What Happened on February 14

Internet & Media

2005 — PayPal Alumni Launch YouTube Video Site

The trio founded YouTube on February 14, 2005, and by December the site was receiving 8 million views a day.

Chad Hurley, Jawed Karim, and Steve Chen, three former PayPal employees, founded YouTube on February 14, 2005, a new online video platform designed to let anyone share clips with the world. The trio, who had helped build PayPal before its sale to eBay, set up shop in a modest San Mateo, California, office situated above a pizzeria and a Japanese restaurant.

YouTube allows users to upload, view, and share videos through a simple web interface, a service the founders say was born of frustration with the difficulty of sharing video files online. The site, still in beta, has already attracted attention, with a Nike advertisement featuring soccer star Ronaldinho becoming the first video to reach one million total views by November 2005.

The platform's early growth has been rapid. By the end of the year, YouTube exited beta in December 2005, and was receiving 8 million views a day. The founders anticipate continued expansion, though they remain tight-lipped about specific future plans.

Industry observers note that the site's success hinges on its ease of use and the viral nature of its content. The company's early days in the cramped San Mateo office, with its modest amenities, belie the ambitious goals of its founders.

As the service grows, it faces questions about copyright and content moderation, issues common to user-generated platforms. For now, the founders are focused on scaling the service and improving the user experience.

The company's trajectory suggests that the simple act of sharing a video online, once a technical chore, is becoming a mainstream activity.

• YouTube was founded on February 14, 2005, by Chad Hurley, Jawed Karim, and Steve Chen, all former PayPal employees.
• The first video, titled 'Me at the zoo,' was uploaded on April 23, 2005, showing co-founder Jawed Karim at the San Diego Zoo.
• By November 2005, a Nike ad featuring Ronaldinho became the first video to reach one million total views.
• YouTube's early headquarters were situated above a pizzeria and a Japanese restaurant in San Mateo, California.
• The site exited beta in December 2005, by which time it was receiving 8 million views a day.

Space Desk

1990 — Voyager 1 Captures Pale Blue Dot of Earth

From 6.06 billion kilometers away, Earth appears as a tiny speck in a historic family portrait.

At 04:48 GMT today, Voyager 1, NASA's most distant spacecraft, turned its cameras back toward the solar system and captured a series of images showing Earth as a tiny dot less than one pixel in size, occupying just 0.12 of a pixel. The photograph, taken from a record distance of 40.5 astronomical units, or 6.06 billion kilometers (3.76 billion miles), is part of a Family Portrait series of 60 frames showing six planets.

Astronomer Carl Sagan championed the image, which was commissioned by NASA. The command sequence was developed by Carolyn Porco and Candy Hansen, and the radio signal carrying the image data traveled for nearly five and a half hours to reach Earth.

The Pale Blue Dot, as it is likely to be known, is a stark reminder of our planet's fragility, as Sagan has noted. The spacecraft, launched in 1977, continues its journey into interstellar space.

• The photograph was taken from a distance of over 6 billion kilometers (3.7 billion miles, 40.5 AU).
• Earth appears as a tiny dot less than one pixel in size, occupying 0.12 of a pixel.
• The image was part of a Family Portrait series of 60 frames showing six planets, taken on February 14, 1990.
• Astronomer Carl Sagan advocated for the photograph, which was commissioned by NASA.
• The command sequence was developed by Carolyn Porco and Candy Hansen, and the images were taken at 04:48 GMT.

Foreign Desk

1989 — Khomeini Issues Death Decree Against Rushdie

Iran's spiritual leader calls for the execution of the author of 'The Satanic Verses' and his publishers.

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Supreme Leader of Iran, issued a fatwa today calling for the death of Salman Rushdie, the Indian-born British author of The Satanic Verses, and for the execution of all those involved in the novel's publication. The religious edict, reported by Tehran radio, charges that the book is blasphemous for its description of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

The novel, published in 1988, has already sparked protests across the Muslim world, and Khomeini's decree escalates the controversy into a direct threat on the author's life. Rushdie, who lives in Britain, has been under police protection since the book's release, and security is expected to be tightened further in the wake of the fatwa.

The decree also targets the book's publishers, and its wording suggests that any Muslim who dies in the effort to carry out the sentence will be considered a martyr. Western governments, including Britain and the United States, have condemned the call, with officials in London calling it "a shocking and unacceptable threat."

