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Post by tschamp on Dec 30, 2009 11:57:35 GMT -5
What is Karma thingy? I am confused.
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Post by humanbelly on Dec 30, 2009 12:50:18 GMT -5
It took me a while to puzzle this out myself, in fact. There doesn't seem to be an official description of this feature floating around, BUT---
See the AUTHOR column, over on the left? That has our profiles, avatars, and related info on it? At the bottom of each profile (if you're signed in) are the words "exalt" and "smite". If you feel a member has made a point or contribution that is particularly deserving of extra praise, you can click on "exalt", and it adds a point to that person's "Karma" count (also in the profile). If someone is particularly offensive, a "smite" can be clicked, and it removes a point.
And it's is simple as that. Just a little, extra , interactive embellishment for the folks in this community. Some use it once in awhile, others don't really worry about it, which is exactly fine. It's a friendly little courtesy that is available to us when the spirit moves one to use it.
HB
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Post by sufirjp on Apr 28, 2010 19:19:06 GMT -5
Hello everyone,
I may be new to these boards, but I've loved the Avengers since I was a kid. I recently stumbled upon "Assemble!" and, through that book, this forum.
I started reading comics in the late '80s, and my acquisitions at that time (current issues and quarter bins alike) have often informed what I have enjoyed since.
Mark Gruenwald is an all-time favorite, for his stunning Project: PEGASUS run in MTIO, the first several years of his run on Captain America, and the first two years of Quasar. In his final years the quality of his work sharply declined, but there seems to be a high creative burnout rate in comics, so I don't hold it against him.
While not as reactionary as some to the darker direction Marvel has taken over the last few years, I find that the best Marvel comics revel in the joy of the shared universe that has been created over the last seventy years. Those who have best succeeded at doing so in the last decade include Kurt Busiek (whose Kang Dynasty is one of the truly great Avengers stories), Dan Slott (particularly in She-Hulk and Amazing Spider-Man), Greg Pak & Fred Van Lente (whose Incredible Hercules is my heart, and who deserve accolades for their respective work on War Machine and Amazing Spider-Man), Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning (who have improved tremendously since I remember them from Marvel UK), Robert Kirkman (who needs to start working at Marvel again, and was at his best with Irredeemable Ant-Man), and Christopher Priest, who desperately needs to get back into comics in any capacity (and is the only man for Black Panther).
Finally, when it comes to Avengers, I have a tendency to love the jerks. Hawkeye's still my favorite, but Wonder Man's "put upon" attitude in his ongoing from the early '90s, USAgent's unwavering bravado, Quicksilver's preening, Hercules' sleaze, and Black Panther's ruthlessness all sing to my inner nerd.
Okay, there's the quickie Avengers-related bio.
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Post by humanbelly on Apr 29, 2010 16:35:29 GMT -5
Hey, thanks for joining in here, uh. . . suf. . .sufir. . . firj. . . (hoo-boy, that's quite the board-monicker you've come up with for yourself, there-!). Mr. JP? As you've probably gleaned, you've caught us at a moment when a lot of the regular folks here are a little unusually busy with real life (Lordy, I'm loading in a set w/ a 950 gallon water tank at the moment. . . ), but I am certain that I speak for all of us in offering a hearty welcome aboard, and that we're more than delighted to have a new voice join in (especially as it makes some of us older new voices feel less. . . new, as it were). Liked your 3 initial posts very much-- well-spoken, well thought-out, and engaging. Maybe grab a couple of old "common" threads (Favorite This, or 5 Worst That, etc) and start discoursin' away. . .
Sadly, I'm not up to speed on War Machine at all-- or I'd happily chime in on that one. Hey! Hey, hey! Talk to me about the Hulk!
(What? What's everyone lookin' at??)
HB
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Post by sufirjp on Apr 29, 2010 21:07:19 GMT -5
HB,
Thanks for the warm welcome. I can completely understand about this being crunch time as the end of the semester is coming up for those of us still pursuing our higher educations.
In regards to the Hulk, I'm afraid I'm a bit behind. First came World War Hulk, which I found myself quickly bored with. Although Slott's "Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D." arc was born from these events, and was a particularly engaging bit of homage to the great Jim Steranko, overall the crossover seemed forced, especially considering the gluttinous mess that Civil War had degenerated into.
This is compounded by Dan Slott being retired from She-Hulk shortly thereafter and replaced with Peter David's unfortunate "bold new direction." While PAD has delivered some of the best comics in recent memory (RIP Captain Marvel), over the last decade he has proven to be hit or miss, and this was a wild swing.
