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Apologia
It all started during the summer of 2009. I was still a high school kid when I decided to join Wikipedia. For the first few months, I did the usual stuff many young new editors do on the site - made a mess of things. My drama-to-productivity ratio remained quite high for my first year as a Wikipedian; that is, until until I found my true calling as an editor: Ships
I've since poured the vast majority of my time and talents on Wikipedia into creating, writing, and expanding information on ship-related articles. Everything from Austro-Hungarian ironclads, to German U-boats, and even a merchant vessel or two in between. Aside from naval history and warfare, I also enjoy editing articles about land-based engagements. Despite having written or promoted several articles and lists to A-class and Featured status, my proudest achievement on Wikipedia has been helping to get World War II to Good Article status. In the years after joining Wikipedia, my account and the person behind the keyboard both began to mature, and I have since been trusted with a few tools such as Rollback, and made one failed attempt at Adminship.
I slowly tapered off editing around 2011 to 2012 as I graduated high school and entered college. Around 2012, I retired from Wikipedia for what I thought would be forever, and spent the next six years away from the project to get a degree and start a career. During those years, I always found myself back at Wikipedia reading the occasional article even though I was no longer editing. I eventually decided it was time to take the plunge, type in my password, and return as an editor. After some initial hesitation and worry about all the internal changes I expected had been made while I was away, and that I would have to re-learn many of the basic aspects of editing all over again, I resumed editing in May 2018.
Having come back after being gone for so long, I have to say that it's very surreal. In some way, I'm a WikiPopsicle. Much of Wikipedia (both content and policy-wise) has changed while I was gone, but I’m so glad to be once again contributing to what I believe is the greatest sources of knowledge on the internet. I had a fantastic wikibreak (and that six year departure may perhaps be one of the longest in the history of this community), but it's great to be back!
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is a German silent horror film, first released in 1920. Directed by Robert Wiene and written by Hans Janowitz and Carl Mayer, it is considered to be the quintessential work of German Expressionist cinema, and tells the story of an insane hypnotist (Werner Krauss) who uses a somnambulist (Conrad Veidt) to commit murders. The film features a dark and twisted visual style. The sets have sharp-pointed forms, oblique and curving lines, and structures that lean and twist in unusual angles. The film's design team, Hermann Warm, Walter Reimann and Walter Röhrig, recommended a fantastic, graphic style over a naturalistic one. With a violent and insane authority figure as its antagonist, the film expresses the theme of brutal and irrational authority. Considered a classic, it helped draw worldwide attention to the artistic merit of German cinema and had a major influence on American films, particularly in the genres of horror and film noir.Film credit: Robert Wiene
Committed identity: 8f5f7886cf7e38b67048ac84ebb495202852448d8a2aa04ed7d1e8477312ddd77601ec2014058fa8a2a9f4fe9e826cfe5a8167eac254c8119b78bb8a7b9e8125 is a SHA-512commitment to this user's real-life identity.
Barnstars
The Invisible Barnstar
This is for the work you do to the various Wikiprojects you are involved in, which nobody really seems to recognize, for mastering the ridiculously complicated art of uploading images, and for being an expert on Coldplay. Hell, you're not actively destroying WP are you? That almost deserves a BS in its own right, Lord Spongefrog,(I am the Czar of all Russias!) 15:10, 12 September 2009 (UTC)
For all your hard work fighting vandals, I award you the Anti-Vandalism Barnstar. Enjoy! --[midnight comet][contribs] 02:01, 23 October 2009 (UTC)
The Socratic Barnstar
You never cease to impress me with your well thought-out arguments, which show a great deal of clue for a relatively new user. In particularly, your edit to Katerenka's RfA showed you aren't afraid to be bold, even at an RfA. I wish I could do that. If I did something like that, I'd probably end up retracting it and apologising if I've caused offence :). Keep it up. You're making progress, and you'll be an admin yourself someday, Lord Spongefrog,(I am the Czar of all Russias!) 18:35, 25 October 2009 (UTC)
The Purple Star
For all your good contributions to Wikipedia. If only more people knew better than to bite such a user as you.--TwilightHelryx 17:45, 23 November 2009 (UTC)
The Userpage Shield
Placed here to recognize work done protecting User talk:tide rolls. Many thanks. Tiderolls 00:51, 26 November 2009 (UTC)
