David Shull’s Recent Comments

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  Friendly foods: Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack demonstrates that genetically modified organisms are safe and fun!

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  teapot crackpot

  Dear Umbra,
  I too disagree with your teapot assessment.  I would argue that the gas stove is by far the best way to make your tea.  The Canadian report you cited did not mention gas, only electric range tops.  My 1000 BTU gas stove boils 2 cups of water in 3.75 minutes.  Given the heat capacity of water, this means (following a few calculations) that my gas burner is rouglhly 30% to 40% efficient at raising the temperature of water.  Power plants are about 30% efficient in generating and transmitting electricity (~33% efficient in generation and ~93% efficient in transmission).  If your electric kettle were 100% efficient, it still would not beat my gas stove.  In addition, 50% of the electricity in the US is generated by burning coal, with far-reaching environmental consequences compared to the relatively clean-burning gas in my stove.  Finally, regarding microwaved tea water.  It might taste the same as stove-top water, but tea is supposed to be savored slowly, not microwaved.On Umbra on boiling water for tea posted 2 years, 8 months ago 23 Responses