what is an avatar really? the answer is here

[Emperor Harkonnen]

avatar AV-uh-tar, noun:

  1.  The  incarnation  of  a  deity  --  chiefly  associated in

  Hinduism with the incarnations of Vishnu.

  2.  An  embodiment,  as  of a quality, concept, philosophy, or

  tradition; an archetype.

  3. A temporary manifestation or aspect of a continuing entity.

    In  1517,  the year of their first contact, the Aztecs took

    the  Spaniards  to  be  avatars of Quetzalcoatl, the plumed

    serpent, god of learning and of wind.

    --Paul Theroux, [1]Fresh Air Fiend

    People . . . believe he was some sort of avatar of peace

    and love, the ultimate hippie.

    --Edna  Gundersen,  "For  $60,  a  ticket  to read," [2]USA

    Today, October 5, 2000

    It would seem that no definitive identification can be made

    (Rimbaud  the  symbolist,  the  surrealist,  the Bolshevik,

    Rimbaud  the bourgeois, the crook, the pervert, Rimbaud the

    prophet,  the  superman,  the mystic, Rimbaud the Catholic,

    the  cabalist,  the  atheist,  etc.);  the  latest "proved"

    avatar  is forever recycled as evidence -- faulty or secure

    -- on which to base the next.

    --Richard Howard, "There Was Only One Rimbaud," [3]New York

    Times, November 19, 2000

    _________________________________________________________

  Avatar  is  from  Sanskrit avatara, "descent" (of a deity from

  heaven),  from  avatarati,  "he descends," from ava-, "down" +

  tarati, "he crosses, he passes over."

[Inoculator9]

Lol, I think most people all ready new this but... nice of you to think of us ;)