text:
Fender Jaguar

The Fender Jaguar is an electric guitar by Fender Musical Instruments characterized by an offset-waist body, a relatively unusual switching system with two separate circuits for lead and rhythm, and a short-scale 24" neck. Owing some roots to the Jazzmaster, it was introduced in 1962 as Fender's feature-laden top-of-the-line model, designed to lure players from Gibson. During its initial 13-year production run, the Jaguar did not sell as well as the less expensive Stratocaster and Telecaster, and achieved its most noticeable popularity in the surf music scene. After the Jaguar was taken out of production in 1975, vintage Jaguars became popular first with American punk rock players, and then more so during the alternative rock, shoegazing and indie rock movements of the 1980s and 1990s. Fender began making a version in Japan in the mid-1980s, and then introduced a USA-made reissue in 1999. Since then, Fender has made a variety of Jaguars in America, Mexico, Indonesia and China under both the Fender and Squier labels. Original vintage Jaguars sell for many times their original price.

Initial production, 1962–75
Both the Fender company and vintage guitar authorities date the introduction of the Jaguar to 1962. One writer states that the model was introduced in December 1960, but a 1962 ad featuring a Jaguar automobile in the background referred to the "new" Fender Jaguar.

1960s advertising for the Jaguar often had beach themes, underscoring the guitar's appeal to surf musicians. Photographs for the campaign, done by Bob Perine, included photographs of bikini-clad girls on sandy beaches holding Jaguars—many of these featured Perine's daughter and her friends. The guitar was not, however, heavily publicized by surf players themselves, although The Beach Boys' Carl Wilson is featured in one early publicity photo.

The Jaguar never enjoyed the popularity of its Stratocaster and Telecaster siblings. After several upgrades—which included custom finishes, a bound neck, pearloid block inlays, maple fingerboard with black binding, and block inlays—the Jaguar was discontinued in December 1975 after a thirteen-year production run.

Resurgence
Punk and early new wave guitarists such as Tom Verlaine of the band Television (who can be seen playing a Jaguar on a 2003 album cover) adopted the Jaguar for both contrarian and economic reasons; its lack of mainstream use made it both a style statement and less expensive than guitars of comparable quality. In the 1990s the popularity of the Jaguar and Jazzmaster exploded after they were used by guitarists such as Scott Hill, John Squire, Kurt Cobain (for whom a signature model was introduced), Kevin Shields, Black Francis, J Mascis, Brian Molko, Rowland S. Howard, Thurston Moore, John Frusciante, Will Sergeant and Johnny Marr (who has a signature model). Despite this, Jaguars still fetch considerably less than Telecasters and Stratocasters of similar vintage.

One of the reasons why the Jaguar was used by indie rock artists is the sonic possibilities offered by the bridge construction. The bridge and vibrato unit of the Jaguar and the Jazzmaster help produce sympathetic resonance since there is a considerable length of string between the bridge and the tailpiece. Additionally, by strumming the strings behind the bridge, a characteristic chiming sound can be created, an effect which has been exploited by artists like Sonic Youth.

Given the relative rarity of Jaguar players, perhaps the only example of a band that used two guitarists on Jaguars simultaneously in performance on certain of their numbers was the 2003-2004 and post-2012 lineups of The Mavericks, featuring Raul Malo and Eddie Perez.

Reissue
Fender reissued the 1962 version of the Jaguar in 1999 as part of its American Vintage Reissue (AVRI) Series (lower cost Japanese-made versions were available between 1984 and 2015, originally made of basswood and then alder like their American counterparts). Several other variations have been released within the last decade, including several humbucker versions and a Jaguar bass guitar in 2006. Fender Japan produced Jaguars for its own domestic market with numerous special editions including an accurate version of Kurt Cobain's modified model until Fender chose to end the licensing agreement in place since the early 1980s in favor of taking over Japanese production themselves in 2015. There are notable differences between the typical Japanese models and their American counterparts. One of the more notable examples would be the electronics: Japanese production models typically used cheaper wiring, miniature pots throughout the guitar (as opposed to only in the rhythm circuit as would be found on original and AVRI examples), lower-quality pickups, and shielding paint as opposed to brass shielding plates installed in the cavities (Japanese guitars made before 96/97 also have brass shielding) seen on typical American Jaguars. Original and AVRI variants have nitrocellulose lacquer finishes, while Japanese versions would typically be finished in polyester, though there are rare Japanese examples with nitrocellulose finishes as well. US-produced AVRI Jaguars often did not sport matching headstocks, unlike their vintage counterparts, however, many Japanese models do, and also offer some custom colors not found as easily on American models.

In the late 2000s, Fender began to offer limited editions of the AVRI models from a few of their more-popular retailers, with these specific variants being referred to as the Thin Skin series. A collaboration between several notable American guitar retailers (Such as Dave's Guitar Shop in Wisconsin and Wildwood Guitars in Colorado) culminated in the release of otherwise typical AVRI Jaguars as well as Jazzmasters, Telecasters, and Stratocasters, but in more sought-after Classic finishes that Fender otherwise had little interest in releasing themselves. These were almost identical to the production AVRI models, with the exception of their finish options and the inclusion of matching headstocks, a 9.5" fretboard radius instead of the vintage-accurate 7.25", and jumbo fretwire. The Thin Skin models used 100% nitrocellulose finishes, a departure from the production models, which used polyurethane undercoats/sealers. These Thin Skin models also featured thinner color and clear coats. These models were available in a number of Custom Colors, and, unlike the standard production '62 Jaguars, these did feature matching headstocks.

In 2012, Fender replaced the entire AVRI line with the American Vintage (AV) Series. The AV Series included more vintage-accurate appointments, such as more accurate decals, thinner cases (as would be found with original 1950s/60s models), a new 'flash' finishing process, updated neck profiles, pickups, tuners, and vintage-reproduction paperwork and manuals. The replacement for the 1962 Jaguar was the 1965 Jaguar. The 1965 Jaguar features a bound rosewood fingerboard with larger pearloid dot inlays, a slightly larger C profile, new, more vintage-accurate pickups, a thinner finish, no amber tint in the clear coat on the neck, and ships with a black tolex case with a red plush interior. Originally offered in Candy Apple Red and Three-Color Sunburst, the Candy Apple Red has since been discontinued. As with the AVRI model, the headstock on the AV '65 in Candy Apple Red did not feature a matching headstock. Fender did offer a limited production run of the '65 Jaguar in Ice Blue Metallic, which did feature a matching headstock.

Fender's Custom Shop also produces various Jaguar models, many of which are reissues/relics. Some of the Custom Shop offerings feature modern appointments (such as radius, pickups, hardware, and finishes).

Although Fender has many signature Stratocasters and Telecasters designed in conjunction with famous players and the first signature Jazzmasters were introduced in 2007, Kurt Cobain's signature Jaguar was introduced in 2011 (20th anniversary of the release of Nirvana's Nevermind album). In the past, a Kurt Cobain replica Jaguar was made for the Japanese domestic market. The Fender Jag-Stang, a Mustang/Jaguar hybrid, was built for Kurt Cobain based on his design.

In May 2008 Fender introduced the Classic Player Series Jaguar and Jaguar HH with dual Enforcer humbuckers, which are made in Mexico and sold for under $1000. Fender have made numerous changes to the classic design, however, replacing the bridge with a Tune-o-matic type, giving it a 9.5" fretboard radius, moving the vibrato unit plate closer to the bridge and installing high output pickups. This Classic Player guitar is also available as a "1966" limited-edition version with a bound neck featuring rectangular block inlays and CBS-style decals as of 2009.

In September 2010 the Black Top Jaguar HH was introduced as part of the Mexico-made Black Top series. Features include a solid alder body with gloss polyester finish, chrome hardware, dual Hot Vintage AlNiCo humbucking pickups with chrome metal covers and black skirted amp knobs. Other refinements include a maple neck with a 9.5"-radius rosewood fingerboard, 22 medium-jumbo frets, 24"-scale length, a stop tailpiece and a three-way toggle switch.

Features
The Jaguar was built from ideas first incorporated in the Jazzmaster, with a similar "offset waist" body and vibrato unit. Unlike the Jazzmaster, the Jaguar was fitted with a shorter 24-inch scale, 22-fret neck and featured smaller single-coil pickups with notched side plates that improved RF shielding, making the Jaguar less prone to interference than the more popular Stratocaster and Telecaster.

The Jaguar and the Jazzmaster also shared a dual-circuit setup, one circuit for lead and another for rhythm, each with separate controls, allowing for two preset tone and volume settings between which the guitarist could rapidly switch. The Jaguar, however, had a more complex lead circuit consisting of three switches and two dials on the lower bout: the first two switches were on/off switches for the neck and bridge pickups, respectively, while the third switch engaged a capacitor that served as a high-pass filter (sometimes referred to as a "strangle" switch). The rhythm circuit, set into operation when the upper bout switch is flicked upwards, had individual volume and tone rollers but no option to choose between pickups. This rhythm circuit has a bassier, neck-pickup only range.

