Pinoy Consumer Report

Cheers for President Noynoy Aquino's call to solve Pasig River pollution

2010-08-10T22:37:00.000-07:00

Just saw this report on President Noynoy Aquino saying that he intends to finally solve the pollution of Pasig River -- which as you know flows at the back of Malacanang Palace.

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

Perhaps the whole thing about cleaning the Pasig River could have been on his mind even before setting foot in Malacanang. Perhaps he also listened to his media backers (one of which is ABS-CBN) to lead the clean up of the river that flows right behind the so-called highest office in the land. Perhaps he was following the advise of feng shui experts.

But no matter what the real reason is, I think this is definitely a good thing to do.

We have a water shortage and perhaps the solution to this is flowing just outside Malacanang's backdoor.

Getting potable water from the Pasig River seems like a far-fetched idea right now. Sure!

However, you also have to consider that London sources some of its water from River Thames and I think New York gets some water from the Delaware and Hudson rivers.

I think there was a period when the Rivers Thames, Hudson, and Delaware were polluted to the point where people contracted diseases from them. This prompted the people to urge the authorities in these areas to install sewerage treatment facilities that would clean up the water that was dumped into the river and also compelled the city governments to implement strict anti-dumping laws.

We fully believe that if President Aquino is serious about cleaning up Pasig River, it will happen. He has the backing of a lot of people and I think all city governments -- as well as corporations and private sector groups -- will pull all stops to help him.

Cleaning up the Pasig River seems to be gaining resurgence and more adherents. Just recently, we've noticed new blogs coming out that are dedicated to posing solutions to Pasig River pollution.

One blog is the Pasig River Avenger and it has come up with a very good idea.

Another blog that came out recently has this to say about cleaning the Pasig River:

Many years ago I attended a seminar. One of the speakers was Architect Felino Palafox Jr. He talked about reviving Pasig River.

He pointed out that the river became the way it is because people treated it as if it were part of their backyard. To illustrate his point he said that the factories along the Pasig River were all facing away from the river. He added that what faced the river were the "backyards" of those factories complete with those pipes where all sorts of waste material routinely come out. Of course we all know where those garbage go.

Over the counter cough medication can cause psychosis

2010-08-09T22:32:00.000-07:00

Just because you can get it over the counter, it doesn't mean that the cough medicine you are taking will be completely safe.

A friend was rushed recently to the hospital for what seemed to be a nervous breakdown.

I learned of his breakdown through a mutual friend who sent me a text message, asking if I could come over and help get our friend to the hospital.

When I arrived at his condo, our friend was clearly in an agitated state. He claimed to be hearing voices and seeing people that weren't there. Minutes before my arrival, he had banged on the doors of all of his neighbors shouting incoherently.

Anyway, with the help of a couple of people, we got him to the hospital and there the doctors confirmed our hunch that he was having a nervous breakdown.

My friend is certainly not the brightest guy in any room, but I've known him for years as being a particularly grounded and stable person.

Over the past couple of months, however, my friend had a tough time.

He got flooded out during Ondoy last year, his father's kidneys shutdown permanently and has to go on dialysis three times a week, he lost his job and for the last few months had been living off his separation pay, and he has been having a hard time paying for his son's tuition fee.

Nevertheless, he seemed to be taking everything rather well. His mother and siblings were helping him through the rough times. There was no indication that he was either depressed or anxious before his breakdown.

Four days ago, I sent him a text message, asking if he wanted to have a couple of beers at our regular hangout in San Juan. He declined the invitation, saying that he had a nasty cough.

Playing doctor, I asked him about the nature of his coughing and the medication he was taking just to make sure he was taking the right one. He said it was a dry itchy cough and he was taking Vick's with the Dextromethorphan formulation.

At the hospital, the doctors attending to him noted that his breath smelled heavily of the cough medication and asked what he was taking. After that, he was given a couple of tests and the doctors came back to us saying that he may have had overdosed on cough medication.

He is now under treatment at the psychiatric department of the hospital.

Anyway, I just did some research about Dextromethorphan and psychotic breakdowns. Here's what I found out.

http://www.healthoma.com/what-can-robitussin-or-dextromethorphan-overdose-do/

Cough syrup overdosing is nothing new. Even children overdose on it because of the high they get from consuming and slowly it turns into addiction.

