February 13 is celebrated as World Radio Day, the Birthday of the Movie Camera,
International Self-Acceptance Day and Internet Friends Day, as well as interesting historical events.
World Radio Day
This holiday was started by UNESCO in 2011. This date was not chosen by chance: it was on this day in 1946 that the UN Radio was founded. The holiday is designed to emphasize the importance of radio as one of the most influential and accessible mass media, capable of quickly spreading news, supporting educational initiatives and uniting people even in the most remote corners of the planet.
Radio has a unique ability to adapt to technological progress. It has survived the advent of television, the Internet, and social media, but it continues to be a reliable source of information for millions of people. Thanks to digital technologies, radio stations can now be listened to not only through receivers, but also online, which makes this media format even more accessible.
Interesting facts
In 1906, Canadian engineer Reginald Fessenden carried out the first ever transmission of voice and music by radio. He played the violin and wished the listeners a Merry Christmas.
In the 1930s, WLW radio station was operating in the USA, the power of which reached 500,000 watts – this was enough for the signal to be picked up even by metal fences.
The first signal from Earth to space was a greeting transmitted in 1974 from the Arecibo Observatory. It contained information about humanity and was directed to the star cluster Messier 13.
In 2012, Italian radio host Stefano Venneri set a record by having a continuous show on the air for 205 hours.
During World War II, radio was used to transmit coded messages to spies. For example, French radio broadcasts could contain random phrases that were actually part of coded instructions.
Submarines use special radio waves of ultra-long frequency, because ordinary waves do not pass through the water column.
Birthday of the film camera
It was on this day in 1895 that the brothers Auguste and Louis Lumière received a patent for their invention – the cinematograph. This unique machine combined the functions of a camera for photography, a device for printing film and a projector for showing films. It became the first commercially successful motion picture camera that launched the motion picture industry.
The Lumiere brothers not only created a film camera, but also held the first public film screening on December 28, 1895 in Paris. The film “Arrival of the Train at the La Ciotat Station” impressed the audience so much that many, seeing the train on the screen, instinctively recoiled, fearing that it would leave the screen.
Interesting facts
In 1902, British inventor Edward Raymond Turner developed the first color film system using three color filters.
The film “Logistics” by Swedish directors Erika Magnusson and Daniel Andersson lasts 857 hours (over 35 days).
In 1962, NASA sent a camera into orbit to record the launch of the Mercury-Atlas 7 mission.
Modern smartphones contain powerful movie cameras that are already used to shoot full-length movies. For example, the tape “Tangerine” (2015) was completely shot on iPhone.
Modern high-speed cameras can shoot more than a million frames per second, which allows recording ultra-fast processes, for example, the movement of a ball of water upon impact.
The invention of the Lumières can still be seen in action, with some surviving models capable of shooting and projecting films even more than 125 years after their creation.
International Self Acceptance Day
It is a day when people pay attention to their inner state, worry about their own feelings and accept themselves as they are. This holiday reminds us that self-love is no less important than love for others.
The date was chosen symbolically – on the eve of Valentine’s Day, when many people feel lonely or worried about not meeting social standards of beauty or success. This day calls to get rid of complexes, abandon comparisons and accept your uniqueness.
International Self-Acceptance Day is supported by numerous organizations, psychologists and activists who spread the idea of self-acceptance, mental health and natural beauty.
Interesting facts
It has been proven that a positive attitude towards oneself reduces the level of stress. People who accept their flaws have a lower risk of depression and anxiety.
The idea of ”self-love” has a scientific basis – psychologists believe that a high level of self-acceptance helps build healthy relationships and achieve life goals.
Mirror therapy uses the method of self-acceptance – this is a technique used to treat dysmorphophobia, when a person has a distorted perception of his own body.
Research has shown that people who don’t criticize themselves are more likely to succeed because the fear of making mistakes doesn’t paralyze their motivation.
Self-acceptance improves physical health – people who feel positive about their bodies are less likely to have problems with overeating or exhausting diets.
The first mentions of the philosophy of self-acceptance can be found in ancient Greek texts, in particular in the writings of Socrates, who emphasized that “knowing yourself” is the key to a harmonious life.
Internet Friends Day
This holiday is a reminder of the importance of online communication and the connections that arise thanks to the Internet. In the digital age, friends can live in different parts of the world, never meet in person, but still support each other and communicate every day.
This day is dedicated to everyone who found true friendship through social networks, forums, online games or chats. Online friends can often be even closer than acquaintances in real life, because communication is not based on appearance or status, but on common interests and understanding.
Internet Friends Day is also a reminder of online safety. It is important to be careful not to share personal information with strangers. However, with the right approach, online friendships can be just as valuable as offline connections.
Interesting facts
40% of people have at least one friend whom they have never met in real life.
Online communication helps people with social anxiety make friends more easily because it does not require face-to-face contact.
The longest friendship that started on the Internet has lasted more than 30 years – some users who met through early forums in the 90s are still in touch.
Psychologists believe that online friendships can be even deeper than real ones, because people open up more easily when they are not afraid of judgment due to appearance or status.
There are cases when people met online and then became business partners or even started families.
The first big acquaintance through the Internet happened in the 80s – in the first computer forums, people exchanged messages through telephones with modems, although the communication was slow.
Historical events on this day
1913 Dalai Lama XIII officially declared Tibet’s independence from China. This became an important step in the struggle for the autonomy of the region, although in the future the issue of Tibet’s independence remained controversial in international politics.
1917 year in Great Britain, the government made a decision that allowed women to work as taxi drivers. This was a significant breakthrough in gender equality issues, because previously this profession was considered exclusively male.
1931 New Delhi was inaugurated as the new capital of India. This city was designed by British architects and was to become a symbol of the administrative center of British India, and later of the independent Indian state.
1942 In 2008, the forced deportation of the Ukrainian population from the territories occupied by the Nazis to Germany for work began. This became part of the so-called “Ostarbeiterstva” policy, which affected hundreds of thousands of people who were forced to work in harsh conditions in the factories and farms of the Third Reich.
1945 In 2008, Allied aircraft carried out one of the largest bombing raids in the Second World War – the city of Dresden was almost completely destroyed. This became one of the most controversial military operations, because the city did not have significant military facilities, and the airstrikes took the lives of tens of thousands of civilians.
1959 year, the first Barbie doll went on sale. This toy image quickly became a fashion and style icon, influencing children’s culture around the world.
1960 France conducted its first test of an atomic bomb in the Sahara desert. It was part of the French nuclear program, which aimed to strengthen the country’s position in international politics and the military.
1981 newspaper of the year The New York Times published the longest sentence in the history of the publication – it consisted of 1286 words. This record became a unique case in journalism, demonstrating the mastery of editors in building complex text constructions.
1992 Uganda officially recognized the independence of Ukraine, joining the international community of countries that supported the sovereignty of the new state.
2001 Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko was arrested in Ukraine on charges of smuggling Russian gas and tax evasion. It became one of the loudest political events of that time, which caused a wide resonance.
2012 The first Hungarian artificial Earth satellite, MaSat-1, was launched into orbit in 2008. This was an important achievement for Hungary’s space program, because the satellite was created by Hungarian scientists and successfully completed its mission.