Another new feature was a spring-loaded rubber string mute, which was flipped upwards from under the strings by a lever. The mute was designed for guitarists who had to palm mute for extended periods, which was difficult or impossible on the Jaguar's floating bridge without knocking the bridge out of position. This feature proved unpopular and became known as a "tone killer"; the cover and its foam were usually quickly removed.

The bridge on many versions of the Jaguar has become known for several design shortcomings and consequent problems. The "threaded" bridge saddles allow the strings to slip out of alignment if they are plucked or strummed hard, motivating some players to fit replacement saddles that have deeper slots or grooves to hold the strings, or to replace the bridge completely. The Fender Mustang style bridge is a popular choice of replacement. Another issue sometimes encountered is a tendency for the bridge's support posts to slip down into the holes that house them. Some people have use strategies inconsistent with the original intended physics to stop the bridge from rocking as it was designed to do, including wrapping tape around the bridge posts.

Like the Jazzmaster and Bass VI, the Jaguar has an unusual floating vibrato mechanism that was a complete departure from the "synchronized vibrato" system found on the Stratocaster. Leo Fender believed that this new design was superior to previous designs since the bridge actually moved backwards and forwards along with the strings during vibrato use, thereby maintaining proper intonation even under duress, and preventing strings from binding. This floating bridge concept was also later used on the Fender Mustang. The floating vibrato mechanism also features a built-in lock, which helped the player preserve the guitar's tuning in the event of a string breakage and easing removal of the vibrato arm.

Variations
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Jaguar in 2012, Fender released a USA-made model that featured a C-shaped maple neck with lacquer finish and vintage-style truss rod, bound 9.5"-radius rosewood fingerboard with 22 medium jumbo frets and pearloid block inlays, a modified one-degree neck-angle-pocket cut to improve pitch, a re-positioned tremolo plate to increase bridge break angle to prevent string slippage and increased sustain, a custom neckplate and specially designed hotter wound single-coil neck and bridge pickups for fatter tone and more output. The 50th Anniversary Jaguar was available in three Custom Colors: Burgundy Mist Metallic, Candy Apple Red, and Lake Placid Blue. The first 100 of each color were hand-numbered.
 * Fender 50th Anniversary Jaguar

A Jaguar with high-output humbuckers, alder body, maple neck with rosewood fretboard, 9,5" radius, T.O.M./STP style bridge, volume and tone pots and a three-way Gibson style pickup switch.
 * Fender Blacktop

Similar to the regular Blacktop Jaguar with high-output humbuckers, alder body, maple neck with rosewood fretboard, 9,5" radius, T.O.M./STP style bridge, volume and tone pots and a three-way Gibson style pickup switch. This model was manufactured for Guitar Center as a Fender Special Run and came in Blizzard Pearl or Metallic Surf Green. The Blizzard Pearl model featured white neck binding, while the Metallic Surf Green featured mint colored neck binding. The other difference between this and the regular Blacktop models was the presence of flathead screw adjustable Tune-o-matic posts and regular Jaguar knobs.
 * Fender Blacktop Jaguar FSR with Neck Binding

Has the same body shape as the standard Jaguar, but is equipped with two low-output Fender designed Dragster humbucking pickups, a fixed Adjust-o-matic bridge (similar to a Gibson Tune-o-matic), a 24" scale length, and chrome knobs. It is made in Japan.
 * Fender Jaguar Special HH

This guitar is similar to the Fender Jaguar Special HH, only it has single coil hot rod Fender Jaguar pickups as opposed to the humbuckers on the HH. It is equipped with chrome hardware, and vintage-style vibrato arm that is threaded as opposed to the original non-threaded tremolo, and it has same controls as the bolt-on neck and has plastic control knobs. This guitar is made in Mexico and comes in Candy Apple red and three-color sunburst.
 * Fender Jaguar Classic Player Special

Similar to the Jaguar HH, except that it has fewer switching options, and a longer 27" scale length (as opposed to the normal 24"), and is designed to be tuned a fourth below a standard guitar (B E A D F# B, low to high). This guitar is only available in black with a matching black headstock and chrome hardware to emphasise its unique design.
 * Fender Jaguar Baritone Special HH

A Jaguar modeled after the guitars of players such as Kurt Cobain. This Jaguar has two Fender Enforcer humbuckers which are able to be coil-tapped, a Gibson-style "Tune-O-Matic" bridge, and the vibrato-bar tailpiece has been moved closer to the bridge. It is made in Mexico.
 * Fender Classic Player Jaguar Special HH

A MIJ combination of a Jaguar and a Fender Bass VI with additional features. It has a fixed bridge, a 28.5" scale length and heavier strings (the same set as the slightly longer Bass VI) to achieve an E–E tuning one octave lower than a standard guitar. Renamed the Fender Jaguar Bass VI Custom (some Fender catalogues omit the word Jaguar) a few months before it was discontinued.
 * Fender Jaguar Baritone Custom

Essentially a Fender Jazz Bass with a Jaguar-shaped body and Jaguar-styled switching options. Features a switchable onboard preamp with bass/treble controls. The American version has the chrome plates that the design is known for whereas the Made in Mexico version replaces these with a plastic pickguard.
 * Fender Jaguar Bass

In 2012, Squier released the Vintage Modified Jaguar, Crafted in Indonesia. It was available in 3-Tone Sunburst, Olympic White, Candy Apple Red and Surf Green, all came with tortoise shell guard except CAR which came with white. It was fairly accurate to vintage Jaguar specs and had Duncan Designed Jaguar pickups with vintage style Jaguar rhythm circuit and controls, 9.5" radius, 22 fret rosewood neck (until 2018 Indian Laurel) with dot inlays, and Jaguar bridge. The Vintage Modified Jaguar was discontinued in 2019 along with the discontinuation of the Vintage Modified series, and replaced by the Classic Vibe series 70's Jaguar.
 * Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar

A "Made in Mexico" Fender Jaguar model; a replica of the modified 1965 Fender Jaguar used by Kurt Cobain. Equipped with DiMarzio humbuckers, Gotoh tuners, and a Tune-o-matic bridge. It is currently the only Jaguar that is sold left-handed along with right-handed.
 * Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar

Basically a stripped-down version with two Fender "MP-90" pickups, two Jazz bass knobs, and a Tune-o-matic bridge. It is crafted in China.
 * Fender Modern Player Jaguar

US made signature model based on Johnny Marr's favourite vintage guitars plus some modifications to make it a more player-friendly guitar. Specs include four-way pickup selector allowing for standard pickup selecting in addition to choosing to combine both pickups either in series or parallel circuitry, dual strangle switches on the upper control plate, custom Bare Knuckle pickups, body with extra deep belly cut, nitrocellulose finish, custom Fender Mustang saddles in the bridge and a modified "Staytrem" vibrato arm.
 * Fender Johnny Marr Signature Jaguar

As part of "Pawn Shop Series" Fender released this hybrid model featuring a traditional Jaguar body with an HSS pickup configuration. All three pickups—two standard Stratocaster® single-coils and an Atomic humbucking bridge pickup—are angled for enhanced bass and treble response. Other unusual touches include one volume knob, one tone knob and a five-way blade pickup switch.
 * Fender Jaguarillo

Also in the "Pawn Shop Series", this model features a reverse body and reverse headstock, a slim, off-center pickguard, and two humbucking pickups. The control layout consisting of a single three-way pickup toggle switch and one volume and one tone.
 * Fender Reverse Jaguar Bass

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Jaguar, Fender released a semi-hollow version of the Jaguar, with an Ash top and back and two Vintage-style Jaguar single-coil pickups.
 * Special Edition Jaguar Thinline

This model is part of Fender's Player series that replaces the Mexican Standard series of instruments, and is manufactured in Mexico. The guitar has an alder body, a maple neck and a pau ferro fretboard with a modern 9.5 inch radius. There are two pickups: a single-coil pickup in the neck position and a humbucker in the bridge position. The humbucker has a coil-split option.
 * Fender Player Jaguar

In 2019, Squier released a slightly upgraded version to the discontinued Vintage Modified Jaguar, this time as part of the Classic Vibe series. The Squier Classic Vibe 70's Jaguar has a 9.5" radius, 22 fret Indian Laurel fretboard, Fender designed alnico V Jaguar pickups, classic Jaguar rhythm circuit and pickup switching, including a version of the bass/mid cut "strangle switch", with a fixed radius 9.5" Mustang style bridge, bone nut, tortoise pick guard. It is a throwback to vintage 1970's Jaguar styling with binding on the neck, block inlays and a redesigned 70's inspired Squier Jaguar logo. Finish options include 3-tone Sunburst, Black, Surf Green. FSR finish options were also released in 2020 in Daphne Blue and Shell Pink. Crafted in Indonesia.
 * Squier Classic Vibe 70's Jaguar

In 2021, Squier released this model as part of the Squier Contemporary series, which aims to modernize classic Fender guitars. This model features two Squier SQR Atomic humbuckers, coil-split and series/parallel switching, a roasted maple neck with a 12" radius fretboard, a sculpted neck heel, and an adjustable bridge with a stop tailpiece. The guitar was made available in Sky Burst Metallic, Shoreline Gold, and Lake Placid Blue.
 * Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST

In 2022 Fender released two limited edition models to celebrate the Jaguar's 60th anniversary.
 * 60th Anniversary American Original and American Ultra Luxe Jaguar

The 60th anniversary American Original Jaguar features a bound rosewood fingerboard inlaid with pearloid block position markers and matching painted headstock. This guitar also sports an alder body with nitrocellulose lacquer finish, lead/rhythm circuit, "F" tuners, Jaguar tremolo system with adjustable string mute and comes with an engraved neck plate with a 60th anniversary logo. Available in Mystic Dakota Red and Mystic Lake Placid Blue.

