I came across this crowd lately - www.heystaks.com. Have only glanced at it today so can't comment much, but they are definitely promoting a social search service/enhancement to the usual engines (google, bing etc.) May be worth a look.
Just to note - thats twice now you've noted the book is 'turgid' (in your opinion) - it seems to have stuck with you from the reading of the book: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egbert_B._Gebstadter
;)
True. If, however, this is indeed a smear campaign - think about what options are open that wouldn't make him a free-speech (or 'whatever') martyr - extradition / assassination would have that effect - this wouldn't. Judgement needs to be reserved (as in all such cases of rape accusation) until the facts are in. The facts, however, may not be in for a very long time (months, maybe a year). In the meantime, the media is now free to start every news update on Wikileaks / Assange with 'Julian Assange, founder of Wikileaks, and accused of rape in Sweden...'.