Wikipedia began appearing in my Google searches around 2002 or 2003. Between September and December 2004, as a non-registered user, I edited and created a few articles, then went away.

Had the slogan: "The Free Encyclopedia That Anyone Can Edit" already been invented? I could never get used to the idiocy of that slogan, especially when the right statement was so close: "The Free Encyclopedia That You Can Edit". People poke fun at Wikipedia repeating, literally, that it is worthless, as it is "an encyclopedia that anyone can edit". And here you've got Wikipedia's own motto appearing to echo their derision! I have often wondered who the back room genius was who came up with the slogan.

On February 28th 2012 I reconnected with Wikipedia and registered. At first I was Basemetal00 because «Basemetal» (nothing to do with base, metal, bass or Mettle) was not available, and I had rather not be «Precious» or «Noble». Then, in December 2012 I discovered I could «usurp» the username «Basemetal», which belonged to someone who had, in six years, made this one edit

mussolini was horribly mutilated before/after his murder.  The flesh was peeled off his face and skull. However I am unable to verify this as I was an eyewitness.

and never objected to my taking over his username, if he even became aware of it.