Wikipedia

Wasted Time R

Joined 16 May 2005

So named after the Eagles' striking "Wasted Time" and "Wasted Time (Reprise)" from Hotel California. And a metaphor for WP editing?

This user is greater than the sum of his userboxes.

That was then, this is now ...

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Still active, but not at the levels of before and with a focus shifted onto different goals.

Why it is or isn't a waste, Part 3

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70,000+This user has made more than 70,000 contributions to Wikipedia.

Advice for new editors

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Look before you leap. Really. Study the subculture here until you have a feel for what works and what doesn't.

Advice for editing history articles

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Read books. And not just the random pages you find online in Amazon or Google; whole books, or at least whole chapters thereof, in a library.

Advice for editing political articles

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Don't.

A's and faves

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Not that I'm not still minding all of these ...

  5 FA articles: I've been the main writer of:

3 I've made a significant contribution (#2 editor) to: Nancy Reagan (delisted 15 years later) • Saxbe fix • Zoo TV Tour
I've made fewer but important contributions to: Pat Nixon • City of Blinding Lights • Temple Israel (Memphis, Tennessee) • maybe others?

  1 MILHIST A-class articles I've been the main writer of: John S. McCain, Jr.

  48 GA articles I've been the main writer of:

3 I've been a significant contributor (#2 editor) towards: Cornell Plantations • Cynthia Lennon • Vaillancourt Fountain
Also 4 GA that are now FA and thus off this list.
 

  163 DYK appearances related to new or 5x expanded articles: 4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy) • Why Baby Why • U2 360° Tour‎ • Tony Sings the Great Hits of Today! • World Conference on Human Rights • Carolina in My Mind • I'm Your Captain (Closer to Home) • Jay Weinberg • LatinoJustice PRLDEF • United States House Permanent Select Committee on Aging‎ • Hematological Cancer Research Investment and Education Act • Queens Borough Hall • Racing in the Street • Good Shepherd (song) • Citizen Action • Billboard Touring Awards • Assumption Preparatory School • Automobile Manufacturers Association • United States Senate Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs • Running to Stand Still • Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review • Ultraviolet (Light My Way)‎ • Stranded (Haiti Mon Amour)‎ • Sweet Thursday (album)‎ • Arizona SB1070 (failed GAN) • Border Governors Conference • The American Israelite • Waitin' on a Sunny Day • Youngstown (song) • Nannygate • Enough Is Enough (organization)‎ • United States Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture • United States Ambassador to the United Nations Human Rights Council • Spying on United Nations leaders by United States diplomats • Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 • Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation • Main Street Connect • Auditorio Monte do Gozo • Monte do Gozo • Mitt Romney presidential campaign, 2012 • Heather Zichal • Baby Don't Go • Budget Control Act of 2011‎ • Jerome J. Shestack‎ • Alabama HB 56 • New World Center • 1111 Lincoln Road • American Laboratory Theatre • David J. Lane (ambassador) • Harold A. Lafount • Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together • God Bless America (charity album) • American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 • My Beloved World • Go East, Young Man • International Conference on Hollywoodism • Morleigh Steinberg • Vaillancourt Fountain • Michelle Nunn • Secondary School Mathematics Curriculum Improvement Study • Continuing Appropriations Act, 2014 • Arnold A. Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies • Arnold A. Saltzman • Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 • Icy Strait Point • Huna Totem Corporation • Center of International Studies • United States House Select Committee on Events Surrounding the 2012 Terrorist Attack in Benghazi • Keith Harper (lawyer) • Hard Choices • Kiswe Mobile • Advanced Computer Techniques • Association of British Secretaries in America • Netsmart Technologies • Marvin Kitman • Neil W. Chamberlain • E. Wight Bakke • Yale Labor and Management Center • Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2016 • Dear Socks, Dear Buddy • An Invitation to the White House • Dansk Datamatik Center • DDC-I • Tartan Laboratories • Azraq refugee camp • Mitt Romney's March 3 speech • Dwight L. Bush, Sr. • Makila James • Yale Institute of International Studies • Frederick Sherwood Dunn • Tony Bennett at the Talk of the Town • Electrada • Hughes Dynamics • Informatics General • Trapped (Jimmy Cliff song) • Bob Wills Is Still the King • Los Angeles Times–Washington Post News Service • Bartell Group • Paul Y. Hammond • First Day Hikes • Unix System Laboratories • Novell BrainShare • Wisconsin School (diplomatic history) • Walter LaFeber • Gustavus Myers Center for the Study of Bigotry and Human Rights • Greater London Group • William A. Robson • Princeton Shopping Center • The Book of Gutsy Women • Caldera International • SCO Forum • MerchantBridge • Xinuos • Visionware • IXI Limited • HCR Corporation • Systime Computers Ltd • Parallel Computers, Inc. • Unix Expo • State Department Panel of Consultants on Disarmament • William L. Borden • Priscilla Johnson McMillan • James R. Shepley • Church Center for the United Nations • Arnold Wolfers • Lewis Strauss (due to GA) • Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 • Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L. • Canopy Group • Santa Cruz Operation • TRW Vidar • Chorus Systèmes SA • Day-Timer • National War Fund • New York City Tribune • 1978 New York City newspaper strike • Third session of the United Nations General Assembly • Indigo Swing • Joining Forces • Concurrent Computer Corporation • Brassey's • Helen Hadsell • Biden Foundation • Betts, Hall, Leavell and Trucks • Werner J. Dannhauser • Harris Computer Systems • Mike Goodman • Columbia Lectures in International Studies • Univel • PL/C • Richard W. Conway • Walter Hines Page School of International Relations • Done Somebody Wrong • Achievement Test in English Composition • Capex Corporation • Computer Applications, Inc. • Pansophic Systems • The Librarian (version control system) • United States Conciliation Service • National War Labor Board (1942–1945) • Walker Interactive Products • Leonia Alternative High School • Englewood Golf Club

