Even the simplest electric appliance, the desk lamp, generally has at least a power switch or chain.

ENGADGET: Switched On: Jane, Stop This Crazy Thing

He chewed slowly, with his eyes closed, making sounds similar to the drone of a happy electric appliance.

NEWYORKER: Luda and Milena

Think of the plug-in hybrid as the biggest consumer electric appliance ever.

FORBES: Magazine Article

The old electric appliance is out.

FORBES: Hands-On: Bodum's 'Pour-Over' Coffee Maker

We saw a number of Electric Imp demos and appliance ideas at the booth including a simple hand-held "detonator" toggle switch with LED, seven-segment counter, water level sensor, servo-controlled gauge, RGB light, power socket, Christmas light, power monitor, toy washing machine, 16x16 LED display and receipt printer (the latter two being combined to show the avatars and tweets of anyone mentioning the Electric Imp) -- all Internet aware.

ENGADGET: Hands-on with the Electric Imp at Maker Faire (video)

Whether living in a Cheung Kong apartment, switching on a Fortress appliance powered by Hong Kong Electric, buying groceries at Park 'N Shop or toiletries at Watson's, listening to Metro Radio, or, soon, connecting via a PCCW-HKT line, people in the Special Administrative Region are a captive market.

CNN: From Ports to Portals

Fishman focuses on another, equally surprising, insourcing story: over the past year, General Electric has revived its principal U.S. appliance manufacturing facility, a huge complex in Louisville, Kentucky.

FORBES: Why Apple Is Bringing Manufacturing Back To The United States

The Fusion Energi splits the difference: it's not as playful as the Focus Electric, but it's far more engaging than the appliance-like C-MAX Energi.

ENGADGET: Ford Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid test drive (video)