Since then, the Hulk's universe hasn't held a lot for me to be attracted to. The character of Lyra captured my interest because of her connection to Thundra, whose existential crisis post-PEGASUS in MTIO created some fantastic drama, especially as the extra-dimensional Bonnie & Clyde of her and Hyperion from the Squadron Sinister. As such, I have picked up a few issues starring her, but haven't honestly felt that (as a character) she has really shone yet. Everything seems to be in place, including the robot sidekick, but it has yet to coalesce. She's certainly a character I want to care about, but I'm not sold yet.
Otherwise, the only modern Hulk comic that I've read was Aftersmash: Damage Control. I have a soft spot for Dwayne McDuffie, and while I missed Damage Control the first couple times around, I thought I should give the comic a shot. While not as meaning-laden as "The Souls of Cyber-Folk", I felt the miniseries was an injection of old-school fun, much akin to his mini "Beyond!", and yet delivering a human touch that was lacking in the mini. In fact, the conflict with the living skyscraper (although completely daft) was one of the most entertaining bits I've seen in modern comics in some time.
I've been meaning to try and tackle the whole Rulk/Offenders/whatever crossover madness, but it seems rather exhausting. When I do, I'll be happy to discuss it with you, though!
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Post by Shiryu on May 4, 2010 15:05:27 GMT -5
A bit late, but welcome over here from me too!
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Post by sufirjp on May 10, 2010 14:47:39 GMT -5
I've been meaning to try and tackle the whole Rulk/Offenders/whatever crossover madness, but it seems rather exhausting. When I do, I'll be happy to discuss it with you, though! So, I've now read the majority of the Loeb era and I have to say that I was unimpressed, to be polite. Red Hulk, during his first year, barely qualified as more than a Rob Liefeld character taken to an extreme. An endless series of fight scenes with little coherent plotting, along with smacking the Watcher for no reason. I know that comics have traditionally appealed to a 12-year-old male audience, but since the only people still reading this stuff are adults, could he condescend to his audience any more? There are attempts later in the series to expand on this premise, changing Rulk into Hulk's USAgent, but I can't buy his new characterization when he so recently was murdering the Grandmaster on a stolen silver surfboard. Even the Intelligensia is obviously derivative, given how recent Norman Osborn's cabal is. Like Bendis on the Avengers, there are seeds of good ideas (even great ones), but the inability to tell these sorts of stories leave me unfulfilled. Yes, there are tons of shout-outs to classic comics. Yes, the Fixer and the Thinker sneaking into the home of the Eternals to steal the Library of Alexandria is awesome. I even liked the idea of the Offenders, in theory. Despite these positive aspects, I could barely drag myself through these comics. They reminded me of everything that was gluttinous and wrong about the end of DeFalco's run as EIC.
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Post by antilles on Jun 10, 2010 22:27:07 GMT -5
Hiya. Ben Ehrets here. AML member with Van back in the day and then WCAML for a good stint after that. I generally went by Antilles or Anty at the time iirc. Lots of familiar names here. Yay!
I'm a 44-year-old from Pennsylvania now living in Stoughton Wisconsin (just south of Madison). Lutheran pastor by day, karate and kobudo student/instructor by night; I live with my wife, cat (we're down to one), and 9-year-old son, Odin (my wife's Norwegian, what can I say? Okay, yes, I would have begged to name him that if there had been need).
My favorite Avengers are probably the first 200 issues of volume one and then the Busiek/Perez run. It's been quite awhile since I've really enjoyed an Avengers comic, but "Mighty" has been at least decent imho. Scarlet Witch used to be the Avenger I'd say was my favorite, but then they.....well.....you know. I'll have to give thought to who I can safely favor these days.
The latest Avengers comics have put me into a state of anxiety, so I came looking for old friends and perhaps new ones for support and insight. Or at least a few laughs.
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Doctor Bong
Young Avenger
Master of belly dancing! (No, really...)
