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User:Graham87

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Me playing the piano at Siegfrieds Mechanisches Musikkabinett in Rüdesheim, Germany, in 2024; photo taken by Gerda Arendt
This user is a wikiarchaeologist and likes looking through page history for no particular reason.±
This user is a former administrator on the English Wikipedia (verify).

About me

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I'm Graham Pearce from Perth, Western Australia, now living in Busselton, about 220 kilometres (140 mi) south-west of Perth. I'm interested in music – mostly classical music, number theory and the history and geography of Western Australia. I'm totally blind, and have been so since birth, due to retinopathy of prematurity. I use the screen reader JAWS, with a speech synthesiser, to access the Internet. Most of my contributions to Wikipedia are copyediting and article cleanups, but I also make more substantial edits. I've written a timeline of my activities on this site.

My page history work

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I enjoy checking through old history entries in Wikipedia and fixing cut-and-paste moves where needed, also known as history-merging (see the paragraph below for how I can do this as a non-admin). I've noted some observations about page-history anomalies at User:Graham87/Page history observations, and I've written some notes about getting information out of old database dumps at User:Graham87/SHA-1. I also enjoy importing old edits from the Nostalgia Wikipedia and other old database dumps; I've written some notes about the procedure I use at User:Graham87/Import.

I became an administrator in 2007, started the discussion that enabled transwiki imports on this site in 2009 (with old Wikipedia history, rather than other language versions of Wikipedia, in mind), became an importer in 2013 (with the ability to import text from any MediaWiki database), and lost my adminship in 2024 due to over-aggressive blocking. After losing my adminship, I was still able to do database imports of all types because I kept my importer user right and the use of the history merge special page was added to it shortly afterwards. As of the time of writing this (27 November 2024), there is only one other importer on this site (who is an admin among other things), so I am the only non-admin without global userrights who can do history merges here.

Articles I've started or expanded

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I especially enjoy it when other people make constructive edits related to these articles. The articles are listed chronologically:

Articles I find interesting

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These are articles that pique my interest for some reason. If you find an article that you think might interest me, feel free to let me know.

Pages about Wikipedia that I find interesting

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Barnstars

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A Barnstar! I hereby award this Minor Barnstar to Graham87. Minor edits are often-overlooked, but essential, contributions to the Wikipedia. This Minor Barnstar is awarded for making many minor edits of the utmost quality. (KC)
The Random Acts of Kindness Barnstar
I thank you very much for your tremendous help wikilinking and correcting my Trivia page. That must have taken you a long time to do, and I'm glad you helped me so much. I hope you liked it a lot! For this I award Graham87 this kindness barnstar. Reywas92TalkSigs 21:57, 16 January 2007 (UTC)
For making a difference! I know you made much more than that, I'll create a 1000+ soon, by Pseudoanonymous 02:11, 19 July 2007 (UTC)


The Australian Barnstar of National Merit
for your efforts with Australian articles Gnangarra 00:47, 26 January 2008 (UTC)
The Citation Barnstar The Citation Barnstar
For finding and rewriting New York Times citations (including many I put in myself) to be freely available. Wasted Time R (talk) 11:15, 4 April 2008 (UTC)
The Working Man's Barnstar
For all your help and patience over the past few months, I am delighted to award you this barnstar :-) John Sloan (talk) 07:51, 22 July 2008 (UTC)
The Special Barnstar
For this. Wow; who knows how long the issue would have been debated if you hadn't pointed out something obvious that everyone else apparently missed. Nice work! Artichoker[talk] 02:24, 14 August 2008 (UTC)
Home-Made Barnstar
For being there at the right time to restore old revisions of the article Apple.

Cheers mate! Λuα (Operibus anteire) 13:26, 25 August 2008 (UTC)

The Sewer Cover Barnstar
You have been awarded the Sewer Cover Barnstar because you can read through anything. You don’t know the meaning of attention deficit disorder, laugh in the face of boredom, and are wasting your talents if you don’t become a patent examiner.
  • I award this to you, Graham87, with humbleness and awe. You’ve done what I truly can not. Greg L (talk) 00:26, 20 November 2008 (UTC)
The Invisible Barnstar
The Invisible Barnstar is awarded to users who make significant and helpful contributions to the project, but have kept to the background without seeking recognition or reward for their work.

