sambear,
I haven't heard of the hot water trick. It seems there wouldn't be much 'hot' left in the water by the time it made it into the dark recesses of the block...who knows!
Not coming from a freezing part of the country, this theory might be all wet, but if the water weren't constrained on all sides, it seems like it would grow in the unrestrained direction and do no harm to the block.
A plastic ice tray in the freezer doesn't rupture each time it's filled because the water can push upwards as it freezes and expands...does this sound right!
Stuart