The American Ultra Luxe 60th Anniversary Jaguar boasts a contoured offset select alder body and two custom Double Tap humbucking pickups with 3-way switching and two slide switches for coil-splitting and series/parallel wiring. This guitar deviates from the traditional Jaguar design for the inclusion of a 25.5-inch scale length. Other features include an augmented D-shape maple neck with a 10–14-inch compound radius ebony fingerboard, 22 stainless steel frets, locking all-shortpost tuning machines, TUSQ nut and a string-through Adjust-O-Matic stop tailpiece. Available in Texas Tea.

Notable players

 * Holly Ross of The Lovely Eggs

 * Scott Hill
 * John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers
 * Roy Clark
 * Greg Camp of Smash Mouth
 * Emily Kokal
 * Johnny Marr of The Smiths & Modest Mouse
 * Tom Verlaine of Television
 * Bob Dylan
 * Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth
 * Carl Wilson of the Beach Boys
 * Tim Gane
 * John Squire of the Stone Roses
 * Kurt Cobain of Nirvana
 * Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine
 * Al Kooper
 * David Marks
 * Black Francis
 * Courtney Barnett
 * Chris Stapleton (Baritone Custom)
 * Elvis Costello
 * Brian Molko
 * Kurt Vile
 * Joe Pass One of the few jazz players to use Fender's offset body guitars, he played a Jaguar in the early '60s, notably on an episode of the TV show Frankly Jazz.
 * Chris Dreja of the Yardbirds
 * Matt Skiba
 * Ian Fowles
 * Rowland S. Howard of The Birthday Party, Crime & the City Solution and These Immortal Souls
 * Blixa Bargeld of Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
 * Jonathan Donahue
 * Ronald Jones
 * Win Butler
 * Marc Ribot
 * Nels Cline
 * Richard Oakes
 * Josh Klinghoffer
 * Jimi Hendrix
 * David Schelzel
 * Bradford Cox
 * Oliver Ackermann
 * Snail Mail
 * Samantha Fish
 * Gustavo Cerati
 * Will Sergeant
 * Raul Malo of The Mavericks
 * Eddie Perez of The Mavericks
 * Sharon Van Etten
 * Mico Roy of Les Hôtesses d'Hilaire
 * Stephen Fitzpatrick (musician) of Her's
 * The Trashmen guitarists Tony Andreason and Dal Winslow
 * The Lively Ones guitarists Jim Masoner and Ed Chiaverini
 * Bearface of Brockhampton (band)
 * Andrew Osenga of The Normals and Caedmon’s Call
 * Alvvays guitarists Molly Rankin and Alec O'Hanley
 * Frankie Broyles of Omni, Balkans (band), and Deerhunter
 * Luther Perkins of Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Three
 * Eric Erlandson of Hole

title: Fender Jaguar


text:
Spring City

Spring City may refer to the name of several places, such as:

 * Spring City, Abaco, in the Bahamas
 * Spring City, Missouri
 * Spring City, Pennsylvania
 * Spring City, Tennessee
 * Spring City, Utah

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Spring City


text:
User:Mirah~enwiki

mirah.cz(under construction) mirah(@)centrum(.)cz

title: User:Mirah~enwiki


text:
Alun Richards

Alun Morgun Richards (27 October 1929 – 2 June 2004) was a Welsh novelist, best known for his novel Ennal's Point, about the work of a lifeboat crew in South Wales.

Richards was born in King Edward Avenue, Caerphilly. He was educated at Pontypridd Grammar School and the University College of Wales. After training to be a teacher Richards joined the Royal Navy which sparked a fascination with the sea that inspired much of his writing.

In 1955 he returned to Wales from London but became ill with tuberculosis and was admitted to the sanatorium at Talgarth. After two years he was released and married Helen Howden, a probation officer, with whom he had three sons and a daughter.

He taught English for 10 years and settled in Mumbles, Swansea, which provided the backdrop for much of his writing.

As well as novels and short stories, he wrote extensively for theatre and television, including at least one episode of The Onedin Line.

A connoisseur of rugby union, Richards published A Touch of Glory to mark the centenary of the Welsh Rugby Union in 1980 and a memoir of Carwyn James in 1984.

He died in Singleton Hospital, Swansea, on 2 June 2004, after a heart attack.

Other works

 * Dai Country (1974) (short stories)
 * The Former Miss Merthyr Tydfil (short stories)
 * Days of Absence (1986)
 * Barque Whisper (1979)
 * The Elephant You Gave Me (1963). Michael Joseph
 * The Home Patch (1966). Michael Joseph

title: Alun Richards


text:
Springer

Springer or springers may refer to:

Publishers

 * Springer Science+Business Media, aka Springer International Publishing, a worldwide publishing group founded in 1842 in Germany formerly known as Springer-Verlag.
 * Springer Nature, a multinational academic publishing group created by the merger of Springer Science+Business Media, Nature Publishing Group, Palgrave Macmillan, and Macmillan Education
 * Axel Springer SE, an important conservative German publishing house, including several newspapers
 * Springer Publishing, an American publishing company of academic journals and books, mainly focusing on public health.

Places

 * United States
 * Springer, New Mexico
 * Springer, Oklahoma
 * Springer Mountain, southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail
 * Springer Opera House, Columbus, Georgia

Animals

 * In cattle, a cow or heifer near to calving
 * English Springer Spaniel, a breed of dog
 * Welsh Springer Spaniel, a breed of dog
 * Springer (orca), an orca (killer whale) identified as A73 in her wild community

Vehicle-related

 * Springer (tank), a small demolition vehicle of the German Wehrmacht in WW2
 * The British Army's name for the Tomcar
 * Springer fork, a type of motorcycle fork

Other

 * Springer (architecture), the first voussoir of an arch
 * Springer (surname)
 * Springer School and Center, a school in Cincinnati
 * Springer (EP), a 2003 record by the Danish music band Efterklang
 * Springer (Transformers), a Transformers character
 * The Jerry Springer Show – also known as Springer – an American daytime tabloid talk show hosted by talk show host Jerry Springer
 * Big Spring Bombers, sometimes referred to as "Springers"
 * Springer, an interstellar teleporter featured in A Million Open Doors, a science fiction novel by John Barnes

title: Springer


text:
Information technology management

Information technology management or IT management is the discipline whereby all of the information technology resources of a firm are managed in accordance with its needs and priorities. Managing the responsibility within a company entails many of the basic management functions, like budgeting, staffing, change management, and organizing and controlling, along with other aspects that are unique to technology, like software design, network planning, tech support etc.

Purpose
The central aim of IT management is to generate value through the use of technology. To achieve this, business strategies and technology must be aligned.

IT Management is different from management information systems. The latter refers to management methods tied to the automation or support of human decision making. IT Management refers to IT related management activities in organizations. MIS is focused mainly on the business aspect, with a strong input into the technology phase of the business/organization.

A primary focus of IT management is the value creation made possible by technology. This requires the alignment of technology and business strategies. While the value creation for an organization involves a network of relationships between internal and external environments, technology plays an important role in improving the overall value chain of an organization. However, this increase requires business and technology management to work as a creative, synergistic, and collaborative team instead of a purely mechanistic span of control.

Historically, one set of resources was dedicated to one particular computing technology, business application or line of business, and managed in a silo-like fashion. These resources supported a single set of requirements and processes, and couldn't easily be optimized or reconfigured to support actual demand. This led technology providers to build out and complement their product-centric infrastructure and management offerings with Converged Infrastructure environments that converge servers, storage, networking, security, management and facilities. The efficiencies of having this type of integrated and automated management environment allows enterprises to get their applications up and running faster, with simpler manageability and maintenance, and enables IT to adjust IT resources (such as servers, storage and networking) quicker to meet unpredictable business demand.

