World Hepatitis Day is celebrated today. No, this day is not celebrating getting the infectious disease. Inflammation of the liver caused by a virus is called viral hepatitis and today is about raising awareness. The five main types of viral hepatitis are A, B, C, D, and E. Hepatitis B and C are chronic diseases that cause serious liver damage, cancer, and death. World Hepatitis Day, one of the World Health Organization's officially mandated global public health days. This day actually takes place on the anniversary of the birth of Dr. Baruch Blumber who was the scientist that discovered the hepatitis B virus and developed a diagnostic test and vaccine for it. World Hepatitis Day provides an opportunity to increase awareness about hepatitis, especially about the importance of knowing one's hepatitis status and about treatment.

Consumers spend more than $7 billion a year on chocolate. National milk chocolate is celebrated on July 28th and I love some chocolate. Milk chocolate was first made in 1875 when Daniel Peter, a Swiss chocolatier. The milk chocolate was made by mixing Nestlé's chocolate with the newly discovered sweetened condensed milk. You can celebrate by eating some yummy milk chocolate or drizzling some on some cold ice cream.

God bless America! On July 28th, 1868 the 14th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified. The amendment grants citizenship to "all persons born or naturalized in the United States" which included former slaves who had just been freed after the Civil War. This amendment has been used to fight many causes in the United States. A number of women and African Americans used it to proclaim the right to vote.

On July 28th, 1976 an earthquake in the industrial city of Tangshan, China, killed more than 240,000 people. It was also called Great Tangshan Earthquake and had a magnitude of 7.5! Though the official report did say 242,000 persons had died the death toll might have been as high as 655,000.

If you have the day off (or want to play hooky) National Waterpark Day has arrived. Providing the world with splashing entertainment, waterparks are a great way to cool off and have fun. Waterparks can be both indoors and outdoors and involve thrilling rides that sometimes can be deadly. Most recently in June, an 11-year-old lost his life and three others were injured on a Raging River ride in Iowa.