security lapse at Aristocrat restaurant; etc.

security lapse at Aristocrat restaurant
On April 9, 2009, lax security at entrance to said restaurant at Roxas Boulevard, Manila. The operator of said restaurant was identified as Roxas Food Ventures, Inc. and the president of said corporation was identified as Victor Reyes. Because of said lax security by guard, identified as "Voltaire Manalo", I could have brought dangerous weapons/deadly weapons into said eatery. While there, I submitted a written complaint to a person identified as "Edmund Briones". While there, I also paid for an order of bangus belly. The receipt issued at said restaurant for said food bore the words: "152 CONSTANTINO, E. TBL 8/1 CHK 1047 . . . APR09' 10:07 AM "

Information from local sources:

Immediate Recall of Setton Farms Premium California Roasted Salted Pistachios and Setton Farms Roasted Salted Pistachios from the US
http://www.bfad.gov.ph/default.cfm?CFID=3333&CFTOKEN=44446411

Manila Bay still unsafe for swimming - Atienza

PNP issues tips for hassle-free tips
Director Andres Caro II, chief of the PNP-Directorate for Operations, said the tips will be useful to motorists going to the provinces.
"Always remember BLOWBAG, which stands for Brakes, Lights, Oil, Water, Battery, Air and Gas," said Caro.
He reminded motorists to ensure that their vehicles are in good condition by checking if their engines tuned up; their radiators watered and running
properly; gas tanks filled up; head lamps, tail lamps, tail lights, electrical wirings and battery are in good condition; and their tires, including the
spare, are properly inflated.



Open letter to Manila Mayor Lim
For the benefit of the public, please soonest provide to the public the following information regarding swimming pools operated by the city government:
1. Proofs, if any, said pools were tested and were determined to be safe.
2. What was the last date that said pools were allegedly tested?
3. The complete name(s) of the persons(s), if any, who tested said pools and found them to be
safe.
4. The qualifications, if any, of the person(s) who, if any, performed said alleged tests.
5. How often, if any, are said pools checked for safety?
6. What is the desirable level of available chlorine in the pools?
7. Proof, if any, that each pool has a fully functional water circulation and a filtration system.
6. Proof, if any, that there is a regular swimming pool maintenance program for each pool.
7. Is there any restriction on who may use said pools? If so, please provide details regarding
the matter.


Information from foreign sources

U.S. Center for Disease Control
www.healthyswimming.org

Fact Sheet for swimmers and Parents

Pool User Information: Protect Yourself from Recreational
Water Illnesses by Remembering to Swim Your LAAPs!


Look . . . at the pool and surroundings. What should you notice?
* Clean and clear pool water; you should be able to clearly see any painted stripes and the bottom of
the pool.
* Smooth pool sides; tiles should not be sticky or slippert.
* No odor; a well-chlorinated pool has little odor. A strong chemical smell indicates a maintenance
problem.
* Pool equipment working; pool pumps and filtration systems make noise and you should hear them
running.

Ask . . . questions of the pool staff.
* What specialized training did the staff take to prepare for working at or operating the pool?
* Are chlorine and pH levels checked at least twice per day?
* Are these levels checked during times when the pool is most heavily used?
* Are trained operation staff available during the weekends when the pool is most heavily used?
* What was the health inspector's grade for the pool after it's last inspection?


Act . . . by being proactive and educating others.
* Learn about recreational water illnesses and educate others and your pool operator.
* Urge your pool management to spread the word about RWIs to pool staff and pool users.
* Let your pool operator know that that the health and well-being of all swimmers is a priority for you.
* Check the pool water for yourself for adequate chlorine (1-2 parts per million) and pH (7.2 - 7.8) levels.
Pool and spa chlorine test strips are available at home improvement stores and pool supply stores. If you
want to practice using them at home, visit:
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming/pdf/test_strip_instructions.pdf












Healthy Swimming
www.healthyswimming,org
U.S. Center for Disease Control

Protect Yourself and Your Family Against Recreational Water Illnesses

Think about it!
_______________


You share the water with everyone in the pool. If someone with diarrhea contaminates the water, swallowing the water
can make you sick.

So, you think chlorine kills germs. Yes it does. But it doesn't work right away. It takes time.