IT management disciplines
The below concepts are commonly listed or investigated under the broad term IT Management:

 * Business/IT alignment
 * IT governance
 * IT financial management
 * IT service management
 * Information Systems
 * Information security
 * Sourcing
 * IT configuration management
 * IT infrastructure

IT managers
IT managers have a lot in common with project managers but their main difference is one of focus: an IT manager is responsible and accountable for an ongoing program of IT services while the project manager's responsibility and accountability are both limited to a project with a clear start and end date.

Most IT management programs are designed to educate and develop managers who can effectively manage the planning, design, selection, implementation, use, and administration of emerging and converging information and communications technologies. The program curriculum provides students with the technical knowledge and management knowledge and skills needed to effectively integrate people, information and communication technologies, and business processes in support of organizational strategic goals.

IT Managers need to know predominantly Technical and Managerial skills such as analyst of computer systems, information security analyst, compute, planning, communication technologies, and business processes.

Graduates should be able:

 * 1) to explain the important terminology, facts, concepts, principles, analytic techniques, and theories used in IT management.
 * 2) to apply important terminology, facts, concepts, principles, analytic techniques, and theories in IT management when analyzing complex factual situations.
 * 3) to integrate (or synthesize) important facts, concepts, principles, and theories in IT management when developing solutions to IT management multifaceted problems in complex situations.

Consequences of IT management deficiencies
In 2013, hackers managed to install malware with the intent of stealing Target's customers' information. The malware targeted “40 million credit card numbers—and 70 million addresses, phone numbers, and other pieces of personal information”. About six months before this happened, Target invested 1.6 million dollars to install the malware detection tool made by FireEye, whose security product is also used by the CIA. The software spotted the malware, and alert was sent out as intended. However, nothing was done beyond that point. The hackers successfully got away with one third of US Consumers’ confidential information. Target's security system’s unresponsiveness led to 90 lawsuits being filed against Target, which went on top of another approximate $61 million USD spent just responding to the breach,

title: Information technology management


text: Category:1959 in sports

title: Category:1959 in sports


text:
Springport

Springport may refer to:

Places
In the United States:
 * Springport, Indiana
 * Springport, Michigan, village in Jackson County
 * Springport Township, Michigan in Jackson County
 * Springport, Alcona County, Michigan, unincorporated community
 * Springport, New York

Other

 * Springport Motor Speedway, Michigan

title: Springport


text: Category:1961 in sports

title: Category:1961 in sports


text: Category:Palo Pinto County, Texas

title: Category:Palo Pinto County, Texas


text: Category:British balloonists

title: Category:British balloonists


text: Category:1971 in sports

title: Category:1971 in sports


text: Category:1973 in sports

title: Category:1973 in sports


text: Category:1974 in sports

title: Category:1974 in sports


text:
User:Jfdwolff/Editorial policies

Linkslasher
Dr Linkslasher is my alter ego. He sees it as his duty to remove external links that do not strictly fit a few clear criteria, and makes it his job to describe links adequately when this has not been done.

Links that get removed:
 * Commercial links (e.g. online pharmacies and bookstores)
 * Links to obviously commercial sites that aim to sell a product directly rather than simply providing information
 * Links to sites that are obviously intended to shock or defame (unless this pertains directly to the article)
 * Links that simply rehash miscellanea mentioned previously on the page itself (this is the purpose of footnotes)
 * Links that have very little immediate relationship to the article content (such as a treatise on bodybuilding on the muscle page)
 * Links that are added in a "link adding spree" (e.g. one editor linking externally from many articles consecutively, often in an alphabetical order) - it is not my job to determine if these link might be appropriate, because the vast majority are just attempts to boost site traffic or some Google bombing ruse

External links should follow Wikipedia policy in their descriptions. The name of the linked page is generally insufficient. Explaining the POV of the linked site, its audience or editorship is vital in making it fit with NPOV policy.

See also is another bugbear of mine. The fact that one article is superficially related to another (e.g. blood test for D-dimer) is strongly disapprove of "see also"-links that create such a relationship. If the relationship is there, it should have been dealt with in the text, or it follows through the Category system. Only if two articles are truly horizontal and closely related (Kidney and Adrenal gland, for example), this may warrant a see-also.

The trivia test
There is no end to trivia. Articles about medical conditions tend to grow lists of people who have had those conditions. Sometimes, the person in question has no Wikipedia article, or the article itself does not mention this fact. Similarly, many other phenomena get lists with "references in popular culture", even if that reference is a passing remark made by a minor character in a sitcom with 30 seasons.

I hold a narrow view of trivia: has this event made a lasting impact on the public perception of a medical condition or other phenomenon? Is there external evidence supporting it (e.g. press reports, official homepage, radio broadcasts)? If a factoid fails this trivia test I may remove it. After all, this is an encyclopedia.

title: User:Jfdwolff/Editorial policies


text:
Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Kasie Cavanaugh

Kasie Cavanaugh
was proposed for deletion. This page is an archive of the discussion about the proposed deletion. This page is no longer live. Further comments should be made on the article's talk page rather than here so that this page is preserved as an historic record. The result of the debate was

This appears to be an ad for an "adult" web site (whoever put it in got the URL wrong, but a Google search for "Kasie Cavanaugh" will turn up the correct address). Shadoks 12:59, 24 Oct 2004 (UTC)

 * Good catch, delete. — Bill 16:42, 24 Oct 2004 (UTC)

This page is now preserved as an archive of the debate and, like other '/delete' pages is no longer 'live'. Subsequent comments on the issue, the deletion or on the decision-making process should be placed on the relevant 'live' pages. Please do not edit this page.
 * Delete: Porn spam. Geogre 16:54, 24 Oct 2004 (UTC)
 * Delete. Sarge Baldy 21:58, Oct 24, 2004 (UTC)
 * Attractive, but I am sorry: spam, delete. - Mike Rosoft 22:32, 24 Oct 2004 (UTC)
 * Delete. Ack, now I'm having flashbacks to the pictures of 'World's biggest arm' guy. Niteowlneils 00:32, 25 Oct 2004 (UTC)
 * Delete. NeoJustin 05:50 Oct 25, 2004 (UTC)
 * Delete. Jayjg 21:23, 25 Oct 2004 (UTC)
 * Delete. Indrian 21:24, Oct 25, 2004 (UTC)


text: Category:1977 in sports

title: Category:1977 in sports


text: Category:1978 in sports

title: Category:1978 in sports


text: Category:1981 in sports

title: Category:1981 in sports


text:
Rush Lake

Rush Lake may refer to:

Places

 * Canada
 * Rush Lake, Saskatchewan

 * United States
 * Rush Lake, Wisconsin
 * Rush Lake Township, Minnesota
 * Rush Lake Township, North Dakota

Lakes

 * Pakistan
 * Rush Lake (Pakistan), near Rush Peak in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan

 * United States
 * Rush Lake (Michigan), part of Rush Lake State Game Area in Michigan
 * Rush Lake (Minnesota), a lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota
 * Rush Lake, in Minneota Township, Minnesota of Jackson County
 * Rush Lake, in Sioux Valley Township, Minnesota of Jackson County
 * Rush Lake (South Dakota)
 * Rush Lake (Iron County, Utah)
 * Rush Lake (Tooele County, Utah), a remnant of Lake Bonneville
 * Rush Lake (Wisconsin), a lake in Winnebago County, Wisconsin

title: Rush Lake


text:
Twenty-one Conditions

The Twenty-one Conditions, officially the Conditions of Admission to the Communist International, are the conditions, most of which were suggested by Vladimir Lenin, to the adhesion of the socialist parties to the Third International (Comintern) created in 1919. The conditions were formally adopted by the Second Congress of the Comintern in 1920.

Content
The conditions were:

SFIO congress
During the December 1920 Tours Congress of the French Section of the Workers' International (SFIO), the 21 conditions were rejected although the majority, led by Fernand Loriot, Boris Souvarine, Marcel Cachin, and Ludovic Frossard, adhered to the Third International, creating the French Section of the Communist International (SFIC), which would later take the name of the French Communist Party (PCF).

PSOE congress
At the July 1920 PSOE congress Fernando de los Ríos proposed that the PSOE should join the Communist International only if defined conditions were met. He and Daniel Anguiano were appointed to visit Soviet Russia to discuss membership of the PSOE in the Communist International. Their trip lasted from 17 October to 13 December 1920. While in Moscow de los Ríos met Lenin, who answered a question by de los Ríos about the compatibility between personal freedom and the length of the dictatorship of the proletariat with the often-quoted answer, „Freedom, what for?“. De los Rios, who believed in a Fabian-humanist form of socialism, told his hosts in Russia that the PSOE should have the right to pick and choose from the Twenty-one Conditions, and should be completely independent of Moscow. This was completely unacceptable to the Bolsheviks.

