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‘Avengers’ unleash ‘Ultron’ footage at Comic-Con

By WTOP Staff

DERRIK J. LANG
AP Entertainment Writer

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Several members of “The Avengers” descended on Comic-Con on Saturday to debut the first footage from the upcoming superhero sequel.

Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner and Robert Downey Jr. were on hand with other cast members from “The Avengers: Age of Ultron,” including Samuel L. Jackson and Cobie Smulders.

“It just keeps getting better,” Downey told the boisterous crowd of 6,500 assembled in the San Diego Convention Center. “I’m so excited we’re all here.”

The footage kicked off with the Marvel superhero team comically attempting to pick up Thor’s mighty hammer off a coffee table.

“If I lift it, do I get to rule Asgard?” Tony Stark wondered while trying to wield Thor’s hammer — both with and without one of his Iron Man gauntlets.

The teaser quickly launched into a barrage of action-packed imagery, including Hulk battling a giant robot resembling Iron Man and Thor grabbing Stark by the throat. The footage ended with a bleak scene of all the Avengers fallen with a haunting close up of Captain America’s shield split down the middle.

Jackson, who most recently starred in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” with Evans, took a moment during the celebration to appreciate the fans.

“It makes me feel like going out and making movies for the rest of you,” he said of coming to Comic-Con. “We make movies because we want to entertain you guys, and I make movies because I want to see myself in them.”

“Avengers” director Joss Whedon wasn’t present at Saturday’s unveiling because he recently underwent knee surgery, nor was pregnant Black Widow actress Scarlett Johansson, who sent along a video message.

The original “Avengers” cast was joined on stage inside Hall H by newcomers Elizabeth Olsen, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Paul Bettany and James Spader, who personifies the villainous mechanical force Ultron in the sequel.

“I play an 8-foot robot in this movie,” Spader joked. “I’ve always played humans up until this point.”

In the trailer, Ultron takes a few different forms, from a wobbly ‘bot to slick metallic general. At one point, he tells the Avengers that he has no strings.

“Joss really gets these big, big, big ideas,” said Ruffalo backstage after the panel “There is a discussion that’s coming up about artificial intelligence and the ethics of artificial intelligence I think that’s dealt with in the movie. We’re kind of on the threshold of that — the movie ‘Her’ — all of this technology is just about ready to hit the world. But he’s also talking about our ability to destroy the world. And it’s a real thing. We’re there.”

The presentation ended with a brief appearance by Josh Brolin, who voices the alien baddie Thanos in both “Age of Ultron,” which is set for release May 1, 2015, as well as “Guardians of the Galaxy,” the cosmic Marvel romp that comes out Friday. Brolin came on stage wearing a foam Infinity Gauntlet, the powerful artifact depicted in Marvel lore.

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AP Entertainment Writer Ryan Pearson contributed to this report.

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Follow AP Entertainment Writer Derrik J. Lang at http://www.twitter.com/derrikjlang .

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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