In fact, without your help, even the best-maintained pools can spread illness.

Think healthy.

Be Healthy.

Swim Healthy.


Remember the Other Classic "PLEAs" of Water Safety

PLEASE remember to keep an eye on your child at all times. Remember, kids can drown in seconds and in silence.

PLEASE protect your child against sunburn by using a sunscreen with at least SPF 15 and both UVA and UVB protection, and be
sure to re-apply it after swimming. Even a few serious sunburns can increase the risk of skin cancer.

PLEASE don't use air=filled swimming aids (such as"water wings") with children in place of life jackets or life preservers.



Swimming . . .
Same Tradition,
New Information
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________

What is the first thing that pops into
your head when you think about water safety?
Drowning? Lightning? Slipping? All are
important safety issues. But, do you know
many people have become sick from
germs found in contaminated
recreational water?


What are Recreational Water
Illnesses (RWIs)?
RWIs are the various illnesses caused
by germs that can contaminate water in
pools, lakes and the ocean. The most
common RWI is a diarrhea, caused by
germs like "Crypto', Giardia, Shigella,
and E. Coli 0157.H7.

How is Diarrhea Spread?
Pool water is shared by every swimmer. A
person with diarrhea can easily
contaminate the
pool with fecal
matter. Diarrhea is
then spread when
swimmers swallow
this contaminated
pool water.


Does Chlorine Protect
Against RWIs?
Yes, germs causing RWIs are killed by
chlorine, but it doesn't work right away.
Some germs, like "Crypto", can live in
pools for days. Without your help, even
the best-maintained pools can spread
illness.

Practice the 6 "PLEAs".
to Protect Yourself and
Others Against RWIs
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

Three "PLEAs" for
All Swimmers

Practice these three
"PLEAs" to stop germs from
causing illness at the pool;

Please do not swim
when you have diarrhea.
This is especially important
for kids in diapers. You
can spread germs in the
water and make other people sick.

PLease do not swallow the pool water.
In fact, avoid getting water in your
mouth.

Please practice good
hygiene. Take a shower
before swimming and
wash your hands after
using the toilet or
changing diapers. Germs
on your body ends up
in the water.

Three "PLEAs" for
Parents of Young Kids

Practice these "PLEAs" to keep
germs out of the pool and your
community:

Please take your kids on bathroom
breaks or check diapers often. Waiting to
hear "I have to go" may mean that it's
too late.

Please change diapers in a
bathroom and not at poolside. Germs
can spread to surfaces and objects in
and around the pool and spread
illness,

Please wash your child
thoroughly (especially the
rear end) with soap and
water before swimming.
Everyone has invisible
amounts of fecal matter on
their bottoms that ends up
in the pool.

______________________________________________________________________
Without your help, even the best-maintained pools can spread illness.
______________________________________________________________________













http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerelapr09.html
April 2009 Recalls and Product Safety News






Environmental Tips
http://www.epa.gov/earthday/tips.htm


Tips to save energy




Save Energy

Reduce your carbon footprint! Leaving your car at home twice a week can cut greenhouse gas emissions by 1,600 pounds per year. Save up errands and
shopping trips so you need to drive fewer times. If you commute to work, ask if you can work from home at least some days, and you'll reduce air pollution and
traffic congestion - and save money. Reduce greenhouse gases on the road.


On the Road
What You Can Do on the Road (PDF, 1 page, 202 kb, About PDF)

EPA

* Greenhouse Gas Emissions
* Personal Greenhouse Gas Emissions Calculator
* Green Vehicle Site
* Transportation and Air Quality Site
* Smartway Transport Partnership

EPA and DOE's Fuel Economy Site

The burning of fuels releases carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere and contributes to climate change, but these emissions can be reduced by improving
your car’s fuel efficiency. You can take the following actions to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions, reduce the nation's dependence on oil and save money. For more information, there are also a number of transportation tools available to estimate emissions from transportation and the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that can be reduced through specific activities.