At the PSOE Extraordinary Congress in April 1921 Anguiano gave a positive report on the Moscow visit and de los Ríos gave a negative report. The congress voted to reject the Twenty-one Conditions demanded by Moscow. Supporters of the Third International left the PSOE and formed the Spanish Communist Workers Party, which combined with the Spanish Communist Party to form the Communist Party of Spain.

title: Twenty-one Conditions


text: Category:1985 in sports

title: Category:1985 in sports


text:
Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Hog urine

Hog urine
Pig piss doesn't strike me as being particuarly notable. Shane King 13:02, Oct 24, 2004 (UTC)

 * If it can be verified as having genuine uses, then keep. And clean up. Darksun 13:04, 24 Oct 2004 (UTC)
 * So to speak. -- Jmabel | Talk 06:42, Oct 25, 2004 (UTC)
 * Keep Interesting article, Reithy 13:06, Oct 24, 2004 (UTC)
 * Delete unless verified Gazpacho 13:41, 24 Oct 2004 (UTC)
 * Delete unless verified. [[User:Dpbsmith|Dpbsmith (talk)]] 14:50, 24 Oct 2004 (UTC) I'm very skeptical, think this is a prank. Phrasing of article does not sound serious. Do not believe "taking a shower in hog urine" is in real use. Exact phrase searches in Google (web) and Google Groups as follows:
 * "shower in hog urine" 0 web, 0 groups
 * "shower in hog piss" 0 web, 0 groups
 * "shower in pig piss" 0 web, 0 groups
 * "shower in pig urine" 0 groups, 1 web ([209.157.64.200/focus/f-news/1138042/replies?comment=1] caution context is contemplation of ways to torture Islamic terrorists)
 * P. S. Only use for "hog urine" I was able to find was in a concentrate used by hunters for boar hunting. [[User:Dpbsmith|Dpbsmith (talk)]] 14:53, 24 Oct 2004 (UTC)

 * Pour down the drain: obvious hoax, the language gives it away. — Bill 16:46, 24 Oct 2004 (UTC)
 * Delete: Just another prank. Geogre 16:56, 24 Oct 2004 (UTC)
 * Delete. Nonsense. --Improv 17:45, 24 Oct 2004 (UTC)
 * Delete. Obvious hoax. Indrian 17:48, Oct 24, 2004 (UTC)
 * D Wolfman 20:46, 24 Oct 2004 (UTC)
 * Patent nonsense, possible BJAODN candidate. Delete - Mike Rosoft 22:34, 24 Oct 2004 (UTC)
 * Delete: hoax. Wile E. Heresiarch 22:45, 24 Oct 2004 (UTC)
 * Seems like a (bad) joke to me. Strangle the author, or delete Dukeofomnium 01:32, 25 Oct 2004 (UTC)
 * Delete. NeoJustin 05:24 Oct 25, 2004 (UTC)
 * Delete unless verified. Passw0rd 16:26, 25 Oct 2004 (UTC)
 * Delete. Hoax. Jayjg 21:25, 25 Oct 2004 (UTC)
 * Perhaps hog urine deserves its own encyclopædia article, but this one isn't it. Delete as a hoax, or at the very least verify and send to cleanup. Psychonaut 14:16, 26 Oct 2004 (UTC)

NSK, nsk2@wikinerds.org, has stated that http://jnana.wikinerds.org , an all-encompassing "knowledge base" rather than an encyclopedia, is interested in having all VfD-ed articles resubmitted to them. I am going to submit this one. Others interested in their project may wish to do so with other VfD articles. [[User:Dpbsmith|Dpbsmith (talk)]] 14:50, 24 Oct 2004 (UTC)
 * My first reaction was "What a good idea!" followed immediately by "What a waste of time. Let 'em get 'em themselves." 's bad enough wading thru this muck without becoming a dealer in second-hand offscourings, and foisting it onto others elsewhere. If I think it's dumb or useless, why should I want anyone to put it online? I'm not a fuller. — Bill 16:46, 24 Oct 2004 (UTC)
 * They do that, and they'll end up with material that's libelous, nonsensical, utterly dull, and just plain wrong. I can just imagine articles on reincarnated elvis, detailed categories of articles on the sidewalk in front of some guy's house, and other fun stuff. But hey, if universal knowledge includes all of that, then the more power to them. Somebody should write some scripts to give them knowledge about what their /dev/random spits out -- that information should be preserved! --Improv

17:49, 24 Oct 2004 (UTC)
 * If you read the site, you'll see that "the sysops have exactly the same freedom (i.e. we can delete/move/change anything we want)." [[User:Poccil|Peter O. (Talk)]] 23:32, Oct 25, 2004 (UTC)
 * I'm still waiting for NSK to let us know what ID he uses on Wikipedia. Four people now have asked for such an identification, and until he does so, I consider him an email list troll and will not participate in this process.  RickK 04:29, Oct 25, 2004 (UTC)

Any idea if "NSK" might have something to do with Neue Slowenische Kunst? -- Jmabel | Talk


text:
Rush River

Rush River is the name of several communities in the United States:
 * Rush River, Minnesota
 * Rush River Township in North Dakota
 * Rush River, Wisconsin

Rush River is the name of several rivers in the United States:
 * Rush River (Minnesota)
 * Rush River (North Dakota) in North Dakota
 * Rush River (Virginia) in Virginia
 * Rush River (Wisconsin)

title: Rush River


text: Category:1989 in sports

title: Category:1989 in sports


text:
Rush Valley

Rush Valley is a 30 mi long north-trending valley in the southeast of Tooele County, Utah. It lies adjacent to and attached to the south of Tooele Valley; the separation point is the low point of the valley at Rush Lake, and lies at the southeast of the small mountain massif causing the separation, South Mountain at 6541 ft. The region of Rush Lake is a marsh region, fed by various streams from the mountain regions east and west.

A southern section of the Tooele Army Depot lies in the valley's center-northeast, at the southwest foothills of the Oquirrh Mountains.

Valley description
Rush Valley narrows to about 7 mi wide in the north, between the Stansbury Mountains west, and the Oquirrh Mountains east. The valley widens in the south, making two sections, a due-south section, and a region to the southeast. The southern section contains the communities of Vernon and Faust, with Faust north, closer to the valley's center-south. Vernon is in flatlands fed by the Sheeprock Mountains or foothills, southwest, south, and southeast.

The southeast valley section is 16 mi long from the Rush Valley center and lies at the northwest of the East Tintic Mountains. A ridge north separates Rush Valley from Cedar Valley to the east. Lofgreen is in mountain foothills southwest, and Pehrson with Topliff are in lower elevation regions.

The two southern sections cover a width of about 15 mi, south of the valley center. The Rush Valley Centerpoint is north of Faust, and the small James Walter Fitzgerald Wildlife Management Area.

Access
Utah State Route 36 (SR-36) transects the center of the valley, starting from a section at the northeast, from Tooele and Stockton. It turns and leaves the valley's southeast to meet the region of Eureka and Silver City in the East Tintic Mountains.

Utah State Route 73 (SR-73) joins SR-36 at the valley's center after traversing the south of the Oquirrh Mountains in the valley's southeast (the north perimeter of the southeast section).

From the West, Utah State Route 199 (SR-199) enters the valley center from Dugway, and its canyon route through the western mountains is the dividing line between the Stansbury Mountains north, and the Onaqui Mountains south.

title: Rush Valley


text:
Osaka University

Osaka University (大阪大学), abbreviated as OU or Handai (阪大), is a national research university in Osaka, Japan. The university traces its roots back to Edo-era institutions Tekijuku (1838) and Kaitokudo (1724), and was officially established in 1931 as the sixth of the Imperial Universities in Japan, with two faculties: science and medicine. Following the post-war educational reform, it merged with three pre-war higher schools, reorganizing as a comprehensive university with five faculties: science, medicine, letters, law and economics, and engineering. After the merger with Osaka University of Foreign Studies in 2007, Osaka University became the largest national university in Japan by undergraduate enrollment.

Osaka University is one of the most productive research institutions in Japan. Numerous prominent scholars and scientists have attended or worked at Osaka University, such as Nobel Laureate in Physics Hideki Yukawa, manga artist Osamu Tezuka, Lasker Award winner Hidesaburō Hanafusa, author Ryōtarō Shiba, and discoverer of regulatory T cells Shimon Sakaguchi.

