Windows

Sure You Can See Through Them, But So What?

by Alex Miller (amiller4@ux4.cso.uiuc.edu)
written 08 Feb 1993

This article is classified "Real"


Windows are important.  They fit in holes in the walls, so that there isn't
a draft.  They also allow us to see the outside world, where someone may be
stealing your brand-new, incredibly expensive car.

Why are windows made of glass?  Well, basically because glass is clear and
reasonably sturdy stuff.  Windows are typically made clear so that you are
able to see whether some guy is in fact stealing your car.  Of course, you
may ask, why were windows made clear before cars were invented to be stolen?
Frankly, it's a mystery.  Research is being conducted at several prestigious
universities.  Another important quality of glass is that it is much more
solid than, say, water.  If windows were made of water they just wouldn't
work right.

An unfortunate side-effect of the clearness of windows is the fact that the
guy stealing your car can also see whether or not you are sitting in your
office, watching him steal your car and getting a description of him.  This
is why many criminals carry guns.  This is also why many offices are now
equipped with multiple turret-mounted machine guns.  But that's another
story.  Anyway, this side-effect can be fixed in several ways, most
commonly by covering the interior of the window at times when the window
is really superfluous or unwished for.  Methods include drapes, shutters,
and venetian blinds.  (The people in Venice need blinds because they use
water for their windows.  This also why they have canals instead of streets.
I warned you that water just doesn't work right when used as a window.)
Another important method is one-sided glass.  This is really neat, because
you can only see through it one way.  No one is sure how this works either.

A popular style of window used for religious or decorative purposes is
stained glass, which combines pieces of colored glass in such a way as to
produce a pattern or picture.  When the light shines through the glass, a
pleasant (some say) image occurs.  Unfortunately, stained glass can rarely
be seen through.  This is why people who go to church are poor -- they
can't see people stealing their cars, and thus are forced ever lower on the
economic scale.

Windows are also significant when broken.  Often children are responsible
for this.  Occasionally, however, some irresponsible pilot breaks a certain
thing called the sound barrier, causing another thing called a sonic boom,
which can shatter windows.  (This is significant, but will not be discussed
here.)  Broken glass contains sharp edges and can be quite painful if
jabbed into any part of the body.  Do not try this unless you are really
stupid (I still wouldn't recommend it, even if you are stupid).

I find windows to be quite attractive and all together more useful than
quite a few other things, like chickens.

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