Jatta Pake

I've posted the results of my WD-40 experiment at Minimate Headquarters.

Your belief in "a difference between them and me" is a very gray area. There are actually different levels of depression, some is mild and some is severe. Your doctor will tell you that almost every single person experiences some type at least once in their life. You are probably having a mild case, but I encourage you to discuss it with your doctor regardless. He or she would prescribe anything from a little extra excersise to even some mild medication. Going for a walk or a jog when life really is kicking you in the nuts can help clear your mind. Medication seems so extreme to a young person - I know how it sounds. But let's face it, evolution hasn't perfected the human body yet. I'm in my early thirties and I've already had appendix and back surgery. No one's perfect. Think about what I've said. You are certainly not alone.

Excellent. Nice find Reideen! edit: Wait. Who's Dualla again?

You are absolutely right. It doesn't help to hear that others go through it. You need to talk to a doctor. If insurance is an issue there are other options so don't worry.

TM2 - You may not be asking for advice but I'm going to offer some anyways. This advice comes from a very personal place within me, as I have had very close family members affected. I hope it doesn't come off as insulting, but I want to give you some food for thought. Clinical depression manifests from a chemical imbalance in the brain. People cannot just "snap out of it." It has real symptons which are very serious, not just a temporary down mood or feeling blue. You named two classic symptons in your post - anger or needing to vent (which is typical for males), and thoughts of suicide. Depression is nothing to be ashamed about. Most people will have at least one experience in their lives. Few people need counseling because of it and some people eventually "cycle" out of it on their own. But you should talk to your doctor about how you've been feeling. A doctor can properly diagnose the severity of any chemical imbalance, and provide proper treatment. The solution is so simple but so many young men refuse to address it. I think most young guys would be surprised if they knew more about clinical depression. I hope you haven't tuned out of my post because I brought up the D word. I fear some guys have suffered from it so long they think "that's just how I am." It's not how anyone SHOULD be. It should be treated because 1) quality of life suffers and 2) you can be harmed in the long term (stress on your organs such as heart, etc.). At a minimum, make an appointment and talk to your doctor very soon. The solutions are so simple. -Dan aka Jatta Pake

Oohh, thanks for the clarification Ivan and Ady.

Just because all the talk has peaked my curiosity, anyone want to sum up the AACC debacle? I've heard this mentioned so many times in the past but it all happened before my time. Here is what I understand: Tim B. ran the first AA Forum and started the AACC club. Members paid $35.00 to get into the club and get cool freebies. (Who got the money, Tim B. or AA?) Tim B. "hired" volunteer moderators to run the forum, many of whom joined the club. These mods included: MisterPL, Gardi, Ady, and Brandon. The cool freebies never got distributed to the members. Tim B. reduces involvement to almost nothing. AA claims it sent him "thousands" of dollars in swag to be distributed that never made it out to people. Brandon takes over as defacto leader. Second forum launched. Brandon and the other mods try to make amends for the AACC club debacle. AA helps out, apologizes for the problems through Brandon. (Office supplies sent out with money returned?) Brandon promises the mods goodies for their hard work on the second forum. Goodies never sent. Power goes to his head and Brandon enforces his own rules. Claims he is acting on behalf of AA. People are banned. Blood in the streets as the mods fight amongst themselves. Second forum collapses. AA hires a new group to manage the website and forum. Minimate fans move to MMMV during the downtimes and stay. That is the story I have. It's everything I've picked up from what has been published on the various boards. How off am I? Somethings I'm reading between the lines so I don't mean to offend Brandon or anyone. This is just the story as I've seen it develop or heard it recounted on the public boards.

I paid about a buck a piece for them.

I doubt it will change which gives me a reason to customize my 72 2.5" Elrond figures I bought on ebay. Bighulk? Check. Bigrhino? Errmmm...working on him. Man, his helmet is tough to sculpt.

Notice Batman's belt? Nice itty bitty pouches! I like Booster's gadget hand. Cool!

My picks: Hawkman/Battle Damaged Green Arrow Green Martian Manhunter/Mongol Comm. Gordon/Two Face Cheetah/Golden Age Wonder Woman

drgnbrn316 - I felt the same way but I recently started reading DC. I have to say that I like it better than Marvel for a number of reasons. First off, the big three - Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman - are more like flawed gods than superheroes. Everyone recognizes their power, villians and heroes, but it doesn't make things any easier for them. In fact, some heroes feel forced to hide information from the Big Three because they wouldn't understand what it is like to be a "normal" superhero. While the Marvel world remains fairly unchanged with the day-to-day happenings of the superheroes, not so in DC. The big three are often in the middle of complex international problems. They may have god-like powers, but they can't do everything. If you want to sample DC, my reading list would include the following trade paperbacks: Hush - A buffet of Batman villians. Plus Batman fights Superman (and I mean they really throw down). This is probably my favorite DC paperback series. Identity Crisis - The Justice League literally falls apart when the secret identities of the heroes are comprimised and loved ones start dying. Villians United - I just enjoyed this look into the twisted lives of the DC Villians. Catman? Yep, you like this villian after reading this one.

