- published: 24 Feb 2009
- views: 15213705
Ice cubes are small, roughly cube-shaped pieces of ice, conventionally used to cool beverages. Ice cubes are sometimes preferred over crushed ice because they melt more slowly; they are standard in mixed drinks that call for ice, in which case the drink is said to be "on the rocks."
Ice cubes that are crushed or sheared into irregularly-shaped flakes may add an interesting aesthetic effect to some cocktails. Crushed ice is also used when faster cooling is desired, since the rate of cooling is governed by the number and average radius of the ice particles.
Melting ice cubes sometimes precipitate white flakes, commonly known as "floaties". This is calcium carbonate which is present in many water supplies and is completely harmless.[citation needed]
American physician and humanitarian John Gorrie built a refrigerator in 1844 with the purpose of cooling air. His refrigerator produced ice which he hung from the ceiling in a basin. Gorrie can be considered the creator of ice cubes, but his aim was not to cool drinks: he used the ice to lower the ambient room temperature. During his time, a dominant idea was that bad air quality caused disease. Therefore, in order to help treat sickness, he pushed for the draining of swamps and the cooling of sickrooms.
Yeah I got out of bed todaySo I guess that makes this a
good day
Yeah I got out of bed today
So I guess that makes this a good day
I saw my grandmother
And she gave me a birthday card
And she said I'm sorry I won't see you on your birthday
I'm sorry this card is early
And I said oh no grandma it's not early
'Cause I had my birthday last week
She just looked at me like I was crazy or maybe I'd lost
my memory
So I said oh no grandma I think that you're right
I'm gonna have a birthday next week
And she smiled
And I said I love you very much
Thanks for the card so much
I'm sorry I won't see you on my birthday
Yeah I love you
Yeah I got out of bed today