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Burao

Burao, also spelt Bur'o or Bur'ao (Burco,, برعو), is the capital of the Togdheer region and the second largest city in Somaliland. Burao was the site of the declaration of an independent Somaliland on 18 May 1991.

History
The city originated as a well named Ceel-Gooni in the late 18th century used by nomads from the surrounding area. The town subsequently grew around the well. Due to the availability of water along the dry valley, Burao developed into a small inland market hub that linked the port of Berbera with the hinterland and offered trading facilities for the region's nomadic population. The settlement was later on burned to the ground by British forces in 1900, with the modern settlement being re-established in 1910.

For much of the 19th century, Burao served as the capital of the Habr Yunis Sultanate. Sultan Nur Ahmed Aman, Sutan Awad Deria and Sultan Madar Hersi ruled from Burao at different periods of time.

"After leaving the Berbera coastlands and ascending the escarpments of the great inland plateau, the convoy followed the valley of the Tug Dayr as far as Burao, capital of a powerful but friendly Habr Gerhaji sultan." Explorer Frank Linsly James, a guest of Sultan Awad Diiriye during his visit to Somaliland in 1884, describes a performance he witnessed by Habr Yunis Horsemen at Burao's Togdheer River.

"During our stay at Burao, the Sultan collected a great many of his people together, and twice entertained us with some well-executed and characteristic evolutions on horseback. On the first occasion some forty mounted men were collected in the Tug before our zariba; but this did not satisfy the Sultan, and he arranged a second 'fan- tasia,' in which fully two hundred warriors were engaged. It was the best and most characteristic thing of the kind I had ever seen. A procession was first formed in the river's bed, and on a given signal all dashed off, brandishing their spears and shields. Dressed in tobes of many colours, and sitting loosely on their gaily caparisoned horses, they engaged in mimic contest with spear and shield, reining their horses upon their haunches when at full gallop, and with wild shouts flinging their spears into the air. Each warrior carried a short-handled whip with a broad raw hide thong, and with it lashed his steed unmercifully. Some of the riders went through regular circus feats, leaping from their horses when at full gallop, picking up objects thrown on the ground, and then remount- ing. After this had continued for some time they would gallop close to our zariba, and reining up, shout 'Mort, mort' ('Welcome, welcome'), to which we replied, 'Kul liban' ('Thanks')."

Dervish movement
The Dervish movement was founded in Burao in 1899. In the end of late August of that year the Dervish leaders and their clan followers assembled at Burao, Mohammed Abdullah Hassan with his followers from the Dhulbahante, the various Habar Jeclo sub clans with their principle headman Haji Sudi, and Sultan Nur Ahmed Aman with his followers from the Habr Yunis clan, declared open hostility. The assembled dervish and their clan allies sent the following stern letter to Captain Cordeauxe and James Hayes Sadler: "This is to inform you that you have done whatever you have desired, and oppressed our well-known religion without any cause. Further, to inform you that whatever people bring to you they are liars and slanderers. Further, to inform you that Mahomed, your Akil, came to ask from us the arms we therefore, send you this letter. Now choose for yourself; if you want war we accept it, if you want peace pay the fine." September 1, 1899.

Burao tax revolt and RAF bombing

The people of Burao clashed with the British in 1922 after a heavy tax was imposed upon them. They revolted in opposition to the tax and this caused them to riot and attack British government officials. In the ensuing disturbances a shootout between the British and Burao residents broke out; Captain Allan Gibb, a Dervish war veteran and district commissioner, was shot and killed. The British, fearing they could not contain the revolt, requested that Secretary of State for the Colonies Sir Winston Churchill send troops from Aden and bomber aircraft in order to bomb Burao and the livestock of the revolting clans to quell any further rebellion. The RAF planes arrived at Burao within two days and proceeded to bomb the town with incendiaries, effectively burning the entire settlement to the ground.

Telegram from Sir Geoffrey Archer, Governor of British Somaliland to Sir Winston Churchill the Secretary of State for the Colonies: I deeply regret to inform that during an affray at Burao yesterday between Rer Sugulleh and Akils of other tribes Captain Gibb was shot dead. Having called out Camel corps company to quell the disturbance, he went forward himself with his interperter, whereupon fire opened on him by some Rer segulleh riflemen and he was instantly killed..Miscreants then disappeared under the cover of darkness. In order to meet the situation created by the Murder of Gibb, we require two aeroplanes for about fourteen days. I have arranged with resident, Aden, for these. And made formal application, which please confirm. It is proposed they fly via Perim, confining sea crossing to 12 miles. We propose to inflict fine of 2,500 camels on implicated sections, who are practically isolated and demand surrender of man who killed Gibbs. He is known. Fine to be doubled in failure to comply with latter conditions and aeroplanes to be used to bomb stock on grazing grounds.

Sir Winston Churchill reporting on the Burao incident in the House of Commons:

On 25th February the Governor of Somaliland telegraphed that an affray between tribesmen had taken place at Burao on the previous day, in the course of which Captain Allan Gibb, D.S.O., D.C.M., the District Commissioner at Burao, had been shot dead. Captain Gibb had advanced with his interpreter to quell the disturbance, when 1954 fire was opened upon him by some riflemen, and he was instantly killed. The murderers escaped under cover of falling darkness. Captain Gibb was an officer of long and valued service in Somaliland, whose loss I deeply regret. From the information available, his murder does not appear to have been premeditated, but it inevitably had a disturbing effect upon the surrounding tribes, and immediate dispositions of troops became necessary in order to ensure the apprehension and punishment of those responsible for the murder. On 27th February the Governor telegraphed that, in order to meet the situation which had arisen, he required two aeroplanes for purposes of demonstration, and suggested that two aeroplanes from the Royal Air Force Detachment at Aden should fly over to Berber a from Aden. He also telegraphed that in certain circumstances it might become necessary to ask for reinforcements of troops to be sent to the Protectorate.

James Lawrence author of Imperial Rearguard: Wars of Empire writes

"[Gibb]..was murdered by rioters during a protest against taxation at Burao. Governor Archer immediately called for aircraft which were at Burao within two days. The inhabitants of the native township were turned out of their houses, and the entire area was razed by a combination of bombing, machine-gun fire and burning."

After the RAF aircraft bombed Burao to the ground, the leaders of the rebellion acquiesced, agreeing to pay a fine for Gibb's death, but they refused to identify and apprehend the accused individuals. Most of the men responsible for Gibb's shooting evaded capture. In light of the failure to implement the taxation without provoking a violent response, the British abandoned the policy altogether.

1945 Sheikh Bashir Rebellion

The 1945 Sheikh Bashir Rebellion was a rebellion waged by tribesmen of the Habr Je'lo clan in the former British Somaliland protectorate against British authorities in July 1945 led by Sheikh Bashir, a Somali religious leader.

On 2 July, Sheikh Bashir collected 25 of his followers in the town of Wadamago and transported them on a lorry to the vicinity of Burao, where he distributed arms to half of his followers. On the evening of 3 July, the group entered Burao and opened fire on the police guard of the central prison in the city, which was filled with prisoners arrested for previous demonstrations. The group also attacked the house of the district commissioner of Burao District, Major Chambers, resulting in the death of Major Chamber's police guard before escaping to Bur Dhab, a strategic mountain south-east of Burao, where Sheikh Bashir's small unit occupied a fort and took up a defensive position in anticipation of a British counterattack.

The British campaign against Sheikh Bashir's troops proved abortive after several defeats as his forces kept moving from place to place and avoiding any permanent location. No sooner had the expedition left the area, than the news traveled fast among the Somali nomads across the plain. The war had exposed the British administration to humiliation. The government came to a conclusion that another expedition against him would be useless; that they must build a railway, make roads and effectively occupy the whole of the protectorate, or else abandon the interior completely. The latter course was decided upon, and during the first months of 1945, the advance posts were withdrawn and the British administration confined to the coast town of Berbera.

Sheikh Bashir settled many disputes among the tribes in the vicinity, which kept them from raiding each other. He was generally thought to settle disputes through the use of Islamic Sharia and gathered around him a strong following.

The British administration recruited Indian and South African troops, led by police general James David, to fight against Sheikh Bashir and had intelligence plans to capture him alive. The British authorities mobilized a police force, and eventually on 7 July found Sheikh Bashir and his unit in defensive positions behind their fortifications in the mountains of Bur Dhab. After clashes Sheikh Bashir and his second-in-command, Alin Yusuf Ali, nicknamed Qaybdiid, were killed. A third rebel was wounded and was captured along with two other rebels. The rest fled the fortifications and dispersed. On the British side the police general leading the British troops as well as a number of Indian and South African troops perished in the clashes, and a policeman was injured.

After his death, Sheikh Bashir was widely hailed by locals as a martyr and was held in great reverence. His family took quick action to remove his body from the place of his death at Geela-eeg mountain, about 20 miles from Burao. A secondary school in Burao, called the Sheikh Bashir Secondary School, is named in his honour.

Post-colonial
The town became a district capital and a number of public buildings were subsequently established in the following years. Burao's administrative importance declined after Hargeisa replaced Berbera as the capital of the British Somaliland protectorate in 1941, and Burao's urban infrastructure remained underdeveloped. However, with the expansion of the region's livestock trade in the 1950s the city once again began to grow. Serving as the most important regional market hub, where livestock from the Hawd region as well as the city's south-western hinterlands was assembled and exported to Saudi Arabia, Burao grew rapidly and replaced Berbera as the second largest city of the Protectorate.

Burao's rapid growth continued after independence in 1960. Burao regained its administrative importance as it was made the capital of the Togdheer region, which at the time encompassed today's Togdheer, Sool and Sanaag regions. Burao was also during this time the third largest city of Somalia after Mogadishu and Hargeisa.

