At the neighborhood gas station the other day, I spotted a black Lincoln Town Car with a sticker in the back window featuring three wind turbines. That alone was an interesting enough juxtaposition, but the sticker also included an accompanying crude reference to a sexual practice that was even more baffling.

Warning – if you’re the type of person who’s easily offended, you may want to stop reading at this point. Here’s a link to some Family Circus cartoons you might find more enjoyable.

Still with me? OK.

(OK, then)

As I was positioning my cell phone to snap a picture, the car’s owner emerged – a big, brawny guy, the type that looked like he could snap a finger or two if he shook your hand a little too hard. Knowing that wind power can be a delicate subject with some folks, I explained who I was and simply asked whether the sticker was pro- or anti-wind power.

He told me he was a union iron worker who had been building Vestas wind turbines in Iowa. While he didn’t really answer the question directly, I’m going to assume that means he’s got a favorable view of wind power. Although, come to think of it, I’m also not entirely sure who the message is directed at.

He was in a bit of a rush, so I didn’t get a chance to ask where he got it. But, it turns out, online retailers like Zazzle and CafePress have a wide variety of “Blow me” wind turbine merchandise for sale. Including underwear.

For those who prefer something a bit less profane, there is the “Wind is my Homeboy” line, which is available not only on adult apparel but also on dog t-shirts and infant onesies.

And if wind is NOT your homeboy, there are plenty of designs featuring wind turbines with a circle and big red line through them.

Consider your Valentine’s Day gift conundrum solved.

Ken is the director of the Energy News Network at Fresh Energy, and has led the project from its inception as Midwest Energy News in 2009. Prior to joining Fresh Energy, he was the managing editor for online news at Minnesota Public Radio. He started his journalism career in 2002 as a copy editor for the Duluth News Tribune before spending five years at the Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Washington, where he held a variety of editing, production, and leadership roles, and played a key role in the newspaper's transition to digital-first publishing. A Nebraska native, Ken has a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a master's degree from the University of Oregon.