Rob: You're right, f-spot is indeed killer, so I'm currently giving it some en_GB love - damn it has a lot of strings...

Been reading Roger's blog. Those in the UK please remember to use your vote on May 5th, read Roger's blog, read reliable news sources - make sure you're well informed when you scribble that cross on the paper.

As for me, well I'm disenfranchised in this election, because of when we moved and applied to join the register of electors in our new home, we received a [very polite] letter from Broxtowe Council telling us that we would not be registered in time to vote on May 5th (at that time only the local elections were confirmed for that date of course). That won't stop me providing a view on the election as the campaign progresses though.

Remember Iraq folks, remember that the Labour government lied to us about Weapons of Mass Destruction - there were none there, don't let the passage of time cloud your memory on that. Remember that the Tories supported the government every step of the way towards war. The only one of the three major parties who opposed the war against Iraq were the Liberal Democrats. At some point I'll post a brief (~1000 words) critique of the war in Iraq and how it compares to classical Just War Theory.

In Birmingham and Blackburn, members of the Labour party have been convicted of electoral fraud by means of rigging postal votes. This is a cynical and desperate move on the part of a party that knows its credibility has been badly damaged over the last few years - don't let them get away with it.

Both Labour and the Tories are trying to play on people's fears, and in fact create new ones (think travellers and gypsies from a few weeks ago) in order that they can then be seen as the only solution to those fears, please don't fall for it, get informed on the issues and then vote accordingly. Don't think your vote doesn't count or that elections can't change anything - they can and they do if the people take them seriously. Decisions are made by those who show up - Show up on May 5th, I can't, you must.