Link Love & Videos
Shared Items & Feedback
Aug 22nd
Today I’d like to talk about link love. Well, less ‘talk about it’, because I don’t need to tell you why it’s nice, but just to let you guys know that incase you weren’t aware – I am giving it out a lot even when I don’t post.
See, a few months back I was having trouble with my reader. Certain blogs literally wouldn’t update and that was driving me insane, so, I asked in Single Abstract Noun which readers people were using and Erc ordered me to try out Feedly, which I believe is a Google Chrome extension. It’s supposed to be the magazine style feed reader, though I like the lists. I have it set up to show blog names and article titles, if an article says in the title, for example, ‘Cataclysm’, then I can quite easily skip past it and read something without Cataclysm spoilers and I love it for that.
Anyway, being part of Google, it’s connected to Google Reader, so I was able to import my blog list from Bloglines (my old reader) and it seems to synchronise. Another feature it shares is ‘shared items’, which I started using to just bookmark posts I enjoyed to come back to for either the link love posts I used to do, or to add to my resources page later on. After a while, I realised I could link to this as a feed in my sidebar and I have done ever since.
Below my Twitter box, you should be able to see ‘Interesting Blog Posts’, which I have renamed, it used to be ‘Interesting Stuff’. and the feed link in the little orange icon should work, if not try clicking here. I share posts that I find interesting, useful, and funny, so take a look, they’re worth reading. You might find something new.
I’d also like to ask you while I’m doing a more generic blogging post what you guys think of the theme changes? Apart from, “Dear God, woman, stop changing your damn theme every 10 minutes!” Because trust me, I know, but I’ve gone back to the old theme that I quite liked, couldn’t find anything else I was 100% happy with. I like the header and the sidebar, I’m just not sure about the background. Anything you might change perhaps? Feedback/constructive criticism is appreciated.
I Lost My Guest Poster
Jul 15th
To some of you, I’m sure the fact that Dan won’t be posting here any more is great news, and to the rest of you, it isn’t. For those of you who don’t like this news so much – don’t worry, he’s just decided to start his own blog. So now I can flail about while he goes completely uncensored, with nobody to tell him that hey, that 4 lettered c word is great, but think of the children! I’m sure it will be fine. *bites nails*
He’s only planning to post sporadically, whenever he feels like it, so if you want to follow him, I recommend you add ‘I Gem Crit‘ to your readers. Go say hi!
Link Love: The Drama Week
Mar 21st
This week has been pretty drama filled, and there are a fair few response posts I could link to, but I don’t want to link to anything related to the posts and blogs that have caused the huge discussion that has taken place this week, that needs to be left alone now. Rather, I would like to link to a couple of blog posts discussing the topic, not the bloggers, in a mature and adult way. First of all, Byaghro of Diabolical Minds wrote a post on Social Responsibility and Blogging, I respect how objective he remained whilst raising some excellent points. Windsoar equally wrote an awesome objective post, or in her own words a Rambling Commentary on Recent Events. Both posts give you something to think about, whether you agree with them or not.
Not everything has been about the drama this week, thank God, in fact, there has been a string of blogging related topics. One which actually originated from a Blog Azeroth discussion: Why do you blog? Both Gypsy and Dristanel decided to respond in post form and I loved reading both responses, and I can honestly say that there is a little of my own reasons in both posts. Saresa has written a wonderful guide for people who are thinking about starting their own blog but may perhaps need a few tips, So, You Want To Blog?
I know I don’t blog too much about hunters these days, but I still read the hunter blogs and I find this guide on using FemaleDwarf.com from Rilgon absolutely awesome. I wasn’t aware that it is basically the same as the Excel Spreadsheet, so now I don’t feel quite as bad for using it myself!
Daily Quests is a web comic which I find to be quite unique with its blog sections, and I’m particularly fond of Vas’ lore section. I’ve learnt quite a lot about lore from reading his column and this week has been no different in his discussion of The Half Breed and the Human, Med’an, the son of Medivh.
