96,000 edits since 2012. Active new page reviewer and Wikipedia Teahouse host. A long serving member at Wikipedia:WikiProject Schools and Wikipedia:WikiProject Editor Retention. Has more experience on US school articles than probably any other WP editor). One of WP's most active editors (#617). Diplomatically pursues a healthy workplace for fellow editors.
Recognized for
many years of high quality contributions, with varied interests and pursuits.
In October of 2013, I changed my name from Gtwfan52 to John from Idegon. Although the Gtwfan52 name had served me well for nearly two years, I feel that as long as I am going to continue doing this, I should have a proper name for people to address me by. I've been answering to John for a long while IRL, so why not here too? By the way, "Gtwfan" referenced one of my two all time favorite railroads, the Grand Trunk Western. The other is the South Shore.
From June 10, 2016 to June 14, 2016, someone impersonated me using the name John from Idegon Backup. I am indebted to Administrator zzuuzz for noticing and blocking the sock, related to a long term kerfuffle at some high school article. Although the child tried to embarrass me, our crack administration team caught it and ended it before much damage was done.
Early on the morning of February 3, 2020, I got a thank you for my 100,000th edit. Three weeks short of my 8th anniversary here.[1]
...can one be paid to edit Wikipedia? Well, under certain conditions at this time, yes you can. But think about this: Can one be paid to sing? The answer is of course yes. But the applicable question really is, "Can one market their singing?" That is much more difficult to accomplish, requiring native talent, much hard work, years of practice and a considerable amount of lucky breaks. However, unfortunately for one enquiring, a more on point analogy might be, "Can one be paid to have sex?" Again, the answer is yes. But then there are those pesky moral and legal issues to deal with, aren't there? These two analogies illustrate what one embarking on a path of editing Wikipedia for pay is really looking at.
- John from Idegon (talk)
Hi Gtwfan! I wanted to come by and award you the Indiana Barnstar for your excellent contributions related to Indiana, my home state! Without your contributions Wikipedia can't be the world's largest, and most inclusive, encyclopedia. Keep up the great work! Sarah (talk) 00:43, 3 April 2012 (UTC)
The Random Acts of Kindness Barnstar
Thanks for your help. Getting there. A lot to learn about Wikipedia! Shuckers (talk) 19:14, 10 May 2012 (UTC)
The Exemplary Adoptee Barnstar
Congratulations on completing all required adoption assignments. You are now ready for the final test - a link to it has been placed on your adoption page. Good luck! →Bmusician 22:58, 14 May 2012 (UTC)
The Adoptee Graduation Barnstar
Congratulations on passing your final examination with a score of 85.5%. You have now graduated from my adoption school. I'm very proud of you, and your accomplishments will undoubtedly be well above those other new users who were not adopted. I'll always be around to give you a hand if you need it in the future, so please remember to keep in touch. Great job! →Bmusician 09:15, 15 May 2012 (UTC)
For standing proud on all places, BIG or SMALL in the USA, when they are legit and have a history, from small stubs, do mighty oaks grow. Many thanks Coal town guy (talk) 14:06, 1 November 2012 (UTC)
The Original Barnstar
Thanks for tidying up online reference -I've got another reference to add tomorrow but that's from a printed book which I am more familiar with doing! Lester Brown (talk) 01:39, 7 November 2012 (UTC)
The Tireless Contributor Barnstar
awarded for your endless energy and huge dedication in helping out new editors in sticky situations --Demiurge1000 (talk) 03:47, 29 December 2012 (UTC)
The Random Acts of Kindness Barnstar
Thanks for moving Delhi Wave Riders to Delhi Waveriders.
Wishing you a very Happy New Year Theexpositor (talk) 09:14, 2 January 2013 (UTC)
The 'Brains Work Better in A Community' Award
Thank you for all your efforts to befriend and assist your fellow Wikipedia Editors (WE), especially the New Ones. WE are a community and the more WE enlarge the circle of quality editors, the more WE enrich our readers experience. What's so bad about Peace, Love and Understanding? ```Buster SevenTalk 01:50, 4 January 2013 (UTC)
The Original Barnstar
Because I felt like giving you one! In all seriousness, thanks for all the good things you do here. AutomaticStrikeout (T • C)04:07, 6 January 2013 (UTC)
Experienced editors with this badge have committed to welcoming guests, helping new editors, and upholding the standards of the Teahouse by giving friendly and patient guidance—at least for a time.
Hosts illuminate the path for new Wikipedians, like Tōrō in a Teahouse garden.
Awarded to editors who participated in the Wikipedia Teahouse during its first months and are still participating a year later.
To celebrate the editors who have been with Teahouse from the beginning through its first year, we've made you this extra special birthday badge! Teahouse continues to be awesome because you are still here all these months later, so thank you. You are the Foundation of this awesome project.