History
The academic traditions of Osaka University reach back to the Kaitokudō (懐徳堂), an Edo-period school for local citizens founded in 1724, and the Tekijuku (適塾), a school of Rangaku for samurai founded by Ogata Kōan in 1838. The spirit of the university's humanities programmes is believed to be intimately rooted in the history of the Kaitokudō, whereas that of the natural and applied sciences is based upon the traditions of the Tekijuku. Osaka University traces its modern origins back the founding of Osaka Prefectural Medical School in downtown Osaka City in 1869. The school was later designated the Osaka Prefectural Medical College with university status by the University Ordinance (Imperial Ordinance No. 388) in 1919. The Medical College merged with the newly founded College of Science to form Osaka Imperial University in 1931. Osaka Imperial University was the sixth imperial university in Japan. Osaka Technical College was incorporated to form the School of Engineering two years later. The entire university was renamed Osaka University in 1947.

After merging with Naniwa High School and Osaka High School as a result of the government's education system reform in 1949, Osaka University started its postwar era with five faculties: Science, Medicine, Engineering, Letters, and Law. Since that time new faculties and research institutes have been established, including the first Japanese School of Engineering Science and the School of Human Sciences which covers such cross-disciplinary research interests as broadly as psychology, sociology, and education. Built on the then-existing faculties, ten graduate schools were set up as part of the government's education system reform program in 1953. Two more graduate faculties were added in 1994.

In 1993, Osaka University Hospital was relocated from the Nakanoshima campus in downtown Osaka to the Suita campus, completing the implementation of the university's plan to integrate the scattered facilities into the Suita and Toyonaka campuses. In October 2007, a merger between Osaka University and the Osaka University of Foreign Studies in Minoh was completed. The merger made Osaka University one of two national universities in the country with a School of Foreign Studies, along with the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. The merger also made Osaka University the largest national university in Japan.

Toyonaka campus
The Toyonaka campus is home to faculties of Humanities, Law, Economics, Science, and Engineering Science. It is also the academic base for Graduate Schools of International Public Policy, Language and Culture, a portion of Information Science, and the Center for the Practice of Legal and Political Expertise. All undergraduates attend classes on the Toyonaka campus during their first year of enrollment. Sports activities are primarily concentrated on the Toyonaka campus, with the exception of tennis, which is located in Suita.

Suita campus
The Suita campus houses faculties of Human Sciences, Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Engineering. It contains the Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences and a portion of the Graduate School of Information Science and Technology. The campus is also home to the Osaka University Hospital and the Nationwide Joint Institute of Cybermedia Center and Research Center for Nuclear Physics.

Minoh campus
The Minoh campus was incorporated following the merger with the Osaka University of Foreign Studies in October 2007. The Minoh campus is home to the School of Foreign Studies, the Research Institute for World Languages, and the Center for Japanese Language and Culture.

In addition to these three campuses, the former Nakanoshima campus, the university's earliest campus located in downtown Osaka, served as the hub for the faculty of medicine until the transfer to the Suita campus was completed in 1993. In April 2004, the Nakanoshima campus became the university's Nakanoshima Center, serving as a venue for information exchange, adult education classes, and activities involving academic as well as non-academic communities.

Organization
Osaka University consists of 11 undergraduate schools and 15 graduate schools. The undergraduate schools include Letters, Human Sciences, Foreign Studies, Law, Economics, Science, (Faculty of) Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Engineering, and Engineering Science. At postgraduate level, the schools cover a range of disciplines: Humanities, Human Sciences, Law and Politics, Economics, Science, Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Engineering, Engineering Science, International Public Policy, Information Science and Technology, Frontier Biosciences, Law (Law School), and the United School of Child Development, which is a collaboration with Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University, and the University of Fukui.

Osaka University also has 21 research institutes, 4 libraries, and 2 university hospitals.

Some staff at Osaka University are represented by the General Union, a member of the National Union of General Workers, which is itself a member of the National Trade Union Council.

Osaka University maintains four overseas Centers for Education and Research, in San Francisco, Groningen, Bangkok, and Shanghai.

English-medium programs
Osaka University's School of Human Sciences on the Suita Campus hosts an English-medium four-year undergraduate degree program. The program started in 2011 as a result of the national government's G30 (Global 30) Project. Although the government ended the G30 Project in 2014 and replaced it with the Top Global University Project, the OU Human Sciences International Undergraduate Program continues. Areas of study include sociology, anthropology, philosophy, education, behavioral sciences, psychology, human development, and area studies. Focus is on the development of an interdisciplinary, international, and problem-solving orientation to research and education. The degree programme is based on international benchmarking standards, has competitive entry requirements and attracts students from all over the world. The current director of this programme is Beverley Yamamoto, who leads a UNESCO Chair in Global Health and Education.

Osaka University's Graduate School of Humanities hosts another English-medium program in Global Japanese Studies for graduate students, one of the Graduate Programs for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies.

Academic alliances
Osaka University has academic exchange agreements with a large number of universities in other countries and regions. These academic exchange agreements have been concluded on the university-to-university level and also on the school-to-school level. Joint research as well as researcher and student exchanges take place between Osaka University and these universities and schools. At certain of these universities and schools, it is possible for undergraduate and graduate students to take classes and/or engage in research for up to one year without paying tuition to that university or school while retaining their enrollment status at their home university. Inter-university agreements number is 156, and inter-faculty agreements number is 651 as of May 1, 2024.

Osaka University's academic alliances include Cornell University (1989), Harvard University (2008), Stanford University (2008), and the California Institute of Technology (2008) in the United States, McGill University (1996), the University of Toronto (1999) and the University of British Columbia (2019) in Canada, Seoul National University (2000) and Yonsei University (1998) in South Korea, Peking University (2001) and Tsinghua University (2004) in China, the National University of Singapore (2008), the National Taiwan University (2008), the University of Hong Kong, and Australian National University (1995). In Europe, alliances include the University of Groningen (2002), the University of Bologna (2006), the University of Geneva (2007), and the University of Cologne (1982). Allied institutions in the United Kingdom include the University of Oxford (1997) and the Imperial College London (2006).

General
Osaka University is recognised as a prestigious university, evident in its consistent high rankings both domestically and internationally. In the 2024 QS World University Rankings by Quacquarelli Symonds, Osaka University was placed 80th globally and 3rd in Japan, after UTokyo and KyotoU. In the 2024 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, it was ranked 175th globally.

As a research institution, Osaka University ranks highly in Japan. According to Thomson Reuters, it is ranked 2nd for innovation in Japan and 22nd worldwide.

Subjects
Its notable research achievements include leading positions in immunology (first in Japan, fourth globally), material science (fourth in Japan, fifteenth globally), and chemistry (fifth in Japan, fourteenth globally). It also ranks seventh for research funding per researcher in the Japanese COE Programme and third in Japan for the number of patents accepted in 2017.

In the Nature index 2024 annual table, Osaka University was ranked 34th globally for its output in selected journals in the fields of natural sciences and Health Sciences research, among all leading research institutions in the world (3rd in Japan).

Selectivity
Osaka University is one of the most selective universities in Japan. In most Japanese university selectivity tables, Osaka University comes after the top two universities, the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University.

Athletics
Osaka University and Nagoya University hold regular Athletics Competition every year. Recent years Osaka also has a regular windsurfing competition relationship with Kyoto University, Kobe University, and Taiwan's National Sun Yat-sen University.

Sciences

 * Shoichi Sakata, physicist, known for Sakata model, Nobel Prize in Physics nominee
 * Takeo Matsubara, physicist at Kyoto University, 1961 Nishina Memorial Prize winner
 * Oda Minoru, astronomer and astrophysicist, Emeritus Professor at the University of Tokyo
 * Yoshiaki Arata, pioneering researchers into nuclear fusion
 * Shigeo Satomura, Japanese physicist
 * Akira Hasegawa, theoretical physicist and engineer
 * Takashi Hibiki, professor emeritus of nuclear engineering at Purdue University
 * Yasuo Tanaka, Japanese astrophysicist and member of the Japan Academy
 * Sonia Contera, Spanish physicist at the University of Oxford
 * Satoshi Kawata, scientist in nanotechnology and photonics
 * Satoshi Hiyamizu, professor of electrical engineering
 * Tadao Kasami, information theorist, IEEE Fellow, 1999 IEEE Claude E. Shannon Award winner
 * Tetsuo Asano, computer scientist, the president of the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST)
 * Wahid Shams Kolahi, Iranian scientist and electrical engineer
 * Kilnam Chon, South Korean computer scientist
 * Nguyễn Ngọc Bình, Vietnamese computer scientist
 * Li Siguang, Chinese geologist and politician
 * Hidesaburo Hanafusa, Japanese virologist, 1982 Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research winner
 * Osamu Hayaishi, 1986 Wolf Prize laureate in Medicine winner
 * Shizuo Akira, immunologists, 2011 Gairdner Award winner
 * Yoshio Okamoto, Japanese chemist, 2019 Japan Prize winner
 * Yukihiro Ozaki, Japanese scientist at Kwansei Gakuin University
 * Tomoaki Kato, pioneer in multiple-organ transplantation
 * Toshio Yanagida, Japanese biophysicist
 * Yoshizumi Ishino, Japanese molecular biologist, known for his discovery of the DNA sequence of CRISPR
 * Kiyoshi Mizuuchi, Japanese biochemist
 * Yusuke Nakamura, Japanese prominent geneticist and cancer researcher
 * Hiroshi Haruki, mathematician, and author of Haruki's theorem and Haruki's Lemma
 * Tadashi Nakayama, mathematician who made important contributions to representation theory
 * Katsumi Nomizu, Japanese-American mathematician known for his work in differential geometry
 * Hidehiko Yamabe, Japanese mathematician known for Yamabe flow, Yamabe invariant, Yamabe problem
 * Toru Kumon, Japanese mathematics educator, developer of Kumon method
 * Kengo Hirachi, Japanese mathematician, specializing in CR geometry and mathematical analysis
 * Yozo Matsushima, Japanese mathematician
 * Masao Ogaki, Japanese economist at Keio University
 * Giorgio Brunello, Italian economist
 * Kazuya Kamiya, Japanese economics, professor at Kobe University
 * Takero Doi, Japanese economist

