A Slightly Greener Ski Season

As you may or may not know, I try, where possible, to be "green." This means that I recycle, use a personal cup at Starbucks, buy eco-conscious products and clothing, and try my hardest to get good gas mileage.

It's a terrible shame that ski racks cause so much aerodynamic drag when you're driving at relatively high speeds (40+ mph). Your car feels sluggish and your gas mileage tanks (pun totally intended). One way to help that is to buy a fairing. It eliminates the area between your ski rack and the top of the car, thus keeping your top profile continuous, and reducing drag. I won't go into all the nerdy details, but they really help.

I've been meaning to get a ski-rack fairing for quite some time now, its just been a matter of money. I had a birthday recently and got an excellent present from my father in the form of a check. Which I used a rather large chunk of at REI to buy the fairing that was made for my ski rack. Much to my dismay, and not much to my surprise, it didn't fit. I seem to have a non-standard cross bar for my car, which gives me no end of trouble. So now disgusted not only with the product I bought, but the outrageous price I paid for it, I took it back.

Then while I was in class this afternoon, I got a great idea to just build my own! The university has tons of scrap materials, and they'll let you use the machine shop any time its open. So I took an hour this afternoon and fashioned my own with some rudimentary measurements of my rack. The results of my labor and dumpster diving are...


Amazingly, it worked on the first try. Any of you who know me, know that I can hardly ever get anything right the first time. I tried it out on the highway and there was no rattling or buzzing or anything! I coated the bottom edge in cloth (hockey) tape so that it wouldn't scratch my roof.

I paid $3.60 for raw materials (instead of the $80 REI wanted), spent an enjoyable hour in the machine shop, and came out with an easy way to make my car more efficient. Not only did I stop that annoying whistling sound that the rack makes when there are no skis in it, I get to show a little nerd pride with all the stickers.
-Ty

You'll also notice I'm saving water by keeping my car absolutely filthy!

To Window, or Not to Window

what I'd look like if I had a window
So an article on a very informative and well written blog that I frequent reminded me of a topic I wanted to discuss.
Office windows.
Now I understand that in a 21st century business world, it has (finally) been recognized that adequate natural light improves productivity, employee health (both mentally, and physically), and general work place atmosphere. But I'm not talking about the new buildings, or progressive companies. I'm talking about the company that rents a building constructed in the 60's, built to withstand the commie zombocalypse.

So, windows: some of us have them, most of us don't. Windows are generally a luxury reserved for those faithful employees with seniority in a company. Basically that means, employees that have been there for 3+ decades.
The problem with this is that when you've worked somewhere that long, your minimum age is 50. That means you're old, approaching geriatric. And what do old people* hate? sun. And you know what that does to the windows? PUTS SHADES OVER THEM!!!
So they work FOREVER in a windowless cave/cube/cage/hole/bunker and when they finally actually get to have a window, they are so frightened and injured by the overwhelming influx of light and warmth that they turn away and close every part of the blinds that they can.

Case in point:
I was desperately trying to soak up and enjoy the 1 tiny sliver of golden light clawing its way timidly across the floor when in a flash, it was gone. I looked up in horror squinting through the glaring, flashing light of the fluorescent overheads to see my boss, taping paper to the window in the spot where the sun had so mercifully seeped through. Half cursing and half begging I said "if you don't like the sun, why don't we just trade cubes?" To which he replied, "....hahaha, you can't see a thing with the sun so bright." I thought to myself, not only is that counter-intuitive, it should be considered cruel and unusual.

They give prisoners, in maximum security state penitentiaries windows. You know why? Studies show it reduces suicidal tenancies. I've figured it out, commit mass murder, get an 'effing window every day. Perfect!
-Ty


*the author harbors no ill will toward the few old farts who enjoy sunshine and other similar "hippie liberal sex sharing pot smoking" pleasures. In fact, he salutes you for hanging on to those ideals for so long. Preach brother.

photo via www.photobucket.com