With the opening of a local branch of the Somali Commercial Bank, livestock traders gained access to credits and further expanded their business activities by investing their profits in the real estate market, further contributing to the development and growth of the city. Burao was reorganized and restructured massively during the 1970s, and with the migration of locals to the Gulf states, where the oil boom had opened up new job opportunities, Burao's vibrant land market was stimulated further as their savings were often invested in real estate. The city's growth was also caused by the development of its shoe industry and educational facilities.

Somaliland War of Independence
After Siad Barre took power in 1969, the Isaaq sub-clans felt more and more marginalized, as outsiders from the Darood clan dominated the political establishment of Burao. Most governors during Barre's time in office came from the South and belonged to Darood clans. Violent incidents against the Isaaq civilian population increased in the 1980s, which led to Isaaqs supporting the rebellion of the Somali National Movement.

In May 1988, the Somali National Movement launched an offensive on the cities of Hargeisa and Burao, then the second and third largest cities of Somalia. The SNM captured Burao on 27 May within two hours, while the SNM entered Hargeisa on 29 May, overrunning most of the city apart from its airport by 1 June. During the offensive the Somali National Army committed gross human rights violations, including attacking the civilian population using heavy artillery and tanks. Almost immediately SNM fighters took over the military compound at Burao airport where the majority of Somali army soldiers were stationed, the military compound at Goon Ad (Goon Cad) in the outskirts of the city, as well as two police stations (including the central police station of Burao), Burao prison and a variety of government offices in the city. The SNM executed a number of Somali military officers and officials. After capturing Burao's central prison the SNM freed political prisoners (including schoolchildren). Somali troops subsequently retreated to their base in Goon Ad.

After Somali troops retreated to Goon Ad, in the late afternoon, off-duty soldiers regrouped and entered the center of the city. According to reports by Human Rights Watch's Africa Watch, the soldiers, upon entering the city, went on a rampage on 27 and 28 May. This included "dragging men out of their houses and shooting them at point blank range" and summary killing of civilians, the report also noted that "civilians of all ages who had gathered in the centre of town, or those standing outside their homes watching the events were killed on the spot. Among the victims were many students." There was also widespread looting by the soldiers, and some people were reportedly killed as a result.

Following the first two days of the conflict, angered by the extent to which Isaaqs welcomed the SNM incursion, and frustrated by their inability to contain the SNM advance, the military started attacking the civilian population without restraint "as if it was the enemy". The military used "heavy artillery and tanks, causing severe damage, both to civilians and to property. Bazookas, machine guns, hand grenades and other weapons of mass destruction were also directed against civilian targets in Hargeisa which had also been attacked as well as in Burao."

A United States Congressional General Accounting Office team reported the Somali government's response to the SNM attack as follows:"The Somali army reportedly responded to the SNM attacks in May 1988 with extreme force, inflicting heavy civilian casualties and damages to Hargeisa and Burao....The Somali military resorted to using artillery and aerial shelling in heavily populated urban centres in its effort to retake Burao and Hargeisa. A majority of the refugees we interviewed stated that their homes were destroyed by shelling despite the absence of SNM combatants from their neighbourhoods....The refugees told similar stories of bombings, strafings, and artillery shelling in both cities and, in Burao, the use of armored tanks. The majority saw their houses either damaged or destroyed by the shelling. Many reported seeing members of their families killed in the barrage...."Refugee interviews conducted by Africa Watch described how the government separated the non-Isaaqs from the Isaaqs before the attack was initiated:"As soon as the fighting broke out, the government used loudspeakers to sort the civilians out into Darood and Isaak. They would shout, 'Who is from Galkayo? Mogadishu? Las Anod? Garoe?' [Non-Isaaq territory]. They appealed to the non-Isaaks to leave so they could burn the town and all those who remained behind. Most of the people from these towns left; the government provided them with transportation."

Aerial bombardment and destruction of Burao
Somali Air Force aircraft started intense aerial bombardment of Burao on Tuesday 31 May. Burao, then the third largest city in Somalia was "razed to the ground", and most of its inhabitants fled the country to seek refuge in Ethiopia. Foreign aid workers who fled the fighting confirmed that Burao was "emptied out" as a result of the government's campaign.

Declaration of Independence
In May 1991, an SNM Central Committee convened in Burao collectively agreed upon revoking its voluntary union with the Somali Democratic Republic. Representatives from the Isaaq clan were in collective support of secession which was reinforced by the support the clan elders of the non-Isaaq clans who were present at the Burco conference Following extensive consultations between SNM leadership figures and clan representatives, it was agreed that Northern Somalia (formerly State of Somaliland) would revoke its voluntary union with the rest of Somalia to form the "Republic of Somaliland". The conference was concluded with formation of an interim administration whereby Abdirahman Ahmed Ali Tuur was elected to govern for a period of two years.

Demographics

Burao's population has grown rapidly since its establishment. In 1962, Somalia's statistical service estimated Burao's population to be 12,600. This rose to 20,000 in 1994, 180,211 in 2005, and 230,000 in 2015. As of 2023, Burao has a population of 750,000.

The main residents of Burao are the Habr Jeclo who make the majority of the population followed by, Habr Yonis, small representation of Issa Musa, and the Arap, which are all subdivisions of the larger Isaaq Somali clan-family.

Burao is divided into four wards; Mohamed Ali, Farah Omar, Lihle and Sheikh Bashir. These wards are further divided into neighbourhoods.

Economy
The city's economy is primarily based on the export of livestock, with Burao and the nearby town of Yiroowe being home to two of the largest livestock markets, known in Somali as seylado in the Horn of Africa, with as many as 10,000 heads of sheep and goats sold daily in the city. Burao's livestock market is also the most important livestock market in Somaliland as well as Somalia.

The city's central location serves as a hub that connects the nomadic interior of Somaliland and major cities like Erigavo, Aynaba and Las Anod to Somaliland's capital Hargeisa and its main port in Berbera. The central location of Burao has contributed to its economic revival. Goods travelling to the south, central and eastern parts of Somaliland all depart from the city's outskirts. Rural merchants also sell their produce on a daily basis, which attracts business. This along with the main livestock market of the city fuels Burao's economy.

In 2007, Burao's city authority (in conjunction with development organizations and local traders) opened the Burco Meat and Produce complex. One year in the making, the market has two main halls and can accommodate more than 2000 merchants.

Geography and climate
Burao's landscape is semi-desert and fairly flat.

The Togdheer River runs through the town. It is often dry but subject to flooding. The river divides the city in half, and can be crossed via a newly built bridge in the city center.

Weather in Burao, much like other inland towns in Somaliland, is very warm to hot and dry year-round. The city has a hot arid climate (Köppen BWh) in common with most of Somalia, although Burao's weather is moderated by altitude. The average daytime temperatures during the summer months of June and August can rise to 31 °C, with a low of 20 °C at night. The weather is cooler the rest of the year, averaging 27 °C during the day and 13 °C at nighttime. The city's limited rainfall of 222 mm usually comes with two peaks during April–May and October–November.

Wildlife
Due to the fertility and greenery of the region, wild animals come to the area either to breed or to graze on the grassland savannah. Prominent animals found locally include the kudu, wild boars, zebras, the Somali Wild Ass, warthogs, antelopes, the Somali sheep, wild goats, camels, and many different types of birds. Due south of Burao is a grassland savannah, which attracts many types of fauna to the region, including lions and leopards.

Transportation

Burao has a working bus system. Air transportation needs are served by the Burao Airport, which offers flights via Daallo Airlines to Hargeisa and other cities in the Horn of Africa, as well as international locations such as Addis Ababa and San'aa. As of 2012, the airport's facilities are undergoing major renovations, supervised by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Notable residents

 * Abdirahman Ahmed Ali Tuur – First President of Somaliland
 * Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud (Siilaanyo) – Fourth President of Somaliland
 * Hadraawi – renowned Somali poet
 * Abdi Awad Ali (Indha Deero) – renowned Somali entrepreneur and business tycoon
 * Sooraan – renowned Somali poet and comedian
 * Ubah Ali – anti-FGM activist
 * Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal – Second President of Somaliland
 * Saad Ali Shire – incumbent Minister of Finance of Somaliland
 * Mohamed Dhoodhe (author). Somali writer

title: Burao


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Suspension (topology)

In topology, a branch of mathematics, the suspension of a topological space X is intuitively obtained by stretching X into a cylinder and then collapsing both end faces to points. One views X as "suspended" between these end points. The suspension of X is denoted by SX or susp(X).

There is a variation of the suspension for pointed space, which is called the reduced suspension and denoted by ΣX. The "usual" suspension SX is sometimes called the unreduced suspension, unbased suspension, or free suspension of X, to distinguish it from ΣX.

Free suspension
The (free) suspension $$SX$$ of a topological space $$X$$ can be defined in several ways.

1. $$SX$$ is the quotient space $$(X \times [0,1])/(X\times \{0\})\big/ ( X\times \{1\}).$$ In other words, it can be constructed as follows:

 * Construct the cylinder $$X \times [0,1]$$.
 * Consider the entire set $$ X\times \{0\}$$ as a single point ("glue" all its points together).
 * Consider the entire set $$ X\times \{1\}$$ as a single point ("glue" all its points together).

2. Another way to write this is:

$$SX := v_0 \cup_{p_0}(X \times [0,1])\cup_{p_1} v_1\ =\ \varinjlim_{i \in \{0,1\}} \bigl( (X \times [0,1]) \hookleftarrow (X\times \{i\}) \xrightarrow{p_i} v_i\bigr),$$

Where $$v_0, v_1$$ are two points, and for each i in {0,1}, $$p_i$$ is the projection to the point $$v_i$$ (a function that maps everything to $$v_i$$). That means, the suspension $$SX$$ is the result of constructing the cylinder $$X \times [0,1]$$, and then attaching it by its faces, $$X\times\{0\}$$ and $$X\times\{1\}$$, to the points $$v_0, v_1$$ along the projections $$p_i: \bigl( X\times\{i\} \bigr)\to v_i$$.

