Datamining Feral Druids UPDATED AGAIN

Zardoz's last two postings on his blog (July 9-10, 2010) look at feral druids.  He took on the challenge of finding feral druid popularity figures and is displaying his results, asking for input in interpreting the data particularly for the cats.
http://armorydatamine.wordpress.com/2010/07/09/feral-druid-forms-yet-again/

http://armorydatamine.wordpress.com/2010/07/10/practical-cats/

http://armorydatamine.wordpress.com/2010/07/20/the-truth-is-in-there/

http://armorydatamine.wordpress.com/2010/07/28/the-talented-mr-druid/

http://armorydatamine.wordpress.com/2010/07/29/druid-forms-at-last/

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Interested in Star Wars: The Old Republic Beta?

Here's how to sign up for the limited beta testing that has just started.
http://kotaku.com/5583374/star-wars-the-old-republic-testing-begins

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Call of Cuty Founders Versus Activision Lawsuit Date Set

Kotaku has the details of the three lawsuits that are pending.
http://kotaku.com/5583678/trial-date-set-in-activision+infinity-ward-suit

Some of the alligations are listed in a later posting.
http://kotaku.com/5583710/lawsuit-activision-created-modern-warfare-police-state

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Blizzard Reverses Mandatory Use of Real Names in Forum Real ID Postings

The blue posting is here.
http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=25968987278&sid=1

I think Blizzard was wise to reverse this policy.  I also think they have damaged relations with the WOW player community.  I'm starting to see posts like these--Escape Hatch says Blizzard's customers are advertisers, not game players, so their games will be made to please advertisers instead of gamers.
http://esc-hatch.blogspot.com/2010/07/who-is-activisionblizzards-customer.html

And Gordon is looking to the future when Bioware eats Blizzard's lunch.
http://tobolds.blogspot.com/2010/07/blizzard-backpaddles.html


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Auctioneer and the Snatch Function

How to use the Snatch function in Auctioneer.  Read the comments as this seems to be buggy for some folks.
http://greedygoblin.blogspot.com/2010/07/snatch.html

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Guide to Halion (Ruby Sanctum)

A guide for healers doing the Halion raid.
http://www.wow.com/2010/07/08/raid-rx-healing-halion-in-ruby-sanctum/

One for paladins.
http://www.wow.com/2010/07/11/the-light-and-how-to-swing-it-healing-through-halion-and-friend/

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Real ID Firestorm and The Internet Dragon

Shade spells out his objection to Real ID in this phrase--"I want to kill Internet dragons."  A instant classic.
http://greyshades.wordpress.com/2010/07/08/an-open-letter-to-blizzard/

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HOW TO CUSTOMIZE OR DISABLE REAL ID

WOW Insider has posted the 8 steps you need to take to opt out of Real ID in an article that also recommends ways to customize Real ID if you plan to use it.  I've mentioned this before but since this is the clearest explanation of how to turn off Real ID and also throws in ways to customize it if you plan to use Real ID, this deserves a separate posting.
http://www.wow.com/2010/07/08/customizing-and-opting-out-of-real-id/

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Addons Specifically for Hunters

WOW Insider has a few boss mods and threat/damage meters they recommend for hunters as well as PAWN and Power Auras.
http://www.wow.com/2010/07/08/scattered-shots-hunter-addons/

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Real ID Firestorm Continues

The outrage about Blizzard's plans to force forum posters to use Real ID (and thus reveal their actual names) continues.  Here's are a few typical postings.
http://panzercow.wordpress.com/2010/07/07/realidiocy/

http://www.manaobscura.com/?p=942

http://stabbedup.blogspot.com/2010/07/wow-realid.html

http://spinksville.wordpress.com/2010/07/08/realid-around-the-web-the-future-will-be-written-in-chicken/

Some folks say this is just Blizzard trying to emulate and integrate with Facebook, whose CEO is very publicly against personal privacy, and we can expect more of this sort of thing.  Here is a posting from May that explains some of Blizzard's plans.
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gamehunters/post/2010/05/blizzard-and-facebooks-friendly-social-networking-deal-launches-with-starcraft-ii-/1

Other folks say that Blizzard is just complying with Korean law.  Does anyone play Korean games who can speak to how well using one's real name works in cutting down on trolls in forums?
http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/zeroday/2010/07/07/is-korean-law-driving-policy-at-blizzard/

Blizzard's response is to announce changes to talents, specializations and mastery when Cataclysm hits, hoping to distract players.
http://www.wowhead.com/blog=162553

I failed to realize that tech support forums will require real names to ask for help on technical issues.  Most folks say this is a better way to get help than calling Blizzard's Customer Support.

Two folks have detailed how to turn off Real ID using the parental control options.  Apparently this is not straightforward and easy to find.  As the Greedy Goblin says, stop whining and start acting if you hate the Real ID system.
http://greedygoblin.blogspot.com/2010/07/would-you-stop-whining-about-realid.html

http://tobolds.blogspot.com/2010/07/how-to-opt-out-of-realid.html

UPDATE:  WOW Insider lists the eight steps to opting out of Real ID and also tells you how to customize Real ID if you decide to risk using it.
http://www.wow.com/2010/07/08/customizing-and-opting-out-of-real-id/

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