There have been many levelling guides around this week and here’s just a handful of the few I found particularly informative. Windsoar posted her guide on Druiding it Up: 1-10. Okay, so, Tarinae’s guide to levelling a healadin may have technically been last week, but I felt I should include it as I read it this week *stomps* my blog, my rules! Also, I particularly enjoy levelling Death Knights. I’m not entirely sure why, I already have one at 80 and I don’t really intend to level more, but I find them pretty damn fun and Skeleton Jack’s introduction guide to levelling a DK is a very good starting point. All in all, whatever you level, try to have some fun, go against what everybody else tells you is best if that’s what you want to do, but tips and guides are always nice to get you started, especially if you want to level efficiently.
Last but not least, what is a week’s round up without a few fun posts? The wonderful Zalduun has informed us of a few things that we may not know about Dalaran. I didn’t know there was a shoe shiner, and I haven’t been able to find the lighting up Dalaran guy since the very beginning of Wrath! I love little tidbits like this. Something quite interesting from Arioch, clearly she has a WoW Model Viewer addiction at the moment (prove me wrong), but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Take a look at the different models, do you sleep the same way your character does? Looking at it, I do sleep like the female Blood Elf. How did you sleep last night? Have you checked your horoscope this week? What’s your sign? I think I have a little of the Overachiever in me, but I’m mostly an Altoholic.
Worst attempt at hacking ever!
Wish Upon A Gnome 2
Feb 26th
More stuff I found linked on WoW.com, overall about 20 minutes long and in 2 parts (second part behind the cut). Enjoy!
Link Love: Because I Suck At Titles
Feb 21st
I haven’t spent an incredible amount of time in WoW this week, partly because I was ill for a couple of days (just ate something dodgy, nothing major I just preferred the comfort of pillows) and partly because honestly, the game is feeling a little stale at the moment. I’ve tried playing alts, doing a little Loremaster, getting my seasonal achievements done, but the only thing that really interested me was doing my auctions which I have going on 2 servers now. I’ll be taking a small break from the game when I send my graphics card back to hopefully be finally fixed or replaced, though I might try another game for a bit, go back to Aion or LotRO for a month just to play around and take a break. I’m not finished with WoW just yet.
The blog has taken a lot of my attention this week too actually. I’ve been playing around with graphics and pages again, which by the way if you have any suggestions for my header please feel free to leave a comment. I’m not entirely sure where to go with it but it’s not complete. Of course, Dristanel made me the lovely RSS button you can see to the top of my sidebar as well for being the first to guess who my Secret Admirer was. I’ve been spending a little more time over at Blog Azeroth as well, seeing how I can help. Browsing the introduction forums has helped me find a few new blogs actually, my reader is going to be very difficult to keep up with soon.
Blogs to Watch
Another awesome week for new blogs, at least for my unobservant self anyway! First of all, check out this monster of a blogroll.
I’ve come across two hunter blogs this week.
A few others to check out.
Posts
Yay, go me, I kept up on my feed reader for once!
Big Bear Butt talked about how WoW’s community makes it the strongest MMO out there. Basically, if you took away the community, the bloogers, Wowhead, news sites, and so on, WoW killers would be much more likely. Equally, if you gave another decently designed MMO the same things, perhaps it could pique a little more activity. He’s right, I’ve tried other MMOs, the information is a lot harder to find than it is in WoW.
Euripedes discussed how WoW as a form of escapism is a lot more healthy than a lot of people would have you think, that escaping into any other hobby is just the same. Personally, I’d go so far as to say escaping into a book can be more unhealthy than WoW, as then you’re left alone with your thoughts, it’s much easier to wallow when you don’t have people around you, whether they’re online friends or not.
Lassirra has made an attempt to relieve the differences between casual players and hardcore players by explaining what a hardcore raid leader has to go through, and how they have to act. That being said, there are still the elitist jerks out there who can’t understand the mindset of a casual player, and feel they have to talk down to them while they collect their daily frost emblems from LFD or however else they come across each other.
Angelya has provided us with a wonderful Balance Cheat Sheet which I might have to use when I finally get my cow to 80! She also has a Resto Cheat Sheet. I love these kind of guides.
Anea would like to remind you that she is not your heal bitch. I would like to add, if we wipe, you run. I’m not going to be ressing you. I agree wholeheartedly with everything she has said in this post, and what it boils down to is the reason why I don’t tend to heal much these days: people take their healers for granted.
