User:Orangemike

File:User orangemike.jpg

Why they call me "Orange Mike"; photo taken while I was a delegate to the 2004 Democratic National Convention
Me to Ben Stein on his show: "Quiet good taste is the key. Once I learned to avoid that, I could find a look that worked for me."

This editor is a
Senior Editor
and is entitled to display this Rhodium
Editor Star.

I am Michael James Lowrey, called "Orange Mike" because I like the color a lot and tend to wear at least a bit of it on most days which are not Saint Patrick's Day.

I am a Wikipedia administrator, with a tendency to spend a fair amount of time on new-page patrol and general clean-up. I am considered to be toward the "deletionist" end of the inclusionist-deletionist spectrum, because I believe that many articles here (including not only new ones but many existing ones) are violations of our standards: how-to guides and game manuals, fan trivia, in-universe fiction summaries, obscure porn actor biographies, politician self-aggrandisement, memorials, original essays masquerading as scholarship, etc. When I say I am a bit of a deletionist, I mean that I hold articles here to higher standards of notability, verifiability, etc. than some other editors. (And yes, our servers are overloaded, and the problem's not getting any better.) I'd rather see fewer articles, better researched and better written. I am really glad to help other editors in any way I can, though; and please don't hesitate to contact me.

Wikipedia:Babel

enThis user is a native speaker of the English language.

eo-2Ĉi tiu uzanto povas komuniki per meza nivelo de Esperanto.

blz-3This user is a fluent speaker of blazon.

Search user languages

I was born in 1953 in Jackson, Tennessee. In 1977, disgusted by the corruption and stupidity of Southern politics, I moved to Milwaukee (partly at the urging of Frank Zeidler). I am a free-lance writer (book reviews, muckraking, and whatever suits me); I've been a member of the National Writers Union since 1985. I have worked part-time or full for Renaissance Books in Milwaukee, one of the largest used-book stores in North America (which doesn't have a website, alas!) since 1978. For most of the time since 1984, I have also worked for one agency or another of the State of Wisconsin, and been represented by (and active in) AFSCME Council 24, the Wisconsin State Employees Union. I am a graduate magna cum laude of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a B.A. in History. (I have also attended Jackson State Community College, Tennessee State University (a historically black university), the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, and the University of Chicago.)

Science fiction fandom, which I discovered in the 1970s, is my primary social outlet. I have been Fan Guest of Honor at a couple of science fiction conventions. For those who are actually interested, my Guest of Honor speech from Iowa's ICon 25 is to be found here. I appear in the feature-length film Finding the Future: A Science Fiction Conversation, and my daughter Kelly appears in the "Bonus" section of the DVD thereof.

For those of you interested in the Society for Creative Anachronism, in such circles I am y-clept Lord Inali of Tanasi, GDH. I was on an episode of the game show Win Ben Stein's Money. I won $2,000, and am told that I acquitted myself well enough. Ben accused me of resembling "Z.Z. Top on acid" but said I had a good singing voice! I was listed in one edition of Who's Who in America. Whoopee. I manage a family of virtual mutual funds on the Marketocracy site, which have a pretty good record. My Bacon number is 3. Michael J. "Orange Mike" Lowrey at IMDb

UWMThis user attends or attended University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. @This user can be reached by email. This user is a member of WikiProject Science Fiction.

This user is a Quaker. This user contributes using a Macintosh computer. This user's favorite color is orange.

This user reads science fiction. This user believes that evolution doesn't have to conflict with Christianity. If this user can't dance with Emma Goldman, he doesn't want to be in your revolution.

This person is interested in Organized Labour. This user is interested in the history of the United States. This user is interested in space exploration.

This user is a Citizen of the World (Terra). This user is proud to be an American. This user is a cheesehead.

This user supports Scottish independence. This user opposes monarchism. This user wants to tax the rich to provide health care, education and welfare for everyone.†$ £ ¥ €

This user is interested in his local history. This user is interested in political science. vn-203This user page has been vandalized 203 times.

LJThis user maintains a LiveJournal  as @orangemike. Éireannach This user is Irish. The Cherokee blood flows through this user's veins.

This user is interested in the Middle Ages This User is a Hippie. Peace. BtVSThis user is a fan of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV series.

SCAThis user is a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism. This user is a professional writer or journalist. This user attends or attended the University of Chicago.

This user is a Browncoat. We've done the impossible, and that makes us mighty. This user supports a United Irish Republic This user is thankful that the good guys won the Civil War †

This user opposes George W. Bush and supports his impeachment and prosecution. This user believes the world is a happier, safer and saner place because of religion.

My Barnstars

		The Editor's Barnstar
		I noticed that your edits were impressive and so I've decided to award you this Editor's Barnstar! Wikidudeman (talk) 06:00, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

		The Defender of the Wiki Barnstar
		For detecting IP sockpuppetry.--U.S.A.U.S.A.U.S.A. 07:02, 13 November 2007 (UTC)

		The Barnstar of Good Humor
		Does this mean that I should abandon the article I'm writing about the hot dogs at the stand down the street? They have a sign that says they're world famous! Ioeth (talk contribs friendly) 21:08, 10 January 2008 (UTC)

		The Defender of the Wiki Barnstar
		For covering the back of another admin. Bearian (talk) 15:18, 27 March 2008 (UTC)

		The WikiProject Wisconsin Barnstar
		For all of your work developing articles about Wisconsin and defending them from vandalism, I hereby award you the WikiProject Wisconsin Barnstar. Wear it with pride! Royalbroil 19:28, 29 March 2008 (UTC)

		The Orange Barnstar
		For your positive wording in here and in so many--omtay38

		The Original Barnstar
		For almost being as fast at deleting as I am at taggin! mboverload@ 03:50, 13 August 2008 (UTC)

The Barnstar of best laugh we've had in a long time. Shoemaker's Holiday (talk) 23:03, 26 September 2008 (UTC) DurovaCharge! 23:09, 26 September 2008 (UTC)

		CVU Anti-Vandalism Award
		You have been incredible neutral ,patient yet firm. Wikipedia runs only because of Wikipedians like you. Pharaoh of the Wizards (talk) 23:18, 3 October 2008 (UTC)

		The Barnstar of Diligence
		for being so "on the ball" Jac16888 (talk) 04:04, 4 October 2008 (UTC)

		The RickK Anti-Vandalism Barnstar
		For protecting my user page from vandalism. Bearian (talk) 19:58, 30 October 2008 (UTC)