Every day is a day to celebrate something. August 13 is National Left Handers Day. Those in the minority who use their Left Hand are honored on this particular day. While the world seems to cater to right-handed people, companies are realizing the struggles left-handed people have with scissors, can openers, guitars and other items that are made for the majority of people who live in a right-handed world.

Three years ago, a study was conducted by a Harvard economist who discovered that some employers discriminate when it comes hiring people based on which hand they use.

When a person's left hand is his dominant one, he is likely to earn 10 to 12 percent less than his right-handed counterpart.

Fun facts

Only 10 to 15 percent of the world's population is left-handed and most of them are men. At one time they were looked down on as being inferior and abnormal. Left-handedness was associated with witchcraft. However, there is no proof of that, and those minorities are considered just as important in the world as right-handed people.

Even though lefties use their dominant hand to perform many daily tasks, there are some things they are required to do with their right hand. The right hand must be raised to salute. It must be raised in a court of law when a person testifies.

Handshakes are often done with the right hand because it is considered to be disrespectful to shake with the left hand.

Famous people

It would be wrong to say left-handed people are unlucky. There are many successful people who favor using their left hand. Some famous people who belong to that small club includes Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States.

In fact, five of the last eight presidents are lefties. Other than Obama, the list includes Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, Ronald Reagan, and Gerald Ford.

It is interesting that basketball player LeBron James is left-handed, but he shoots with his right hand. Microsoft founder Bill Gates, media mogul Oprah Winfrey and Prince William, the second in line to the throne of England are also left-handed.

Some of our favorite actors who are lefties include Tom Cruise, Angelina Joli, Lisa Kudrow, Kate Hudson, Bruce Willis, and Drew Barrymore. Left-handed musicians include Justin Bieber and Paul McCartney. Two former late night talk show hosts, David Letterman and Jay Leno, are left-handed. Whoopi Goldberg is left-handed and one of only a few people who have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award. She did all that by working with her left hand.
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