I don’t usually link to shared topics in my link love posts but, do prepare yourselves for the Windsoar boss.
Valentines Link Love
Feb 14th
It has been 2 weeks since my last link love post, and being Valentines Day and all I thought it would be nice to do another one. Recently, not necessarily just this week, I have discovered a few blogs I’d like to share. Please check out these awesome new bloggers:
The Physician’s Log – I actually discovered this one via Revive & Rejuvenate. Angelya mentioned the Secret Admirer project, I went over to the Physician’s Log, not only did the project seem like fun but the blog is beautifully designed and good read.
Mischief, Magic, and Rocket Science – While checking out the Secret Admirer project post I had a browse of the comments and discovered Gypsy’s blog. A new mage blogger with another beautifully designed blog, fun to read, and very informative for mages.
DiscoDruid – I can’t remember exactly where I saw this one linked now, it was from one of the tree druid bloggers I’m sure. Either way, the idea behind it grabbed my attention. A resto druid main, levelling a priest. I love the sidebar and so far proves to be an interesting read too.
CrusaderShock – I love their introduction posts, and the theme design is so awesome. There isn’t much content to judge from yet, but I’m looking forward to seeing what they are going to do with this blog.
Undoubtedly Fran – One of the many lovely Twitterers decided to start up a blog recently. Lovely header image (I can’t wait to see the Horde one also) and nice to read.
So, my plan for today is to do a quick round of dailies on my hunter, play my druid for a little bit (if not I’ll be doing Loremaster or reading), followed by spending a Valentines Evening with my boyfriend who’ll be cooking us a nice meal and then lounge on the bed watching a DvD or two. What are your Valentines plans?
Get Lich or Die Tryin’
Feb 5th
I found this posted on WoW Ladies on LJ the other day and I found it hilarious! So I thought I’d share. Enjoy! (Beware, contains rap.)
The Week #12
Jan 31st
I’m going to come straight out with it, this post is filler. I obviously played my warrior a little. I played the Auction House a bit. Bought a Traveler’s Tundra Mammoth, seeing that afterwards I had 4,000 gold server wide, I bought a pile of raw gems, cut them, sold them for more. Used up a few mats in my bank, Emblems lying around, and bought a few mats to make a couple of things with leatherworking which I resold for a huge profit. After a week, I was back upto about 12k gold server wide. I’ve now gone back to my lowbie mage alt, and I’m semi flirting with the idea of faction changing and transferring Fae when I’ve finished Loremaster, but I don’t know yet. I do miss Terenas Alliance though. Dan also bought me the Gundrak Hatchling and Elwynn Lamb this week, so I’m now upto 101 vanity pets!
I’ve been reading books a lot again this week, finished one and I’m onto the next in the series. I’ve kept up on my reader to an extent, but not enough to really warrant the major link love, which by the way I have played around with my blogroll, tidied it a little, added a few new blogs who weren’t previously there. I also wanted to link to more characters, so I finally did something with my characters page, there’s a link in the WoW tab above, and beneath the other armory links in my sidebar.
For now, have a look at Aphroditi’s warlocky wallpapers, I love them to bits!
A bit of machinima I spotted on WoW.com this week, but it will get stuck in your head so watch at your own risk: I Kissed An Orc.
I’d also like to add a goodbye to Saresa, we’ll miss you, of course, but hope that stepping away will be a positive step. Good luck 
The Week #11
Jan 24th
I went back to Fae this week, started on her dailies again and did her weekly. I realised I had missed it so thankfully, no danger of me dropping hunter any time soon. I’ve been incredibly tired so I can’t remember much of what I have done, apart from my achievement points have gone up to about 6,900, and Jaedia the warlock has picked up a bit more gear (and discovered why her DPS was so low all the time, nothing to do with her imp.. nope.. what? Okay, it might have been on passive for a while but ANYWAY).
Also, I don’t know if any of you remember my little project? Well, yesterday I realised, the only race I quite like but don’t have a high level character of this race, is female human. The racials are awesome too. So I traded over the heirlooms from my level 8 draenei, picked out a new name, and made Briella. I also got her to level 11 and it’s fun! It’s a new class which previously I only reached level 27 with. I’m almost tempted to try tanking.. almost. Well, you may notice a few differences. I’ve given up on the idea of not helping her out with money and items, and just got on with it. I think I’ll be more likely to level and enjoy playing her.
