Monday, April 12, 2010
ice cube tray
I love ice cube trays. It provides a daily neccesity (ice) in such a beautiful way. If only we could perfect more means of acheiving our goals that are as successful as ice cube trays. Its so energy efficient, so organic. Ironically enough most new fridges have "ice makers" which is much less efficient and much less organic. Just another way for our consumer culture to complicate a simple need that can be met simply. The problem with the ice cube tray is that it provides very little room for innovation (it is already perfect) and very little room for profit.
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Dear Shady Slim,
ReplyDeleteIt took a while but you managed to provide us with more entertainment than you ever did in person. This post has been dissected by those far smarter than me.
Yeah, that one was fucking painful. Nothing says 'organic' quite like injection molded plastic.
That whole blog is awesome. It's like he's stuck in those formative months that one tends to go through just after high school or in early college.
Quote:
It provides a daily neccesity (ice) in such a beautiful way.
Incorrect about it being a daily necessity and I question the beauty of freezing water in a hollow, plastic depression.
Quote:
If only we could perfect more means of acheiving our goals that are as successful as ice cube trays.
Well, I'm just going out on a limb here and suggest that it's simple because a simple process is required. I'm sure computers would be less complex if nature conspired to crystallize hard drives when it gets cold. Also, this says nothing about the freezer required. I'm sure that already counts as inefficient. Just watch the beauty of not-freezing water without one!
Quote:
Its so energy efficient, so organic.
I've already noted how it's neither of these things.
Quote:
Ironically enough most new fridges have "ice makers" which is much less efficient and much less organic.
Again, he must be confusing 'organic' with 'simple'. Also, ice trays are efficient in energy - probably, but not in time.
Quote:
Just another way for our consumer culture to complicate a simple need that can be met simply.
Incorrect. Ice makers are clean and operate without my input. Ice cube trays are not simple, as I will outline...
Quote:
The problem with the ice cube tray is that it provides very little room for innovation (it is already perfect) and very little room for profit.
...here. I don't know if Mike's ever filled an ice cube tray, but they're a pain in the ass to get from the sink to the fridge without spilling. Then they tend to jettison ice cubes and shards everywhere when you try and break out enough for one fucking drink. Plus, if you have more than a couple of people using them, you need to fill like 6 of them and stack them. Plus, it always ends up with one cube left at the end and someone decides that's enough to warrant not refilling it. So I'm fucking stuck with one insulting cube and the chore of refilling the damn thing.
Perhaps they'd be easier to empty if you just put it into a big plastic tub already sitting in the fridge. Oh wait, that would be a complication and let's not mince words - that wouldn't be organic.
Or, better yet, if only there was some way for some sort of device to monitor the level of ice and automatically dispense it into my waiting glass. Then, when it runs low, it will automatically be fed water by my house plumbing and re-freeze enough ice to keep ahead of the game. And maybe it would also be able to provide superior crushed ice rather than giant, awkward cubes! Man, would that ever make my life simple. Errr, organic, I guess.
P.S. What's with hugging people you haven't seen (or talked to) in several years? When are you going to do that to the people you hang out with currently (b/c you know you will)?
Dear Shady Slim,
ReplyDeleteIt took a while but you managed to provide us with more entertainment than you ever did in person. This post has been dissected by those far smarter than me. I've had to make it a series of comments b/c it's TLDR, but worth reading.
Yeah, that one was fucking painful. Nothing says 'organic' quite like injection molded plastic.
That whole blog is awesome. It's like he's stuck in those formative months that one tends to go through just after high school or in early college.
Quote:
ReplyDeleteIt provides a daily neccesity (ice) in such a beautiful way.
Incorrect about it being a daily necessity and I question the beauty of freezing water in a hollow, plastic depression.
Quote:
If only we could perfect more means of acheiving our goals that are as successful as ice cube trays.
Well, I'm just going out on a limb here and suggest that it's simple because a simple process is required. I'm sure computers would be less complex if nature conspired to crystallize hard drives when it gets cold. Also, this says nothing about the freezer required. I'm sure that already counts as inefficient. Just watch the beauty of not-freezing water without one!
Quote:
Its so energy efficient, so organic.
I've already noted how it's neither of these things.
Quote:
ReplyDeleteIronically enough most new fridges have "ice makers" which is much less efficient and much less organic.
Again, he must be confusing 'organic' with 'simple'. Also, ice trays are efficient in energy - probably, but not in time.
Quote:
Just another way for our consumer culture to complicate a simple need that can be met simply.
Incorrect. Ice makers are clean and operate without my input. Ice cube trays are not simple, as I will outline...
Quote:
The problem with the ice cube tray is that it provides very little room for innovation (it is already perfect) and very little room for profit.
...here. I don't know if Mike's ever filled an ice cube tray, but they're a pain in the ass to get from the sink to the fridge without spilling. Then they tend to jettison ice cubes and shards everywhere when you try and break out enough for one fucking drink. Plus, if you have more than a couple of people using them, you need to fill like 6 of them and stack them. Plus, it always ends up with one cube left at the end and someone decides that's enough to warrant not refilling it. So I'm fucking stuck with one insulting cube and the chore of refilling the damn thing.
Perhaps they'd be easier to empty if you just put it into a big plastic tub already sitting in the fridge. Oh wait, that would be a complication and let's not mince words - that wouldn't be organic.
Or, better yet, if only there was some way for some sort of device to monitor the level of ice and automatically dispense it into my waiting glass. Then, when it runs low, it will automatically be fed water by my house plumbing and re-freeze enough ice to keep ahead of the game. And maybe it would also be able to provide superior crushed ice rather than giant, awkward cubes! Man, would that ever make my life simple. Errr, organic, I guess.
P.S. What's with hugging people you haven't seen (or talked to) in several years? When are you going to do that to the people you hang out with currently (b/c you know you will)?