3. One can view $$SX$$ as two cones on X, glued together at their base.

4. $$SX$$ can also be defined as the join $$X\star S^0,$$ where $$S^0$$ is a discrete space with two points.

Properties
In rough terms, S increases the dimension of a space by one: for example, it takes an n-sphere to an (n + 1)-sphere for n ≥ 0.

Given a continuous map $$f:X\rightarrow Y,$$ there is a continuous map $$Sf:SX\rightarrow SY$$ defined by $$Sf([x,t]):=[f(x),t],$$ where square brackets denote equivalence classes. This makes $$S$$ into a functor from the category of topological spaces to itself.

Reduced suspension
If X is a pointed space with basepoint x0, there is a variation of the suspension which is sometimes more useful. The reduced suspension or based suspension ΣX of X is the quotient space:

 * $$\Sigma X = (X\times I)/(X\times\{0\}\cup X\times\{1\}\cup \{x_0\}\times I)$$.

This is the equivalent to taking SX and collapsing the line (x0 × I) joining the two ends to a single point. The basepoint of the pointed space ΣX is taken to be the equivalence class of (x0, 0).

One can show that the reduced suspension of X is homeomorphic to the smash product of X with the unit circle S1.

 * $$\Sigma X \cong S^1 \wedge X$$

For well-behaved spaces, such as CW complexes, the reduced suspension of X is homotopy equivalent to the unbased suspension.

Adjunction of reduced suspension and loop space functors
Σ gives rise to a functor from the category of pointed spaces to itself. An important property of this functor is that it is left adjoint to the functor $$\Omega$$ taking a pointed space $$X$$ to its loop space $$\Omega X$$. In other words, we have a natural isomorphism

 * $$ \operatorname{Maps}_*\left(\Sigma X,Y\right) \cong \operatorname{Maps}_*\left(X,\Omega Y\right)$$

where $$X$$ and $$Y$$ are pointed spaces and $$\operatorname{Maps}_*$$ stands for continuous maps that preserve basepoints. This adjunction can be understood geometrically, as follows: $$\Sigma X$$ arises out of $$X$$ if a pointed circle is attached to every non-basepoint of  $$X$$, and the basepoints of all these circles are identified and glued to the basepoint of $$X$$. Now, to specify a pointed map from $$\Sigma X$$ to $$Y$$, we need to give pointed maps from each of these pointed circles to  $$Y$$. This is to say we need to associate to each element of $$X$$ a loop in $$Y$$ (an element of the loop space $$\Omega Y$$), and the trivial loop should be associated to the basepoint of $$X$$: this is a pointed map from $$X$$ to $$\Omega Y$$. (The continuity of all involved maps needs to be checked.)

The adjunction is thus akin to currying, taking maps on cartesian products to their curried form, and is an example of Eckmann–Hilton duality.

This adjunction is a special case of the adjunction explained in the article on smash products.

Applications
The reduced suspension can be used to construct a homomorphism of homotopy groups, to which the Freudenthal suspension theorem applies. In homotopy theory, the phenomena which are preserved under suspension, in a suitable sense, make up stable homotopy theory.

Examples
Some examples of suspensions are:

 * The suspension of an n-ball is homeomorphic to the (n+1)-ball.

Desuspension
Desuspension is an operation partially inverse to suspension.

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

title: Suspension (topology)


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Statutory city (Czech Republic)

In the Czech Republic, a statutory city (statutární město) is a municipal corporation that has been granted city status by Act of Parliament. It is more prestigious than the simple title město ("town"), which can be awarded by the cabinet and chair of the Chamber of Deputies to a municipality which applies for it.

Differences of statutory city
Statutory city status is partially ceremonial; the mayor is called primátor, rather than the starosta of other municipalities. Statutory cities are allowed to subdivide into self-governing city boroughs (sg. městský obvod) or city parts (sg. městská část) with their own elected councils; such a statutory city has to issue a statute (statut) that delimits power to boroughs. However, only seven statutory cities have done so. Cities Brno, Plzeň, Ústí nad Labem and Pardubice are divided into city boroughs, and Liberec has only one city borough with rest of the city being administered directly. Brno is divided into city parts, and Opava has eight city parts with rest of the city being administered directly. Also the capital of Prague, while not being de jure statutory city, is subdivided into similar self-governing boroughs.

History
The model is derived from its common origin in Austria-Hungary. Until 1928, 11 cities in the Czech lands received the statutory city title: Prague, Liberec, Brno, Jihlava, Kroměříž, Olomouc, Uherské Hradiště, Znojmo, Opava, Frýdek, and Bielsko (which became a part of Poland in 1920). On 1 December 1928 their count was reduced to five (Prague, Liberec, Brno, Olomouc and Opava). In 1942 Plzeň became a statutory city.

Between 1949 and 1967, the institute of statutory cities was canceled by reform in self-government and the establishment of regions. Only Prague remained a de facto statutory city. After 1967, several cities received similar position as Prague (Brno, Plzeň, Ostrava and Ústí nad Labem), but the statutory city title was not used.

The concept was renewed after the fall of communism by the Act on Municipalities in 1990, which established 13 statutory cities in addition to Prague, the capital city which is still a de facto statutory city.

Unlike Austria, before districts of the Czech Republic were abolished only the three largest cities (Brno, Ostrava and Plzeň) constituted a district (okres) on their own; the others were a part (though always a capital, except Havířov) of a district with smaller municipalities. As the prestige associated with statutory city status grew, 12 additional statutory cities were created by the Act on Municipalities in 2000 and its four later amendments.

There are only two statutory cities, Havířov and Třinec, that are not seats of their eponymous districts.

List
Since August 2018, there are 26 statutory cities (plus Prague), comprising all the Czech cities over 40 thousand inhabitants (and Třinec):

title: Statutory city (Czech Republic)


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Lake Rotoaira

Lake Rotoaira (sometimes written Lake Roto-aira) is a small lake to the south of Lake Taupō on the North Island Volcanic Plateau in New Zealand. It covers an area of 13 km2.

Lake Rotoaira is one of the few privately owned lakes in New Zealand being administered by the Lake Rotoaira Trust on behalf of its owners. An access permit must be held by those using the lake for fishing and similar activities.

The lake is located in a graben between the broad volcanic dome of Mount Tongariro to the south and the smaller volcanic peak of Pihanga to the northwest. It is naturally drained by the Poutu Stream into the Tongariro River.

The Tongariro Power Scheme utilises Rotoaira as a storage lake for the Tokaanu Power Station. Extensive engineering works were carried out between 1964 and 1971 diverting a number of streams (including Whanganui River) into Rotoaira via Lake Otamangakau and construction of a tunnel through Pihanga to the Tokaanu Power Station. The lake originally drained into the Poutu Stream but when the Poutu Dam was constructed the lake level was raised by about 50 cm. Motuopuhi Island was formerly a peninsula but became an island when the water level was raised by the Tongariro power scheme. Motuopihi was the hiding place of Te Rauparaha and where he composed the Ka Mate haka.

Opōtaka, a traditional site of Māori occupation, is situated on the northern shore of the lake. Of significance to iwi Ngāti Tūwharetoa and Ngāti Hikairo it was excavated during archaeological investigations on the Tongariro Power Scheme and was found to have been occupied in the 19th century. In 2022 Ngāti Hikairo received funding to restore Opōtaka.

In 2021 the Lake Rotoaira Forest Trust received funding from the government's Jobs for Nature programme to remove invasive plants and animals from around the lake, particularly in the lake's wetlands.

title: Lake Rotoaira


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 * 2) Is the structure of the outline (sections and indents) representative of the subject?
 * 3) Does the outline help understand the relationships between the topics presented in the best way possible?

The overall purpose of the outline is to help readers comprehend the subject by showing what belongs to it, and within the subject what belongs to what.

The outline is a taxonomy of the subject, and also serves as a table of contents and navigation aid to browse Wikipedia's articles (and article sections) about the subject.

It is also a useful tool for the WikiProject to analyze, plan, develop, and revise sociological material. It is a hub from which to organize related topics.

It was built as a "reverse outline", a structural model of an existing work, which in addition to being a summary of the work, can reveal the gaps and other weaknesses for revision purposes.

Please help improve it.

It's our bird's eye view.

Thank you.

title: Wikipedia:WikiProject Sociology/to do


text:
User talk:Weaponofmassinstruction

For the Love of Education
Also known as one of the annon users in the IP range: 142.161.199.* or somewhere therabouts when I'm not logged in. Sometimes the saved login/password works, sometimes it doesn't.... I usually find this happens after I preview or save a page I'm sweating blood over and Wikipedi crashes IE (Damn you BillCo! Damn you all to hell!!!!) Otherwise, my edits are from: Weaponofmassinstruction 06:54, 28 Jan 2005 (UTC)

The Steve Was Here
I was glad to see someone filling out my painstaking list of Provincial Parks :). I changed a couple of things in your Pisew Park article, mostly spelling and grammar.  I removed some of your commentary, since the project aims more for encyclopedic and less towards advertising or enthusiastic reviews.  However, personal comments and such are encouraged on the talk page.  Your pictures are especially welcome, even if they are small.

As for the redirect page, you are correct, leaving it is perfectly fine. The Steve 03:35, Dec 14, 2004 (UTC)

Liren photo
No problem. There's a lot to learn on wikipedia--lots of things are very easy, which is what got me hooked, but I did gradually learn more & more, and I'm sure you will, too. :-) Welcome.  Elf | Talk 21:42, 10 Jan 2005 (UTC)

Votes for deletion/Keller Junior High School
Hi Weaponofmassinstruction, could you please reconsider your delete vote for the above article on VfD? Thanks... =) --Andylkl 11:28, Feb 1, 2005 (UTC)
 * It's better, but it's not there yet.Weaponofmassinstruction 14:12, 1 Feb 2005 (UTC)

MultiLicensePD versus PD
Hi Weapon,

I retagged Image:Pissew 2.jpg as. The MultiLicensePD tag is for user pages, and refers explicitly to text contributions. Shall I make the same change on Image:Pissew 3.jpg, Image:Pissew1.jpg?