DXM, or dextromethorphan is a chemical that acts as an effective cough suppressant when taken properly. More than 80 cold medicines available legally over the counter contain dextromethorphan. When a medicine, which has this chemical, is taken in excess it produces psychedelic effect. Because of its legal availability DXM overdose is hard to track and keep a record of.

Robitussin, the other name for it is Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant available over the counter in syrup as well as pill form.

Dextromethorphan is not addictive physically, but users who are entranced by its dissociative affects develop an addiction that’s more psychological. This also happens because this drug is widely and legally available over the counter.

Robitussin or Dextromethorphan overdose is a possibility that requires one to ingest a massive quantity of the drug. DXM is mixed with other chemicals for an added effect or in long run complicated medical problems.

More than physical DXM overdose, the possibility for panic or psychological breakdown as the result of a strong trip is more. Those who take it can become paranoid. There have been cases when such people get stuck in a “time loop” which means they will not return to their original perspective. Treating this order takes very long and is a gradual process.

Mixing DXM with other depressants can result in overdose and result in respiratory failure. When DXM and alcohol are taken together the affect is, vomiting and sometimes can lead to alcohol poisoning. Mixing DXM with serotonin-affecting hallucinogens like, Ecstasy may lead to Serotonin Syndrome and chronic depression.

Heavy, chronic use of DXM can lead to Olney’s Lesions to form on the brain. This type of brain damage can have an affect directly on memory, emotional behavior and cognitive ability. Some reports from research labs suggest that stopping Robitussin or Dextromethorphan Overdose can allow for minor damage to heal, more serious cases are where the patient’s mental deterioration continues even if he stops overdosing, this sometimes leads to epilepsy and psychosis on a permanent basis.

The risk of DXM overdose is real. It may not be life threatening, but will inevitably cause nausea and vomiting at high doses. In extreme cases when knowingly or unknowingly it is mixed with other things the harm it can cause may be permanent.

The safest advice is that if you read any of these symptoms; nausea, vomiting, itching or irritation on the skin, feeling confused, motor control loss, loss of sensory perception, rapid heartbeat, paranoia, muscle spasms etc, call a doctor or seek medical help at the earliest with relevant information. Things like for how long you have been overdosing on Robitussin or Dextromethorphan or with which other things and chemicals. The more information you give the better the doctor will be able to treat you.

Here's another one:

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:http://www.biopsychiatry.com/dextromethorphan.htm

Dextromethorphan psychosis,
dependence and physical withdrawal
by
Miller SC.
Addiction Services,
Veterans Administration Medical Center and Associate Professor,
Department of Psychiatry,
Wright State University School of Medicine,
Dayton, OH 45428, USA.
shannon.miller2@med.va.gov
Addict Biol. 2005 Dec;10(4):325-7.

ABSTRACT

As part of a synthesis of evidence regarding the abuse and addiction liability of dextromethorphan (DM), an over-the-counter cough medicine available in over 140 preparations, an uncommonly published case of dextromethorphan dependence (addiction) is described, with specific, rarely published complications. The individual was interviewed and several medical databases were also reviewed (Medline, 1966-present; PubMed) for all content relating to the Keywords: dextromethorphan, abuse, dependence, cough medicine, addiction, withdrawal, psychosis. The patient evidenced history suggesting substance dependence, substance-induced psychosis and substance withdrawal in relation to DM. A literature review revealed that DM has specific serotonergic and sigma-1 opioidergic properties. Dextrorphan (DOR), the active metabolite of DM, has similar properties; however, DOR is a weaker sigma opioid receptor agonist, and a stronger NMDA receptor antagonist. DM and DOR display specific biological features of addiction, and are capable of inducing specific psychiatric sequelae. A specific, reproducible toxidrome with significant psychiatric effects occurred, when DM was abused at greater than indicated doses, with more profound and potentially life-threatening effects at even higher doses. DM withdrawal appears evident. DM's active metabolite, DOR, has pharmacodynamic properties and intoxication effects similar to dissociatives, and may be more responsible for the dissociative effect that this DM abuser sought. However, it is this same metabolite that may be fraught with the potentially life-threatening psychoses and dissociative-induced accidents, as well as addiction. While DM has been hypothesized as the most commonly abused dissociative, health-care providers seem largely unaware of its toxidrome and addiction liability.

