That bottom picture is amazing, the light is really good and even though I hate to admit it, windrider cubs do look better with Tauren Druids than they do Nightelf.

Agree totally about the self-blind bit. I read what I think it says, unfortunately that's not always accurate as my brain compensates for my spelling.

Spelling and other technical mistakes don't bother me at all (probably because my own spelling is atrocious). As Larísa and Issy have said, not every one is a native English speaker and of those that are English speakers, not all have a wonderful understanding of grammar.

My grammar sucks, I know it does but I was never taught English grammar (excuses I know) and despite my best efforts I know I still make loads of mistakes. I read each post three or four times and always do multiple drafts, but when you aren't 100 percent sure of what is correct it's easy to still make errors. I'm also guilty of being over fond of "..." although in my case it's more like "..................". My grammar may improve but my love of ellipses are here to stay. There is something therapeutic about a row of dots.

As someone who greatly prefers 25 man raiding, I don't like this new addition either. I think it's pretty nigh impossible to balance 10 man and 25 man content to be identical in terms of difficulty. On some fights 10 man will be harder and on others 25 man will be. This system will basically allow 25 man guilds to "cheat" when it comes to progression. You can figure out which mode is easiest and run that one if you get stuck, which is hardly a level playing field.

On top of that, I really don't like the idea of having to turn 25 people into 2 or 3 groups of 10. Someone is likely to either get left out or we will have to drag in alts etc. Either way, I think it's clumsy.

I'm not sure about the extra loot as an incentive though. According to that WoWhead page you linked, they said mainly in the form of badges. Now obviously things are changing, but one thing I've never been short of is badges. If I was only doing 25 mans for loot, I'm not sure a couple of extra badges (unless there was a lot more things to buy) would interest me. Perhaps I'm just being cynical.

Have to agree with Andy, Edinburgh is definitely worth a visit. Scotland in general has a lot to offer, especially if you like rugged scenery and castles. Although I'm slightly biased as Mr Harpy is Scottish.

The weather is likely to be "interesting" whenever you come. Take this weekend for example, Saturday was 26 degrees, not a cloud in the sky, Sunday/Monday, we had a max of 13 degrees and it's rained pretty much non stop. We do get good weather, but it seems rather random and is inter-spaced with damp wet days. Best months are probably May through to August/September. August is a great but busy time to visit Edinburgh because of the Festival ( www.edfringe.com/about/faqs ).

Outside Scotland, my favourite places include York and the Yorkshire coastline, Whitby (where Stoker set part of Dracula), Robin Hoods Bay (an amazing fishing village balanced higgledy piggledy on the side of a cliff) and the like. Both Whitby and Robin Hood's Bay had some great book shops last time I was there. London, of course and Cornwall, more castles and pretty beaches.

Although, as for your comments about language, I grew up in Germany and have dated quite a few other Europeans from other countries (obviously before I encountered Mr Harpy wearing a kilt) and in my experience, most people, especially in big cities/touristy areas speak more than adequate English (after all we all play WoW :P).

My vote if you want the UK though would be Edinburgh for the Festival.

Shouldn't all Priests ride Unicorns?
You could always run Magisters Terrace for the hawkstrider, I've seen a few Dwarves on that and they look ok. Rather cute actually perched upon a bed of feathers. Other than that, I'd grab a multiple person Mammoth mount, find a couple of skimpily dressed Nightelves or Draenei and ride around as if I owned the place.
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But there will always be hierarchies, the goal posts will just move. It's human nature. Perhaps now it will be Hardmodes versus Normals or how many bosses have been downed or even if Blizzard don't get the tuning just right back to the 10 versus 25 man because I can guarantee one will always be easier than the other. It might change on a boss by boss basis but those people who are elitist will always find something.

I adore dictator tanks, they remove the need for me to actually do anything in a instance. Everything gets marked, they bully the DPS into behaving and I just follow like a good little girl healing them. Sure, you get a lecture if you spend two seconds longer than scheduled drinking your honeymint tea.. but that's a small price to pay. Although, I'm trying to learn to tank on my draenei at the moment and I'm finding it hard to be authoritarian as a paladin. Too much pretty golden stuff floating around, it just doesn't look brutal and angry enough.

I agree completely with your conclusion but I can't help wondering if most of the damage was done, not by Cranky or Anna but some of the commentors on the situation. I've read some really nasty things in the last few days which have left me wondering if half the blogging community moonlight on the WoW forums flaming people.

Having dropped my copy of "The Faerie Queene" on my little toe (which is still all bruised and purplish) whilst moving house, I'm going to stand up for Milton. Also when I was about twelve and going through a rebellious phase, I loved the whole concept of "better to reign in hell than serve in heaven". Finally the tutor who taught me Milton at University was sexy, the one who taught us Spencer considerably less so. Yes I was a shallow teenager.

But that is some very fine facial hair.
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