 This user contributes to Wikimedia Commons.

Beyond these, I've created and/or been the major author of literally hundreds and hundreds of Wikipedia articles. Some of my (once, sometimes still, sometimes lost) favorites:

Started towards GA-level quality but really need completion/returning to: Rod Stewart • James Taylor • She Loves You

Articles that look good in parts but I don't think I've fully captured the subject on: Legal Services Corporation

Articles that I think I'm still #1 editor on by frequency that I was not very (or at all) happy with state of (and in most cases have long since stopped looking at): The Animals • The Rascals • Bruce Springsteen • Whitewater controversy • John S. McCain, Sr. • Rudy Giuliani • Victoria Reggie Kennedy • Dixie Chicks • The Allman Brothers Band • Bob Seger • Elton John • and others I'm no doubt forgetting

Advice for self

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Awake, you sleepers, from your sleep! Rouse yourselves, you slumberers ... who are wasting your years in vain pursuits that neither profit nor save.

Ten Years On, two different perspectives

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Awesome
 
Ten years!

Yikes. My first edit on WP (as an IP, this account came a few months later) was ten years ago today. What to say? Came across a Chinese fortune cookie paper I had saved the other day: "If you put up with small annoyances, you will gain great results." Decent advice in general. And, allowing for sometimes larger values of 'small' and lesser values of 'great', a pretty good description of writing WP articles.

Not a waste if I'm an 'influencer' or 'protector'?

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Barnstars

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Initially was not sure I really believed in this metaphor, but ... some years later and after 43 of them, it's nice to feel appreciated ...

  The Minor Barnstar
For making minor edits to improve the quality in the Il Divo article I award you this Barnstar Rosameliamartinez 09:10, 12 March 2006 (UTC)


Keep up the good job with the many concert [tour] articles. I'd award one of those stars, but there's some silly administrative debate on the appropriate star to hand out for WP:MUSIC contributions. --Madchester 21:20, 7 August 2006 (UTC)


  The Editor's Barnstar
I, Eseymour, award you this Editor's Barnstar for your fine work in leading the dismantling of Hillary Rodham Clinton controversies and integrating the content into appropriate separate articles. Awarded on the 13th of November, 2007.