Another thing I did this week was read more. Go ahead and mock, but I’m reading the Twilight series which I got for Christmas, and I’m enjoying it. This has actually reduced my blog reading time, which I realised this morning. I’ve bookmarked a few posts which I’m going to share.
I actually fell in love with this post of Pike’s. Weezer are awesome, and the images match the song well. Had to share.
I haven’t raided in a few weeks, so I haven’t seen the fights myself, but Rilgon’s Putricide guide is awesome. I equally love Morynne’s Icecrown guides.
Brangwen at Non Elitist Raiding Diary has posted an interesting topic this week about declining applicants based on age. Some very good points raised and it made me think a little, it’s not necessarily a topic I’ve thought about before.
If you’ve ever wondered what Tirion is yelling about in Icecrown, but didn’t have chance to stop and read it, you’re in luck, Arioch has come to the rescue. Now you can read lore without worrying about wiping on the trash.
The Week #10
Jan 17th
I’ve spent most of this week on my warlock. I’ve had a lot of stuff happen while playing Fae which has upset me, and I’m starting to wonder if she’s cursed or just unlucky, ha. Either way, playing her is starting to feel uncomfortable with all of the bad memories, and playing random alts, doing what I want when I feel like it rather than, “Well, I should log my character and do dailies I don’t really want to do now,” has been much more appealing this past week. I don’t plan to reroll, even though I’m not playing Fae too much, I’m still calling her my main. I just grew tired of ‘The Problem‘ and when it affects you? Kinda sucks.
Mining has actually got me through a large portion of this week. I decided it was time to level my warlock’s mining after hitting 80 and not having very much to do, or feeling much like doing anything else and it was relaxing. I made a shedload of gold from the Mithril, Thorium and Fel Iron. I might make a home of Hinterlands and Un’goro. I’ve had my fair share of good and bad PuGs this week, and people like this:
Some of you may also notice I’ve been fiddling around with the layout this week. Scrapping armory plugins for simple character buttons linking to their armory pages (and awesome poses of course), changed my signature and pet buttons to match the text on the armory buttons a little better, and of course, the header. I wanted to include my alts in the header because I’m quite an altaholic, and I wanted to relfect this.
I don’t usually do this but I’ve come across a couple more new blogs I enjoy reading this week:
- Blasting Away – A friend from my (now)ex-guild has started blogging. I’ve been helping her with bits and pieces, setting it up, and I’m liking where it’s heading. I particularly love reading the blogs of friends.
- The Snobby Blood Elf – The snobbybelf almost has more blood elves than me! Almost. I love the header, and she’s also a very good writer. Had to add this one to my reader.
This week, Pike has written an excellent blog post about how to play as a Beast Mastery hunter. I particularly like this article because compared to Marksman and even Survival, there isn’t a lot of information about how to effectively play as a BM hunter. Kudos to Pike.
Windsoar has also enlightened us this week on how to survive low level PuGs, and told us to L2Bandage. There are some excellent tips in this post including: “No one cares how great your main character is–we don’t know his name, he likely doesn’t play on my server, and I will never run into him when I’m doing activities on my main.”
Icedragon tells us this week how to make Oculus easy. Countless people have said time and time again how much they hate Oculus, it’s too hard, it’s boring, whatever, thanks for ruining the only original instance I’ve really loved this expansion. Now go and read this post and suck it up.
Similarly, Cassandri has broken down Gnomeregan into simple bite-sized chunks. Personally quite hate Gnomeregan, partly because of the scenery, and partly because I get lost.. a lot. Therefore, this post is going in my permanently bookmarked list in my reader.
Finally, Vas’s lore post over at Daily Quests this week was particularly interesting, basically a discussion of, “What came first, the Titan or the Old God?” At the same time, exploring who the Titans and the Old Gods are. Well worth a read.
Zalazane's Fall
Brew of the Year
Isle of Conquest Victory
A-bomb-inable
Stocking Up
Operation: Gnomeregan
Master of Arms
Plenty of Pets
Looking For Multitudes
A Void Dance
