Do Toms Shoes Really Help People?

It seems counterintuitive that a company who uses a buy one donate one method would not help the people of under developed countries but it is actually the case. An example of this is the company Toms who produces canvas shoes. When buying a pair, the company in return donates a pair to an underdeveloped country. That all seems great and helps you feel like you’re donating but it actually is harmful to these communities. For example, most of the people who receive the shoe donations already have shoes and they have more dire needs such as food and healthcare. Another example, of this is when donations of rice pour in after a tsunami in 2006. While this food could feed people for a brief amount of time it in return kills the local farmers who produce food. How are you supposed to compete with free? This is a long term problem created by donations. However, this method could be useful if the company contracts with locals and rather than dumping useless goods on a community uses the money to fund items that are actually needed such as food, glasses, or economic development.

KFC, Pizza Hut, and Sphinx

It seems counterintuitive that a wonder of the world that has stood up to the test of time is now surrounded by chain businesses. Just across from the Pyramids of Giza are chain restaurants Pizza Hut and KFC. Growing up we are taught about these pyramids and our young minds are filled with ideas about how they were built. In reality, they are just outside of a commercialized city and have been dismantled by our ancestors to build Giza. It is a prime example of how people will take something beautiful and capitalize on a market with cheap and unhealthy food. This has led people to take for granted the great structures built thousands of years ago. These pyramids were meticulously constructed some aligning with the stars and constellations just to become a photo op for Instagram.

The Counterintuitive World- How to Armor Planes

It seems counterintuitive that to build a safer plane one would have to armor the parts that did not return with bullet holes but that is exactly the case. During WW2 the RAF was taking heavy losses due to German anti-aircraft fire. Deciding that the planes needed more armor to cut loses it was first thought you would analyze the bullet holes on returned crafts and reinforce those locations. However, this is not the case. The planes that were being analyzed were able to return to base despite the bullet holes so one would want to armor the places where the bullet holes were not. The planes that did not make it back to base most likely had been hit in these areas therefore they should be armored. I have seen this image across the web, and I was taken back at the logic upon my initial viewing. However, after looking at the information with a new perspective the idea makes perfect sense. This also relates to people. When people are at their most sick, they opt to see a doctor. After seeing the doctor, we tend to feel better. This may not be because of the doctor but because our bodies have already worked to fight off the illness and we were at our peak when seeking medical attention. This is an interesting thought and make you wonder if one should seek earlier medical intervention when feeling ill.