Posts: 73
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Post by Doctor Bong on Jun 11, 2010 4:05:41 GMT -5
Hiya. Ben Ehrets here. AML member with Van back in the day and then WCAML for a good stint after that. I generally went by Antilles or Anty at the time iirc. Lots of familiar names here. Yay! I'm a 44-year-old from Pennsylvania now living in Stoughton Wisconsin (just south of Madison). Lutheran pastor by day, karate and kobudo student/instructor by night; I live with my wife, cat (we're down to one), and 9-year-old son, Odin (my wife's Norwegian, what can I say? Okay, yes, I would have begged to name him that if there had been need). My favorite Avengers are probably the first 200 issues of volume one and then the Busiek/Perez run. It's been quite awhile since I've really enjoyed an Avengers comic, but "Mighty" has been at least decent imho. Scarlet Witch used to be the Avenger I'd say was my favorite, but then they.....well.....you know. I'll have to give thought to who I can safely favor these days. The latest Avengers comics have put me into a state of anxiety, so I came looking for old friends and perhaps new ones for support and insight. Or at least a few laughs. Hey, welcome back! Well, there's always Hawkeye, as long as Bendis doesn't kill him again... . ;D
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Post by humanbelly on Jun 12, 2010 5:55:07 GMT -5
Hiya. Ben Ehrets here. AML member with Van back in the day and then WCAML for a good stint after that. I generally went by Antilles or Anty at the time iirc. Lots of familiar names here. Yay! I'm a 44-year-old from Pennsylvania now living in Stoughton Wisconsin (just south of Madison). Lutheran pastor by day, karate and kobudo student/instructor by night; I live with my wife, cat (we're down to one), and 9-year-old son, Odin (my wife's Norwegian, what can I say? Okay, yes, I would have begged to name him that if there had been need). My favorite Avengers are probably the first 200 issues of volume one and then the Busiek/Perez run. It's been quite awhile since I've really enjoyed an Avengers comic, but "Mighty" has been at least decent imho. Scarlet Witch used to be the Avenger I'd say was my favorite, but then they.....well.....you know. I'll have to give thought to who I can safely favor these days. The latest Avengers comics have put me into a state of anxiety, so I came looking for old friends and perhaps new ones for support and insight. Or at least a few laughs. Wow, Ben- If. . . if you just made a subtle geographic shift from Wisconsin to Minnesota, you could totally be from Lake Woebegone! The Lutheran thing, the Norwegian thing-- man! You are living the dream!! (Granted, it's Garrison Keillor's dream-- but it's a dream, nevertheless. . . ). Welcome back--! HB
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Post by Shiryu on Jun 14, 2010 16:26:02 GMT -5
I'd suggest a move to Oklahoma, as long as you are careful with property value Welcome back here
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Post by tomspasic on Jun 28, 2010 14:17:51 GMT -5
Hi. I'm Tom. I'm from England, and have loved the avengers comic since the sixties. I stopped buying any Avengers comics after about 5 Bendis issues, but love the old Lee/Thomas/Englehart/Busiek issues. I do something computer-y for a living, and for fun make models and textures of superheroes for a game called Freedom Force.
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Post by spiderwasp on Jun 28, 2010 14:32:18 GMT -5
Welcome Tom. Sounds like you'll fit right in around here. It might even be the perfect time to come onboard since the feelings of utter negativity toward Marvel (For which I am a part but do not apologize for) are taking a turn toward optimism. I share your feelings toward the Avengers completely but would have to make sure to add in Stern to the love list. Check out some of the current non-Bendis stuff though. It isn't quite back up the quality of the older stuff but it's getting there.
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Post by Shiryu on Jun 28, 2010 16:05:41 GMT -5
Somebody else from England! Welcome, Tom! I know Freedom Force, great game and the cut scenes have a lovely Kirby-style art, that's what prompted me to buy the first one in first place. It's a pity that it looks like the third installment will never come out. But I disgress, welcome here again and hopefully you will enjoy the boards
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Post by humanbelly on Jun 29, 2010 7:27:05 GMT -5
Somebody else from England! Welcome, Tom! I know Freedom Force, great game and the cut scenes have a lovely Kirby-style art, that's what prompted me to buy the first one in first place. It's a pity that it looks like the third installment will never come out. But I digress, welcome here again and hopefully you will enjoy the boards Boy Shiryu-- that England/Italy thing ya got goin'. . . Seems like a killer commute. Ya gotcher English Channel; yer country of France; yer Alps (unless ya swing 'way down south-- then ya gotcher Mediterranean Sea, yer organized crime in the harbor, yadda yadda. . . ) Maybe you could just be a manager at a Starbucks or McDonald's closer to home, eh---? And with that, I'm off on MY hour-long commute-! HB
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Post by Shiryu on Jun 29, 2010 14:31:09 GMT -5
Nah, my private supersonic jet picks me up in the morning and I'm in the UK within half hour But I'm considering upgrading to teleport technology ^^
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Post by humanbelly on Aug 11, 2010 7:48:15 GMT -5
cfb?
