My understanding is that electricity is earth's outie toroidal flow, and magnetism is earth's innie toroidal flow.
By connecting a rod in the ether, you ground the atmosphere to the earth.
But instead of a push, lightning/electricity, there's a pull, magnetism.
Add in some liquid mercury and fascinating things start to happen.
So round up some old thermometers to power a radio.
Too bad they're all gone.
