Did You Know?

 

 

Have you ever wondered why when someone yawns, the other person follows suit? Yawning is caused due to low levels of oxygen in the air, which makes the body intake large amounts of oxygen. The reason why yawning is said to be contagious is because when we do so, we are actually activating our nervous system. This has something to do with the survival instinct we have inherited in the course of evolutionary past. In the primitive years, when someone would yawn, the whole group would become alert and get better at sensing danger.

The dragon blood tree is one of the most popular natural wonders growing in and around the Mediterranean region. The tree gives out a deep scarlet colored sap, which is why it is given the peculiar name. The sap is believed to have excellent healing qualities and is used by the locals to cure various diseases and wounds. It is a popular practice to use the gum extracted from the roots of these awe-striking trees in the manufacture of varnishes and toothpastes.

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born 18 July in the year 1918. He was named Rolihlahla and got the name Mandela from his grandfather. The name Nelson was given to him by his teacher Miss Mdingane. He was born in Mveso, Umtata in the Cape Province. After the death of his father he was looked after by his relative. He became the first child of Mandela family to get education. He was an intelligent child and completed the Junior certificate in two years instead of three. Nelson took admission in the University of Fort Hare to do Bachelor’s in Arts but was soon suspended as he joined in the protest boycott. He accomplished his graduation through correspondence from the University of South Africa. Mandela was a bright student and while in prison he studied and passed Bachelor’s degree of Law from the University of London External Program and in 1952 he along with Tambo started the first legal firm for the black in South Africa.

In 1956 he was arrested for a deceit with 150 more blacks but they managed to elope in 1961; to escape arrest he disguised in different forms. Though a tough believer of non violence he formed MK guerrilla force to fight against apartheid. He was finally sent to prison in 1962 and was imprisoned for 27 long years and was released in 1990.

In 1994 he was elected the first South African president elected in the complete democratic elections. A simple president was well known for wearing Madiba shirts (batik painted). He was 75 when he was elected the president, the first oldest president.

Mandela has almost 250 prizes to his name. Some of them being Nobel Peace Prize, honorary Canadian citizen, Lenin Peace Prize and many others. His degrees are from the renowned Universities which are more than fifty from all around the world.

 

Johnny Campbell was the first to cheer the football team in 1898 in Princeton. Cheerleading is almost 100 years old when most of the cheerleaders were men. Now 98% of cheerleaders are females. The estimates tell that around the world there are more than 4 million cheerleaders. Cheerleaders are generally in the age group of 5 to 13 years. Most of the cheerleaders are gymnasts and 12% are dancers. In US 80% schools have cheerleading squads. The Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders is the most famous squad. Football is most popular sport for cheerleading. Cheerleading is no doubt a dangerous sport as it involves injuries like broken bones, busted lips and serious injuries. Though cheerleading is to rouse the interest of match watchers, cheerleading in itself is a competitive sport. The competitive cheerleader must be a high level gymnast as she is to perform without any safeguards.