Friday, December 20, 2013
Makes sense, but never seen before
It's easy to tell which type of window is most useful. Useful windows get opened, non-useful windows don't get opened. The vast majority of windows around here are double-hung, and double-hung windows are never open. Only awning-style windows, like this :
are routinely open. No mystery. Awning-style windows shed rain, awning-style windows are uninviting to intruders, and awning-style windows can be opened by a crank or lever without raising the blinds or straining your back. Double-hung windows fail all of those tests.
Therefore: When I see an open double-hung window, I pay attention. It's unusual, and it required considerable effort. This morning I saw an open double-hung window while waiting for the bus. Soon an arm appeared through the window, which was even more unusual. Took me a while to figure it out....
Oh! It's a clever way of smoking outside your rented house without standing on the porch in 20-degree weather!
Makes sense. Makes even more sense when you think of cars instead of houses. This gesture is exactly how most people used to smoke in a car.
are routinely open. No mystery. Awning-style windows shed rain, awning-style windows are uninviting to intruders, and awning-style windows can be opened by a crank or lever without raising the blinds or straining your back. Double-hung windows fail all of those tests.
Therefore: When I see an open double-hung window, I pay attention. It's unusual, and it required considerable effort. This morning I saw an open double-hung window while waiting for the bus. Soon an arm appeared through the window, which was even more unusual. Took me a while to figure it out....
Oh! It's a clever way of smoking outside your rented house without standing on the porch in 20-degree weather!
Makes sense. Makes even more sense when you think of cars instead of houses. This gesture is exactly how most people used to smoke in a car.Labels: Heimatkunde
¶ 9:33 AM