Also, I don't suppose you have higher-resolution versions of those pictures? If you do, it would be wonderful if you could upload them.

Cheers, dbenbenn | talk 14:52, 2 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Peer review/CFB Shilo/archive1
Hi WMI (hope you don't mind me calling you that - you can call me TBSDY!), I was wondering if you still want comment on peer review for CFB Shilo? I'm about to shift this to the archives. Are you still working on this or actioning it? I haven't seen a comment in a while! - Ta bu shi da yu 02:42, 3 Feb 2005 (UTC)

 * Cool. You can put in back at any time when you get a chance to work on it again. If you need my help or need some assistance with something I can action, I'm happy to help. Good luck with it and I hope this can one day become featured! - Ta bu shi da yu 04:27, 3 Feb 2005 (UTC)

The Giver
Hello. I'm delighted to see that you've gotten your students involved in Wiki-land—I'm trying to think of ways to get more teachers to do the same.

I came back from a brief holiday and added a sizeable amount of material to The Giver, attempting to address the issues that came up during its FAC nomination. You might want to peruse the new additions and see how they work out.

Best wishes, Anville 16:01, 20 Mar 2005 (UTC)

User Categorisation
You were listed on the Wikipedians/Ontario page as living in or being associated with Manitoba. As part of the User categorisation project, these lists are being replaced with user categories. If you would like to add yourself to the category that is replacing the page, please visit Category:Wikipedians in Manitoba for instructions.--Rmky87 22:53, 10 October 2005 (UTC)

Wikimedia Canada
Hi there! I'd like to invite you to explore Wikimedia Canada, and create a list of people interested in forming a local chapter for our nation. A local chapter will help promote and improve the organization, within our great nation. We'd also like to encourage everyone to suggest projects for our national chapter to participate in. Hope to see you there! -- user:zanimum

Are you sure that's DC?
In your photo http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Nelson_River_Bipole_HVDC_Anchor_Pylon.jpg, I see three conductors, not the two I'd expect for a DC line. Are you sure that isn't on the AC side of the converter station? Karn 09:08, 25 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Taken care of. Thanks for the reminder. Weaponofmassinstruction 23:41, 6 August 2006 (UTC)

Hi from Wikia
We've launched an open travel guide under WORLD that gives the users more control of where the project goes, and is not controlled by a company that doesn't understand free content. If you're interested, I think it would be great to help us built it. Gil
 * Thanks for the invite, but alas, as Wikia is already showing very little content and sidebar ads, it's not a project I'm interested in. I'll stick with what's non-profit, totaly user friendly, established, and GLOBAL. The random pages I've found (8 in a row) are all Major American cities, and random photo pages. Good luck with that, though.

Flin Flon
Hi there - Please supply a better picture of Flin Flon if you can. Even my pictures of Flinty could be improved, since it was cloudy when I was taking them. --Wtshymanski 17:32, 7 September 2006 (UTC)

Hey there
Saw you on the sibe talk page, love the name... seriously... this is all about the name it's great. Nousoul

MA Userbox
Today, there was a merger of Category:Martial Artist Wikipedians into Category:Wikipedian martial artists. This resulted in a userbox being added to the category. This userbox is available to you. TonyTheTiger 21:31, 17 January 2007 (UTC)

Jealous
Your user name is BRILLIANT. I am massively jealous that I havent thought of it myself! Mr. Matt Wallace, B.A. (Hist), B. Ed. (Sec. SS) (talk) 16:55, 2 August 2008 (UTC)

 * You did not take your name off the song, did you? Ooh, and the thing on your userpage should say userpage, not talk. It's a minor thing, and I'd have changed it myself, but thought it'd be polite to ask.

 * I cannot say more... the cabal is watching...

 * 7h3 0N3 7h3 \/4Nl)4L5 Pl-l34R ( t  /  c ) 23:10, 2 June 2009 (UTC)

topliterature.com
Hi Weaponofmassinstruction, topliterature.com seems not to be a WP-morror any longer since encyclopedia.topliterature.com doesn't exist anymore. Thus, you could select another adress to flame on your user page. ;-) Greetings, Carbenium (talk) 11:46, 2 October 2010 (UTC)

File:Pissew 2.jpg listed for deletion
A file that you uploaded or altered, File:Pissew 2.jpg, has been listed at Files for deletion. Please see the to see why this is (you may have to search for the title of the image to find its entry), if you are interested in it not being deleted. Thank you.  S ven M anguard  Wha?  00:30, 30 August 2011 (UTC)

File:Pissew 3.jpg listed for deletion
A file that you uploaded or altered, File:Pissew 3.jpg, has been listed at Files for deletion. Please see the to see why this is (you may have to search for the title of the image to find its entry), if you are interested in it not being deleted. Thank you.  S ven M anguard  Wha?  00:30, 30 August 2011 (UTC)

File:Pissew1.jpg listed for deletion
A file that you uploaded or altered, File:Pissew1.jpg, has been listed at Files for deletion. Please see the to see why this is (you may have to search for the title of the image to find its entry), if you are interested in it not being deleted. Thank you.  S ven M anguard  Wha?  00:30, 30 August 2011 (UTC)

Talkback
Hwy43 (talk) 07:50, 18 November 2012 (UTC)

April - National Contribution Month
Good day Weaponofmassinstruction,

During the month of April, Wikimedia Canada is preparing the National Contribution Month, and we are looking for experienced contributors to organize a contribution day (or half-day) in their region.

Contribution days are activities where Wikipedia's contributors, students, or anybody interested in contributing to Wikipedia meets together to collectively improve a predetermined theme. This meetings generally take place in library where references are easy of access, but can be organized in any communal room. Beside improving articles, a goal of this participatory workshops is to initiate neophyte in the cooperative contribution of Wikipedia.

If you are interested in organizing or participating in a contribution day in your region, communicate witht he national team on the project's talk page. The exact agenda of each local event is left to the discretion of the organizer. Help is available for the organization from contributors who already organized these type of days, so don't be worried. If you have any questions or want more information, don't hesitate to contact us.

Amqui (talk) 00:49, 11 February 2013 (UTC)

ArbCom elections are now open!
MediaWiki message delivery (talk) 12:55, 23 November 2015 (UTC)

New mailing list for Wikimedia Canada
Good day, this message is to inform you that Wikimedia Canada has created a new mailing list operated by Mailman. This mailing list is for all discussions related to the Wikimedia movement in Canada, in both English and French. Announcements from Wikimedia Canada will always be bilingual, but you are welcomed to discuss in any language of your choice. The old google group will be abandoned. To join this mailing list, please go to. To send messages to the list, write to general(at)discussions.wikimedia.ca. Also, please forward this message to anybody who may be interested. Thank you and do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. JP Béland (WMCA) (talk) 14:07, 22 March 2019 (UTC)

Proposed deletion of File:Pisew J Lindsay.jpg

The file File:Pisew J Lindsay.jpg has been proposed for deletion because of the following concern: "Unused personal photo. Out of scope."

While all constructive contributions to Wikipedia are appreciated, pages may be deleted for any of several reasons.

You may prevent the proposed deletion by removing the notice, but please explain why in your edit summary or on the file's talk page.

Please consider addressing the issues raised. Removing will stop the proposed deletion process, but other deletion processes exist. In particular, the speedy deletion process can result in deletion without discussion, and files for discussion allows discussion to reach consensus for deletion. --Minorax «¦talk¦» 06:37, 3 September 2022 (UTC)

title: User talk:Weaponofmassinstruction


text:
User talk:Garfey

What is Garfey
Garfey is a cute name both for boys and girls. It results from the comics "Garfield",yeah,that big fat greedy cat,and it's more easy for kids to spell it.Now in the age of internet,many guys use simple words to replace the complex one.That's why the "garfey" appears in this world.

title: User talk:Garfey


text:
Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Cookie Monster and the Cookie Tree

Cookie Monster and the Cookie Tree
Plot of part of a Sesame St. episode. Not significant enough for a seperate article. -- Scott $e^{i \pi} \,\!$ 05:55, Dec 7, 2004 (UTC)

 * Delete. Totally insignificant. --Carnildo 05:58, 7 Dec 2004 (UTC)
 * Perhaps a little note in Cookie Monster, rest delete. [[User:MacGyverMagic|Mgm|(talk)]] 09:30, Dec 7, 2004 (UTC)
 * Delete: As important as a single episode of "Frasier" or "Mobile Suit Sailor Gundarm Z" or "Friends," which is to say not at all appropriate for a separate article. Geogre 14:46, 7 Dec 2004 (UTC)
 * Delete but too bad... I enjoyed reading about Cookie Monster and the witch. Wyss 20:25, 7 Dec 2004 (UTC)
 * Delete. —tregoweth 21:08, Dec 12, 2004 (UTC)
 * Keep.  Does it really hurt to have a detailed article about an episode?   Old-fashioned encyclopedias are overly breif to save on printing costs