  The Barnstar of Good Humor
Thanks for the laugh from the Britney Spears comment at WP:GAR. I’m envious that your life is so carefree as to allow you to place concern on train wrecks troubled pop stars. ;) Ɛƚƈơƅƅơƚɑ talk 17:54, 7 January 2008 (UTC)


  The Wasted Time Barnstar
For putting up with all the garbage that goes along with political articles and for being able to keep cool for 3 years without running away like many of us have considered. I will waste some of my time to give you this waste of time barnstar. STX 19:23, 6 February 2008 (UTC)



  The Tireless Contributor Barnstar
This barnstar is for your tireless efforts in creating and improving the Hillary Clinton article, please keep up the good work. Thanks! Dwilso talk 04:04, 18 March 2008 (UTC)


  The Resilient Barnstar
For being able to listen to criticism, and improve in your ability for NPOV writing a very informative section on the Cultural and political image of Hillary Clinton. Kudos!! ≈ jossi ≈ (talk) 03:11, 20 March 2008 (UTC)


  The Original Barnstar
To Wasted Time R, on the occasion of press coverage of your wiki work. Few have represented Wikipedia so well and at its highest level of excellence. As others have said, well done. Congratulations! -Susanlesch (talk) 00:33, 4 April 2008 (UTC)


  The Special Barnstar
To Wasted Time R on a very special occasion, in recognition of outstanding contributions to Wikipedia. Susanlesch (talk) 02:40, 4 April 2008 (UTC)


  The Half Barnstar
For incredible collaboration to get John McCain up to GA status. Keep up the good work! Eustress (talk) 19:37, 18 April 2008 (UTC)


  The Working Wikipedian's Barnstar
For going above and beyond the call of duty to deal with the Hillary Rodham Clinton FAC when the nominator didn't follow up. Ealdgyth - Talk 14:41, 29 April 2008 (UTC)


  The Tireless Contributor Barnstar
For this, I, J.delanoygabsanalyze, hereby award you this Tireless Contributer Barnstar. I don't think I have ever seen such dedication anywhere, let alone on Wikipedia. Congratulations, and keep up the good work! J.delanoygabsanalyze 03:16, 1 June 2008 (UTC)


  United States barnstar of national merit
I award you the barnstar of national merit in recognition of your ceaseless contributions of excellence in the United States Senator John McCain article and biographical series. —

   Justmeherenow (  ) 19:58, 18 August 2008 (UTC)


  The Working Man's Barnstar
For your participation in the Spring 2009 GAN backlog elimination drive, in which you reviewed 5 articles, you are granted this barnstar! Great work! —The participants on the Spring 2009 GAN backlog elimination drive 21:24, 31 March 2009 (UTC)


  The Original Barnstar
For all of your hard effort in getting War Tour up to GA which, if it is indeed the first Tour article to make it to that level, is an accomplishment to be proud of. MelicansMatkin (talk) 00:03, 14 April 2009 (UTC)


  The Special Barnstar
For bringing the Running to Stand Still article up to WP:NSONGS standard, and then some... --Merbabu (talk) 23:14, 20 November 2009 (UTC)


  The Barnstar of Good Humor
For commendable patience and tolerance in the face of his GA reviewer's continually missed deadlines and inane complaints about phrasing, I award Wasted Time R this barnstar of good humo(u)r. Steve Smith (talk) 10:43, 4 December 2009 (UTC)


  The Guidance Barnstar
Awarded to User:Wasted Time R Appreciation for splitting that "time" between your own excellence in editing without forgetting about those of us still plodding along. Leahtwosaints (talk) 01:34, 29 March 2010 (UTC)


  The Teamwork Barnstar
For you excellent work on the Arizona SB1070 article, repeatedly editing and contributing with other users. Theo10011 (talk) 19:01, 3 May 2010 (UTC)


