Today is National Chocolate Day!

July 7th is National Chocolate Day, a good reason to enjoy chocolate!

Chocolate — it’s one of the most popular sweets of all time.  But why do we love it so much?  Maybe it’s because it tastes so good.  Maybe it’s because it makes you feel happy.  Maybe it’s because there are so many different types.  Oh, who really cares why — we just love it!  July 7 is National Chocolate Day, and we’re celebrating a few things we love about chocolate!

Perfect Consistency Chocolate contains fat–that’s no surprise. The cocoa butter in chocolate gives it a rich, creamy consistency that also transmits the cocoa’s flavor perfectly. It also has a melting point that’s just a bit lower than the average human body temperature, which gives you that melt-in-your-mouth feeling every time you pop a piece of chocolate in your mouth.

Feel Good Food The cocoa beans from which chocolate is made are not, themselves, sweet. The Mayans and Aztecs in Central America and Mexico consumed chocolate as a bitter, frothy drink mixed with chilies. Among the more than 300 chemicals contained in chocolate are a number of ingredients that help explain why we crave it.

Chocolate triggers the release of endorphins and serotonin, which make us feel good. And while no proof exists that chocolate is an aphrodisiac, it does contain the chemical phenylethylamine, a mild mood elevator that our brain produces when we feel happy or in love.

Chocolate contains the chemical  Theobromine which is what makes it toxic for dogs.  Caffeine is also present in chocolate and a toxic component, but in much smaller amounts than Theobromine.  Well, chocolate lovers, fear no more!  We now can with the delicious goodness that is carob.  Carob is a dog-friendly substitute to chocolate with the same great sweet richness that makes chocolate a delight to eat. Made from the pods of a Carob Tree, it is 100% natural and 100% healthy for dogs.

And it’s healthy too!  Carob contains as much vitamin B1 as asparagus or strawberries, the same amount of niacin as lima beans, lentils or peas, and more vitamin A than eggplant, asparagus and beets. It’s also high in vitamin B2, calcium, magnesium and iron.

On July 7^th, when treating yourself to some tasty chocolate don’t forget about your canine companion, throw a little Carob his way – you can indulge together.  Three Dog Bakery offers a grrreat selection of carob treats, such as our Pooch Smooches, Ulti”Mutt” Spots, and the carob dipped Dino Bone. Stock up today!  Your dog will thank you.

Chocolate 101:

• Cacao trees grow around the world in tropical areas.  They grow pods, which contain about 20 to 40 cacao beans.
• The beans are removed from the pods, and then fermented in piles for about one week.  This process allows for the beans to dry out and develop their color and flavor.
• The beans are then taken to the factory and roasted.  Next, they are “hulled” by removing the outside shell from the inside of the bean called the “nib.”
• The nibs are then ground into a chocolate liquor.  Then, the liquor (it’s not alcoholic) is pressed to remove the fat, called “cocoa butter,” and the residual powder is what is mixed in to create different kinds of chocolate.
• Depending on the kind of chocolate (milk, bittersweet, semisweet, etc.) cocoa butter, milk and sugar are added to the chocolate powder.
• White chocolate does not contain the chocolate powder that regular chocolate contains.  It just contains cocoa butter, milk and sugar.

http://threedogblog.com/news/july-7-is-national-chocolate-day/

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/lifestyle/2011/10/its-national-chocolate-day/

El Dorado Co. Sheriff's Investigating Missing Placerville, UC Davis Student Case!

Linnea Lomax, age 19 has been missing since June 26, 2012!

The father of a 19-year-old UC Davis student from Placerville says he hopes that the transfer of her missing persons case from authorities in Sacramento County to the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday will bring new energy to the search.

"It's always a worry, will my daughter get left out because she falls between jurisdictional cracks," said Craig Lomax.

His daughter, Linnea Lomax, went missing on June 26 when she left a Howe Avenue mental health facility after 10 days of inpatient therapy. More than 750 people have helped in the search for the university freshman, who the family said had suffered a breakdown several weeks ago while preparing for final exams.