And here is yet another...

http://www.justice.gov/ndic/pubs11/11563/index.htm

Recommended dosages of DXM generally are safe but can cause nausea, gastrointestinal disturbances, slight drowsiness, and dizziness. Acute dosages (between 250 and 1,500 milligrams) can cause blurred vision, body itching, rash, sweating, fever, hypertension, shallow respiration, diarrhea, toxic psychosis, coma, and an increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. Some abusers become violent after ingesting the drug. Little is known about the long-term effects of DXM abuse; however, anecdotal reporting and limited clinical research suggest that extensive and prolonged abuse may cause learning and memory impairment. While studies indicate that DXM is not addictive, some former DXM abusers report experiencing cravings for the drug.

World's Most Dangerous Battery!

2010-08-08T16:21:00.000-07:00

I was so shocked by the news I got from my nephew. The remote control toy truck I sent over exploded. Apparently, the rechargeable battery shorted and exploded.

I bought the toy at a very popular mall here in Metro Manila. It was a good thing that my nephew wasn't holding the truck when it happened.

I'm thinking of making a complaint with the DTI.

Unilever... Is it bullying Filipino companies?

2010-08-04T19:41:00.000-07:00

Monopolever ?

Already one of the biggest manufacturer of consumer goods globally, the British-Dutch controlled Unilever is one the prowl to gobble up smaller competitors which some sectors, including the European Union (EU) sees as a dangerous move toward monopoly.

A few months back, EU regulators said it is alarmed and will taker a closer look at Unilever’s bid to acquire the personal care division of American firm Sara Lee, which opted to focus on food and beverages.

Though Sara Lee openly said it was concentrating on the latter, hence their decision to sell off its personal care unit, EU regulators still insisted that it will look into Unilever’sEuro1.28 billion bid since they think that “the deal could give Unilever too much power in some markets”, as quoted in news reports.

Procter & Gamble is also said to be eyeing Sara Lee’s air freshener business.

In the local personal care business scene, there are several Filipino-owned companies competing with Unilever, though most of them merely settle for crumbs in terms of profitability and popularity in the face of the Unilever marketing and advertising blitzkrieg.

Still, at least one competitor has been seen lately as eating up on the C, D and E markets of Unliver due to its more affordable pricing scheme anchored on a no-frills marketing approach and shunning expensive celebrity endorsement contracts.

Today, this once obscure competitor is now earning in the billions, still not in the level of Unilever but making sure that the giant is starting to feel its market presence.

Now, considering its bid to control more brands by bidding to acquire a unit of Sara Lee, is it not a possibility that it is also moving in the same direction in the Philippines?

This came to fore since Unilever recently and openly attacked though its TV advertisements the credibility and safety of the local competitors’ best money makers.

bUlly

Questioning the chemical composition and suitability for human consumption of the Filipino competitor’s product – and claiming that theirs is the right and safe choice is obscenely one-sided and myopic. In this day and age, there will be studies, dissertations and researches to support any and every claim.

To claim that their product is superior is the norm in advertising, but to claim that it is the only good thing for consumers, like what Unilever did for its skin whitening product leaves a bad taste in the mouth. So what else is new?

Why can’t we put marketing wars to its rightful level of claiming product superiority and not prejudge or crack the rival’s credibility. Or is there something to this issue Unilever knows that we don’t?

Okay, is Unilever attacking this sole prominent Filipino rival in a bid to bully and buy it out?

In bidding to acquire the Sara Lee unit, EU in a report stated that:

British-Dutch consumer goods giant Unilever is planning to buy U.S.-based Sara Lee's worldwide soaps and personal care businesses, including the Sanex — a cheaper parallel of Unilever's Dove brand — and Duschdas, a German shower gel maker.

It will also buy several strong regional brands such as Radox bubble bath and Switzal, a maker of baby shampoo.

The European Commission says the deal would create a clear market leader in some European countries and remove a strong alternative supplier for deodorants, skin cleansing and fabric care products.

The EU executive checks large deals to make sure a company doesn't gain so much control over a market that it no longer faces much real competition and can hike prices or choke supplies without any challenge.

"The Commission will carefully scrutinize whether the proposed transaction would ultimately lead to higher prices for final consumers," the EU said.

Are the fears of EU likewise looming here? Recent activities by Unilever of pouncing on erstwhile obscure but steadily rising Filipino company gives is reason to fear such, and be vigilant if we want to remain seeing cheaper but equally effective Filipino consumer goods in store shelves in the coming years.