text:
Wikipedia:Featured picture candidates/Savoia-Marchetti

[[Media:Marchetti.JPG|Savoia Marchetti S.55 sea plane]]
I know this illustration appeared in Savoia-Marchetti S.55 is way too playful. I still want to nominate it anyway. - Toytoy 05:57, Dec 7, 2004 (UTC)
 * Nominate and support. Here's my vote. - Toytoy 05:57, Dec 7, 2004 (UTC)
 * Oppose. As a diagram, I would prefer it to be serious. Also, no licence conditions. Enochlau 06:14, 7 Dec 2004 (UTC)
 * Oppose. Cartoonish, doesn't add any info or making anything from the associated article clearer, no copyright tag. --Lommer 06:30, 7 Dec 2004 (UTC)
 * Comment. See here for the license issue. -- [[User:Solitude|Solitude\talk]] 08:55, Dec 7, 2004 (UTC)
 * Support. Cartoonish, yes. Playful, yes. Could add a bit more info here and there. But the big question is: Does this illustration make the article more interesting and fun? And does it add anything to making learning and sharing of information more fun? Then my 2 cents says Absolutely! --Eric 11:54, 7 Dec 2004 (UTC)
 * Oppose. While being a well drawn funny illustration, it remains a cartoon that vaguely resembles a S.55 telling me that the gas tank is in the wing and where captain Balbo is located. I would vote to remove this cartoon from the article S55 article too. Cartoons do have their place, but not in a encyclopedia article. Especially, if it does not contain any useful information. In addition it got copyright issues and has ugly url at the bottom. Janderk 15:01, 7 Dec 2004 (UTC)
 * Fair use is not eligible for FP status, should be archived unless the license changes. ed g2s  •  talk  21:51, 7 Dec 2004 (UTC)
 * The original Dutch auther tagged his own images as Fair use, before they were not tagged at all, I wonder, is it even possible to declare your own original work Fair use, and even so, how can these be Fair use? -- [[User:Solitude|Solitude\talk]] 15:56, Dec 8, 2004 (UTC)
 * Oppose on copyright grounds. Apart from that, it's cute but not very informative.  I have no objection to cartoons in an encyclopedia (I own a great book called "The Way Things Work" (ISBN 0-395-42857) which has interesting, and detailed explanations of many common machines, generally operated by one or more wooly mammoths) but they should be informative (and legal - I'm not sure "fair use" even applies to this sketch, not that I live in a country where "fair use" is the rule)
 * Hah, I have that book here, in Dutch, under an entirely different title, but I fondly remember the lovable mammoths :) -- [[User:Solitude|Solitude\talk]] 10:40, Dec 11, 2004 (UTC)
 * Oppose - a really superb illustration, but I don't think it belongs in an encyclopedia. --Rlandmann 01:31, 9 Dec 2004 (UTC)
 * Oppose. --ScottyBoy900Q ∞ 22:21, 15 Dec 2004 (UTC)
 * Archived. Inappropriate license. ed g2s  •  talk  17:00, 17 Dec 2004 (UTC)


text:
Talk:Leopoldstadt

Removed it
Well,maybe it's still held,but first it is not popular and actually this don't fit in this article. So removed. --ThomasK 05:57, Dec 7, 2004 (UTC)

 * Hi, Thomas. The fact that you removed, on the Leopoldstadt page, the same image twice shows a certain amount of stubbornness and lack of co-operation which is a bad thing here at Wikipedia. If you had a better picture to replace the old, we could discuss it. But just removing an image and giving at first an incorrect reason ("no longer held") is a bit too much. Your second reason—that the image doesn't fit in with the article and that the festival in question is "not popular"—is highly debatable and should not automatically lead to its removal.

 * I'm certainly not embarking on an edit war about a photograph although, to be quite honest, I hate seeing uncooperative people like you have their way.  13:27, Dec 7, 2004 (UTC)

And I hate people like you,which wrote this stuff. This is uncooperative. First reason was wrong,ok. But the second is still justified. So look on the other article, e.g districts. There is no event like this. Only the argument,that you went always to this event is no reason why you post this here. I advise (because I have no image of GNU licence for it) for e.g to post a image of the Riesenrad,which is in the second district.

--ThomasK 14:38, Dec 7, 2004 (UTC)

 * Wow, I've clearly made friends with one more Wikipedian. Yeah, an image of the Riesenrad would clearly set Wikipedia apart from all the holiday brochures and pictorial histories of Vienna—maybe with a Fiaker in the foreground?

 * By the way, claiming that an assertion is justified is no justification itself. All the best,  15:05, Dec 7, 2004 (UTC)

It was an example,anyway it is not only for holiday brochures. Please don't be stupid. Apparent, there is no way to discuss this with you as usual. If you want still this photo in the article,do it.

I finish this debate now.

--ThomasK 15:42, Dec 7, 2004 (UTC)

"Wurstlprater"
I am removing a wrong etymology from the article. First of all, the large amusement park in Leopoldstadt is called Wurstlprater, not Würstlprater (i e no umlaut). Secondly, although Wurst is the German word for sausage, the Wurstlprater is named after Hanswurst—see the explanation below from the now defunct aeiou Encyclopedia.  16:12, May 2, 2005 (UTC)

Hanswurst, buffoonish character of popular theatre and touring companies. Based on the harlequin and pickle-herring figures, J. Stranitzky created the character of the "Wienerischer Hans Wurst" around 1710, further developed by G. Prehauser and J. F. von Kurz ("Bernardon"); J. J. La Roche created the "Kasperl", A. Hasenhut the "Thaddädl", A. Bäuerle the umbrella-maker "Staberl". The fight of J. v. Sonnenfels against extempore comedy and burlesque Hanswurst plays led to the introduction of censorship by Maria Theresia, but the Hanswurst characters remained popular with Viennese audiences until the 19th century (F. Raimund, J. Nestroy).

External link

 * Vacation Rental in Leopoldstadt (in English)

The above link has been added today. It's purely commercial: an advertisement for a "studio apartment" for two which is for rent in Leopoldstadt at a rate of 350€ per week. Should we keep it?  21:19, 13 September 2005 (UTC)

Retrofit topic year headers/subpages
12-Dec-2008: I have added subheaders above as "Topics from 2004" (etc.) to emphasize the dates of topics in the talk-page. Older topics might still apply, but using the year headers helps to focus on more current issues as well. Then I added "Talk-page subpages" beside the TOC. -Wikid77 (talk) 15:23, 12 December 2008 (UTC)
 * I have undone this highly non-standard formatting typical of this editor, who is now indef-blocked. Graham 87 08:22, 16 May 2021 (UTC)

Expanding references
12-Dec-2008: I have added the "References" section, noting translation from German Wikipedia, adding the official website, and copying references from the German Wikipedia. In 2008, English Wikipedia continued to have unscreened articles, so verification is heavily dependent on listing the references, which are intended as "the source" of reliability for readers. -Wikid77 (talk) 15:23, 12 December 2008 (UTC)

Section on Jewish Leopoldstadt
I have copy edited this section: the language seemed to be not quite idiomatic English and at times not very encyclopaedic. I also removed some of the details about where the new metro line will go across the Danube (it didn't seem relevant) and tried to explain better what Mazzesinsel might mean. It was not my intention to change the meaning of the section, so I hope that I have not. Ondewelle (talk) 16:31, 16 October 2010 (UTC)

On a seperate note, the current wording makes it sound like most of this area's Jews were either killed or that a small number hid. Quite a few fled to other countries including the US. Around 50.000 to be precise. I need to find the book Jews of Vienna and some sources, but this section is inadequate as it stands. Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie | Say Shalom! 5 Shevat 5775 01:05, 25 January 2015 (UTC)

External links modified
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title: Talk:Leopoldstadt


text:
Pagan's Motorcycle Club

Pagan's Motorcycle Club, or simply the Pagans, is an outlaw motorcycle club formed by Lou Dobkin in 1957 in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The club rapidly expanded and by 1959, the Pagans, originally clad in blue denim jackets and riding Triumphs, began to evolve along the lines of the stereotypical one percenter motorcycle club.

The Pagans are categorized as an outlaw motorcycle club by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). They are known to fight over territory with the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club (HAMC) and other motorcycle clubs. They are currently active in California, Nevada, Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, South Carolina, Virginia, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Washington State and Puerto Rico.

History
The Pagans were established in Prince George's County, Maryland, by then-president Lou Dobkin, beginning in 1957 and officially organized in 1958. The group started out wearing denim jackets with embroidered insignia instead of the more standard three-piece patches utilized by most outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMG), and riding both American and British motorcycles, Harley-Davidsons and Triumphs. Originally they were a "brotherhood of 13 motorcyclists". In the 1960s they adopted a formal constitution and formed a governing structure, choosing a national president who was paid the same amount as the United States president, which worked out to a $100,000 salary per year and calling the gesture "a show of class."

They were a fairly non-violent group until 1965. A swelling mass of new members put the Pagans on the path to evolve into an OMG. It was largely a semantic gesture made after they gathered at a motorcycle race in Maryland; the ensuing incident found them branded as "The 1% of motorcyclists whom caused problems" in local newspapers. The Pagans claim to have invented and adopted the 1%er patch, referencing the newspaper articles of the time. This 1%er patch was quickly adopted by most other OMGs.

The Pagans, which “have been tied to traditional organized crime, including La Cosa Nostra, in cities like Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and New York", quickly became dominant in the mid-Atlantic region. They were the only large OMG in that region as well as a large portion of the northeast United States. Their growth under the leadership of John "Satan" Marron, saw the Pagans grow to nearly 5,000 members in the early 1970s. Their "Mother Club" is never in a fixed location, but it has been generally located in the northeast. The Pagans' top echelon of leadership must always number 13 members. There are also chapter presidents, with the largest chapter at times located in the Philadelphia area.

Though primarily concentrated in the northeast and mid-Atlantic, the Pagans began expanding into Florida in the 1990s and west, with chapters beyond the Mississippi River. The Pagans have grown slowly through a natural cycle of attrition in the smaller OMGs, the practice of patching over other chapters or entire clubs. The practice of incorporating smaller OMGs was prevalent from the 1970s to the early 1990s.

Insignia
The Pagans MC patch depicts the Norse fire-giant Surtr sitting on burning world, wielding a fire sword, plus the word Pagan's [sic], in red, white and blue. The image of Surtr was taken from an illustration by Jack Kirby in issue 97 of the comic book Journey into Mystery.

Though historically not wearing a bottom rocker, a patch denoting the location of where a one-percenter bike club is based, the Pagan Motorcycle club has since started wearing an "East Coast" insignia on their vests

Members wear blue denim vests called cuts or cutoffs with club patches, known as colors, on the front and back.

Members of the Pagans' "mother club" wear a distinctive black number "13" patch.