Khomeini, who has led Iran since the 1979 revolution, has often used religious rulings to consolidate his authority. The fatwa is seen as a response to domestic political pressures, as well as a signal to the wider Islamic world.

• Khomeini's fatwa called for the assassination of Indian-born British author Salman Rushdie.
• The fatwa also demanded the execution of all those involved in the publication of The Satanic Verses.
• Khomeini considered Rushdie's novel blasphemous for its description of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
• The novel, The Satanic Verses, was published in 1988.
• Khomeini issued the fatwa in early 1989 as the Supreme Leader of Iran.

World Chronicle

1779 — Captain Cook Slain at Kealakekua Bay

A confrontation over a stolen cutter turns deadly, claiming the explorer and four marines.

At Kealakekua Bay, where the Resolution had returned on 11 February after a gale damaged her mainmast, Captain James Cook met his end today. The English explorer, attempting to kidnap Kalaniʻōpuʻu, the ruling chief of Hawaii, to ransom a stolen cutter, was killed in the scuffle. Cook was stabbed through the chest with an iron dagger that had been traded from his own ship earlier in the same visit. Four British marines and 17 Hawaiians also died. Cook's body was dismembered and distributed to the chiefs as a mark of respect for a high-ranking adversary. The Makahiki season had ended, and the war-god Kū's season began, raising tensions.

• Cook was killed while attempting to kidnap Kalaniʻōpuʻu, the ruling chief of Hawaii, to ransom a stolen cutter.
• In the confrontation at Kealakekua Bay, Cook, four British marines, and 17 Hawaiians were killed.
• Cook was stabbed through the chest with an iron dagger that had been traded from his own ship earlier in the same visit.
• Cook's body was dismembered by Hawaiians and distributed to their chiefs as a mark of respect for a high-ranking adversary.
• Cook's expedition had returned to Kealakekua Bay on 11 February after a gale damaged the Resolution's mainmast.

Theatrical Review

1895 — Wilde's New Comedy Triumphs

The Importance of Being Earnest opens in London, a play destined to be quoted second only to Hamlet.

London's theatrical world is set abuzz by a new comedy that promises to be the most quoted English play since Hamlet. Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest premiered on 14 February 1895 at the St James's Theatre, with actor-manager George Alexander staging the work after Charles Wyndham waived his contractual rights.

Alexander persuaded Wilde to condense the play from four acts to three, excising the character of Mr Gribsby. The evening was not without incident: the Marquess of Queensberry schemed to hurl a bouquet of rotten vegetables at the author as the curtain fell, his plot coming to naught.

The production closed in May 1895 after 86 performances, a casualty of Wilde's disgrace.

• The play premiered on 14 February 1895 at the St James's Theatre in London.
• The Marquess of Queensberry unsuccessfully schemed to throw a bouquet of rotten vegetables at Wilde at the end of the performance.
• The play closed in May 1895 after 86 performances due to Wilde's disgrace.
• Actor-manager George Alexander staged the play after Charles Wyndham waived his contractual rights.
• Alexander asked Wilde to shorten the play from four acts to three, removing the character of Mr Gribsby.

Arab Spring Dispatch

2011 — Bahrain Protests Spread as Day of Rage Hits Nation

Youths stage 55 marches across 25 locations, seeking political freedom and human rights.

On 14 February 2011, youth-led protests erupted across Bahrain in 55 marches spanning 25 locations, demanding political freedom and human rights. Inspired by uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, the demonstrations also reflected deep frustration among the Shiite majority under Sunni rule. The movement escalated sharply on 17 February when a police raid on Pearl Roundabout killed four protesters. By 22 February, over 150,000 gathered at the square, where military action led to around 20 deaths and more than 100 injuries.

• The protests in Bahrain started on 14 February 2011, initially aimed at greater political freedom and human rights.
• The uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt are cited as inspiration for the Bahraini demonstrations.
• Lingering frustration among the Shiite majority with being ruled by a Sunni government was a major root cause.
• On 17 February, a pre-dawn police raid on Pearl Roundabout in Manama killed four protesters.
• On 22 February, protest numbers at Pearl Roundabout peaked at over 150,000, with the military killing around 20 and injuring over 100.

Financial Desk

1924 — Watson Renames Firm International Business Machines

Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company adopts new name after NYSE listing application.

Thomas J. Watson has applied to list International Business Machines on the New York Stock Exchange, and with that application the old name of Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company disappears. The firm, now known as IBM, was renamed in 1924, shedding the cumbersome C-T-R label for a title befitting its ambitions.