In a statement released Wednesday morning, the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department said that it was turning over the case to the Lomaxes' home jurisdiction because there's no evidence the missing woman was the victim of foul play in Sacramento County.

"The circumstances of this case suggest that Linnea Lomax is, by all accounts, voluntary 'missing' and choosing to stay away from friends and family," the statement said.

The Sheriff's Department said it will continue assisting with the missing persons case as needed, and Lomax said the family is pleased with the attention Sacramento authorities have given the case.

"For the Sacramento County department, Linnea is one of a huge number of missing persons cases," said Lomax. "The caseload is ridiculous. El Dorado County has a lot smaller number. We might get more attention than we would have. We have a smaller community. There's a sense that this is one of our girls."

Please help in finding Linnea Lomax and pray for her safe return!

Linnea went missing from a business in Sacramento, CA early afternoon on June 26th. Linnea Lomax, 19, was last seen at approximately 1:00 p.m. in the 800 block of Howe Avenue. She is considered to be at-risk due to her disappearance being inconsistent with her normal behavior patterns.

Lomax is a white female, 5’2” tall and weighing approximately 100 pounds. She has long, blonde hair and blue eyes, and was last seen wearing a dark blue hooded sweatshirt and green pants.

Anyone who sees her is asked to call a hotline at (916) 905-HELP!

For more information and details please read the press release at the link below:

http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/05/4610522/el-dorado-sheriffs-office-takes.html 

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/05/4610522/el-dorado-sheriffs-office-takes.html#storylink=cpy

Fun Facts, History & Trivia about the 4th of July!

Here are some Independence Day fun facts, history and trivia.

On July the 4th, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress. Thereafter, the 13 colonies embarked on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation. This most American of holidays is traditionally celebrated with parades, fireworks and backyard barbecues across the country. As you send out your July 4th party invitations, take a minute to think about how much you really know about what we are celebrating.

4th of July History & Trivia -Did You Know…

• The major objection to being ruled by Britain was taxation without representation. The colonists had no say in the decisions of English Parliament.
• In May, 1776, after nearly a year of trying to resolve their differences with England, the colonies sent delegates to the Second Continental Congress. Finally, in June, admitting that their efforts were hopeless; a committee was formed to compose the formal Declaration of Independence. Headed by Thomas Jefferson, the committee also included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Philip Livingston and Roger Sherman. On June 28, 1776, Thomas Jefferson presented the first draft of the declaration to Congress.
• Betsy Ross, according to legend, sewed the first American flag in May or June 1776, as commissioned by the Congressional Committee.
• Independence Day was first celebrated in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776.

• The Liberty Bell sounded from the tower of Independence Hall on July 8, 1776, summoning citizens to gather for the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence by Colonel John Nixon.
• June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress, looking to promote national pride and unity, adopted the national flag. “Resolved: that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”
• The word ‘patriotism’ comes from the Latin patria, which means ‘homeland’ or ‘fatherland.’
• The first public Fourth of July event at the White House occurred in 1804.
• Before cars ruled the roadway, the Fourth of July was traditionally the most miserable day of the year for horses, tormented by all the noise and by the boys and girls who threw firecrackers at them.
• The first Independence Day celebration west of the Mississippi occurred at Independence Creek and was celebrated by Lewis and Clark in 1805.
• On June 24, 1826, Thomas Jefferson sent a letter to Roger C. Weightman, declining an invitation to come to Washington, D.C., to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. It was the last letter that Jefferson, who was gravely ill, ever wrote.
• Both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died on Independence Day, July 4, 1826.
• The 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence did not sign at the same time, nor did they sign on July 4, 1776. The official event occurred on August 2, 1776, when 50 men signed it.
• The names of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were withheld from the public for more than six months to protect the signers. If independence had not been achieved, the treasonable act of the signers would have, by law, resulted in their deaths.
• Thomas McKean was the last to sign in January, 1777.
• The origin of Uncle Sam probably began in 1812, when Samuel Wilson was a meat packer who provided meat to the US Army. The meat shipments were stamped with the initials, U.S. Someone joked that the initials stood for “Uncle Sam”. This joke eventually led to the idea of Uncle Sam symbolizing the United States government.
• In 1941, Congress declared 4th of July a federal legal holiday. It is one of the few federal holidays that have not been moved to the nearest Friday or Monday.

