Stolen from Sven Manguard, who stole it from someone else...

Don't complain about it—fix it!

Say where you got it.

Whack a vandal.

"Where were you when JFK died?" led me to Syncom—incorrectly credited with the first trans-pacific television transmission from the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. But I had seen a 15 minute transmission from the United States to Japan 9 months before, early on November 23, 1963—a message to the Japanese people that John F. Kennedy had been assassinated. I found the correct satellite—Relay 1 (and even the orbit numbers). These were my first edits—communications satellites, John F. Kennedy assassination articles, and the 1964 Summer Olympics.

My son's interest in animals led me to red panda. Denver Zoo, which had just had quadruplets (and triplets the year before) was not listed, but another with triplets was. I pushed red panda to GA, but that led first to captive breeding, Arabian oryx, Phoenix Zoo, and Arabian oryx reintroduction (my first new article). The IUCN classification for the red panda was incorrect or missing in many languages, so I started fixing these. In September 2009 I posted my first pictures (of the Denver Zoo). On October 19, 2009 I posted my first map (of the Denver Zoo).

I was born in Sendai, Japan, and lived in Japan through my high school years at the American School in Japan in Tokyo. I was in Japan during the 1964 Summer Olympics, but was only a kid and had no idea what it meant to Japan—truly its coming out party after World War II—until I expanded the article on Wikipedia 45 years later.

In 2013 I took a break. I was spending all my time keeping up with issues in my watchlist. This was not why I started editing. I wanted to expand articles, not just fix vandalism and style issues. In late 2013 I started again working on articles about places that mattered to me—The Sony Building (an oasis in a noisy city where I would go to listen to the bamboo pipe organ), the Imperial Hotel (our prom was the last "formal" event in the Frank Lloyd Wright Peacock Room). I can't cite my memories, but I can improve the articles. I've realized I had no idea how Tokyo was really laid out—my "map" was a subway diagram—and I'm learning a lot from Google Earth and Wikimapia. Hopefully I can continue contributing in the way I want, and in a way that helps Wikipedia.

Some early edits of mine were done as 72.42.76.8. My son did a few edits under that IP address starting when he was 9, and now has his own login. "Proud" is an understatement.

Barnstars, cookies, & special greetings
Merry Christmas, Donlammers!
At this time of year, I would like to extend seasons greetings to the Wikipedians I have interacted with in the past year on Wikipedia. I wish you a wonderful holiday season!
The Arbiter


The Tireless Contributor Barnstar
You are a valuable asset to WikiProject Zoo, for your valued and tireless work in organising zoo articles I award you this Barnstar. Keep up the fantastic work ZooPro 08:14, 14 February 2010 (UTC)


The Working Wikipedian's Barnstar
For all your tireless hard work in WP:ZOO. Congratulations and many thanks! The Arbiter 19:02, 8 May 2010 (UTC)


The Original Barnstar
For helping some temperamental high school students promote the bog turtle article to FA status. Thanks!--NYMFan69-86 (talk) 21:38, 10 May 2010 (UTC)



Cookies!

Thanks very much for expanding the Arkansas Alligator Farm and Petting Zoo article.
I really appreciate your help. Have some cookies. - Hydroxonium (talk) 09:25, 9 September 2010 (UTC) has given you some cookies! Cookies promote WikiLove and hopefully this one has made your day better. You can spread the "WikiLove" by giving someone else some cookies, whether it be someone you have had disagreements with in the past or a good friend.


To spread the goodness of cookies, you can add {{subst:Cookies}} to someone's talk page with a friendly message, or eat this cookie on the giver's talk page with {{subst:munch}}!


The Random Acts of Kindness Barnstar
In recognition of you help with the Arkansas Alligator Farm and Petting Zoo and more importantly, for taking the time to teach me and for your courteous and cordial nature, I hereby award Donlammers the Random Acts of Kindness Barnstar. You are one of the good ones. - Hydroxonium (talk) 17:40, 9 September 2010 (UTC)


The Fauna Barnstar
I ZooPro hereby award Donlammers with the Fauna Barnstar, the highest honour WikiProject Zoo and WikiProject Animals currently has and as such I bestow it onto you for your outstanding work to better the WikiProjects and Wikipedia. ZooPro 05:30, 10 September 2010 (UTC)


Merry Christmas, Donlammers!
At this wonderful time of year, I would like to give season’s greetings to all the fellow Wikipedians I have interacted with in the past! May you have a wonderful holiday season! The ArbiterTalk 02:29, 13 December 2010 (UTC)


The Tireless Contributor Barnstar
For your contributions to WikiProject Zoo and helping to reach the milestone of 1000 articles. ZooPro 05:56, 28 December 2010 (UTC)


The Barnstar of Diligence
Awarded for your hard work cleaning up the San Diego Zoo article! MelanieN (talk) 15:06, 27 April 2011 (UTC)


I just wanted to test the new <3 button at the top of the page :) I considered you a perfect candidate :)

ZooPro 01:57, 1 July 2011 (UTC)

The Teamwork Barnstar
For beefing up William Schwartz (law professor). Bearian (talk) 16:29, 2 April 2012 (UTC)


A wiki-cookie for you :) Thank you Don for fixing the DAB and article related to the National Zoo! Sarah (talk) 17:51, 9 June 2012 (UTC)


Season's Greetings, Donlammers!
At this wonderful time of year, I would like to give season’s greetings to all the fellow Wikipedians I have interacted with in the past! May you have a wonderful holiday season! MarnetteD | Talk 18:50, 22 December 2012 (UTC)
  • Also best wishes for your 2013 and happy editing whenever possible :-) MarnetteD | Talk 18:50, 22 December 2012 (UTC)


Thanks for your contributions for the article Dubai Dolphinarium...

Georgekurian80823 (talk) 12:57, 31 December 2012 (UTC)


Have an enjoyable New Year!
Hello Donlammers: Thanks for all of your contributions to Wikipedia, and have a happy and enjoyable New Year! Cheers, ~ Jedi94 (talk) 23:19, 31 December 2012 (UTC)



Send New Year cheer by adding {{subst:Happy New Year 2013}} to people's talk pages with a friendly message.
DYK
Updated DYK query On February 26, 2010, Did you know? was updated with a fact from the article Alexandria Zoological Park, which you created or substantially expanded. You are welcome to check how many hits your article got while on the front page (here's how, quick check ) and add it to DYKSTATS if it got over 5,000. If you know of another interesting fact from a recently created article, then please suggest it on the Did you know? talk page.