This Barnstar is awarded to Graham, for going the extra mile to help other editors in need. Helping the project be better and grow. Thank you so much Graham. I really appreciate your fine efforts, you are a great admin! Ikip (talk) 02:50, 27 January 2009 (UTC)

The Working Man's Barnstar
I think you've been working harder on WP:New histmerge list than anyone. Page 1 is completely done thanks to you. Keep up the excellent work! Matt (talk) 20:36, 29 June 2009 (UTC)
I'm an awesome Wikipedian!
I'm an awesome Wikipedian!
This user has been identified as an Awesome Wikipedian and was awarded his own day.
The Special Barnstar
Thank you for your recent help, and for all the good work you do... we really do need more Admins like you... Johnfos (talk) 07:37, 27 November 2009 (UTC)
The Curator Barnstar
For your efforts in preserving Wikipedia's history. œ 11:26, 26 December 2009 (UTC)

For preserving Wikipedia's history, User:Graham87/Import and just for being such a great Wikiarcheologist :) œ 11:26, 26 December 2009 (UTC)

The Working Man's Barnstar
For all your help and contributions the past year, I am fathomed to award you this barnstar :-) Western Pines (talk) 03:48, 15 March 2010 (UTC)
The Revision Rescue Barnstar
For rescuing all those old revisions from the Nostalgic Wikipedia, please accept this small token of my appreciation. –xenotalk 19:38, 18 May 2010 (UTC)
For your contributions to Wikipedia and humanity in general, you are hereby granted the coveted Random Smiley Award.
(Explanation and Disclaimer)

TomasBat 02:29, 19 January 2011 (UTC)

The Running Man Barnstar
This barnstar is for your work in cleaning up the women's sport in Australia articles. Very good work! --LauraHale (talk) 09:02, 13 May 2011 (UTC)
The Brilliant Idea Barnstar
I love what you are doing here. Thanks! Guy Macon (talk) 19:14, 24 August 2011 (UTC)
The Original Barnstar
You are awesome dude!!!!
Jacks1881 (talk) 02:52, 4 September 2011 (UTC)

A kitten for you! For all your editing work on my DYKs! :D Trust me, the kitten is cute. Everyone loves cute kittens as a reward for doing good work. [citation needed] and yes, you do good stuff. :D

LauraHale (talk) 10:42, 13 November 2011 (UTC)

For helping with the Paralympic related articles. :) LauraHale (talk) 23:06, 29 December 2011 (UTC)
The Copyeditor's Barnstar
What a machine. Keep up the good work David.moreno72 (talk) 02:06, 16 February 2012 (UTC)
advice and vision
Thank you for helping me to English my Germanic wording, to make me create articles instead of interwiki-links, and for moving articles sensibly. I award you a Yogo sapphire, sparkling and rare, on the day when the other Graham's string quartet Chinese Whispers (new article today) receives a prize, --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:39, 18 February 2012 (UTC)
The Minor barnstar
For doing small things that are making quite the difference at WP:Teahouse. Thank you! Sarah (talk) 04:39, 9 March 2012 (UTC)
The Special Barnstar
Thanks for helping editors like me, surely your advise and guidance will help me to contribute in better way!

Keep Guiding, Keep Inspiring! AbhiSuryawanshi (talk) 10:10, 23 June 2012 (UTC)

The Original Barnstar
Hello Graham,

Appreciations to you for your helps. MansourJE (talk) 02:34, 14 August 2012 (UTC)