Selecta ice cream contains carageenan

2010-08-04T19:00:00.000-07:00

I bet you love ice cream.

I can't find a single person I know who won't have ice cream after a good meal or when it's raining -- go figure! I either have a lot of friends who think like me and enjoy the same things that I enjoy or perhaps they just like doing the same things that I do.

The best ice cream I've tried, however, can't be bought in any grocery or supermarket. Why? That's because it's home made ice cream.

I bought an ice cream making machine last year and it has been the love of my life for the last couple of months!

You'd think that it would be hard to make your own ice cream, but it isn't. The ingredients are easy to find and there are loads of recipes out on the internet.

Personally, I prefer plain vanilla ice cream which I then load with all sorts of yummy treats like fresh fruit, different kinds of syrups, nuts(!!!!), cookies, bits of brownies, and what have you.

I prefer my ice cream to be sweetened by the natural sweetness of the fruits I put in rather than put in sugar. If I want it a bit sweeter, I just add a sachet or two of Splenda on it.

So, more than custom making your ice cream, you can also be assured that you are getting exactly what you want.

These days, with the proliferation of mass produced and highly processed foods, it's quite important to know exactly what you are putting in your body.

Among the ingredients in ice cream that you'd want to avoid is carrageenan.

Now, I've already posted something about carrageenan in mayonnaise and that may have been quite a let down for all of you mayo lovers out there. But, here's the thing, I really believe that this stuff is bad for people.

A report on carrageenan recently came out in a CBS website (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0CYP/is_4_110/ai_86169623/) and it cites studies by Dr. Joanne Tobacman, an assistant professor of clinical internal medicine at the University of Iowa in Iowa City.

Here is that CBS article:

A recent review of the toxicology of carrageenan by Tobacman (1) raised questions about the safety of carageenan-containing foods. Intact carageenan is a high molecular weight hydrocolloid (molecular weight 1.5-20 x [10.sup.6]). One concern has focused on the potential for degraded (low molecular weight) carageenan to be formed by acid hydrolysis in the stomach and the possibility that this material could promote cancer of the colon (1). Rats fed degraded carrageenan have been shown to develop colorectal tumors (2). Studies involving initiation with the genotoxic carcinogen azoxymethane, followed by quantitation of the number of aberrant intestinal crypts formed in response to subsequent carrageenan exposure, have also suggested that degraded carageenan has the potential to promote colon cancer in rats (3).

These findings have led to degraded carrageenan being classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as 2B, a possible human carcinogen, based on animal study data. Native carrageenan has been classified by IARC as 3, unclassifiable with respect to carcinogenicity in humans.

Here's another article that further explains Tobacman's study:

Tobacman reviewed 45 past experiments on animals and carrageenan for a study that appears in the current issue of Environmental Health Perspectives. She found that carrageenan caused intestinal problems in many animals, such as rabbits, rats, mice and guinea pigs.

"I think we have very good evidence in many animal studies that [carrageenan] is clearly a cause of intestinal malignancies and ulcerations in animal models," says Tobacman. And, she believes it may pose a similar risk to humans.

A spokesman for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says there are two kinds of carrageenan -- undegraded and degraded. Undegraded carrageenan is what has been approved by the FDA for use in food. Degraded carrageenan has changed into a different substance and really isn't carrageenan anymore, says the spokesperson, and that is often what's been used in research studies.

According to the FDA, carrageenan is considered safe when manufactured according to FDA guidelines. Tobacman, however, says that virtually all carrageenan changes into degraded carrageenan. She says even when manufacturers use undegraded carrageenan, food preparation and the acid in our stomachs inevitably break some of the substance down into degraded carrageenan.

Because of this, she believes the FDA should more strictly regulate the use of carrageenan, especially since other thickening agents, like locust bean, guar and xanthan, are available for food manufacturers to use.

Now, there are actually people who believe that all this talk about carrageenan cancer is a hypochondriac fit and perhaps profess some kind of faith in the FDA. And my response to this is that the FDA, like all other government agencies, can miss out and completely fail to keep dangerous chemicals from being used in food and food packaging.

U.S. regulators lack data on health risks of most chemicals

By Lyndsey Layton

Washington Post Staff Writer

Monday, August 2, 2010

This summer, when Kellogg recalled 28 million boxes of Froot Loops, Apple Jacks, Corn Pops and Honey Smacks, the company blamed elevated levels of a chemical in the packaging.