*dancing*

Send a Minimate into space and watch it float around on a web camera for five years? Is this real? Yes! http://www.bigelowaerospace.com/fly_stuff/index.php Ends November 1st. Should we start a fundraiser? Who should we float? Spider-Man? Superman? Maybe Martian Manhunter would be appropriate. Or Silver Surfer.

The TRU in the nicest part of the Valley runneth over with new AXM and NA sets. I haven't checked others. And yes, my Sentry has a problem with his belt. I'm going to hit some other Targets tonight. Wish me luck.

I stole a bunch from some website I hacked called Stucka-something. I was able to get them to ship me cases without paying a cent. Oh wait. Did I say that out loud? Just kidding of course. The answer is no. Because of little thieves in my area I gotta carefully check my Target Minimates before purchasing. People really loved stealing Blade/Punisher. Luckily the packaging means the box is utterly destroyed if the thief hopes to get anything out.

My Targets are all dry. How is it that San Diego has the new X-Men Minimates but LA doesn't? I want to break some for myself, dammit!

Ooohhh. Way better than I expected. I see a lot of customizing potential with Jean's hair. Wolvie's claws look new. Storm's gloves look new. I love Wolvie's chops and Beasts beard. Yeah! A beard! Now for the inevitable next question: WHEN?

So bootlegs in China are: 1. The same high quality plastic 2. The same high quality tampo painting 3. Carded or blind-boxed 4. Cost $1.00 to $4.00 each. I was worried I needed to go to China to get some Minimates bootlegs. Turns out there are a bunch down the street in that French store, TAR-ZHAY. I'm sorry, HAR, but these sound like official releases for the Asian market.

Susan and Ben mock me here in Los Angeles as well. I bought a couple just to make room for the new stuff. (I also took the box - yeah!)

To those worried about completing a collection - I'd bet anyone $20.00 we see an official Martian Manhunter re-released at some point in the future. He will probably be green instead of gray though. If bags of Martian Manhunters are floating around China for a $1.00 a bag, how come we haven't seen a flood of Manhunters appearing on Ebay? I'm just too skeptical. No offense, HAR, but I just don't believe Minimates bootlegs are that widespread and available.

Gee wiz, Reideen. Who do you still buy stuff from?

Asked about an update on DC Minimates, Neo over at AA says: "I'm getting info on these and expect something this coming week. As usual, we need to coordinate with our partner before we can disclose information before they're ready. I understand the next issue of ToyFare will either have a Minimates feature or update." Reideen - You may need to buy a new issue of ToyFare.

Interesting stuff Reideen. I'm too new to toy collecting so I guess I never realized this was so widespread in other lines. I wonder if any of the Minimates delays this year have had anything to do with bootlegging problems. Anyone else think it's strange that there may not be enough demand in the market for Street Fighter Wave 2, but there is enough to spur bootleg Wave 1? I mean, let's assume pirates made the molds and started casting bootlegs with the same plastic. They would also have to tampo the paint onto the small parts. They would only do all of this if it was profitable enough to cover costs. But it would be a huge investment in capital and labor before any cash is generated. Makes you wonder how much of the licensing costs eat into the making Minimates. And at that point, why not just buy them from AA at close to cost? I mean if a market exists in Asia ... Then again, the Asian market may not support licensing royalties. Just the cost of manufacturing the toys. Interesting things to think about ...

Call me intrigued, HAR. Are you traveling to China just for the bootleg Minimates, or do you have other business? If you are going just to get your hands on bootlegs then I am oddly impressed. If you are traveling from the U.S., I hardly see the cost justifying the trip unless you just want bootlegs for bootlegs sake. Can I ask why you spend so much on Minimates and customs? Do you collect other toys or are you just a Minima-niac? Also, just wondering were and how in China you found bootleg Minimates when most of us can't seem to find the regular stuff in the West. Are you sure they are bootlegs and not Minimates made for the Asian market? If Minimates are really getting bootlegged, this seems to me a sign they hit the big time. I know Star Wars stuff has been bootlegged, but I'm not aware of any other figures bootlegged on a mass scale. I'm definitely interested in pics.