The Admin's Barnstar
Thank you kindly! Mootros (talk) 02:57, 10 September 2012 (UTC)
The Original Barnstar
Always ready to help out. Much appreciated. SlightSmile 23:08, 20 September 2012 (UTC)
The Random Acts of Kindness Barnstar
Thanks!!! Problem with the signature solved, thanks to you. Seonookim (talk) 05:42, 18 November 2012 (UTC)
The Random Acts of Kindness Barnstar
Thanks. The problem about the signature was solved, thanks to you. To show my appreciation, I'm sending this again. Seonookim (talk) 06:43, 18 November 2012 (UTC)
The Surreal Barnstar
I am speechless after reading your user page's about me section! -- Tito Dutta (talk) 20:09, 6 February 2013 (UTC)
Hello Graham87, Eduemoni↑talk↓ has given you a shinning smiling star! You see, these things promote WikiLove and hopefully this has made your day better. Spread the Shinning Smiling Star whether it be someone you have had disagreements with in the past or someone putting up with some stick at this time. Enjoy!
The Anti-Vandalism Barnstar
Thank you for blocking this vandal. Illegitimate Barrister (talk) 04:55, 10 March 2013 (UTC)
The Special Barnstar
Hey Mr Pearce, thanks for your fine efforts to help Wikipedia, despite your disability. Cheers! Arctic Kangaroo 14:45, 21 March 2013 (UTC)
The Original Barnstar
Thanks for your support and help with the Joan Armatrading articles! Still a lot to do, new ones and expansion of existing ones - but getting there. Really appreciate the help with all the editing. Gold star from me too! J.12:50, 8 May 2013 (UTC)
The Barnstar of Diligence
you make me feel useless Graham !! , thanks for being an inspiration to me especially on the work you do on Wikipedia Bobbyshabangu (talk) 10:27, 30 August 2013 (UTC)
Gold Star for the Day
Just reading through the thread at WP:BOTREQ and saw your comment about the Depends diff and laughed my b u t t off. I was laughing so hard when I read it, I almost needed some Depends. Anyhoo, I had to give you a gold star for that one. Thanks for making my day. 64.40.54.181 (talk) 05:18, 10 September 2013 (UTC)
The Special Barnstar
I just wanted to say thank you for welcoming me to Wikipedia even when I had joined 3 years before your message! Your tips have helped me proudly call reverting vandalism on Wikipedia one of my interests in a school presentation. I owe you but I don't know how, so this barnstar will do for now. Thanks for being such a great admin! K6ka (talk) 02:18, 9 December 2013 (UTC)
A Tesla Roadster for you!
Thank you for contributing to Wikipedia! Gg53000 (talk) 16:31, 7 January 2014 (UTC)
The Original Barnstar
For your important but undervalued Import-Export work. Green Giant (talk) 21:03, 8 January 2014 (UTC)
Thanks for helping me get started on wiki! Lying Politician (talk) 10:15, 23 April 2014 (UTC)
For your work on sports articles. Hawkeye7 (talk) 11:35, 12 August 2014 (UTC)

Thanks for all the additions!

Wikinium (talk) 20:30, 16 August 2014 (UTC)

