the corner office

A question posed by Gauteng blog:

I have noticed that when I go down to the coast, my half-used shampoo bottle (I use Johnson's Baby Shampoo) is crushed. When I open the lid, it pops back into shape. Presumably, this has something to do with altitude and air pressure differences between the coast and Gauteng. It could also have to do with my poor packing technique, but I doubt it. Do manufacturers have to take this into account when transporting goods?

Since Joburg is over 1.7km above sea level, it's very definitely due to the changes in air pressure. I've always maintained that Durbanites, between the coastal air pressure and oppressive humidity, are exposing their brains to a form of slow pressure-cooking that definitely can't be healthy for them. It probably explains a lot about Durban, come to think of it.

To answer GP's question: it is a transport issue. My aunt's sister and her hubby did a stint a few years ago as truck drivers in the USA. Transporting packets of potato chips (crisps) from California to elsewhere can be a problem: if trucks take the mountain passes to get inland, the packets explode at high altitude, due to the much lower atmospheric air pressure. If I remember their story correctly, potato chips have to be transported around some of the mountain ranges, so's to keep the chip packets intact.