  The Original Barnstar
Thank you for helping me out three and a half years ago when I did not completely understand how things worked. You and User:JayJasper are tied as the most neutral wikipedia editors. I am proud to have collaborated with y'all.Southern Texas (talk) 22:40, 9 December 2010 (UTC)


  The Barnstar of Diligence
For extraordinary scrutiny, precision, and community service. Cheers! —Eustress talk 22:02, 7 February 2012 (UTC)


  The Barnstar of National Merit
This tricolor-beribboned barnstar is awarded for the recipient's even-handedness in addressing nation-of-origin issues on Wikipedia. (And, by the way, cogratulations on the George W. Romney bio's having become an article especially featured on Wikipedia!)
this WikiAward was given to Wasted Time R by Hodgdon's secret garden (talk) on 23:37, 14 February 2012 (UTC)


  The Editor's Barnstar
A great article on Lenore Romney. Congrats on the GA and may we see many more!! ♦ Dr. Blofeld 22:17, 3 May 2012 (UTC)


  The Special Barnstar
Thanks Wasted Time R! You assisted in various ways on the Paul McCartney FAC. Thank you! Without your help McCartney would not be a FA today! ~ GabeMc (talk|contribs) 21:39, 9 July 2012 (UTC)


  The Barnstar of Diligence
For your work on Political positions of Mitt Romney, where you put your nose to the grindstone and just kept on fixing the article, even while the rest of us squabbled endlessly. Still-24-45-42-125 (talk) 14:51, 30 July 2012 (UTC)


  The Defender of the Wiki Barnstar
I'm beginning to see why they call this "silly season". I've noticed the upheaval going on with many of our politics-related articles, and I'm impressed with the calm, respectful, and neutral way in which you deal with the POV coming from both sides. I can't say I envy your position, but I have great respect for the work you're doing. ~Adjwilley (talk) 21:12, 11 September 2012 (UTC)


  The Teamwork Barnstar
You, Anythingyouwant and Gabe deserve any one of several barnstars for your work at Mitt Romney's FAC, but I chose this one because of your tireless effort cooperating with the other two in resolving the many many issues that had to be tackled. Congratulations on helping get the article to where it is hamiltonstone (talk) 00:53, 2 November 2012 (UTC)


  The Special Barnstar
for such careful attention to the sources in reviewing DYK nominations, specifically in regard to Ved Vejen. With gratitude. -- Ipigott (talk) 18:55, 2 February 2013 (UTC)


  The Random Acts of Kindness Barnstar
Thanks for all your efforts and for your time. Miss Bono (talk) 17:21, 21 March 2013 (UTC)


  The U2 Barnstar
I hereby award you the U2 Barnstar for your efforts in helping Wikiproject U2. Congratulations! For your Contributions on Morleigh Steinberg's Article. Enjoy it  Miss Bono (zootalk) 14:06, 19 April 2013 (UTC)


  The Tireless Contributor Barnstar
i don't know if this is the right bstar to say thank you for all you are doing for Morleigh Steinberg's article... but THANKS A LOT Miss Bono (zootalk) 12:17, 19 June 2013 (UTC)


  The Good Article Barnstar
For your contributions to bring George McGovern to Good Article status. With 18,000 views a month, this article serves as many readers as ten average GAs put together. Thanks for going after the big topics--it's hugely appreciated! -- Khazar2 (talk) 12:38, 7 August 2013 (UTC)


  The Teamwork Barnstar
Thanks for lending your talent to the Sgt. Pepper peer review and FAC. Because of some wonderful teamwork during the last month, the article is among the best on Wikipedia today. I couldn't have done it alone, and I hope that someday I can return the kindness and generosity that I've enjoyed during this process. Cheers! GabeMc (talk|contribs) 16:22, 23 May 2014 (UTC)


  The Good Article Barnstar
For nominating Systime Computers for GA. TheEpicGhosty (talk) 13:54, 28 October 2020 (UTC)