• The Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company was renamed International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) in 1924.
• On February 5, 1924, Thomas J. Watson applied to list International Business Machines on the New York Stock Exchange.
• The name C-T-R disappeared after Watson applied to list IBM on the New York Stock Exchange in February 1924.

Amusement Notes

1914 — Gertie the Dinosaur Amazes Chicago Audience

First animated film to feature a dinosaur delights vaudeville crowds at the Palace Theater.

Chicago's Palace Theater witnessed the first animated film to feature a dinosaur on February 8, as Winsor McCay presented Gertie before live audiences. In his act, McCay tossed a cardboard apple at the screen, and Gertie appeared to eat it.

• Gertie the Dinosaur is the first animated film to feature a dinosaur.
• McCay initially presented the film before live audiences as an interactive part of his vaudeville act.
• The first performance of Gertie was on February 8, 1914, in Chicago at the Palace Theater.
• McCay tossed a cardboard apple at the screen, which appeared to be eaten by Gertie in the film.
• The film was renamed 'Winsor McCay, the Famous Cartoonist, and Gertie' for its theatrical release.

War in the South

1779 — Militia Rout at Kettle Creek

Patriots scattered a Loyalist force near Augusta on February 14, 1779.

A Patriot militia defeated and scattered a Loyalist force at Kettle Creek on February 14, 1779. The Loyalists, nearly 1,100 strong and bound for British-held Augusta, had been recruited by Lieutenant-Colonel Archibald Campbell. Many joined only after threats of property confiscation. Their poor motivation and training made them unreliable, and the Patriots prevailed.

• Lieutenant-Colonel Archibald Campbell recruited a Loyalist militia of nearly 1,100, many joining only after threats to confiscate their property.
• The Loyalist militia's poor motivation and training made them unreliable troops.
• The Loyalist militia was defeated by Patriot militia at the Battle of Kettle Creek on February 14, 1779.

North African Front

1943 — von Arnim's Panzer Army Hits Allied Lines in Tunisia

The 5th Panzer Army, formed December 8, 1942, struck Allied positions in Tunisia.

Dust hung over the Tunisian hills as General Hans-Jürgen von Arnim's 5th Panzer Army launched a concerted attack against Allied positions.

Formed on 8 December 1942 to defend Tunisia after Operation Torch, the army now pressed forward. Von Arnim, appointed commander on 20 February 1943, served under Erwin Rommel in North Africa.

The attack, though heavy, came amid growing Allied pressure. The army's fortunes later turned; it capitulated on 13 May 1943 with Gustav von Vaerst commanding. For now, the front braces.

• General Hans-Jürgen von Arnim's 5th Panzer Army launched a concerted attack against Allied positions in Tunisia.
• The 5th Panzer Army was created on 8 December 1942 to defend Tunisia against Allied attacks after Operation Torch.
• Von Arnim was appointed commander of the 5th Panzer Army on 20 February 1943 under Erwin Rommel in North Africa.
• The 5th Panzer Army capitulated on 13 May 1943, along with its commander Gustav von Vaerst.

Science Desk

1961 — Element 103 Synthesized at Berkeley; Named Lawrencium

A Berkeley team synthesized element 103 on February 14 using a californium target bombarded with boron-10 and boron-11, detecting isotope 258 with an 8.6 MeV alpha particle.

Scientists at the Lawrence Radiation Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, synthesized element 103 on February 14. The team, led by Albert Ghiorso, bombarded a three-milligram californium target with boron-10 and boron-11 nuclei. They detected an isotope emitting an 8.6 MeV alpha particle, initially identified as 257Lr but later corrected to 258Lr. The team proposed the name lawrencium, symbol Lw, honoring Ernest Lawrence. The IUPAC accepted the name but changed the symbol to Lr.

• On February 14, 1961, the Berkeley team of Albert Ghiorso, Torbjørn Sikkeland, Almon Larsh, and Robert M. Latimer synthesized lawrencium.
• They bombarded a three-milligram californium target with boron-10 and boron-11 nuclei from the Heavy Ion Linear Accelerator.
• The team initially reported detecting isotope 257Lr decaying by emitting an 8.6 MeV alpha particle with an 8-second half-life.
• This identification was later corrected to 258Lr, as 257Lr did not have the observed properties.
• The Berkeley team proposed the name "lawrencium" with symbol "Lw" after Ernest Lawrence, inventor of the cyclotron.