The Resilient Barnstar
For being able to take all the criticism you had in the past, and using it to grow. I think you have improved quite a bit over the past few weeks. :) You deserve this barnstar. Cheers! :) --Meaghanthe vanilla twilight 02:12, 1 December 2009 (UTC)
I seem to recall you got one of these already, but that was quite a while ago :P Good job finally getting that GA done! Nikkimaria (talk) 04:54, 6 March 2010 (UTC)
The Submarine Barnstar
(Just pretend that's a blueprint for a Submarine) For finding a niché in Wikipedia and working prolifically to improve it; then getting countless DYK's/GA's in a relatively short period of time, Lord Spongefrog,(I am Czar of all Russias!) 21:16, 5 April 2010 (UTC)
The Resilient Barnstar
For going with your gut feeling and for having the bollocks to defend it, I award you this barnstar! HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 00:59, 12 April 2010 (UTC)
Wow, I'm impressed with the amount of DYKs you have (20+!) and all your GAs! You have improved a lot since when you've started. Keep up the amazing work! --Meaghan:) ≈ 01:51, 13 May 2010 (UTC)
The Epic Barnstar
The Epic Barnstar may be awarded to an editor who makes particularly fine History and Events- related contributions. I, Quinxorin, hereby present this barnstar to White Shadows for all his edits on military history. Quinxorin (talk) 01:02, 17 June 2010 (UTC)
The Helping Hand Barnstar
The theme of this barney doesn't really fit the ocassion, but I'd like to thank you for helping out on the topics that I was working on during my trip. Thank you endlessly. Buggie111 (talk) 03:02, 26 July 2010 (UTC)
The World War Barnstar
To White Shadows for your many Outstanding Contributions to military history on Wikipedia. Well done. Malke 2010 (talk) 19:20, 20 November 2010 (UTC)
Congratulations, White Shadows! It's my pleasure to award you November 6, 2009's Red Star for being hard working, kind to others, and for being an excellent user in general. A record of this award will always be kept at User:Meaghan/Shining Stars. Enjoy! Meaghanguess who :) 00:02, 6 November 2009 (UTC)
You could also receive the next higher up award, the Orange Star!
Repeat Red Star
Congratulations, White Shadows! The first nine Red Stars of each cycle will consist of repeats from the previous cycle. The repeats will be users who did not receive the Orange Star. It's my pleasure to give you another shot at receiving the Orange Star today, on December 9, 2009! Keep up the great work! A record of this award will always be kept at User:Meaghan/Shining Stars. Enjoy! Meaghanthe vanilla twilight 00:03, 9 December 2009 (UTC)
Orange Star
Congratulations, White Shadows! Within the past three days, you received the Red Star for being hard working, kind to others, and for being an excellent user in general. You've now been chosen to receive the next higher up award, the Orange Star. A record of this award will always be kept at User:Meaghan/Shining Stars. Enjoy! Meaghanthe vanilla twilight 00:04, 10 December 2009 (UTC)
You could also receive the next higher up award, the Yellow Star!
User:White Shadows has been identified as an Awesome Wikipedian,
and therefore, I've officially declared today as White Shadows' day!
For being such a beautiful person and great Wikipedian,
enjoy being the Star of the day, dear White Shadows!
White Shadows has been identified as an Awesome Wikipedian, so I've officially declared today as White Shadows's Day! For being a great person and awesome Wikipedian, enjoy being the star of the day, White Shadows!
Keep track of upcoming reviews. Just copy and paste {{WPMILHIST Review alerts}} to your user space
The Million Award
For your contributions to bring World War II (estimated annual readership: 13,803,000) to Good Article status, I hereby present you the Million Award. Congratulations on this rare accomplishment, and thanks for all you do for Wikipedia's readers. -- Khazar2 (talk) 01:50, 28 August 2013 (UTC)
Your ongoing efforts to improve the encyclopedia have not gone unnoticed: You have been selected as Editor of the Week in recognition of your outstanding contributions. (courtesy of the Wikipedia Editor Retention Project)
On behalf of the Military History Project, I am proud to present the The Milhist reviewing award (1 stripe) for October to December 2018 reviews. MilHistBot (talk) 01:06, 8 January 2019 (UTC)
Keep track of upcoming reviews. Just copy and paste {{WPMILHIST Review alerts}} to your user space
Impressive resume: over 50 DYKs, 43 Good Articles, 8 Good Article Topics, 1 Featured Article, and 2 Featured Article Lists.
Brought one of the most viewed articles on Wikipedia, World War II , to GA status. Among the few and privileged Million Award recipients. Dedicated and detailed research is a norm. Wikipedia needs more editors like White Shadows
Recognized for
membership in WikiProject Military history and WikiProject Ships