Did you Know
July 2008
Interesting Fourth of July facts
1801- The first public Fourth of July reception at the White House occurred
1804- The first Fourth of July celebration west of the Mississippi occurred at Independence Creek and was celebrated by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark
1805- Boston has its first fireworks display; in Charleston, S.C., the American Revolution Society and the Society of the Cincinnati meet at St. Philips Church
1876- Centennial celebrations (many are three-day celebrations, 3-5 July) occur throughout the United States and abroad
1884- The formal presentation of the Statue of Liberty takes place in the Gauthier workshop in Paris
1887- First Fourth of July celebration in Yellowstone National Park takes place
1912- The new national flag with 48 stars is "formally and officially endowed"
1926- The 150th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence takes place throughout the nation
1960- The 50th-star American flag waves for the first time as Hawaii is given statehood
1976- The nation's Bicentennial occurs.
Betsy Ross sewed it, but who designed the first U.S. flag? The answer, according to the experts at the Betsy Ross house, is that it was possibly designed by Francis Hopkinson, a New Jersey delegate to the Continental Congress and a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
The stars on the flag were in a circle so that no one colony would be viewed above another. It is reported that George Washington said, "Let the 13 stars in a circle stand as a new constellation in the heavens."
Betsy Ross prayed in the pew next to George Washington and was a niece of George Ross, so it's not hard to believe that the members of the Flag Committee formed by the Continental Congress would call upon Betsy Ross to make the flag.
Did you know that the words "Under God" weren't added until 1954 to the Pledge of Allegiance?
One lucky Philadelphian purchased a $4.00 picture at a flea market. What they found behind the picture was an original 1776 printing of the Declaration of Independence. It was sold to TV producer Norman Lear for 8.1 million.
Every 4th of July the Liberty Bell is tapped - not actually rung.
Happy Fourth of July – God Bless America
Frequently Asked Questions about pH
What is "pH"?
The body is largely made up of water. This water can have either acid or alkaline properties which are measured by a graduated scale called pH (for "potential hydrogen"), wherein 1.0 to 6.9 is considered acidic, 7.0 is neutral, and 7.1 to 14.0 are alkaline. The lower the pH number, the greater the acidity, and the higher the pH number, the greater the alkalinity.
Why should I be concerned about my pH levels?
The pH level in our body has profound effects on all body chemistry, health and disease. Indeed, the management of pH is so important that the body has developed strict accounting procedures to monitor acid-alkaline balances in every cell. Extended pH imbalances are not well tolerated by the body – if the pH deviates too far to the acid side, cells become poisoned by their own toxic wastes.
Is an imbalanced pH really that dangerous?
Yes, indeed it is! Nothing does well in an overly acidic pH medium, least of all the human body! Just as acid rain can destroy a forest, an imbalanced pH continuously corrodes all body tissues, slowly eating into the 60,000 miles of our veins and arteries like corrosives eating into marble. An imbalanced pH leads to the progression of most degenerative diseases including Cardiovascular Disease (the #1 killer in the U.S.), Cancer (the #2 Killer in the U.S.) and Diabetes, as well as the never ending frustration of systemic weight gain.
What causes pH to become imbalanced?
Most diets cause an unhealthy acid pH. In fact, diet appears to the major influence in maintaining appropriate pH levels throughout the body. Certain foods are "acid-forming" in nature, including most meats, sweets and starches, and others are "alkaline-forming", including most vegetables, nuts, seeds and fruits.
How do I test my body's pH?
One of the easiest ways to test the body's pH is to use pH test strips. You can get pH paper (also called hydrazine paper) in most drug stores; however, it sometimes lacks accuracy. By testing your pH with test strips, you can determine quickly and easily, in the privacy of your own home, what your pH is. They can be used to determine your urinary pH, which is generally a good indicator of how acidic or alkaline your total body pH is. When urinary pH is continuously between 6.5 in the morning and 7.5 by evening, you are functioning in the healthy range.
What are the benefits of rebalancing my body's pH?
When you rebalance your body's pH and make it more alkaline, viruses, bacteria, yeasts and other pathogens cannot survive. These microforms all need an acidic medium to survive and thrive. Think of a swimming pool – when the pH of the pool is kept within tightly controlled limits, bacteria, fungus, and algae cannot survive – and the same is true for your body. Degenerative diseases cannot gain a foothold in an alkaline environment, and body health and weight return to normal.
How do I rebalance my pH?
First, change your diet to include more foods that alkalize and less acidic foods – a large portion of your diet should consist of fresh vegetables and other alkalizing foods. Next, add supplements that alkalize to the diet to help your body return to a natural state of health.