Membership
Pagans have approximately 1,500+ members and more than 100 chapters and are active along the east coast of the United States and more recently the west coast, and Puerto Rico. Chapters are common in Florida, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington State, Oregon, Puerto Rico and Nevada. The Pagans have a mother club or ruling council which ultimately rules the club.

Members are required to adhere to a number of club bylaws, among which is a rule that dictates members must ride only Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Members are not permitted to quit or retire from the club, and can only leave if they are expelled. Reasons for expulsion include losing one's motorcycle or any piece of club property or paraphernalia, including club "colors".

For decades the Pagans Motorcycle Club had looked north to Canada for possible expansion. It also found the idea of supporting Hells Angels rivals beneficial, such as the Rock Machine Motorcycle Club; a Canadian-based international motorcycle club with chapters all over the world, it has fought several conflicts with the Hells Angels including the Quebec Biker War, the deadliest motorcycle conflict in history. In 2011, dozens of the Pagans traveled to the Canadian province of New Brunswick to meet with the Rock Machine. At the time New Brunswick had little outlaw motorcycle influence. The meeting was to consolidate a friendship and probe the province for expansion. However in 2018, Pagans member, Andrew "Chef" Glick revealed that the group had abandoned its plans at expansion north. He cited Canada's anti-biker laws but also a large part of the reason was that Canadian Hells Angels are considered particularly violent members of the outlaw biker – or “one percenter” – community, Glick said in an interview. "“In Canada and Australia, that’s where the heaviest (toughest) one per centers are,” Glick said. “Being a one per center in Canada, I would say is a little more dangerous than being a one per center in the U.S.' New Jersey bikers are tough, but “not near as violent as what I’ve seen and read (about) in Montreal and Toronto.”"

Organization
The Pagans organization is headed by a board of directors known as the "mother club", which consists of thirteen senior members who set club policy, administer internal discipline, oversee the opening of new chapters and appoint club presidents and vice presidents.

The club's leadership has traditionally been based in Central Pennsylvania.

Criminal activities
Along with the Bandidos, the Hells Angels and the Outlaws, the Pagans are classified by various law enforcement agencies in the United States as one of the "big four" motorcycle gangs. The Pagans have traditionally been considered the smallest of the "big four". The Pagans are also the only "big four" club which is based solely in the United States and has no presence internationally. The Department of Justice classifies the club as an "outlaw motorcycle gang" (OMG) and contends that Pagans members are involved in the distribution of narcotics such as cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana and PCP, as well as violent crimes directed at rival gangs including arson, assault, bombing, extortion and murder.

The Pagans have been linked to La Cosa Nostra crime families in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New York and New Jersey. The club also utilizes puppet clubs, affiliated street gangs and female associates to carry out retail drug distribution. The Pagans have been involved in rivalries with various other motorcycle gangs, most notably a longrunning feud with the Hells Angels.

Florida
On March 5, 1974, seventeen-year-old Amy Billig disappeared near her home in Coconut Grove, Florida. Billig's fate remained unknown for at least 24 years, until in 1998 Paul Branch, a former Pagans member, revealed in a deathbed confession that on the day of her disappearance she had been abducted, drugged, raped, and murdered. According to Branch, Billig's body was dumped in the surrounding Everglades, though it has never been found. Billig's case received national media attention, including features on Unsolved Mysteries and America's Most Wanted.

On 15 May 2021, the Pagans got in a bar room fight with locals at Stripes Bar & Grill in Navarre, Florida. Two days later a Rich Urban Bikers (RUBS) motorcycle was set on fire in front of Stripes. The Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office has been conducting an investigation with at least five Pagans and locals arrested or wanted.

Maryland
Pagans national sergeant-at-arms Kirby "Bear" Keller was indicted by a federal grand jury in Maryland in 1976 accused of operating a five-state drug ring.

A Pagans MC leader, Jay Carl Wagner, 66, was arrested in Washington County, Maryland, by 60-plus officers from state, local and federal officials with a bomb disposal robot on May 9, 2007, and later charged with possession of a regulated firearm after conviction of a violent crime. Police and agents recovered seven handguns, two alleged explosive devices and 13 rifles. On March 5, 2008, Wagner pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. On August 8, 2008, U.S. District Chief Judge Benson E. Legg sentenced Wagner to 30 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.

On 6 October 2009, the home of national president David "Bart" Barbeito in Myersville, Maryland was raided by police. He was arrested on firearms charges. In June, 2010 he pleaded guilty to racketeering and other charges. He was sentenced to thirty months' confinement.

New Jersey
On July 17, 1994, at least eight members of the Pagans showed up at the annual charity picnic fund-raiser organized by Tri-County MC in Hackettstown. The Pagans were there to intimidate local motorcycle clubs into aligning with the Pagans so they would have a larger power base to prevent the Hells Angels from getting established in New Jersey. A fight started and escalated from fists to knives and guns. When it was over, Pagans Glenn Ritchie and Diego Vega had been shot dead; Pagan Ron Locke and Tri-County member William Johnson had gunshot wounds, and Tri-County member Hank Riger had his throat cut.

Pagans member Robert "Hellboy" Deronde was convicted of the April 24, 2018 beating of Hells Angels member Jeffrey Shank with a baseball bat at a gas station in Newark, and was sentenced to four years in prison in July 2019.

Pagans national president Keith "Conan" Richter was arrested February 26, 2021 after a police stop in East Windsor where a loaded pistol was found in a vehicle in which he was a passenger.

New York
On February 23, 2002, 73 Pagans were arrested on Long Island, New York after appearing at an indoor motorcycle and tattoo expo called the Hellraiser Ball. The Pagans had shown up to the event to confront Hells Angels who were at the Ball. Dozens of Pagans rushed the doors of the event and were met with violence by the Hells Angels. Fighting ensued, ten people were wounded, and a Hells Angel shot and killed a Pagans member. Two weeks later, a Pagans-owned tattoo parlor located in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was firebombed.

In September 2010, nineteen members of the Pagans were arrested in Rocky Point, New York for allegedly conspiring to murder members of the Hells Angels. Charges also include assault, distribution of cocaine and oxycodone, conspiracy to commit extortion and weapons charges. Two federal ATF agents infiltrated the gang, providing key evidence. One agent eventually served as sergeant-at-arms, the second-highest position in the hierarchy. Gang members were heard plotting to murder members of the Hells Angels using homemade hand grenades.

Pennsylvania
Member of the Pagan's Motorcycle Club Anthony "Rocky" LaRocca was the nephew to former Pittsburgh mafia boss John LaRocca and acted as a liaison between the Pagans MC and the LaRocca crime family. In 1973, LaRocca and another member of the Pagans were charged with assaulting an ATF agent, conspiracy, firearms and possession of a silencer. In 1990, LaRocca and Francis "Rick" Ferri were sentenced to life in prison for the murder of John Heatherington. While incarcerated, LaRocca continued to control his cocaine distribution network through his family contacts in organized crime and members of the motorcycle club until he was indicted again and given an additional 20 years.

In 1982, the Pagans attacked members of the Wheels of Soul in Philadelphia in an effort to cease the Wheels of Souls' expansion.

In January 1985, then national vice president of the Pagans Daniel "Danny the Deacon" Zwibel was indicted on RICO charges alongside co-defendants James Burke and Eugene (Nick the Blade) Gesuale who was the infamous “Pittsburgh connection” in the movie Goodfellas.

On March 21, 1985, 42 members and associates of the Pagans and the Iron Coffins, an Erie-based gang, were indicted on drug sales charges. The arrests came after a three-year investigation into the distribution of LSD, PCP, and amphetamines.

On Wednesday, December 9, 2020, a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh indicted 30 members and associates of the Pagans Motorcycle Club with narcotics trafficking and firearm possession. The seizure was of 12 firearms, "significant quantities" of drugs and $28,000 in cash and jewelry. Those charged include: Bill Rana, Eric Armes, Jason Evans, Hasani James, Cody Bonanno, Phillip Bonanno, Dominic Quarture, Mark Stockhausen, Patrick Rizzo, Anthony Peluso, Marissa Botta, David Pietropaolo, Thomas Snelsire, Wayne Webber, Ronald Simak, Anthony Scatena, James Stewart, Dorin Duncan, Jeffrey Kushik, Gary Hairston, Darian Wofford, Stephanie Zilka, Misty Walker, Richard White, Randy Camacho, Damian Cherepko, Brandon Hulboy, James Crivella, Seaira Collins and Jessica Taranto. As part of the investigation the FBI agents tapped 10 phones.

In 2005, Pagans allegedly opened fire on and killed the vice-president of the Hells Angels' Philadelphia chapter as he was driving his truck on the Schuylkill Expressway. Later that year, the Hells Angels closed their Philadelphia chapter.

On April 8, 2022, Pagans associate Jason Evans was sentenced to 57 months for his role in a large-scale operation trafficking drugs in western Pennsylvania and Ohio, federal prosecutors announced. Prosecutors said Evans was a close associate of a "fully patched" Pagans Motorcycle Club member of the Pittsburgh chapter and served as an "enforcer."

On June 7, 2021, the vice president of a chapter in Pittsburgh, Patrick Rizzo, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Robert J. Colville to illegal firearms possession.

Rhode Island
In 2018, 49 people, some members of the Pagans MC, were arrested in the largest bust in Rhode Island history. The seizure of 53 illegal guns, including a rocket launcher, and a "large quantity" of marijuana, crack, cocaine, and heroin was the end results of 12-month investigation conducted by members of the Rhode Island State Police Special Investigations Unit with assistance from the Rhode Island Attorney General's office, ATF, and FBI.

Multi-state
In 2009, 55 Pagans members and associates were arrested from West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Florida. Charges range from attempted murder and kidnapping to drug dealing and conspiracy. So far, seven defendants in the case have pleaded guilty.

title: Pagan's Motorcycle Club


text:
Jan Kucharzewski

Jan Kucharzewski (27 May 1876 in Wysokie Mazowieckie – 4 July 1952) was a Polish historian, lawyer, and politician. He was the prime minister of Poland from 1917 to 1918.