  The Original Barnstar
For saving Lights (musician) at GAN! Raymie (t • c) 01:37, 10 November 2020 (UTC)


  The Tireless Contributor Barnstar
Thank you for conducting 10 reviews in the October 2020 GAN Backlog drive. Your work helped us to reduce the backlog by over 48%. Regards, Eddie891 Talk Work 14:45, 19 November 2020 (UTC)


  The DYK Barnstar
Thanks for nominating Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 for DYK, and for including me and the other major contributors. You led the charge on this, and it hit the front page today. Much appreciated. –Novem Linguae (talk) 20:13, 13 January 2021 (UTC)


  The Guidance Barnstar
For your thoughtful review at the GA nomination for Kathy Karpan. You are thorough with your feedback, but more importantly, you treat every interaction with fellow Wikipedians as an opportunity to educate and to provide helpful advice. Even an experienced editor like myself has a lot to learn from you! Edge3 (talk) 07:13, 8 March 2021 (UTC)


  The Working Wikipedian's Barnstar
Thank you for completing 5 reviews in the March 2021 backlog drive. Your work helped us reduce the backlog by over 52%. Best, Eddie891 Talk Work 13:48, 21 April 2021 (UTC)


  The Special Barnstar
Thank you and @Edge3: for helping to get Kathy Karpan to GA status while I was away from Wikipedia due to a friend's death. Jon698 (talk) 18:32, 18 May 2021 (UTC)


  The Tireless Contributor Barnstar
For your thorough review of Eric Anthony Abrahams and other high quality GA reviews. Eddie891 Talk Work 12:11, 22 July 2021 (UTC)


  The Working Wikipedian's Barnstar
For your valued work in the July 2021 GAN Backlog Drive, which, in a single month, helped to reduce the backlog by nearly 50%. --Usernameunique (talk) 05:30, 19 September 2021 (UTC)


 
The Alaskan Barnstar
Thank you for your edits to Alaska politicians. I noticed your edits to Mike Gravel over the years. Mycranthebigman (talk) 19:58, 2 May 2022 (UTC)


  The Article Rescue Barnstar
For your formidable efforts saving articles as part of WP:DCGAR. ~~ AirshipJungleman29 (talk) 18:41, 29 March 2023 (UTC)

Early history

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Starting in January 2005 I made around 1,000 edits as anons User: 68.197.107.71 and User: 67.108.122.62, never feeling committed to the idea that WP converges to quality or that anyone reads these articles. I'm still not sure on either account ... a page view count mechanism would be really helpful. In May 2005 I began using this account; within a little more than a month I had another 1,000 edits. Too much!?

2008 update ... a page count tool is finally here!!

Why it's a waste, Part 1

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Well, with even more time in the past, this below is an example of how WP has improved. All of the problems mentioned here can and do exist, and can sometimes drive editors crazy, but over time it is also possible to maintain stable, high-quality articles, even on (some) political subjects. And the best-selling music artists article mentioned below has gotten a lot better.

The biggest problems in WP articles, especially those dealing with popular culture:

  1. Excessive detail in the wrong places, such as an article's intro
  2. Inconsistent levels of detail within an article or across a set of articles
  3. Just plain too much detail

<time passes>

Regarding convergence to quality, I think it can happen for articles on subjects important enough to warrant attention but obscure enough to not get too much attention. Political subjects or contentious history, forget it. Popular culture that attracts a lot of people, forget it. Even if you get these kinds of articles right, someone else will come along and mess it up. Even if you and a bunch of other editors hammer out differences and get it right, in a short while other people will come, ignore your agreements, and mess it all up. Even if you watchlist these articles and fix the mess ups as they happen, eventually you'll get tired, the hordes won't, and down it will all go.

Regarding if anyone is reading, one sanity check is to Google a subject and to see how high the WP article shows up. If it's not in the first two pages of results, chances are good no one's going to find it. I have a feeling a large subset of WP articles are only read by editors, not by "real" readers looking for information.