Are you. . . are you possibly Uatu the watcher in disguise?
Ohhhh, it's very mysterious! You've maintained a quiet presence for, like, five years, it looks like? Wow- but only one (very nice) post to Woodside in that whole time.
Or. . . is this, like, a dark mystery- particular to this board- that one doesn't talk about? "Never speak of the cfb! You will bring doom down upon us all!!!"
Or perhaps it's like Red Green's friend Bill, who NEVER talks, but once they get a microphone in front of him, he rattles on to the point of inviting violent attack. . . ? (hmmm-- should probably be careful of that myself. . . )
Mind you, that's as far as I'll pry--- it's probably just as healthy to maintain a French Foreign Legion attitude toward any one person's past. . .
But, heh, I've been achin' to give you a shout-out.
HB
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martyp
Great Lakes Avenger
Helloooo Nurse!
Posts: 31
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Post by martyp on Nov 19, 2010 15:09:17 GMT -5
Hi Everyone, After some lurking, finally registered. More classic Avengers fan then current, but still enjoy most of it. Some of my faves are Hawkeye (both Clint and Kate), Quicksilver, Black Widow, Ms Marvel.....and probably some more I'm just forgetting now.
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Post by humanbelly on Nov 20, 2010 7:07:39 GMT -5
Hi Everyone, After some lurking, finally registered. More classic Avengers fan then current, but still enjoy most of it. Some of my faves are Hawkeye (both Clint and Kate), Quicksilver, Black Widow, Ms Marvel.....and probably some more I'm just forgetting now. Hey, good morning, martyp-! This is great-- thanks so much for making the jump from lurker/guest to active participant. There is definitely room for some more voices hereabouts these days (mine tends to echo around far too much)-- and you would appear to be a much-welcome, actual, real, non-agenda-packin' human person! (As opposed to a *cough* stupid deceptive computer program, or perhaps a *cough* couple of other entities who seem less than sincerely invested in what's bandied about here. *coughcoughcough*) Wow, the Netherlands, eh? I think you're representing a new chunk of Europe for us. You, Doc Bong, Michidiers, Shiryu, owene-- who else am I missing from across the pond? Say, are the books printed in English there. . . or are they, what, Netherlandish? (Wait-- Dutch, right?) Are there still distribution issues over there, or has the world become small enough that an LCS can be found in every village and hamlet? Heh-- Animaniacs quote in your avatar spot. Good one! HB
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martyp
Great Lakes Avenger
Helloooo Nurse!
Posts: 31
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Post by martyp on Nov 20, 2010 14:03:38 GMT -5
Hey, good morning, martyp-! This is great-- thanks so much for making the jump from lurker/guest to active participant. Thanks! Dutch it is yes. We used to have quite a few series translated to Dutch (it's how I got into comics, including the Avengers...it was the only translated Avengers series though). That all changed a few years ago...not much translated now, but some new company is going to try it again with trade-only publications IIRC. I switched from Dutch to original American comics way before that though. I was annoyed they didn't translate all comics I was interested in, so I decided to go all-english when Age of Apocalypse started. ;D Heheh, sadly no. Not many problems really, there are a few good online shops so it's easier then ever to get comics....just not translated ones.
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pym
Reservist Avenger
"About 20 yards to my right…"
Posts: 200
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Post by pym on Dec 31, 2010 18:23:32 GMT -5
Greetings and Happy New Year! My first Avengers comic was (Silver Age) #58. I have lots of memories and things that I want to say.....but I will refrain until I learn the ropes around this site. Very happy to have found you........kindest regards, Spa-Fon....and Be Well!
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Post by humanbelly on Jan 1, 2011 8:27:52 GMT -5
Greetings and Happy New Year! My first Avengers comic was (Silver Age) #58. I have lots of memories and things that I want to say.....but I will refrain until I learn the ropes around this site. Very happy to have found you........kindest regards, Spa-Fon....and Be Well! *sniff* Yep, #'s 57 & 58 were my first issues, as well (although I recall reading #58, and then going back to 57. No idea why. I was, like, 9 or 10 years old.) And although it was many years before I started collecting them in earnest, issue #58 stayed with me FOREVER as a seminal comic book moment. It dealt with real & complex emotions that, even then, I knew Superman & Batman didn't remotely approach. And it left me wanting to learn more about the PEOPLE that these heroes were, rather than just follow their heroic exploits. Mind you, I couldn't have phrased it as such, but that was certainly the effect it had. . . Boy, it's always great to have new voices and minds sign in, Pym-- really, don't be shy-- chime in on older threads, in fact, as it does seem to stimulate some of our older stalwarts every now and again-! HB
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martyp
Great Lakes Avenger
Helloooo Nurse!