In 1898 he graduated from Warsaw University. He was a member of the Zet political organization, the National Democrats (Narodowa Demokracja) movement, and the National League (Liga Narodowa) until 1911. In the first years of World War I he resided in Switzerland, where he wrote articles for the Polish cause. In June 1917 he came back to Warsaw and received a job in the administration under the Regency Council. From 26 November 1917 to 27 February 1918 he was the Minister President of the Polish government. He resigned, along with the rest of his government after the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed.

After 1920 he dedicated his life to scholarly and legal work. He was named to the International Court of Arbitration in 1925. In 1940 (World War II) he went into exile in the US, where he published many works for the Polish cause, mainly from an anti-communist and anti-Soviet point of view.

Publications

 * Od białego do czerwonego caratu, (vol. 1–7, 1923–35)
 * The origins of modern Russia, New York, 1948

title: Jan Kucharzewski


text: User talk:130.191.17.38

title: User talk:130.191.17.38


text:
Timothy C. Wong

Timothy C. Wong (born 24 January 1941), is a Sinological translator and literary theorist of traditional Chinese fictional narratives and the Chinese efforts to Westernize and politicize their modern counterparts into what everyone now equates with "novels."

title: Timothy C. Wong


text:
User:CiceroVa

Introduction
A Title Abstract is the customary due diligenceinvestigation on real estate made by a party before buying property and/or lending out money with land as collateral, i.e. a mortgage. It is a prerequsite for any substantial, financed transfer of land in modern times. More particularly, it is necessary to obtain a title insurance policy to protect purchasers and lenders against clouded, unmarketable title. Title insurance companies use the abstract to detect issues to list as requirements for the issuance, and exceptions to, its owner's and lender's policies.

Terminology
A title abstract is also commonly called a "title search" or a "title examination". The former term sometimes means a professional investigation by an insured abstractor, as opposed to a more casual investigation. However, the three terms are used interchangeably in business parlance. A "title opinion" is an attorney's opinion on the legal status of property. As such, only a lawyer can issue a title opinion; otherwise it would be an unauthorized practice of law. A "title report" commonly lists those documents and tax records found in the search. These investigations is used to draft a "commitment" for a title insurance policy, which the parties rely on during the closing.

Why Do a Title Abstract?
Suppose you wanted to buy a car. Instead of buying a new car retail, you decide to buy a used car from a common consumer. If such an ordinary seller interested you with his car, a savvy buyer would immediately have to resolve several questions: Does the seller in fact own the car? Is he the only owner of the car? Does he have the right to sell the car to you? Has he already sold it to someone else? Is there a lien on the car, which would give a lender the right to repossess it if the lien wasn't paid off? Has the owner paid his taxes, or can the state repossess it after you buy it? Has the owner been sued, which could allow a judgement creditor to seize the car after the sale? Is he bankrupt and unable to transact business? In other words, will you own the car free and clear if you went ahead with the deal?

These issues are compounded when, instead of personal property, someone seeks to buy land. Real estate is typically much more expensive than personal property. Land isn't produced and isn't sold "retail" by an automatically reputable seller. Instead of having a finite past, land is ageless and subject to many more past legal encumbrances, going back decades and perhaps even centuries. Land is not automacally identified and quantified--you can easily tell what car is for sale and how big it is, but the size and location of land, as opposed to neighbor's land not for sale, is not obvious.

title: User:CiceroVa


text:
User:Mikebarry

Michael W. Barry is a Graduate of the University of California, Santa Cruz. In 2007 he was awarded a BA in Anthropology with a focus in Archaeology. He is a former student of Santa Rosa Junior College, where he graduated in 2005 with associates degrees in Anthropology and Natural Sciences. He served as a volunteer and intern at the Monterey Bay Archaeology Archives located in the Anthropology Department on the UCSC campus. As of August 2009 Mike is working for a Numismatist in sunny Northern California.

title: User:Mikebarry


text:
David Tilson

David Allan Tilson (born March 19, 1941) is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1990 to 2002, and served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the riding of Dufferin—Caledon from 2004 to 2019 as a member of the Conservative Party. When he left office, he was the oldest serving MP in the 42nd Parliament.

Background
Tilson was educated at the University of New Brunswick and Queen's University, and began practicing law in Orangeville, Ontario in 1970. He served as a trustee on the Dufferin County Board of Education for two terms, and then as a municipal councillor in Orangeville for six years. In the latter capacity, he was the founding Chair of Orangeville's Blue Box program and a Director of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario. He also served on the board of Westminster United Church.

Ontario politics
Tilson was elected to the Ontario legislature in the provincial election of 1990, defeating incumbent Liberal Mavis Wilson in Dufferin—Peel by 572 votes. The New Democratic Party won this election, and Tilson spent the next five years as an opposition member.

The Ontario Tories won a majority government in the provincial election of 1995, and Tilson greatly increased his margin of victory, defeating Wilson by almost 15,000 votes in a rematch. He was appointed chair of the government caucus in November 1997.

Tilson won another landslide re-election victory for the new riding of Dufferin—Peel—Wellington—Grey in the 1999 election. On April 2, 2002, he resigned his seat in the legislature to allow Premier Ernie Eves (who had been elected party leader without holding a seat) to run as a parachute candidate in a by-election. In 2003–04, he served as vice-chair of the Ontario Municipal Board.

Federal politics
Tilson ran for the House of Commons of Canada in the federal election of 2004 and defeated incumbent Liberal Murray Calder by a margin of 43% to 39% in the new riding of Dufferin—Caledon.

Tilson supported plans to cut farm support programs, including the AgriRecovery Program, by $2 billion over the next year.

Tilson did not run for reelection in the 2019 federal election.

title: David Tilson


text:
Talk:Fred Iklé

External link?
Would an interview with transcript with Fred Ikle from 1987 be useful here as an external link? Focus of conversation is nuclear weapons policy. http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_05257222F92E4C7F82D1705859E794B9 (I have a conflict of interest; otherwise I would add it myself.) Mccallucc (talk) 16:23, 23 March 2016 (UTC)

title: Talk:Fred Iklé


text: Category:Ontario Hockey League

title: Category:Ontario Hockey League


text:
Category:Canadian Hockey League

Articles connected with the Canadian Hockey League.

title: Category:Canadian Hockey League


text: Talk:Positive definite

title: Talk:Positive definite


text:
Indianapolis 500 pace cars

The Indianapolis 500 auto race has used a pace car every year since 1911. The pace car is utilized for two primary purposes. At the start of the race, the pace car leads the assembled starting grid around the track for a predetermined number of unscored warm-up laps. Then if the officials deem appropriate, it releases the field at a purposeful speed to start the race. In addition, during yellow flag caution periods, the pace car enters the track and picks up the leader, bunching the field up at a reduced speed.

Prior to the first "500" in 1911, in the interest of safety, Indianapolis Motor Speedway founder Carl G. Fisher is commonly credited with the concept of a "rolling start" led by a pace car. Nearly all races at the time, as well as all Formula One races even to the present, utilize a standing start.

In almost every year since 1936, it has been a tradition that the winner of the Indianapolis 500 be presented with one of that year's pace cars (or a replica). In most years since 1911, the driver of the pace car at the start of the race has been an invited celebrity, a former racing driver, or notable figure in the automotive industry. Historically, the honor of supplying the pace car was, and continues to be, a coveted honor by the respective automobile manufacturers and a marketing showcase for the particular make/model.

1911–1956
The pace car was used to take the starting field on one unscored lap. The field would use the lap to warm up their engines, tires, and then at the conclusion of the lap, at a prescribed speed, the pace car would pull off the track and allow for a rolling or "flying" start. Fisher himself drove the pace car in several early years, but it eventually became an honorary position, with invitations extended to former winners, notable figures in auto racing or the automobile industry. The invited driver was given the honor of "pacemaker," and manufacturers used the honor of providing the car as marketing exposure.

During his tenure as Speedway president, Tony Hulman rode in the pace car nearly every year, immediately after giving the command to start engines. His primary duty was to marshal the start and in some years, his responsibilities included operating a film camera that would be housed inside the car's trunk.

Dating back to the very early years, the pace cars were often painted with special liveries complete with logos, lettering, pinstriping, and other decorative markings. In addition, sometimes flagpoles, lights, and other motoring paraphernalia were installed to further identify the pace car. Most manufacturers used the opportunity to showcase their higher end or luxury models. Since in the early years, the pace car was only used for one lap at the start (and not during caution periods), the need for a high performance machine (i.e., sports car) was not necessarily the top priority. In many years, the pace car was a convertible, which along with increasing the luxury status of the vehicle, it aided in the officials' ability to marshal the start.

1957–1976
In most years through the early 1950s, the pace car led the field around the track for one warm up lap, and then the race began. The pace lap concept was popular with fans, as many drivers commonly waved at the fans and the rolling grid made for spectacular photographs. By 1957, the procedure was changed so the pace car led the field for two warm up laps. This allowed extra time to warm up the engines, oil temperatures, and tires, and allowed the drivers the chance to survey the conditions of the entire track at least once before receiving the green flag. This also allowed the fans on the main stretch (where the largest grandstands are located) to see the entire field parade by one time before the start. Previously only fans on other parts of the track got to actually see the grid go by for photographs and waving.

For the 1957–1958 races, the grid was lined up and exited single-file from the newly constructed pit lane. The two laps allowed the field to properly form up, however, in practice it turned out to be difficult and both races saw incidents at the start. In 1959, the field went back to lining up the grid on the main stretch, and continues to do so to this day.

By the late 1960s, not only would a special driver be behind the wheel of the pace car, but numerous celebrities would be invited to ride along as passengers. Automotive executives, NASA astronauts, reporters from ABC Sports and the IMS Radio Network, and other celebrities were among those invited to ride in the pace car.