Read more on the Declaration of Independence.

Independence Day Trivia & Facts – An Inspired America:

• Thirty places nationwide with “liberty” in their name. Liberty, Missouri (26,232) boasts the highest population of the 30 at 26,232. Iowa has more of these places than any other state at four: Libertyville, New Liberty, North Liberty and West Liberty.
• Eleven places have “independence” in their name. The most populous of these is Independence, Missouri, with 113,288 residents.
• Five places adopted the name “freedom.” Freedom, California, with 6,000 residents, has the largest population among these.
• There is one place named “patriot” — Patriot, Indiana, with a population of 202.
• And what could be more fitting than spending the day in a place called “America”? There are five such places in the country, with the most populous being American Fork, Utah, with 21,941 residents. Check out American Fact Finder.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

-The Declaration of Independence 4 of July, 1776.

http://www.purpletrail.com/partytrail/featured_fourth_of_july/4th_of_july_history_trivia_and_facts

Advocating for Sgt Bowe Bergdahl, US Army - POW!

June 30th marks the end of three years captivity for Sgt Bowe Bergdahl, US Army!

Today is the first day of The Week of Action and Prayer to remember Bowe as we count down to the anniversary of his 3rd year of captivity in just 6 days.

We have a request for those who are praying for Bowe and his family. Please pray that those who are working extra hard this week to get the word out about Bowe, as well as those who are contacting government, would have courage and boldness in their work. Give them the right words to say and open the ears and hearts of those who are hearing those words. Please pray that through the work of those across the nation who support Bowe, thousands more will come to actively join us all in the effort that is being undertaken to bring him home. And, as always, please pray that blessings would be poured out on Bowe and his family and that their reunion would not be delayed a minute more. And for those who don't do much praying, please take time to visualize these things as real.

Along with our prayers this week, there are many things happening around the country for Bowe. (We'll keep everyone posted as the week progresses.) The primary goals this week are 1) to contact those in government to remind them that Bowe's rescue must remain a top level priority. Let's push hard this week to call, write and email so that our Members of Congress and others in government would receive a flood of contacts form Bowe's Supporters. 2) we want to raise awareness about Bowe's situation. Get the word out, tell his story- so many have yet to hear it. Help to guide these people who are just learning about him so they will know how to translate their awareness into action. 3) Pray. Prayer is the fuel to our fire. It is the thing that will move the ordinary into realm of extraordinary. Prayer is what transforms that which is limited by our human abilities into that which is infinite with possibilities.

Please continue to invite others to join us this week to remember Bowe. Please pass this post along to your friends. We're also including some links below to some very useful info.

Are You ready? So let's do what we all do best this week- come together as a force to be reckoned with and show the world that we are standing strong for Bowe.

USEFUL LINKS:
JOIN the Week of Action & Prayer and INVITE your friends (remember that this an "anywhere you are" event so it's easy for nearly everyone to be part of): https://www.facebook.com/events/161867847243827/

INFO about how to Contact you elected officials: http://supportbowe.org/contact-elected-officials/

A DOWNLOADABLE BROCHURE you can use to get the word out:

http://supportbowe.org/bowe_bergdahl_brochure/

MAKE YOUR OWN SIGN with this template to show your support:

http://supportbowe.org/bowe-support-sign/

GREAT IDEAS- What others are doing to raise awareness about Bowe: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.302700829818923.74928.186446128111061&type=3

HELP to get Bowe's name into the Twitter feed (this is where we've had a lot of luck getting the attention of celebrities, politicians and the media- it's amazing who'll actually reply personally to a tweet that they receive about Bowe): https://www.facebook.com/photo.php fbid=281340658621607&set=a.196725307083143.51330.186446128111061&type=3