I like your idea, but whats the point of knowing James reads HN and is close to me if I cant contact him? Are you integrating a messenger or something? What do you see a loyal user doing on the site?
Come to the next L.A. Web App Meetup or another meetup. http://web.meetup.com/34/ was the last one I went to.
You will get a chance to meet a lot of people who are looking for partners. I met 2-3 people there last time who are exactly in your shoes.
Also, a VC/Incubator called the Mail Room was one of the sponsors.
BTW, there were several disheartened announcements for rails developers... "We've got jobs for rails developers... if there are any left in l.a., southern california, southwestern u.s.... buhler?"