If anyone is in any doubt about the fact that the Internet is really in charge of our lives, check out this post on Wonkette.

Yes, that's right - a campaign volunteer from the entirely real John Edwards '08 Presidential campaign has set up an entirely fictional campaign headquarters in the online game Second Life, bringing an entirely new meaning to the phrase e-campaigning.

I must say, it's certainly a novel way to reach the much vaunted "gated generation" - those awkward young souls who frustrate us by not having letterboxes, telephones or even front doors.

Could this be how elections will be fought in 20 years time? Will we be organising doorknocking parties on Ultima Online, promising residents to sort out that pesky ogre problem? The possibilities are endless, surely!

So - any volunteers to set up our virtual Cowley Street, then?