"HobbesOxon" > writes:

> Just thinking of the function of the vessel for a moment (i.e., a
> container for brewing tea!), what difference does it make if the pot
> pours or not when one stops the air-hole?
> [...]

No teapot expert I, so please take this as a guess: If stopping the
air-hole halts the pour completely, then you're *completely* sure
there's no leak from around the lid. Overkill, maybe, but certainty.

/Lew
---
Lew Perin /
http://www.panix.com/~perin/babelcarp.html
recent addition: Hong Shui