Dozens of consumers reported a strange taste and odor, and some complained of nausea and diarrhea. But Kellogg said a team of experts it hired determined that there was "no harmful material" in the products.

Federal regulators, who are charged with ensuring the safety of food and consumer products, are in the dark about the suspected chemical, 2-methylnaphthalene. The Food and Drug Administration has no scientific data on its impact on human health. The Environmental Protection Agency also lacks basic health and safety data for 2-methylnaphthalene -- even though the EPA has been seeking that information from the chemical industry for 16 years.

The cereal recall hints at a larger issue: huge gaps in the government's knowledge about chemicals in everyday consumer products, from furniture to clothing to children's products. Under current laws, the government has little or no information about the health risks posed by most of the 80,000 chemicals on the U.S. market today.

One of the more popular ice cream brands that I see people buy these days is Selecta Ice Cream and yes... it contains CARRAGEENAN.

http://www.ingredientsnetwork.com/launches/full/macapuno-coconut-ice-cream-selecta-unilever-rfm-canada

Flavours	Coconut
Format	Cup/Tub
Ingredients	water, macapuno (coconut sport), preserve, refined sugar, palm oil, skimmed milk powder, corn syrup, buco (young coconut), preserve, whey powder, maltodextrin, food stabilizers and emulsifiers (distilled mono and diglycerides), E471, carboximethylcellulose (E466), locust bean gum (E410), guar gum (E412), carrageenan E407, artificial food flavours, vitamin A palmitate Waters, macapuno (coconut sport), preserve, Sucrose (Refined), Palm Oil, Skimmed Milk Powder (Skimmed, Powdered), Glucose Syrup, buco (young coconut), preserve, Whey Powder (Powdered), Maltodextrin, food stabilizers and emulsifiers (distilled mono and diglycerides), Mono- and Di-glycerides of Fatty Acids, carboximethylcellulose (E466), Carob Bean Gum, Guar Gum, Carrageenan, Artificial Flavouring Substance (Artificial), Retinyl Palmitate

Did you eat Kellog's cancer for breakfast?

2010-08-04T17:50:00.000-07:00

My apologies for bringing this up early in the day when most people are just about to have their breakfast.

Now, I realize that most people I know here probably have friend rice or pandesal for breakfast, but there was a time when I only ate cereals for breakfast. I grew up on the stuff and once in a while, I still get a craving for it. When I do, I usually buy a box or two at the grocery and even in the middle of the day or afternoon, I'd eat half a bag before working out. It's a guilty pleasure.

About two months ago, I got my usual cereal fix and failed to get to the gym.

The reason? A sudden onset of diarrhea which I blamed on the milk I used with the cereal -- which I thought smelled a bit funny.

I thought nothing of it until a few days ago when I read this report from the Washington Post.

U.S. regulators lack data on health risks of most chemicals

By Lyndsey Layton

Washington Post Staff Writer

Monday, August 2, 2010

This summer, when Kellogg recalled 28 million boxes of Froot Loops, Apple Jacks, Corn Pops and Honey Smacks, the company blamed elevated levels of a chemical in the packaging.

Dozens of consumers reported a strange taste and odor, and some complained of nausea and diarrhea. But Kellogg said a team of experts it hired determined that there was "no harmful material" in the products.

Federal regulators, who are charged with ensuring the safety of food and consumer products, are in the dark about the suspected chemical, 2-methylnaphthalene. The Food and Drug Administration has no scientific data on its impact on human health. The Environmental Protection Agency also lacks basic health and safety data for 2-methylnaphthalene -- even though the EPA has been seeking that information from the chemical industry for 16 years.

The cereal recall hints at a larger issue: huge gaps in the government's knowledge about chemicals in everyday consumer products, from furniture to clothing to children's products. Under current laws, the government has little or no information about the health risks posed by most of the 80,000 chemicals on the U.S. market today.

The disturbing part of this article is this:

A natural component of crude oil, 2-methylnaphthalene is structurally related to naphthalene, an ingredient in mothballs and toilet-deodorant blocks that is considered a possible human carcinogen by the EPA. Kay Cooksey, a packaging expert at Clemson University, said 2-methylnaphthalene likely ended up in cereal because something went awry in the manufacturing of the foil-lined bags. The foil is attached to the paper bag with an adhesive that is heated, she said. If too much heat is applied or if the composition of the adhesive is incorrect, 2-methylnaphthalene could form, she said.

