Hello and welcome to my page! I edit when I'm reading and I see something that could be better. My interests are legion and varied, as are my edits. Have a good day.
I made my account and first contribution on September 5, 2022. I eventually got it into my head that creating a Wikipedia article would be a fun exercise and began keeping an eye out for a subject. At 4 AM on December 21, 2024, I was reading 1928 United States presidential election and I stumbled across a red link.
Frank Elbridge Webb was the Farmer–Labor Party's nominee for president. That was all the article had and I could find precious little else. I stumbled across an old Time article, and... it wasn't exactly the revelation I was hoping for.
The tragedy of minorities usually is that their leaders are unknown men whom the minority has neither the wit nor the money to publicize. And usually a minority is no greater than its biggest man. Bravely facing this fact, Nominee Webb has been issuing leaflets headlined: "Who the hell is Webb?"[2]
My question of "Who the hell is Webb?" was answered with "Nobody knows who the hell Webb is, so he's publishing pamphlets headlined 'Who the hell is Webb?'" Not a great start. I looked further, hoping to find more about him than the fact that nobody knew who the hell he was. Of course, I next found the San Francisco Chronicle praising Webb for the brilliancy of baiting Senator James A. Reed into asking "Who the hell is Webb?". Ok... so I guess that was a frequent question.[b] The pamphlets didn't work. Webb was never elected president and died "forgotten".
I eventually figured out who the hell Webb was and on March 13, 2025, an article I created was accepted through WP:AFC. As first efforts go, I think it was pretty decent. Still, I have improved it a lot in the time since. It was first assessed as start-class and has now been assessed as B-class. Will he go higher? Dunno, maybe if I get my act together. He got on the main page through WP:DYK without a hitch.[c] I have also been working on articles surrounding Webb. Henry Quincy Alexander was so outraged when he heard "Who the hell is Webb?" that he decided to run for vice president.
Harold Putnam (Massachusetts politician), his autobiography, subtitled "A Memoir of Public Service", is somehow the most erotic book I own... does that say more about him or me?
To be honest I think we should just ban anyone who doesn't donate to Wikipedia.
If I were able to hack any website I would hack Wikipedia to make a page for myself. It's so unfair that I can't get one because Wikipedia considers me "non-notable". I'll show them how notable I am.[e]
Am I not allowed to reference Wikipedia? In my vision an online encyclopedia is the one true guide to the afterlife. Write a good enough entry and you might just be reborn as a director for Wikipedia! Oh isn't this all so exciting!
North Carolina Farmers' Union (in my sandbox and more part of the HQACU), which I learned way too much about while researching Alexander.
Andrae B. Norsdkog, who pioneered Hollywood's music industry, battled in the California water wars, was twice-nominated and twice-removed as the Liberty Party's VP candidate, and then had a fruitful career as "incompetent American Hitler" (paraphrased)
Alli Reed (in my sandbox), Liberty Party organizer and third party activist. Delayed because I can't find a source for his death.
John Zahnd, who really liked placing dead last in the race for president
The Book (Harvey), to make rewriting Liberty Party (United States, 1932) easier (not sure its actually gonna happen though, might fit better in the Liberty Party article)
Julius Reiter, 1932 Farmer–Labor party VP Candidate who habitually ended debates with a fistfight
Roland Bruner, he had a mineral collection, a hall of minerals, lots of trout, and he led, for a time, not one but both Liberty Party's. Famously, newspapers recorded the first meeting of the second party as chaotic because he lacked a gavel. They make no comment on the only photo of him on the second day being with a gavel
John H. Dickinson, who taught, employed, was the commanding officer of, and endorsed Webb
Roy Harrop, who really liked jaywalking and who really didn't like Webb
L. R. Tillman, Farmer–Labor Party VP candidate and third party activist. Nephew of Benjamin. His name is sometimes reported as LeRoy R. Tillman... I am fairly certain the R. stands for Roy.
J. Edwin Spurr, who was a candidate for Senate in 1926, member of the executive committee, and wrote (and edited) some of the best sources on Webb.
Otis L. Spurgeon, before being Webb's final running mate, he was a "professional anti-Catholic" who bragged about introducing the Ku Klux Klan to Iowa.
Call–Chronicle–Examiner, a newspaper published after the Great earthquake had destroyed much of San Francisco. very interesting and has a lot of potential!
Michael S. Berman, a red link I stumbled upon in Sherpa (political consultant), discovered that his page had been deleted for not meeting GNG, and then discovered that he definitely met GNG. I was able to get it draftified and am currently working on returning it to mainspace.
Camelot (Kennedy), worthy of an article, has a brief section in JFK's article, but it could be expanded much further|
Spurinna (haruspex), who told Caesar to beware the Ides of March. Sorta. It was such a revelatory experience when I just... read Cicero. So weird. Writing articles on antiquity is really hard, though.
^Ok, so I'm lying—sue me! I actually found the "praise" much later.[3] I did find Reed asking the question almost immediately, though.[4]
After the election, the Chronicle ridiculed Reed for declining the nomination, calling Webb's 6,390 votes a "stinging rebuke". It declared "Well, 6,390 votes is more than most people ever got for president." ... well, true, but Reed had gotten 207,455 votes that same year so...[5]
^Not withstanding the fact that the hook put on the main page was wrong. You see, when designing a hook that I wanted to cause readers to think "Who the hell is Webb? I want to learn more", it naturally included Reed asking "Who the hell is Webb?"
But Reed didn't say that. He was misquoted. He said "Who in hell is Webb?"
^Although I only edit the unserious parts: The Highest Court in the Land, the Unterrified Democrat, third parties.
^Neuro-sama has had an article for 98.05% of her lifetime. I believe the only person who has her beat is Prince George of Wales, who has had an article for 100.53% of his lifetime.
^"Society". Evening star. September 10, 1929. p. 14. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