<time passes>

The first article I ever edited is also just about the worst article in Wikipedia, List of best-selling music artists. Missing or bogus data, pov agendas, pure vandalism, heavy churn, perpetually under VfD. The edit was this: [1]. I picked this article because I could tell it was pretty worthless, so if I blundered it totally, no harm done. The same still applies.

<time passes>

Proper usage in music articles

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Quotes and italics

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Popular music article writers, please memorize Wikipedia:Music#Albums, bands, and songs. Albums go in italics, songs go in double quotes, bands are just proper nouns, and only the first reference to the title subject of an article (and any alternate names of it) go in bold. How hard is this to understand? Yet there are jillions of music articles that get this wrong in every which way.

Tour names

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As specified in Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Music#Popular music, concert tour names are being done throughout Wikipedia as regular proper nouns, not italics or quotes. See Talk:Zoo TV Tour#Tour name conventions for the original rationale.

Punctuation

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Another common fault is placing punctuation inside the double quotes used for song titles, such as: 

Her biggest hits were "Fool to Love," "Cry Every Day," and "Tears for Years."

Take a look at Wikipedia:Manual of Style#Quotation marks. Song titles are clearly the case where the punctuation is not "part of the sense" of the thing being quoted, and therefore should be outside the double quotes. Thus the above should be: 

Her biggest hits were "Fool to Love", "Cry Every Day", and "Tears for Years".

I've seen more than a few cases where people make the same mistake in their coding with italics: 

Her most popular albums included ''No Love Supreme,'' ''Sorrow Tomorrow,'' and ''Love is Pain.''

which is really ridiculous – do the titles on the real album covers include commas and periods?

It is true that other publications (New York Times, Rolling Stone) put punctuation inside the double quotes in the first case, but Wikipedia standards are clear that you don't; see WP:MOSLQ for another statement to this effect.

Why it's a waste, Part 2

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Too much wasted time has taken its toll. Have wiped my 1000-item watchlist and only put back a few obligations and obscure things I care about. Edits should be few(er), once I finish some things I started.

From December 2006. Didn't work.

Why Trivia sections are bad

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Here's another example of where WP works – back in 2005–06 trivia sections drove me nuts, but standards were drawn up, editors imitated one another in getting rid of them, and now it's rare to see any.

All sorts of articles, mostly popular culture ones but some other kinds as well, have picked up sections named Trivia. This is not a good idea!

Wikipedia is an encyclopedia, not a catchbin for every factoid about a subject, as some non-Wikipedia popular culture web pages are. Wikipedia articles should have a cohesiveness of content. If a "Trivia" item is really important, it should be put into one of the mainline sections of text in the appropriate spot. If a "Trivia" item is somewhat important, it can often be pushed down into a subordinate article (such as an album or song article for a musical artist, rather than the main article). If a "Trivia" item isn't important, it should be left out of any article! It's that simple.

Trivia sections are the lazy way out; they represent no organisation, no structure, no cohesion. They should all be gotten rid of, something I've tried to do when I've encountered them in articles I've worked on.

See Wikipedia:WikiProject Music/MUSTARD#Trivia for a guideline against Trivia sections in music articles.

And Wikipedia:Avoid trivia sections in articles for a guideline against Trivia sections in all articles.

Why it's mostly a waste, Part 4

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Content of Wikipedia, November 2007.citation needed HT:User talk:JzG

Well, this is a bit harsh, but you get the idea.

/trackarea sandboxgateway

Notice of FAR

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An article which you have contributed to, Hillary Clinton, has been nominated for a featured article review here. Please join the discussion on whether this article meets featured article criteria. Articles are typically reviewed for two weeks. If substantial concerns are not addressed during the review period, the article will be moved to the Featured Article Removal Candidates list for a further period, where editors may declare "Keep" or "Delist" the article's featured status. The instructions for the review process are here. ––FormalDude talk 06:37, 27 August 2022 (UTC)

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