I'm a computer scientist with broad interests in history and the sciences. I found the instant improvability of Wikipedia to be nearly irresistible. It's a great system, so I decided to become part of it.

Contrary to some impressions, I'm not online all of the time, and I sometimes even travel to the big room with the blue roof. Thus, I may take some time to reply to a discussion or request. Further delay is possible in the rare cases where I think before I write something. ;-)

A snapshot of my reading (September 15th, 2016):

Older snapshots.

Collected ramblings

About Wikipedia

Online civil liberties

"The real complaining party at the bar in this courtroom is civilization"

Awards

The Resilient Barnstar
For keeping your temper in the face of provocation (by one who has been professionally trained to provoke, no less) you are hereby awarded the Resilient Barnstar. Raymond Arritt 00:31, 6 March 2007 (UTC)
The Zen Garden Award I hereby present you with The Zen Garden Award for Infinite Patience for discussing Holocaust denial in a calm, rational, civil and good-humoured manner in the face of severe provocation ;) EyeSereneTALK 19:06, 8 August 2007 (UTC)
The Reference Desk Barnstar
Thank you for your reply to my query at the Science Reference Desk regarding the History of Quantum Mechanics. Your contribution to the discussion was insightful, and helped me find the answers I was looking for. Thanks! FusionKnight (talk) 19:43, 22 January 2008 (UTC)


The Defender of the Wiki Barnstar
I award you this Barnstar for the fine reasoning you demonstrated here. Your efforts to maintain legitimate scholarship as it appears on Wikipedia and prevent its obfuscation are appreciated. Keep up the good work! Regards, WilliamH (talk) 21:48, 28 February 2008 (UTC)


The Tireless Contributor Barnstar
For all the hard work and tireless contributions you have made to Wikipedia while maintaining a high standard of quality. Green451 (talk) 02:19, 7 July 2009 (UTC)


The Resilient Barnstar
For keeping your temper in the face of hostility and for reverting countless acts of vandalism. Great Work. South Bay (talk) 21:39, 13 October 2009 (UTC)


The Anti-Flame Barnstar
We don't always agree, but you demonstrate calmness on controversial issues. THE FOUNDERS INTENT PRAISE 14:57, 8 December 2009 (UTC)


The Reference Desk Barnstar
Thank you for being so patient and inversting so much time while trying to help me resolve my Emacs and SINGULAR problems. Your kind acts do not go unnoticed and are very much apprciated. — Fly by Night (talk) 15:14, 24 October 2010 (UTC)


The Barnstar of Good Humor
thank you, that gave me a much needed laugh. KillerChihuahua?!?Advice 15:32, 3 December 2010 (UTC)


The Reference Desk Barnstar
Thank you for your help with my C problems! 169.231.8.73 (talk) 21:59, 20 October 2012 (UTC)


The Barnstar of Good Humor
For this gem μηδείς (talk) 21:05, 12 February 2013 (UTC)


The Cow-Toe Barnstar
Awarded to Dr. Schulz for being willing have the discussion 450 and the Pope would not. Talk:List of participants in the creation–evolution controversy#Complete Nonsense --Kaptinavenger (talk) 07:39, 12 February 2015 (UTC)


"I found the instant improvability of Wikipedia to be nearly irresistible"
Thank you, veteran editor with the same great line on the user page from 2003 to now, for quality articles such as Craig M. Wright, British Alpine Hannibal Expedition and Talk:Global warming/FAQ, for answering science questions at the help desk, for precision and protection, for earning praise for "calm, rational, civil and good-humoured manner", for "Further delay is possible in the rare cases where I think before I write something", - you are an awesome Wikipedian!

--Gerda Arendt (talk) 06:15, 31 May 2015 (UTC)


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