WOW: Cataclysm Alpha Begins

The Friends and Family Alpha of World of Warcraft: Cataclysm has begun today.  Beta is probably a few months out.  Here’s a post from Zahrym confirming it:

Yes, we can confirm that the Family & Friends phase of the testing process for World of Warcraft: Cataclysm has begun. The closed beta test phase has not yet started, but we will provide updated information when it does.