In today's society of sharp shooting nerf guns and trendy diesel engines we tend to
overlook the simpler inventions of yesteryear that have made our day to day lives so much better. One such device that many today take for granted is the drinking straw. Originally used by the Sumerians for beer drinking (to avoid those pesky byproducts of fermentation), today's straw is no less important. In fact, today's modern straw can be found in almost every public dining establishment. This is mainly because of frequent spillage that can occur to less sophisticated drinkers when drinking directly from a glass filled with ice or from a milkshake with a hidden lump of ice-cream at the bottom that can sneak up on the unsuspecting drinker. Other reasons to use a straw are as follows:
- Straws are safe and clean. They are wrapped in paper or plastic.
- They make drinking fun and easy.
- While some public glasses hide germs and soap scum around the outside lip, you can always rely on a straw to be sanitary.
- In 1928, electrical engineers began to use straw tubes in the first mass produced radios.
- You can roll straws up and snap them to make a loud bang noise.
- They're great for tearing off one end of their wrapper and blowing the other end like a projectile towards your unsuspecting dinner partner.
- The drinking straw saves thousands of lives each year by avoiding those nasty little lemon seeds that many would otherwise chock upon.
- Girls are more attracted to men who know how to use their straw.
- Straws are cool.
I hope we all can now appreciate the straw a little bit more in our daily lives. The next time you're dining out and a glass of ice and your favorite beverage is offered, remember to say, "Can I have a straw with that?"
