The Great Respec, SotR, Mayoral Racism

If it's the middle 60s in WoW, it's time to look forward to what they call "end game." Endgame is where the best loot and toughest challenges lie in WoW.

My Alliance Shaman is about to hit level 66, and at the level 65 midpoint, I took the plunge and "respeced" -- picked a new talent mix. The talent mix plays a very big role in how a WoW character performs; Dakatirr was originally speced in the "Enhancement" tree as a pure elemental-based damage dealer. Now he is a healer -- in groups I stand back and make sure the damage dealers stay healthy.

Before the respec, I could not buy an invite into a group for love or gold. The reason for this is that most players prefer to be damage dealers and there are a lot of them. This is understandable because of the Player-vs-Player element of the game. Better damage dealing = more kills in PvP = more honor earned. Healers in PvP also get honor, but few really enjoy that role. Most characters are damage-dealers -- Hunters (most popular class), Warlocks (close second) Mages and Rogues. Shamen are the least popular class next to warriors and priests. Now I am the Shammy in demand. Now I get whispers all the time: "Need healz for Ramps/BF/whatever... wanna come?"

Now if only loot for a resto shammy would drop in the instances I'm running . . .

As for me: I'm doing OK. The shift to weekends off is going to be hard to hang onto for more than one shift bid cycle; I got it in a trade.

On to the local mayor's race (you will see how appropriate that line is in a second). Yesterday this mailer landed atop my mail pile. I expect political campaigns to include some rather, shall we say, strong charges of mud to be hurled. However, it was not the charges against one of the mayoral candidates that caught my attention (nothing short of "Candidate X eats babies!" will do that), it was the photograph of the candidate being attacked. He happens to be African American, and the photo of this particular candidate made him look utterly menacing -- the kind of guy who might indeed dine on one's children.
If I recall correctly, the same stunt was pulled on another upstanding candidate (and, I hope, next President of the US).
Now, I understand political opponents under no obligation to present the opposing candidate in a flattering golden glow of angelic light. However, there is routine political vilification and there is "dog-whistle" racism. This mailer crossed the damned line, and I'll be damned if I vote for the people behind this scurrilous racist crap.