, presentations and seminars presented and as a space in which to develop ideas and answer queries. Please feel free to contribute with comments regarding conflict theory, conflict resolution or dispute resolution.”

If you publish or know of a blog that should be added, please let me know. It’s a commercial-free site, and there is no cost to be listed. I am especially interested in leads on ADR blogs outside the U.S. and Canada. If you know of any, please get in touch.

The Directory has information on submitting your blog and submission guidelines.