The Copyeditor's Barnstar
Thanks for your copyediting work for the Signpost! Pine 21:04, 8 September 2014 (UTC)
The Random Acts of Kindness Barnstar
We haven't worked together much, but I saw someone on IRC describe you as "a general ray of sunshine", so you obviously deserve this. Thanks. EpochFail (talkcontribs) 16:22, 14 October 2014 (UTC)
The Emperor of Import
You were, are and would remain the Emperor of Import. The import tool seems to have been made purely for you. Thank you for making use of the tool to contribute magnificently to Wikipedia, to such an extent that more than 95% of usage of the tool since it was made, is credited to you! Wifione Message 18:08, 26 November 2014 (UTC)
The Special Barnstar
At a loss for words after reading about your condition on your userpage, and yet how that doesn't hinder you from doing what all others do. You really are a special person :) Although I still may not be able to entirely comprehend how that works, it really is motivational. Keep up the good work. Mar4d (talk) 11:55, 13 July 2015 (UTC)
The Accessibility Barnstar
I had to make sure that this new barnstar went to the one Wikipedian who most deserves it. Thank you for all your cheerful help and support. --RexxS (talk) 23:47, 12 August 2015 (UTC)
The Teamwork Barnstar
Thanks for the advice on my talk page and the other helpful resources. I'm new here and I am learning about the basics of creating wiki's in general. So thanks and good luck! Svoboman (talk) 17:43, 12 November 2015 (UTC)
The Technical Barnstar
Thanks for your help with the talk page and archives. Doug Weller talk 15:29, 3 January 2016 (UTC)
The Defender of the Wiki Barnstar
Good catch! Our template destroyer was pernicious. 7&6=thirteen () 14:58, 14 February 2016 (UTC)
The Admin's Barnstar
because i can and also, nice AMA you did on Reddit a while ago. Winterysteppe (talk) 03:45, 11 March 2016 (UTC)
Thank you for looking into the archiving-conversion issues at User talk:Chicbyaccident and placing that code for the archive box there. I think it's all good now! Shearonink (talk) 08:35, 12 April 2016 (UTC)
The Tireless Contributor Barnstar
Thank you so much for all your amazing work on Wikipedia.  TOW  06:06, 24 April 2016 (UTC)
The Defender of the Wiki Barnstar
Good work handling 2607:fb90:a238:1193:0:3:47fe:5401's vandalism thoroughly. FleetCommand (Speak your mind!) 08:31, 25 September 2016 (UTC)
The Cleanup Barnstar
This is rather belated, but in looking over the process of getting Miriam Makeba to FA-status, I am struck by the enormous amount of work you did with respect to grammar, sourcing, and accessibility. Many thanks. Vanamonde (talk) 12:11, 19 October 2017 (UTC)
The Barnstar of Diligence
For all your hard work on Wikipedia! Adam Song 00:39, 30 March 2018 (UTC)
The Barnstar of Diligence
Tidying up the bureaucracy left behind by lazy bureaucrats. Hugely appreciated. Dweller (talk) Become old fashioned! 10:24, 16 July 2018 (UTC)
The Working Man's Barnstar
I owe you many thanks for importing the old HomePage edits. They are so beautiful! :,) – John M Wolfson (talkcontribs) 20:21, 5 August 2019 (UTC)
The Original Barnstar
For your willingness to go the extra mile unasked! —valereee (talk) 11:47, 6 September 2020 (UTC)
The Admin's Barnstar
A bit belated, but I thought your WP:IAR close of Wikipedia:Miscellany for deletion/Wikipedia:Editor review/ChrisAmaddeo was masterful and showed a significant amount of clue. Well done. bibliomaniac15 18:39, 27 October 2020 (UTC)
The Technical Barnstar
For finding and fixing the problem with the WP:RM page. Simple when you know how! Thanks again. Lugnuts Fire Walk with Me 06:44, 22 February 2021 (UTC)
The Civility Barnstar
Thanks, Graham87 for your infusion of civility into the discussion. Appreciated! It's the kind of thing sorely lacking as of late, especially from some of the old-timers that should know better. It's what Wikipedia needs more of these days. GenQuest "scribble" 20:00, 27 April 2021 (UTC)
The Special Barnstar
For showing that, no matter what kind of disability one may have, they can always improve Wikipedia. While I may never understand what it's like to be blind (in the sense that not even glasses can help), from what I do understand it makes Wikipedia a bit more difficult, and yet you still manage to pull through. Keep up the good work. ― Blaze WolfTalkBlaze Wolf#6545 05:02, 25 February 2022 (UTC)
Impact
Thank you for your impact
improving the project
by steady friendly helpful
gnomish editing and advice

thank you for ceaseless help over almost 14 years --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:35, 6 June 2023 (UTC)

The Admin's Barnstar
Hi Graham87, I wanted to award you this barnstar for your excellent efforts dealing with the less obvious vandals, such as that Guatemala date-changing vandal. You even reverted edits that became superseded by later edits from other editors. All this while you have a vision impairment - awesome! — AP 499D25 (talk) 07:31, 24 May 2024 (UTC)
The Admin's Barnstar
Thank you for everything. * Pppery * it has begun... 22:45, 18 November 2024 (UTC)
The Admin's Barnstar
Thanks for what you're doing! This place wouldn't be the same without you. Renerpho (talk) 03:31, 20 November 2024 (UTC)
Committed identity: 78cfe716e8566cf6 31d7c75b6f741cb3 1ec6f2e94c25a97c 4e0b5fc4ce55651f 55fce2669b45a7b5 c44a1b049c510800 9c09c52cc2ca5230 c9d5596032aea7f1 is a SHA-512 commitment to this user's real-life identity.