Dear Gtwfan52, I want to thank you for your help on my first wikipedia artice (Rittenhouse Elementary School), and for making me feel welcome. You saved my sanity and made my first experience a very positive one. Cheers, Gagegs (talk) 01:03, 30 April 2013 (UTC)
The Original Barnstar
Welcome back! It's a little late, but I just noticed you are back now. AutomaticStrikeout (T • C • Sign AAPT) 02:38, 2 May 2013 (UTC)
The Random Acts of Kindness Barnstar
Thanks for the great question badge SmerkInYourEyes (talk) 00:02, 10 May 2013 (UTC)
The Original Barnstar
For good work on US schools! :-) LudicrousTripe (talk) 09:23, 23 October 2013 (UTC)
The Original Barnstar
Gtwfan52, Thank you very much for all of your guidance, assistance, and expertise regarding my recently-published Wiki article! I am blessed that our paths have crossed. You helped make my first experience with creating a Wiki article much more enjoyable and interesting! God bless. Daniellagreen (talk) 21:13, 30 October 2013 (UTC)
The Random Acts of Kindness Barnstar
Gtwfan52, My first experience with creating and publishing an article on Wiki has been positive, and was even better with your assistance, guidance, expertise, and professionalism! I thank you from the bottom of my heart. :-) Cheers!Daniellagreen (talk) 21:15, 30 October 2013 (UTC)
I hope you enjoy this awesome cup of coffee, made just for you! :-)Daniellagreen (talk) 21:25, 30 October 2013 (UTC)
The Teamwork Barnstar
John, The info box looks awesome, and the article is now a C-class! Wow, I am still amazed. Thank you for your interest, support, and collaboration. It has been wonderful, and much appreciated! :-) Daniellagreen (talk) 22:55, 31 October 2013 (UTC)
The Special Barnstar
Thank you for being a supporter of School Articles! Indyjrg1762 (talk) 06:31, 30 November 2013 (UTC)
Thanks for straightening out the edits at Carmel High School. I should have followed up on that when I removed the one bad edit using Stiki. It just slipped my mind. Thanks for cleaning up after me. Best! — Keithbob • Talk • 03:32, 13 November 2013 (UTC)
The Defender of the Wiki Barnstar
was just looking back through the Freopedia content history and thought you deserved this Gnangarra 11:36, 5 March 2014 (UTC)
The Teamwork Barnstar
Thanks for helping me get pictures into my user page without having to upload pics from my PC. VladDroid256 (talk) 23:21, 25 March 2014 (UTC)
The Special Barnstar
I award you this special barnstar for your good work on high school articles in general and for your explanation and information on the First Colonial High School talk page and your work on the article itself. Thanks! Donner60 (talk) 02:30, 24 May 2014 (UTC)
The Barnstar of Good Humor
John, You have a real gift. I appreciate you! Daniellagreen (talk) 17:26, 28 June 2014 (UTC)
Thanks for your time and suggestions regarding my questions and concerns. :-) Daniellagreen(talk)(cont) 21:46, 8 July 2014 (UTC)
The Barnstar of Diligence
John, Thank you for all of your support and communications regarding the recent issue encountered. I really appreciate everything! Really, thanks very much. Daniellagreen(talk)(cont) 23:35, 10 July 2014 (UTC)
The Barnstar of Diplomacy
I thought you deserved to receive another barnstar. For all that you have done regarding your support of me and suggestions to me, from the beginning, I appreciate it. Thank you, Daniellagreen(talk)(cont) 00:44, 12 July 2014 (UTC)
Thank you for reviewing articles during the 2018 NPP New Year Backlog Drive. Always more to do, but thanks for participating. — Insertcleverphrasehere(or here) 05:22, 31 January 2018 (UTC)
The Special Barnstar
Thank you very much for taking the time to explain the COI issue about International Samaritan on the talk page of the complaining user. ~ ToBeFree (talk) 18:01, 29 March 2018 (UTC)
The Surreal Barnstar
I was going through your user-page and this writing was stunning.Managed to capture the entire theme of the Paid Editing Saga nicely but enough succinctly..... ~ Winged BladesGodric 09:49, 30 March 2018 (UTC)
The Barnstar of Diligence
For a multitude of helpful edits, and especially the determination to remove nonsense from the encyclopedia. 2601:188:180:11F0:65F5:930C:B0B2:CD63 (talk) 03:13, 2 April 2018 (UTC)
The Civility Barnstar
Thanks for the backup on the Madonna article. The reasoning that a person has to be a university generated alumni list seems specious, if that person attended. Mere attendance would seem to clear the bar, non-inclusion on a list should not be below some bar.
Are you also JohnInDC?
In any/all events, thanks again. Bluedudemi (talk) 16:02, 4 September 2018 (UTC)
The common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is a medium-sized perching bird in the starling family, Sturnidae. It is about 20 centimetres (8 inches) long and has glossy black plumage, which is speckled with white at some times of year. The legs are pink and the bill is black in winter and yellow in summer; young birds have browner plumage than the adults. It is a noisy bird, especially in communal roosts, with an unmusical but varied song. The starling has about a dozen subspecies breeding in open habitats across its native range in temperate Europe and western Asia, and it has been introduced elsewhere. This bird is resident in southern and western Europe and southwestern Asia, while northeastern populations migrate south and west in winter. The starling builds an untidy nest in a natural or artificial cavity in which four or five glossy, pale blue eggs are laid. These take two weeks to hatch and the young remain in the nest for another three weeks. The species is omnivorous, taking a wide range of invertebrates, as well as seeds and fruit. The starling's gift for mimicry has been noted in literature including the medieval Welsh Mabinogion and the works of Pliny the Elder and William Shakespeare. This common starling was photographed at Bodega Head on the northern coast of the U.S. state of California.Photograph credit: Frank Schulenburg
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