Experts praise the black dots on automobile windshields as a technical marvel that are crucial to overall performance while being frequently ignored. These dots are a component of the frit band, a textured enamel paint strip that surrounds the edge of the windshield. This band is essential for improving the grip of the adhesive and glass, which guarantees the windshield is securely attached to the vehicle.
In addition to serving as structural elements, the black dots cover the glue from UV rays that could be harmful. This protection stops extended sun exposure from degrading the adhesive bond over time.
The dot matrix, which is made up of ever smaller dots, helps to ensure that the temperature is distributed evenly across the windshield during the production process. By taking this proactive step, optical distortion or “lensing” is avoided, guaranteeing that straight lines on the glass stay true.
The slow fading of the black dot matrix is responsible for the visually pleasant transition from the transparent glass to the black frit border. Furthermore, by strengthening the windshield’s structural integrity, this design decision reduces the likelihood of damage.
Essentially, those seemingly insignificant black spots on your windshield have a multitude of functions and are essential to the complex machinery of your car.
This Caribbean Island Is Back From the Brink—and Ready To Share Its Treasures With the World
Every product that appears on Condé Nast Traveler has been hand-picked by our editors. However, we might receive an affiliate commission if you make a purchase using one of our retail links.
The paintings of Italian-born artist Agostino Brunias, who made a profession of depicting the island in subdued, stylized settings that covered up the harsh realities of colonial control, were my first visual introduction to Dominica. However, as soon as I step onto its winding roads, which begin to twist shortly after I arrive, it becomes evident that this region, which is situated in the center of the Lesser Antilles’ curve, is anything but tame. The two-toned leaves of its bois canot trees, which change color from green to white when they sway in the wind, shimmer and bristle with the power of the volcano. It lulls with the erratic sound of its numerous waterfalls, scatters rainbows haphazardly across its breathtaking horizons, and enchants from the depths with its vibrant coral reefs. And it roars come storm season.
The indigenous Kalinago people of Dominica survived invasion by the French and British, who imposed slavery on the Africans who now make up four-fifths of the island’s population and left a linguistic legacy of English and French-based Creole, by mastering the lush tropical rainforest that covers more than 60% of the island. If you visit Trinidad for roti and Jamaica for jerk, you should travel to Dominica for green things like bush rum and flower teas. There are a ton of medicinal herbs in the forest.
The Jungle Bay Dominica resort, located smack dab in the center of the Soufrière jungles, leans into nature instead, maybe realizing the futility of fighting against the earth’s generosity. When I finally get there, the kitchen is closed. Joanne Hilaire, the operations manager, tells me that they never let guests go hungry, though, so I can feel the warmth of Dominica’s welcome. The cook is preparing an excellently stewed dish of beans with taro, rice, and plantain for our late dinner, off the menu, while I have a refreshing ginger-lime cocktail that is a local favorite. When I wake up the following morning, I find that my villa’s doors open onto a private veranda that faces southwest toward Soufrière Bay, where the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean converge. I let the light wake me for the remainder of my stay by leaving my blinds open.
Leave a Reply