RF: refactor test to work on numpy 1.5

Structured array comparisons with ``assert_array_compare`` fail for
numpy 1.5; use a more manual comparison method.
TST: travis builds with min / max dependencies

From an idea by Eric L.
MAINT: update .mailmap
MAINT: ignore buildbot patch

Patch written by `try_branch.py` when sending local changes for testing
by the buildbot.
MAINT: update package info

Update numpy dependency to 1.5, just because that seems to be the oldest
that anyone is supporting these days.

Update ourselves from alpha to beta status - yay!

Update links to downloads; these have changed since the last release.
DOC: update installation instructions

Prefer pip, forget easy_install
DOC: update author list on the front web page

Add authors joined since the last release.
DOC: formatting, years in COPYING file

Missing extra colon messing up formatting.
Update Michael's years of contribution.

FIx
DOC: small edits to docstring for generated docs

Buff up first line of a couple of modules.
DOC: update release-making instructions

Update instructions in preparation for new release.