Introducing the $7.50 ice cube
Again, no, not The Onion.
http://www.alternet.org/economy/you-can-buy-ice-cubes-750-each-new-york-city
Consider a product selling in a gourmet store in New York's tony SoHo district. “Gläce Luxury Ice is a meticulously designed and differentiated ice brand specifically designed for use in premium drinks and cocktails,” reads a pitch at the website of Dean and Deluca. “Gläce Ice pieces are individually carved from a 300 lb block to ensure flawless quality and a zero-taste profile, never contaminating the essence of premium liquors.”
If you're so inclined, you can purchase a package of 10 of these fancy ice cubes. It'll run you $75 bucks, or $7.50 per cube (not including "Next Day Shipping to ensure freshness"
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At the same time, New York's much-abused homeless population is now at Great Depression levels, and according to a 2011 study conducted by the city, almost half of New Yorkers (46 percent) are living below or near the poverty line (defined as making less than 150% of the federal threshold).
What's next? Premium air?
= new reply since forum marked as read
The air pumps at the gas stations in my area are $1. Considering that my bicycle tires require 60 psi and they are never completely flat, that runs about a 1¢ psi. 
I can see why though, rock is an insulator, it has so many microscopic holes. There are two ways to make an effective "drop in" cooler for drinks that isn't water based, one is a metal that's chemically neutral, Aluminum would fit the bill, though if you chill it too cold, it could drop the temperatures in the drink too rapidly and freeze the water in the drink almost instantly(flash freezing). Another way would be to increase the surface area of Whiskey stones, basically drill holes or pockmarks in them. Greater surface area means more exposure to the liquid, which will lead to a cooler drink.
ON EDIT: Speaking of large ice cubes, we have a set of silicone molds that shape the ice cubes into brains. Also doubles as a halfway decent jello mold. 
plus a pair of spherical molds. Still haven't figured out how to get the ice to freeze relatively clear. None of the techniques suggested (boiling the water, or using distilled water) have worked. It's not that important, just that it would be "cool" for them to be clear like the plastic prop cubes used in advertising
I have twice considered the soapstone cubes, too, only to then consider the fact of "dropping" them into the glassware. You can do that with ice due to the lower density. I'd be afraid of the occasional accidental drop and then having a tumbler that's just split in half to clean up.
A fool and their money.......
People pay a lot for bottled water too.
are obscenely rich. 
disgusting!
But COULD. Either one.
Bake
I suppose I could afford a $7.50 ice cube also... it's about as much as the pack of smokes I purchase daily.
I'd imagine you could afford $7.50, too... but as far as I know, you haven't bought the ice either... 
Possibly you and she and I simply choose not to buy it.
Good luck, though!
but that didn't quite count.
Is pollution there that bad? They could expand to Beijing and Mexico City.
Martin Riese, general manager and certified water sommelier of Ray’s and Stark Bar in Los Angeles, has created a water menu of 20 mineral waters from 10 countries. The water menu, which debuted August 5, is presented to diners just like a wine list or food menu....
“Serving water in this way is not pretentious at all,” he said, addressing critics. “Just go to the Shell gas station up the street … they sell 18 different brands of water! People realize they have a favorite brand. This is just presenting the water in a more formal way, while educating guests.”
The most expensive bottle on the water menu is $20 and made by Canadian brand Berg.