Well it’s February 13, 2023 and I’ve reactivated an old domain name. Actually, it’s the first domain name I ever registered back in 1995. It was back then that the US Air Force sent me to HTML school. Just for context, this is so long ago that they were teaching from technical resources from AOL. Yeah, dial-up modems and “You’ve Got Mail.” Once trained, I was able to create an entire website for an Air Force Wing in Alabama, with a history section and everything that fit onto a 3.5-inch floppy disk. That’s less than 1.3 MB just so you know.
1.3 – Feb 13 – and there you go.
Just made that up
The internet has come a long way since then and I’ve been on for the ride most of the time with some diversions into the travel business, the print and digital publishing business and even the restaurant business. But through it all, I was a webmaster.
What else is great about February 13?
February 13th has seen many significant events throughout history that have shaped the world as we know it today. Here is a list of some of the most important things that happened on this day:
- 1742 – The birth of Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson was the third President of the United States and is widely considered one of the most important figures in American history. He was a primary author of the Declaration of Independence, which declared the independence of the United States from Britain, and was instrumental in the formation of the country’s government and constitution.
- 1795 – The signing of the Treaty of Amity, Commerce and Navigation The Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation was signed between the United States and Great Britain and served as a cornerstone of Anglo-American relations for many years. The treaty established the principles of free trade and friendship between the two nations and was seen as a major step forward in their relationship.
- 1831 – The formation of Belgium On February 13th, 1831, Belgium declared its independence from the Netherlands and established itself as a separate country. This event was the result of years of tension between the Catholic and Protestant populations of the region and marked the beginning of Belgium’s long and complex history as a nation.
- 1843 – Giuseppe Verdi’s Opera “I Lombardi alla Prima Crociata” Premiered On February 13th, 1843, Giuseppe Verdi’s opera “I Lombardi alla Prima Crociata” premiered in Milan, Italy. This opera marked the beginning of Verdi’s long and successful career as one of the greatest composers of all time and cemented his place in the history of classical music.
- 1914 – The opening of the Panama Canal The Panama Canal officially opened on February 13th, 1914, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and revolutionizing global trade and commerce. The canal was one of the largest engineering projects in history and took over 30 years to complete. It remains one of the most significant landmarks in the history of human civilization.
- 1960 – The U-2 spy plane incident On February 13th, 1960, an American U-2 spy plane was shot down over the Soviet Union while on a reconnaissance mission. The incident caused a diplomatic crisis between the two countries and led to increased tensions during the Cold War. The pilot of the plane, Francis Gary Powers, was taken prisoner and held for 21 months before being released in a prisoner exchange.
- 1962 – France and the Algerian War On February 13th, 1962, France and the Algerian National Liberation Front (FLN) signed the Evian Accords, ending the Algerian War and granting independence to Algeria. The war was one of the most brutal and divisive conflicts of the 20th century and had a profound impact on French society and politics.
- 1965 – The formation of the Black Panther Party On February 13th, 1965, the Black Panther Party was formed in Oakland, California. The organization was created to address issues of racial inequality and police brutality against African Americans and quickly became one of the most prominent and controversial political groups of the 1960s and 1970s.
- 1972 – The British Parachute Regiment killed 14 civilians in Derry, Northern Ireland On February 13th, 1972, British paratroopers opened fire on a crowd of unarmed civilians in the city of Derry, Northern Ireland, killing 14 people in what became known as the Bloody Sunday massacre. The incident sparked outrage and intensified the conflict between the British government and Irish nationalist groups, leading to decades of violence and instability in the region.
- 1995 – The bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building On February 13th, 1995, a bomb exploded at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, killing 168 people and injuring over 600. The attack was carried out by Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols and remains one of the deadliest acts of domestic terrorism in American history.
- 2012 – Whitney Houston’s Death On February 13th, 2012, American singer Whitney Houston was found dead in her hotel room in Los Angeles. Houston was one of the most successful and influential musicians of the 20th century and was known for her powerful voice and legendary performances. Her death was a significant loss to the music industry and sparked a worldwide outpouring of grief and remembrance.
In conclusion, February 13th has seen many important events throughout history, from the opening of the Panama Canal to the death of Whitney Houston. These events have had a profound impact on the world and continue to shape the course of history even today. It is important to remember and reflect on these events in order to better understand the world we live in and the forces that have shaped it.
Oh ~ On February 13th, 2023, the domain Signaweb was restored.
