]> http://www.franklin.ws <p align="center"><strong>The History of Electricity</strong></p> <p align="justify">&nbsp;Although electricity is undoubtedly something essential for our current civilized life, people often regard the generation of electricity and the common use of electrical apparatus as a relatively recent achievement. However, electricity had been observed by scientists and thinkers very early in our history. First experiments with electricity are described in writings with over 2.000 years old by Thales de Miletus (a Phoenician philosopher often referred as “the father of science”). Thales de Miletus observed that rubbing fur on some materials such as amber would create an attraction between the materials, in an early example of static electricity phenomenon.</p> <p align="justify">&nbsp;In the modern times, we have records of electrical experiments and theories back from the 6th century, with names such as Girolamo Cardoni, William Gilbert, Otto von Guericke and Robert Boyle being essential to the development of the field.</p> <p align="justify">&nbsp;However, it was in 1752 that electricity actually started to be understood, when Benjamin Franklin made his notable experiment flying a kite with an iron spike attached during a thunderstorm, showing how powerful electricity could be even in nature. Franklin’s works resulted in the invention of the lighting rod and the establishment of the convention of positive and negative electricity.</p> <p align="justify">&nbsp;The works of Italian physicist Alessandro Volta were also essential to the development of electricity industry. Using chemical reactions to create anodes and cathodes and driving a current between them through a conductor, he elaborated the notion of difference in the electrical potential, today commonly known as “voltage”. In 1800, Volta also constructed a device that would be later called electric battery.</p> <p align="justify">&nbsp;The 19th century saw the creation of the first DC (Direct Current) by Thomas Edison and the first incandescent filament lamp by Joseph Swan, both inventions paving the way for electricity generation. In 1882, Edison illuminated his laboratory and later an entire street in New York using electric light. When combined with the steam engine created by James Watt, those technologies made the generation of energy in a large scale a real possibility.</p> <p align="justify">&nbsp;Since then, the evolution in the industry of electricity and the creation of new technologies became really fast. Today, it is barely unimaginable to conceive our world without electricity to create light, heat and mechanical energy. The overuse of electricity in our modern times results in problems such as solutions to find a more conscious use of electricity, the overuse of resources to create energy and the light-pollution, which are common topics for environmentalists and ecologists.</p> en http://www.franklin.ws/node/1053 <p>Local News 7-Day Archive Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Back to Home > Monday, Apr 30, 2007 News Posted on Mon, Apr. 30, 2007 email this print this reprint or license this </p><p>The red-painted wooden building in southeast Stark County has seen a lot of history.</p><p>Magnolia Flouring Mill was built in 1834 by Richard Elson and owned and operated by the Elson family ... Mon, 30 Apr 2007 04:00:26 -0400 http://www.franklin.ws/node/1052 <p>MILLSBORO � For residents of the 41st District, Saturday's special election is an opportunity to fill a seat in the state House of Representatives that was vacated abruptly last month amid potential disciplinary action.</p><p>Three candidates � Democrat Lynn Bullock, Independent John M. Burton Jr. and Republican Gregory A. Hastings � are vying for the post.</p><p>But for political watchers, Sa... Mon, 30 Apr 2007 04:00:24 -0400 http://www.franklin.ws/node/1051 <p>Please help CantonRep.com serve you better by providing the</p><p> following anonymous information. This will take only a moment.</p><p>CLEVELAND A new industry based on a modern version of an old technology could help the nation's military and Ohio's coal business.</p><p>Baard Energy LLC of Vancouver, Wash., wants to build a $4 billion facility in Wellsville, about 50 miles south of Youngsto... Mon, 30 Apr 2007 04:00:21 -0400 http://www.franklin.ws/node/1050 <p>DallasNews.com Shopping Story Archive 1885-1977 Archives Obituary Archive News/Local Local News Texas/Legislature City by City Nation/World Obituaries Science/Medicine Religion Investigative Reports Education Special Reports Blogs/Chats/Forums Lottery SportsDay Columnists Blogs/Chats/Forums Cowboys/NFL Mavericks/NBA Rangers/MLB Stars/NHL High Schools Colleges Golf Motor Sports FC Dallas/MLS Mor... Mon, 30 Apr 2007 04:00:20 -0400 http://www.franklin.ws/node/1048 <p>Normally mild-mannered utilities funds have turned in electrifying performances this year. But be careful: Despite forecasts of higher demand and lower interest rates, experts worry that the sector might be ready to burn out.