In 1971, local Indianapolis Dodge dealer Eldon Palmer was involved in a crash driving the pace car. He crashed into a photographer's stand at the south end of the pit area, injuring several persons. In the years immediately following, the pace car driver utilized would only be an experienced race driver. Former Indy winner Jim Rathmann served six times (and once for caution periods only). Celebrities James Garner and Marty Robbins were chosen in part due to their experience in racing.

1977–present
In 1977, the format was changed to three warm up laps - two "parade laps" and one "pace lap". During the parade lap(s), often several replica festival pace cars join the field, usually carrying celebrities and/or special guest drivers. The 1978 race was the first to feature multiple pace cars on the track during the parade lap. Since 2010, the IndyCar "two-seater" (a retired Indy race car modified with a special passenger seat) has also been at the front of the field, carrying a celebrity or special guest. The non-participating vehicles pull off the track after one or two circuits, and the lone official pace car leads the field on the pace lap. In 2012, it was further expanded to four warm up laps (three "parade" laps and one "pace" lap), coinciding with the introduction of a new engine and chassis formula.

Starting in about 1994, the field was observed to be quite straggled about during the parade lap(s), and often circulated the track single-file. Drivers were known to weave back and forth, sometimes vigorously, in an effort to build up tire temperature. On the final pace lap, the field would finally form up into the eleven rows of three on the backstretch, but oftentimes it was still loose and not in pristine order. This practice was often the subject of harsh criticism from fans and media, especially when the start was strung out single file, breaking tradition. In 2010, officials announced they were going to police the parade and pace laps closer, requiring the drivers to stay in the rows of three during the extent of the warm up period.

In later years, the Speedway began experimenting with using pop culture celebrities driving the pace cars, a change that has met with mixed responses from fans. Racers have taken the position in more recent years. A. J. Foyt drove in 2011, Dario Franchitti drove in 2014, Jeff Gordon, a five-time Big Machine Vodka 400 winner, drove in 2015, and with the new broadcast partner NBC Sports, their motorsport broadcaster Dale Earnhardt Jr., who made 16 Big Machine Vodka 400 starts and a two-time Indiana 250 winning car owner at the Speedway, drove in 2019.

Extra pace laps
1957: A new state-of-the-art pit lane was built. For the first time, the pit area was separated from the racing surface. For 1957–1958, the field was lined up in single file on the pit lane, rather than the traditional 11 rows of three on the race surface. This required the cars to pull away, then assemble into formation. This caused tremendous confusion in 1958, as the front row escaped from the pace car, and the field needed an extra pace lap to assemble before the green was displayed.

1967: The race was red-flagged for rain after 18 laps. The conclusion of the race was moved to the following day. At the time, the pace car was not used for caution periods. However, officials decided to utilize the pace car for the resumption on lap 19. The original pace car driver Mauri Rose drove the car for the restart as well. Two unscored laps (one parade lap and one pace lap) preceded the resumption at lap 19.

1970: Jim Malloy hit the outside wall in turn four as the field was about the take the green flag. The start was waved off, and the next time by, the field was red flagged to clean up the incident. The teams were allowed to replenish a few gallons of used up fuel, and a short time later, the field pulled away for two new pace laps.

1973: A crash occurred as the field was about to take the green flag. The start was red flagged, and the cars circulated around back to the pits. After clean up, the field restarted, with two pace laps before the green flag.

1986: Tom Sneva crashed on the backstretch on the pace lap. The start was waved off, and the next time around the cars were halted on the frontstretch with a red flag. During the cleanup, officials decided to replenish the teams' fuel tanks with 3 gallons of methanol. After that was completed, the field restarted, and took two warm up laps before the green flag.

1992: Additional pace laps were run (unscored) after Roberto Guerrero crashed during a parade lap. Instead of halting the proceedings, officials decided to simply extend the number of warm up laps. The race itself ended up having 85 laps of yellow flag conditions, therefore the fuel allotment did not become a factor.

1997: Additional laps were run (unscored) due to a three-car crash on the original pace lap.

2009: When the field came out of turn four for the start, the field was not well aligned in the eleven rows of three. For the first time in modern history, the flagman decided to wave off the start, by displaying the yellow flag. The lap was not scored. The field re-formed, and received the green flag the next time by, with a slightly better formation.

Caution periods
Through 1978, the pace car was only used at the start of the race, and was not used during caution periods. Since 1979, the pace car has also been used to pack up the field during caution flag periods. The ceremonial driver drove only at the start of the race. During caution periods, when the pace car is utilized to pace the field, a trained official has been the driver. In some cases, the officials utilize two separate pace cars (exactly the same models) one each for the start of the race, and the caution periods. Currently, the pace car driver for the caution periods is the same driver who drives the pace car for the IndyCar Series during all other events.

Cars
Starting in the mid-1950s, the auto manufacturer who provided the official pace car started selling replica pace cars to the general public. In many cases, the official on-track pace car was modified from its street-legal counterpart. Strobe lights, roll bars, multi-point harnesses, television camera mounts, two-way communication (for officials), and removing the air conditioning, are among some of the more routine modifications made for the actual pace car. Some official pace cars, however, have undergone extensive performance modifications, including suspension, transmission, or even engine modifications from their production counterpart (the 1990 Chevrolet Beretta is an example of this). Race-duty pace cars may also have the factory fuel tank replaced with a fuel cell, and usually have an on-board fire extinguisher installed. The special edition production replicas available to the public usually come with full paint and "Indy 500" decals, and may be part of a performance package upgrade.

In addition, the track typically is provided with dozens of lower-end ("base model") pace car production replicas (or different makes by the same manufacturer) for use as festival cars throughout the month. Examples of this practice date back to the mid-1920s. The company who provides the pace car also often provides safety trucks for use at the track. For instance, in 1994, the Ford Mustang Cobra was chosen as the primary pace car. Ford Motor Company provided numerous Mustang GTs (a "stripped-down" model) for festival use. In 1996, the Dodge Viper GTS was chosen as the pace car. Rather than providing a fleet of Vipers, Chrysler provided numerous Stratus, Intrepids, and Special Edition Rams for festival use.

The replica pace cars and the festival cars are usually worth significantly less than the actual car used to perform the pace car duties. Few festival cars may actually have been driven on the track. Actual pace cars are rare and most are kept and owned by the Speedway museum and the manufacturers.

Traditionally, the make of the pace car has always been a domestic American brand. In 1991, the Dodge Stealth was originally named the pace car. However, the UAW, along with traditionalists, protested since the Stealth was a captive import built by Mitsubishi in Japan. Shortly before the race, the Stealth was downgraded to be the festival car. The pre-production Dodge Viper RT/10 was substituted on race day.

In 2001 and 2003, trucks were used instead of pace cars. In 2005, a specially restored 1955 Bel Air pace car was commissioned by the Indianapolis Race Committee to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Chevrolet V-8 engine. Only one car was built and it was displayed and used on the speedway. It differed from the first 1955 track cars in that it was black. The original 1955 Chevrolet pace cars were red and cream two-tone. This car is currently on display at the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum in Auburn, Indiana.

Since 2002, Chevrolet has had an exclusive contract with the Speedway to provide the pace car and other official vehicles for the Indianapolis 500. Prior to that, series engine provider Oldsmobile (1997-2001) had a similar arrangement, and provided the pace car three times over a five-year period. Chevrolet has had a contract to provide the pace car for the Brickyard 400 since 1994.

Since 1936, the winner of the race has traditionally been awarded a pace car. In some years, and in most cases for the past several decades, the winner is actually presented with one of the official street-legal pace car replicas.

Pacemakers (1946–1978)

 * Note: From 1958 to 1963, retired driver Sam Hanks was named "Director of Racing" for USAC, and assumed the pace car duties. No "celebrity" drivers were used during that period.
 * Note: The car assignments for the 1975 Indianapolis "500" Mile Race had the VIN number for pace car #1 as 4H57H5-H125041 and VIN number for pace car #2 as 4H57H5-H125135. The VIN engine code identifies as a 350 c.i.d (5.7 litre) V8 and was actually the modified 455 c.i.d. (7.5 litre) V8. Additionally, each VIN number for the total of the 55 Buick Century coupe Pace car replicas.

Pace cars (1979–2024)

 * 1998: Professional golfer Greg Norman was originally selected to drive the pace car in 1998. He participated in testing runs in the early spring. However, Parnelli Jones was named a last-minute substitute after Norman was forced to withdraw because of shoulder surgery.
 * 2001 & 2003: Pace truck or SUV
 * 2006: This was before doping scandals erased his sporting records in 2011. (See Lance Armstrong doping case.)
 * 2008: There were two Chevrolet Corvette pace cars for the 2008 race; a metallic green pace car that runs on E85 driven by Fittipaldi at the start, and a pace car painted to resemble the 1978 pace car that runs on gasoline (used during caution periods)
 * 2011: Donald Trump was initially named the driver, but resigned the honor due to speculation about his candidacy in the 2012 presidential race as well as the negative fan reactions against his selection, including a Facebook campaign.

Two-seater
Starting in 2010, a modified Dallara IR03, converted to a two-seater, has also led the field during the parade and pace lap. Billed as the "Fastest Seat in Sports," it is driven by a former Indy driver, and carries a special passenger. This is featured at many IndyCar Series races.

By car

The process of varying the selection across different models, which existed from 1911 through 2001, has been abandoned since 2002, with all pace cars exclusively provided by the Chevrolet marque since that year.

By manufacturer
A list of manufacturers and the frequency in which they either provided official pace cars, or one of their vehicles were selected to pace the Indianapolis 500. This list counts all subsidiary marques, current and defunct, from each manufacturer along with vehicles made by a company that later merged with another on the list.

The process of varying the selection across different manufacturers, which existed from 1911 through 1996, has been abandoned since 1997, with all pace cars exclusively provided by General Motors since that year.

title: Indianapolis 500 pace cars