This week, Music Geek Chic ( and our appropriatly charged playlist ) celebrates a discovery, without which, we would all still be discussing the latest chamber music concert around the campfire. Electricity is certainly our handmaid, and it was this week in 1752 that Benjamin Franklin flew that infamous kite in the thunderstorm, though an actual lightning strike would probably have killed the holder of the string... the actual experiment more likely picked up static electricity from the clouds. Regardless, the experiment proved the point that there was but one type of "electrical fluid" and set the groundwork for control.

Walter Isaacson, renowned writer and biographer, calls Franklin, "the most accomplished American of his age and the most influential in inventing the type of society America would become."

Franklin was a prolific man, and his interests spanned much, much wider than our subject. He Invented the lightning rod, bifocals, the Franklin stove, a carriage odometer, and the glass 'armonica'.

Honored in technological jargon, one franklin (Fr) is equal to one statcoulomb. Use this knowledge with discretion...

At the age of 20 he wrote out his Thirteen Virtues, which he tried to live by for the remainder of his life...
1. "TEMPERANCE. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation."
2. "SILENCE. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation."
3. "ORDER. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time."
4. "RESOLUTION. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve."
5. "FRUGALITY. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing."
6. "INDUSTRY. Lose no time; be always employ'd in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions."
7. "SINCERITY. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly."
8. "JUSTICE. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty."
9. "MODERATION. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve."
10. "CLEANLINESS. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation."
11. "TRANQUILLITY. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable."
12. "CHASTITY. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation."
13. "HUMILITY. Imitate Jesus and Socrates."

A group of residents opposed to what the heavily indebted post-Revolutionary War Congress might do with their land (bequeathed by the state of North Carolina) capitalized on old Ben's notoriety and formed The State of Franklin, and even tried to seceed.

The Ben Franklin effect is a psychological finding: A person who has done someone a favor is more likely to do that person another favor than they would be if they had received a favor from that person. Do us a favor, and suggest some of your own electrically themed or charged tunes...we'd like to hear them!