Business and Arts

 * Kunio Nakamura, businessman, the president of Panasonic
 * Takamitsu Azuma, architect. Professor of Osaka University (1985-1997), Emeritus Professor
 * Seishi Yokomizo, novelist and creator of the private detective Kosuke Kindaichi
 * Toshio Masuda, film director
 * Tetsurō Itodani, professional shogi player and Ryūō champion
 * Junzo Shono, Japanese novelist, 1954 Akutagawa Prize winner
 * Chin Shunshin, Taiwanese-Japanese novelist, 1968 Naoki Prize winner
 * Glenn Hook, British academic at the University of Sheffield
 * Tatsuhiko Seo, Japanese historian
 * Shūdō Higashinakano, Japanese historian
 * Yutaka Tsujinaka, professor of political science at the University of Tsukuba
 * Keiko McDonald, American orientalist
 * Akiko Kiso, Japanese classicist
 * Harue Tsutsumi, Japanese playwright
 * Koushun Takami, journalist and author of Battle Royale
 * Taku Mayumura, Japanese novelist, science fiction writer, 1974 and 1996 Seiun Award winner
 * Akira Hori, Japanese science fiction writer, 1980 Nihon SF Taisho Award and Seiun Award winner
 * Yasumi Kobayashi, Japanese author of horror, science fiction, and mystery, 2012 and 2017 Seiun Award winner
 * Takahiro Kimura, Japanese animator, illustrator and character designer
 * Ichirō Sakaki, Japanese light novel writer

Politics

 * Shuzen Tanigawa, Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, member of the House of Councillors
 * Satoshi Umemura, Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, member of the House of Councillors
 * Mitsuo Mitani, Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, member of the House of Representatives
 * Tadashi Maeda, member of the House of Representatives
 * Wataru Ito, Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party
 * Keisuke Kihara, former mayor of Sakai, Osaka in Japan
 * Ko Ko Oo, former Minister of Science and Technology of Burma
 * Fathimath Dhiyana Saeed, SAARC Secretary-General

title: Osaka University


text:
George Barr (artist)

George Edward Barr (born January 30, 1937) is an American science fiction and fantasy artist.

Career
Barr's work shows influences from Arthur Rackham, Hannes Bok and Virgil Finlay. The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction describes him as one of the least appreciated SF/fantasy artists. His work is often romantic and whimsical. His technique involves overlaying pen and ink line work with pastel watercolors.

Barr began his art career in 1960 by contributing artwork to various high-profile science fiction fanzines in fandom and for many years displaying and selling his artwork in the art shows of both regional science fiction conventions and at the annual World Science Fiction Convention.

A collection of his professional fantasy and science fiction paintings, Upon the Winds of Yesterday and Other Explorations, was published by Donald M. Grant, Publisher, Inc. in 1976. The volume debuted at MidAmeriCon, the 34th World Science Fiction Convention, where Barr was the convention's Fan Guest of Honor, along with Robert A. Heinlein, who was the convention's professional writer Guest of Honor. Barr provided the full color wrap around dust jacket for the convention's hardcover program book.

Since then Barr has provided numerous black and white interior illustrations and dozens of full color covers for various professional science fiction magazines and for dozens of science fiction and fantasy book covers. He has also illustrated Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game supplements, including 1987's Dragonlance Adventures, the Dungeon Master's Design Kit, and several books in the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Gamebooks line.

Personal life
George Barr was born in Tucson, Arizona, grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah, and later moved to Northern California.

title: George Barr (artist)


text:
Truck (disambiguation)

A truck is a vehicle for carrying goods and materials. Truck or trucks may also refer to:

Film & television

 * The Truck, a 1980 Bulgarian film
 * Trucks (film), a 1997 TV film based on the Stephen King story
 * Trucks!, a television program
 * "Trucks" (short story), a 1973 short story by Stephen King

Literature

 * Truck, a children's picture book by Donald Crews
 * Trucks!, the title of a children's story from the Railway Series book The Little Old Engine by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry

Music

 * Truck (Singaporean band), a Singaporean psychedelic rock trio
 * Truck (Canadian band), a Canadian rock group active during the 1960s and 1970s
 * Truck (Truck album), 1973
 * Truck Festival, a British music festival
 * Truck Records, a record label associated with the festival
 * Truck (Jett Rebel album), 2016
 * Trucks (band), a British pop-punk band
 * Truck, a song by Hardy from his 2020 album A Rock

Objects

 * Bogies, called "trucks" in North American railroading
 * Skateboard truck, the axle assemblies of a skateboard
 * Truck (rigging), a wooden ball, disk, or bun-shaped cap at the top of a mast
 * Goods wagons or open wagons, sometimes called "trucks" in British English
 * Forklift truck

People

 * Truck Hannah (1889–1982), Major League Baseball catcher
 * Truck Parham (1911–2002), American jazz double-bassist
 * Truck Robinson (born 1951), retired National Basketball Association power forward
 * Fred Truck American artist
 * Butch Trucks (1947–2017), American drummer and a founding member of The Allman Brothers Band
 * Derek Trucks (born 1979), American guitarist, songwriter, founder of The Derek Trucks Band and member of The Allman Brothers Band; nephew of Butch Trucks
 * Toni Trucks (born 1980), American actress
 * Virgil Trucks (1917–2013), Major League Baseball pitcher and coach

Other uses

 * Trucks or trucco, a lawn game
 * The Truck system, in which employees are paid with credit that can only be redeemed from the employers' goods or store
 * Pickup truck

title: Truck (disambiguation)


text:
Katherine Villiers, Duchess of Buckingham

Katherine Villiers, Duchess of Buckingham, Marchioness of Antrim, 18th Baroness de Ros of Helmsley (née Lady Katherine Manners; died 1649) was an English aristocrat. The daughter and heiress of Francis Manners, 6th Earl of Rutland, she was known as the richest woman in Britain outside of the royal family. She married first George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham, the favourite, and possibly lover, of King James I of England; and secondly, she married the Irish peer Randal MacDonnell, 1st Marquess of Antrim.

Family
Lady Katherine Manners was the only daughter of Francis Manners, 6th Earl of Rutland, by his first wife, Frances Knyvet (d. before 26 November 1605), widow of Sir William Bevill of Killigarth or Kilkhampton, Cornwall, and third daughter and coheir of Sir Henry Knyvet of Charlton, Wiltshire, by Elizabeth Stumpe, the daughter of Sir James Stumpe of Bromham, Wiltshire.

In 1613 Katherine and several of her relatives fell ill at their home in Belvoir Castle, and her brother Henry died. In 1619 two former servants were convicted of having used witchcraft to attack the family.

Marriage
In 1619, King James I let it be known that he wished his favourite George Villiers to marry. Katherine Manners was selected by the formidably ambitious Mary Villiers, Countess of Buckingham, to marry her son. However, Manners was a strict Roman Catholic, and the King refused to allow Villiers to marry her (almost the only occasion when he did not give the Villiers family whatever they asked for). In addition to this, the Earl of Rutland refused to accept the Countess of Buckingham's demands for his daughter's dowry. Manners converted to Protestantism, to satisfy the Villiers family, which almost caused her father to call off the marriage. Invited to visit the Countess of Buckingham, Katherine was forced to spend the night due to an attack of illness. Believing his daughter's honour to be compromised, the Earl of Rutland refused to receive her back, and demanded that George Villiers marry her immediately. At first Villiers refused to marry her, but did a few weeks later, on 16 May 1620.

The marriage took place quietly in London at Lumley House near Tower Hill. There was a larger celebration in August 1621, at Burley, in Rutland. Buckingham produced and performed in Ben Jonson's masque The Gypsies Metamorphosed. Nicholas Lanier supervised the music. King James and Prince Charles were present.