1. Buy smart
Before buying a new or used vehicle (or even before renting a vehicle), check out EPA's Green Vehicle Guide and the jointly-run EPA/DOE Fuel Economy
Guide. These resources provide information about the emissions and fuel economy performance of different vehicles. The Green Vehicle Guide provides
detailed information on emissions (including Air Pollution and Greenhouse Gas scores for each model) and the Fuel Economy Guide focuses on fuel
efficiency (including side-by-side fuel economy comparisons and a customized fuel cost calculator). These Web sites are designed to help you choose
the cleanest, most fuel-efficient vehicle that meets your needs. There are a wide range of cleaner, more fuel-efficient vehicles available on the
market today that produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions.


2. Drive smart
Many factors affect the fuel economy of your car. To improve fuel economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, go easy on the brakes and gas pedal,
avoid hard accelerations, reduce time spent idling and unload unnecessary items in your trunk to reduce weight. If you have a removable roof rack and
you are not using it, take it off to improve your fuel economy by as much as 5 percent. Use overdrive and cruise control on your car if you have
those features. For more tips to improve your gas mileage, visit the Fuel Economy Guide.

3. Tune your ride
A well-maintained car is more fuel-efficient, produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions, is more reliable, and is safer! Keep your car well tuned,
follow the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule, and use the recommended grade of motor oil. Also check and replace your vehicle’s air filter regularly. For more details, including potential savings from these actions, visit the Fuel Economy Guide Web site.

4. Check your tires
Check your tire pressure regularly. Under-inflation increases tire wear, reduces your fuel economy by up to 3 percent and leads to higher greenhouse
gas emissions and releases of air pollutants. If you don’t know the correct tire pressure for your vehicle, you can find it listed on the door to the
glove compartment or on the driver's-side door pillar. More details on the Fuel Economy Guide Web site.

5. Give your car a break
Use public transportation, carpool or walk or bike whenever possible to avoid using your car. Leaving your car at home just two days a week will
reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 1,600 pounds per year. Whenever possible, combine activities and errands into one trip. For daily
commuting, consider options like telecommuting (working from home via phone or over the Internet) that can reduce the stress of commuting, reduce
greenhouse gas emissions, and save you money.

6. Use Renewable Fuels
Both E85 and biodiesel are renewable fuels that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from your vehicle. E85 is a fuel blend containing 85% ethanol
that can be used in certain vehicles called Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs). FFVs can be fueled with E85 or with traditional gasoline. There are
approximately 6 million FFVs on the road today. To find out if you own one of them, check the inside of your car's fuel filler door for an
identification sticker or consult your owner’s manual. If you own a diesel vehicle, consider filling up with a biodiesel blend such as B5, a fuel
blend containing 5% biodiesel. Biodiesel is a renewable fuel made from agricultural resources such as vegetable oils.


Last updated on Wednesday, April 1st, 2009.

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/road.html
Change lightbulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs to reduce energy bills and emissions from power plants.

Don't idle! Remind your school system to turn off bus engines when buses are parked. Exhaust from idling school buses can pollute air in and around the bus, and can enter school buildings through air intakes, doors, and open windows. Constant idling also wastes fuel and money, and school bus engines really need only a few minutes to warm up. More about reducing engine idling.

It's electric! You can check how much of your electricity comes from renewable "green" power sources, such as wind or solar. Green power produces less carbon emissions, reduces air pollution, and helps protect against future costs or scarcity of fossil fuels. If green power is a consumer option, check price differences from suppliers before you buy. The green power locator.

Tread lightly! Use public transportation, carpool, walk, or bike whenever possible to reduce air pollution and save on fuel costs. Leaving your car at home just two days a week will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 1,600 pounds per year. If you can work from home, you'll reduce air pollution and traffic congestion - and save money. Reduce your carbon footprint.

Make your home an Energy Star! When you do home maintenance, also do a home energy audit to find out how you can save money by making your home more energy efficiency. And if every American home replaced just one conventional light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes a year. Find more energy savings.

eCycle it! Take your old computer, DVD player, or other electronics to an electronics recycling center. Reusing and recycling materials like copper, gold, and others saves natural resources and reduces mining and processing. eCycling also helps avoid land, air, and water pollution by capturing and reusing hazardous substances such as lead or chromium. Find eCycling centers near you.

Everyone can make a difference! High school students can study links between everyday actions at their high school, greenhouse gas emissions, and climate
change. Become a "climate ambassador" leader in your school or neighborhood and motivate friends, schools, and community leaders. Talk to your
friends - help spread the word! Learn more at school.