Then it made sense! It wasn't the milk that smelled bad, it was the cereals!

Are you BUYING FILIPINO?

2010-08-03T16:36:00.000-07:00

Buy Filipino!

I don't know who coined this term and when it was last used to drive up the sales of Filipino made products. Nevertheless, I think that the exhortation to patronize locally made product brands over foreign brands should experience a resurgence of sorts.

With the Aquino Administration coming into power, I suppose another worthy battle cry that should be right up there with "kapag walang corrupt, walang mahirap" is "bilihin mo, gawang PNOY".

(Forgive my attempt at being cute.)

In any case, one thing I can say about our OFWS and Filipinos who have migrated to other parts of the globe is that they don't have to be told to "buy Filipino". The actually pack suitcases full of Filipino brands when they go away to work in a foreign land or go back to their home in some other country.

My brother, a ship doctor on board a luxury cruise ship, regularly brings brands like Barrio Fiesta, Tanduay (Americans and Europeans love it), various dried manggo brands, Happee Toothpaste, etcetera.

For one, it helps ease the homesickness he feels when he is on the ship. Sharing a pack of dried manggos or even a bag of cornick (deep fried corn) with his fellow Filipino crewmates is enough to bring him back home.

Another reason is that their American, European, and Middle Eastern superiors and workmates have at one time or another gotten a taste of one Filipino product and liked it.

Another brother, who is in Canada, does the same thing and being the lady's man, he tends to bring stuff like Happy Feet bakya, embroidered fans, chocolate tablets, and other "exotic" Filipino delicacies. One time he brought to Canada shirts made by Pidro and bottles of lambanog -- and received several marriage proposals.

All in all, perhaps the new Administration ought to seriously consider giving our OFWs some means of getting Filipino made products to wherever they may be. Perhaps the Philippine Postal Service can be tapped in a program that can be similar to what was done for American GI's who received parcels from the homeland containing chewing gum, chocolate bars, adult magazines, and other stuff.

Please don't offer me the SM ADVANTAGE CARD

2010-08-03T15:37:00.000-07:00

I do most of my shopping at SM Sta. Mesa and I really find it quite bothersome to be offered the "SM ADVANTAGE CARD".

Usually, before the cashier tells you how much your purchases are, they ask you two questions (like automatons):

Sir, meron na ba kayong SM Advantage?

Gusto niyo po ba ng SM Advantage?

Even before they ask me the question, I blurt out.

Wala. Ayaw.

The thing is, the SM Advantage Card is NOT A DISCOUNT CARD. According to its website, the card is described:

SM Advantage is SM’s customer loyalty program that rewards members with points every time they shop in SM Department Store, SM Supermarket, SM Hypermarket and other SM retail establishments inside and outside SM Malls. The points can then be used to redeem practically anything sold in any of those stores.

Aside from reward points, SM Advantage also offers numerous members-only privileges such as exclusive sales, discounts and freebies both inside and outside SM Malls.

Now, the SM ADVANTAGE CARD is NOT FREE. You, the loyal customer of SM, will have to PAY for the ADVANTAGE CARD.

Being offered the SM ADVANTAGE CARD every tine
at the cashier in SM is ANNOYING.

The SM ADVANTAGE CARD will allow you to accumulate reward points with every purchase and these reward points can be redeemed.

The problem is that it is rather difficult to find out when you can redeem your points.

I used to have an SM ADVANTAGE CARD and I accumulated so many points after a year's worth of groceries and shopping.

One time while paying for a couple of items, the Cashier told me that I should check if I could redeem my points.

So I went to the information desk smiling, thinking that I could get a discount or gift checks or whatever. The first sign of trouble came when I approached the information desk and found that NO ONE WAS THERE. Being rather pressed for time, I decided to try and check again with the SM INFORMATION DESK the next day since I would be back at SM to pick up a bed frame that I had bought.

When I arrived at SM the next day, I went straight to the information desk and this time someone was able to entertain my queries. She swiped my card and after a few seconds, smilingly told me disappointing news: "Sir, EXPIRED na po ang POINTS niyo."

Ouch!!

So, since then, I have refused the SM ADVANTAGE CARD.