Duchess of Buckingham
The Duchess of Buckingham was one of the few women of rank of the time whose "gentleness and womanly tenderness, devotion and purity of life", were conspicuous in the midst of the "almost universal corruption and immorality of the Court". No scandal was ever breathed against her name, and the worst that was ever said of her was that by her influence she at one time nearly persuaded her husband to become a Roman Catholic, she herself having returned to her own faith soon after her marriage. She was however jealous of Lucy Percy's relationship with her husband.

The court physician, Theodore Turquet de Mayerne, examined her on 24 January 1622 when she was pregnant. Frances Stewart, Duchess of Lennox looked after her when she was ill and pregnant, making her broths and caudles. She was the mother of Mary Villiers, Duchess of Richmond and of George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham (who inherited her title as 19th Baron de Ros).

She wrote to her husband in July 1623, when he was with Prince Charles in Spain. She described her infant daughter Mary, "pretty Moll", who was not yet walking, but danced and shook her apron at the tune of a sarabande or the song Tom Duff, and would clap to a clapping dance. She would send him her picture painted by Balthazar Gerbier.

In London, she resided at Wallingford House and York House. Her rooms included the Red and Green closets or cabinets, decorated with small old master paintings. These spaces probably resembled the surviving contemporary Green closet at Ham House. A surviving pair of chairs carved in an Italian style, and painted with Villiers and Manners heraldry, may have been used in a gallery.

Countess of Antrim
Katherine's first husband, Buckingham, was murdered in 1628 by John Felton. Upon the death of her father in 1632, without male heirs, she succeeded suo jure to the ancient barony of de Ros. In 1635 she married Randal McDonnell, Earl of Antrim, and went to live at Dunluce Castle, County Antrim, Ireland. She employed the London furniture maker Ralph Grynder.

Following the Catholic uprising in Ulster in 1641 the MacDonnell family moved south to Wexford, then Waterford, where Katherine died in 1649. She was buried outside the walls of Waterford and it is speculated that she may have been a victim of the plague. Her possessions passed to her son and a memorial was erected in Westminster Abbey.


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Coca-Cola Amatil

Coca-Cola Amatil Limited (CCAL) was an Australian bottler of non-alcoholic beverages that existed from 1904 to 2021, when it merged with Coca-Cola European Partners to form Coca-Cola Europacific Partners. It was one of the largest bottlers of non-alcoholic ready-to-drink beverages in the Asia-Pacific region and one of the world's five major Coca-Cola bottlers. CCA operated in six countries—Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Samoa. The company also bottled beer and coffee.

Products
CCA's diversified portfolio of products included carbonated soft drinks, spring water, sports drinks and energy drinks, fruit juices, iced tea, flavoured milk, coffee, tea and alcohol. Coca-Cola Amatil distributed a number of sparkling, still and other non-alcoholic beverages. Some of these include:

Water

 * Mount Franklin Water
 * Pump
 * Neverfail
 * Peats Ridge Pure
 * AdeS (Indonesia)
 * Aquarius Water
 * Kiwi Blue (New Zealand)
 * Pure Drop (New Zealand)
 * Nature's Own Water (Papua New Guinea)

Non-alcoholic beverages

 * Coca-Cola
 * Diet Coke
 * Coca-Cola Vanilla
 * Leed
 * Sprite
 * Sprite Zero
 * Fanta
 * Lift
 * Lemon & Paeroa
 * Deep Spring
 * Mother
 * Kirks
 * Bisleri
 * Glaceau Vitamin Water
 * Powerade
 * e2
 * Nestea
 * Australian Bitters Company
 * Goulburn Valley
 * Grinders Coffee
 * Lift plus
 * Kiwi Blue
 * Keri Juice
 * Rose's Cordial Lemon
 * Fuze Tea
 * Barista Bros

Alcoholic beverages

 * Maker's Mark
 * Jim Beam
 * Knob Creek
 * Booker's
 * Basil Hayden's
 * Vox
 * Vodka O
 * Canadian Club
 * Old Crow
 * Kilbeggan Distillery
 * Sauza Tequila
 * Laphroaig distillery
 * Galliano
 * Bols
 * Pressman's Cider
 * Australian Beer Co Alehouse
 * Arvo
 * Coors Brewers
 * vonu
 * Fiji Bitter
 * Blue Moon
 * Samuel Adams
 * Bounty Rum
 * Fiji Gold Beer
 * Tribe
 * Ratu Rum

Beer & cider

 * Blue Moon
 * Coors
 * Feral Brewing Company
 * Magners
 * Miller Brewing Company
 * Pressman's Apple Cider
 * Rekorderlig
 * Vailima
 * Yenda Brewing Company

Hot beverages

 * Grinders Coffee
 * Romanza coffee
 * FIX Coffee

Countries served
As at December 2014, Coca-Cola Amatil employed 14,700 people in six countries across the Asia-Pacific region. The company was the bottler of Coca-Cola products in Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Samoa.

Ownership
Coca-Cola Amatil was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange with The Coca-Cola Company holding around one third of the shares, as it did with each of its primary or "anchor" bottlers in the worldwide Coca-Cola system. Amatil and The Coca-Cola Company were also joint owners of Coca-Cola Bottling Indonesia (CCBI).

History
The company's Australian origins date to 1904 as the tobacco company British Tobacco (Australia). Its first foray into soft drinks came in 1964 with the purchase of Coca-Cola Bottlers (Perth), and the company was listed on the Australian Stock Exchange in 1972. Soft drinks and snack foods gradually became the primary focus of the company, and it was eventually renamed Allied Manufacturing and Trade Industries Limited in 1973 and Amatil Limited in 1977. It began to expand bottling operations overseas in Europe, purchasing a Coca-Cola bottling plant in Australia in 1982 and expanding into Fiji and New Zealand in 1987. A majority stake was purchased by The Coca-Cola Company in 1989. In the same year Amatil ceased its involvement in cigarette manufacturing with the sale of its WD & HO Wills division to British American Tobacco.

Amatil's snack food operations were sold in 1992, and its European operations were spun off into a new company, Coca-Cola Beverages, in 1998. Expansion into Asia continued, though Filipino bottling was eventually sold to San Miguel Brewery and parent The Coca-Cola Company. Amatil had facilities all over Australia, with key sites at Northmead (NSW), North Sydney (NSW), Richlands (QLD), Moorabbin (VIC) and Hazelmere (WA). CCA announced on 22 February 2017 that it would be closing the Thebarton site on Port Road early in 2019 as there was no space to expand it, and expanding the Richlands site in Queensland. From 2006 to 2011, Amatil operated a joint venture (named Pacific Beverages) with SABMiller to distribute its drinks in Australia. In 2011, SABMiller acquired Foster's Group and full ownership of Pacific Beverages; in exchange, Foster's sold its Fiji and Samoa operations to Amatil in 2012.

In May 2021, CCA was acquired by Coca-Cola European Partners for A$9.8 billion, forming the new largest Coca-Cola bottling firm Coca-Cola Europacific Partners. At the time of the sale, Amatil's group managing director was Alison Watkins, and the board chairman was Ilana Atlas.

Container deposit schemes
Coca-Cola Amatil opposed proposals for Northern Territory and Western Australian container deposit schemes between 2011 and 2013. Former Northern Territory treasurer Delia Lawrie claimed that Coca-Cola offered to fund her political opponents (the Country Liberal Party), to oppose a container deposit scheme, a claim the company strongly denied.

In 2013, Coca-Cola Amatil joined with Schweppes and Lion in a legal challenge against the Northern Territory Government's 'Cash for Containers' recycling scheme arguing it breached Australia's Mutual Recognition Act 1992. This Act creates a legal requirement that "goods produced in or imported into the first State, that may lawfully be sold in that State... (may) be sold in the second State." Beverage companies argued that the recently introduced Cash for Containers scheme, which doubled recycling rates to 30% in the Northern Territory in the limited time it operated, hindered this right by requiring the company to implement different production processes for the same product in different states and territories. The Federal Court ruled in favour of the beverage companies. The ruling created a public backlash with hostile posts on Coca-Cola's Facebook page and calls for a boycott.

Coca-Cola Amatil argued that the Cash for Containers scheme was ineffective and costly suggesting a "National Bin Network" as an alternative solution. The Council of Australian Governments found the economic cost of a national container deposit scheme would be between $1.4 and $1.76 billion; however, research undertaken by the Boomerang Alliance in 2008 suggested that such a scheme would in fact bring about saving of up to $84 million. Organisations such as Keep Australia Beautiful and the Boomerang Alliance supported the initiative as an addition to Cash for Containers, but argued that if used alone it would make a comparatively insignificant difference to recycling rates.

Former Northern Territory Chief Minister, Terry Mills, stated that he would continue to fight against Coca-Cola for Cash for Containers and called on other States and Territories to support the Scheme.

title: Coca-Cola Amatil