</p><p>Utility stocks are often derided as investments so bland, you can sell them to widows and orphans without anyone complaining that the stocks are too risky. No big di... Mon, 30 Apr 2007 04:00:19 -0400 http://www.franklin.ws/node/1049 <p align="justify">&nbsp;Within the process of delivering the electricity to final consumers, there are three stages carried out by the industry of electric power. Those are distinctly the following: electricity generation, electric power transmission and electricity distribution. Although the other stages being also fundamental, there is no doubt that electricity generation is the most important. Besides the fact that a proper electricity generation would result in a more adequate transmission and distribution, it’s also a topic of major concern among environmentalists today.</p> Mon, 30 Apr 2007 04:00:19 -0400 http://www.franklin.ws/node/1047 <p>ALBANY - As summer approaches and Southwest Georgia residents begin to look for ways to save on their energy bills, one possible option is screw-in fluorescent light bulbs.</p><p>While the technology has been around since the 1980s, compact fluorescent light bulbs, or CFLs, are becoming more and more popular with building contractors and average Joes alike because of their energy-efficient and ... Mon, 30 Apr 2007 04:00:17 -0400 http://www.franklin.ws/node/1046 <p>Justin Trudeau took a first step towards the House of Commons Sunday, scoring a ...</p>[ more ]   Hijab to remain banned from tae kwon do Gerald Matticks is bankrupt, owes $10.3 million in taxes Hospital apologizes for silence after 4 babies died   Published: Monday, April 30, 2007</p><p>Calling all former Camp Oolahwan girls: It's time to brush up on your "Boom-da-de-ah-da."</p><p>S'mores... Mon, 30 Apr 2007 04:00:15 -0400 http://www.franklin.ws/node/1044 <p>The project has received more than $240,000 in a predevelopment grant from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative. Iberdrola, S.A., a Spanish renewable power company, recently bought Community Energy.</p><p>Ed Cherian, Lempster Mountain's project manager, said the company finished three days of state site evaluation committee hearings last month, and deliberations begin in May.</p><p>They ... Sun, 29 Apr 2007 04:00:20 -0400 http://www.franklin.ws/node/1045 <p>Donovan scored his first goal of the season in the 8th minute, helping the Galaxy (1-1-1) improve to 8-1-1 against Chivas USA.</p><p>"We wanted to take control of the game early," Donovan said. "We had tons of chances in both of the (other) games and things weren't going our way. It's just getting that little bit of luck, that break, and it came in that first goal."</p><p>Kyle Martino's cros... Sun, 29 Apr 2007 04:00:20 -0400 http://www.franklin.ws/node/1043 <p>Last summer Andy Rowles raised about 2,300 pounds of root crops in a garden 80 feet wide and 100 feet long. That's a lot of potatoes, carrots and onions for a single guy living in the hills of Thetford, Vt.</p><p>Rowles, a retired doctor, decided in 2005 that he wanted to do something nice for his community. And he has always loved gardening, but doesn't need much. Finally, he came up with a ... Sun, 29 Apr 2007 04:00:19 -0400 http://www.franklin.ws/node/1042 <p>They did a live television show about me a few weeks ago. I played myself, but I didn't have the lead role.</p><p>My large intestine starred in a 30-minute video shot by my doctor as part of an internal exam known as a colonoscopy. The term comes from the Greek words "colon," meaning "rear end" and "oscopy," meaning "let's take this long hose and ..."</p><p>That describes the procedure perfec... Sun, 29 Apr 2007 04:00:03 -0400 http://www.franklin.ws/node/1041 <p>A few weeks backI visited a wildlife research station near Agumbe, close to Mangalore. It wasdeep inside the rainforest and we didn't expect it to have electricitysupply. But when we reached we were pleasantly surprised to see lights shiningthrough the evening gloom of the trees. The young men at the centre told ushappily that they had recently installed a solar power system. Now they hadlight... Sat, 28 Apr 2007 04:00:14 -0400 http://www.franklin.ws/node/1040 <p>Germany aims to cut electricity consumption by 11 percent by 2020 and generate over a quarter of its power through environmentally friendly methods, Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel said on Thursday.</p><p>Germany has made tackling global warming a priority of its twin presidencies of the European Union and Group of Eight (G8) industrial nations and in a wide-ranging speech to parliament, Ga... Sat, 28 Apr 2007 04:00:12 -0400 http://www.franklin.ws/node/1039 <p>Albuquerque > News > Industries > Business Services - Environmental Services View Albuquerque Jobs - 259 jobs today</p><p>Chavez was in Washington, D.C. this week to participate in the DOE&#39;s GridWeek Conference. Attendees included congressional leaders, CEOs, utility companies and commissioners from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.</p><p>Ch&aacute;vez encouraged other mayors to add... Sat, 28 Apr 2007 04:00:11 -0400