Text MESSAGES should be FREE

2010-08-02T16:44:00.000-07:00

(Source: http://pinoybiz.blogspot.com/2009/09/does-smart-sun-and-globe-really-love_14.html)

Dr. Giovanni Tapang the lead convenor of AGHAM, explained that SMS or text messaging is an inherent feature of GSM networks and is now carried over in the newer 3G networks.

No additional investment is needed to enable GSM or 3G cellular phone systems to process text messages.

SMS is sent through the airwaves as packets of data similar to the way the packets of data are transmitted through the internet. It uses a small fraction of the capacity needed to carry a voice call.

He pointed out that telcos currently charge of P 10 flat rate for half an hour of data transfer at speeds of 56 to 114 kilobits per second using 3G or GPRS (General Packet Radio Service). Tapang said that it is possible to send the entire text of Dr. Jose Rizal's Noli Me Tangere, consisting of 1.15 million characters, at 56 kilobits per second within 30 minutes at a cost of just P 10.00. Alternatively, this means sending 638 characters a second at a cost of just half a centavo.

A single text message consisting of just 160 characters could zip through a cellular network system in a third of a second at a cost of around a hundredth of a centavo.

From Tapang's analysis, it was inferred that the price of text messages may have been a value arrived at that would compensate telcos for the aggregate system capacity of their used for texting.

If there were no such thing as text messaging and only voice calls were processed, cellular phone companies would have a large excess or unused capacity and this would represent a huge overhead cost for them.

By charging for text messaging, it is possible that they are not only eliminating overhead costs but are also earning huge profits at nearly zero additional cost.

SOURCE:

Unilever stalks its customers

2010-08-02T16:06:00.000-07:00

This Unilever Brand of Detergent
can be spying on your household.

Unilever should probably charged with invasion of privacy after it admitted to secretly placing a GPS tracker on the boxes of its brand of laundry detergent.

With an array of electronic sensors, team of Unilever agents can now pinpoint the exact location of the GPS trackers and walk right up to your front door. They can even remotely set off a beeper inside the box using radio electronics.

The RUSE of course is that it is part of a contest. But what it's really a way for Unilever to get it's customers to pay for supply chain dynamics and consumer behavior research.

The Philippines is being targeted for a similar spying operation -- assuming that they haven't operationalized this already.

Philippine Trade Secretary opens doors to importation of untested products

2010-08-02T00:40:00.000-07:00

Philippine Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory L. Domingo ought to be chastised severely for allowing the importation of UNTESTED products into the country.

Domingo must have forgotten the sheer terror that Filipinos underwent when news broke about MELAMINE TAINTED INFANT MILK!

Moreover, this preferential treatment smacks of being HOSTILE to Filipino companies and Filipino products.

While it burdens Filipino companies with stringent and sometimes unnecessary requirements, Domingo opens the gates wide for GIANT MULTINATIONAL FIRMS like UNILEVER to FLOOD THE PHILIPPINE MARKET with POTENTIALLY UNSAFE GOODS THAT HAVE NOT UNDERGONE TESTING.

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Domingo said the DTI is reviewing procedures by which to improve business environment and one aspect they were looking at to relax product standards requirements.

In the same event, Domingo said that he favors the grant of full government support to selected industries that grow and compete and manage the decline of the uncompetitive to be able to manage effectively the limited government resources.

On the standards issue, Domingo has toyed with the idea of granting provisional release of imported products while undergoing product testing. Imported products are subject to Import Clearance Certificate (ICC). If an item does not pass the required standards, it cannot be issued an ICC and without the ICC mark it cannot be sold in the local market.

Domingo further said they are looking at allowing a “green lane” for products that have shown discipline and for that they could be “exempted from the ICC” requirements. If these imports slide back, they can be brought back to non-green lane.

This has irked the FPI, which has been involved in the crafting of the mandatory standards on some 80 products.

“We worked so hard so that this ICC will undergo very strict printing process because before it was being printed by the importers themselves,” Arranza said.

The ICC is meant to protect the safety of consumers, Arranza said.

“It is quite absurd that the Secretary of Trade, in whose department the BPS (Bureau of Product Standards) is an organic agency, will advocate for quick release and conditional release of the ICC.

He should have studied that a lot of those products that were released on conditional release before were sold even prior to examinations, so the harm has been done already even before the government could even determine if they are substandard items,” Arranza said.

There has been an unabated influx of substandard products ranging from food to construction materials, like ceramic tiles and steel bars.