Posts: 31
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Post by martyp on Jan 1, 2011 12:40:52 GMT -5
Wow, look at all the new members!
Welcome all! Hope you enjoy the forums.
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pym
Reservist Avenger
"About 20 yards to my right…"
Posts: 200
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Post by pym on Jan 1, 2011 18:23:54 GMT -5
Thank you for the kind welcome!
Well put, HB....I could not have said it better. I look forward to exploring the forums.
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Post by visionloveswanda on Jan 1, 2011 20:02:40 GMT -5
Hey Gang--
New member here. I too am a teacher! I am a sociology professor at a small college on Florida's east coast. I grew up in So. IL near St. Louis and lived in NorCal for quite a while. Been around.
I'm 44 and my comic history started with Batman at a very early age (mostly due to the campy TV show and cartoon). But when I was a bit older (but still just a pup) I picked up my first Avengers comic. It was early on in the series. The Vision was already on the cover, though he and Wanda were not yet married, so I am thinking it must have been 1972-73. It wasn't long before I was hooked on the Avengers, the Marvel universe and the Vision and the Scarlet Witch in particular. From that point on I mostly ignored DC and became a fan of Marvel.
I have not kept up with the Avengers as well after the mid 80's, mostly because I became very disenchanted with the Byrne colorless Vision era. I enjoyed the Avengers again in the late 90s until Marvel decided to kill off my two favorite characters (or actually have one go crazy and kill the other). In general, Roy Thomas was my favorite writer and George Perez my favorite artist. I am interested in seeing where the Avengers go from here and am very stoked about the 2012 film.
I am not generally a fan of groups like Avengers Assemble!, but the high quality of the discussions and the individuals engaging in them has won me over! I am proud to be amongst your ranks! And to the high school teachers out there, I salute you my friends. My mother taught HS English for 30 years and I know what a tough job it is. Being a professor is a pretty good life, though you'll notice my posting will fall off once the semester starts, but I know I could not hack it at a lower level of education. You folks are doing the real work of education my friends, and you have my undying respect and thanks. You are some of the *real* superheroes!
VLW
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Post by dlw66 on Jan 1, 2011 23:37:16 GMT -5
Oh, no, VLW -- I envy YOU! Because you, my friend, get to teach content for content's sake. You impart knowledge to (hopefully) minds eager to learn.
I, on the other hand, constantly battle politicians, curriculum directors, poor peers, and disinterested parents. I feel like my hands are tied. I am department chair in a social science department where our elective courses have been halved due to the creation of a new reading curriculum for our freshmen instituted because -- you guessed it -- NCLB reading scores at my white middle-class suburban school are too low.
But I love my job...
Welcome to the boards, though -- comics continue to be that 20-minute (well, if you're reading a Silver or Bronze Age book) escape from the rigors of "real life". I love 'em!
Best,
Doug
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Post by Shiryu on Jan 2, 2011 8:21:21 GMT -5
Welcome here both of you! I'm sure you will like the boards PS: shameless plug: if you haven't already, have a look over the animated Avengers thread, the Avengers cartoon so far is by far the closest thing to the old series. PPS: hmm, Dlw is a teacher, Vlw is a teacher. I'm starting to spot a lw trend
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Post by owene on Jan 2, 2011 11:50:50 GMT -5
another teacher here, I need to change my boardname to Owenlw I guess.
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Post by humanbelly on Jan 5, 2011 17:56:28 GMT -5
. I am department chair in a social science department where our elective courses have been halved due to the creation of a new reading curriculum for our freshmen instituted because -- you guessed it -- NCLB reading scores at my white middle-class suburban school are too low. Doug Just me being curious/nosy, Doug, but what classes comprise the Social Sciences Dept? Is that, like, the Social studies/History/Foreign Languages spectrum? Psychology/Sociology/Civics? Some combination of the previous? Am I warm? Or just lost? HB
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martyp
Great Lakes Avenger
Helloooo Nurse!
Posts: 31
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Post by martyp on Jan 6, 2011 11:51:21 GMT -5
Heh, with all them teachers here you should rename the site Avengers Academy. ;D
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