Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2010
Heat Surge
Dying to give your family the "gift of warmth"? Give thanks to 21st century Amish craftsmen. Dubbed a "miracle heater," the Heat Surge portable fireplace supports the backbone of industrious American manufacturing. Within the infomercial, Amish craftsman Aaron Garber (who maintains a mysterious side by shielding his full face), vows that each Heat Surge is "built by hand, by the Amish." But as Consumer Reports learned, Garber must be referring simply to the wood frame surrounding the imitation unit. Under the Ordnung, the Amish statute of daily living, use of mains electricity is often restricted or prohibited. Consequently, the actual generator of the fake flames is — you guessed it — made in China.