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1.  

   WooHoo

   

   Light me up Baby!, Jul 6th, 2006 @ 4:49pm

   
   

   Lightning, what makes the IPOD an Invigorating Experience!

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2.  

   BS

   

   BlackCow, Jul 6th, 2006 @ 4:53pm

   
   

   Thats BS. If he dident have the iPod he still would have been struck by lighting. Once the lighting struck him the iPod just happend to be more convienent to go through then his entrie body.

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3.  

   Why not?

   

   Just Me, Jul 6th, 2006 @ 4:57pm

   
   

   I am not an expert on lightning, but I have heard many people saying that trees attract lightning.
   
   The point I am trying to make here is, if trees attract lightining, then surely a device powered by electricity would be more attractive to lightning?
   
   Yes, an Ipod is not as big as a tree...but why should consumers take chances.
   
   Perhaps the best thing to do is to take an Ipod to car testing center (seen one on TV a while ago, where cars are tested again lightning) and scientifically examin the validy of this claim (Whether Ipods attract lightning or not).

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4.  

   Re: Why not?

   

   greg., Jul 6th, 2006 @ 5:16pm

   
   

   Don't you guys read the articles before posting your comments...?
   The point was clearly made that the iPod did nothing to attract the lightning, and in fact an expert in the article states the very same thing.
   Maybe TechDirt on tape would be a better option for you guys.

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5.  

   Re: Why not?

   

   joe, Jul 6th, 2006 @ 5:21pm

   
   

   Tree's are struck by lightning so often only because they are tall. lightning only because they are tall, so the lightning reaches them first...

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6.  

   

   SubZero, Jul 6th, 2006 @ 5:27pm

   
   

   I have a better question, does anyone actually read their posts, before they post them?

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7.  

   Lucky?

   

   Dan, Jul 6th, 2006 @ 5:35pm

   
   

   I'm no expert but I would say that boy is lucky to have had an Ipod as some part if not all of the energy travelled trough the wires and bypassed his hearth as it is well know fact that those secondary lighting strikes will kill by disrupting ones hart beat.

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8.  

   

   anonymous coward, Jul 6th, 2006 @ 5:36pm

   
   

   lightning is close, but the next non sequitur scare headline is:
   
   Parents beware! Pedophile uses iPod to get sex from underaged teens! News at 11!

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9.  

   Doh!

   

   Gryphon (profile), Jul 6th, 2006 @ 5:55pm

   
   

   The building where I work was hit by lightning this week. Trashed the phone system and computer network to the point of "it's all dead."
   
   One of the techs has an iPod. It's all so obvious now, it was the iPod that attracted the lightning to the building!!

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10.  

    please read up on some basic science before postin

    

    Jens, Jul 6th, 2006 @ 6:07pm

    
    

    seriously guys.. some basic knowledge of electricity is warranted prior to posting (high school physics levels - nothing too difficult) howstuffworks.com
    
    The reason why trees improve your chance of getting struck by lightning is because they provide a "better" path to ground (earth). This is simply because the tree is has high water content and is firmly attached to the ground.
    
    The issue with cellphones, ipods, or any other electronic device is that they are usually metallic and provide an easier "path" for the lightening into the body.
    
    Now this part im not 100 percent sure, but I believe normally, when folks are struck by lightening the charge usually flows on the outside (surface) of the body to ground.. when this occurs, the damage to the body is usually minimal.. however if there are metallic devices nearby or touching the surface (cellphones?) this could increase the likelyhood of current flowing in/out of the body at that point.. the current flowing inside/across/through the vital organs (especially the heart muscle) is what can cause the real damage....

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11.  

    

    Anonymous Coward, Jul 6th, 2006 @ 6:36pm

    
    

    iPod iPod iPod
    
    It's not IPOD or IPod or I-Pod

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12.  

    Re: please read up on some basic science before "p

    

    Corey, Jul 6th, 2006 @ 6:44pm

    
    

    Lightning strikes the object that sends skyward the highest stream of negative electrons. The clouds on the surface closest to the ground are positively charged. The mass of clouds are discharged when a connection is made --- several objects can send up these streams of negative electrons at any one given time it is not necessarily the tallest object that will be discharged upon, although it usually is. The best policy is during a thunderstorm, don't be out side.

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13.  

    

    Frink, Jul 6th, 2006 @ 8:25pm

    
    

    I think the kid just overcharged his iPod and that caused a ground to cloud discharge. That fits in with my theory about the iPod and global warming, but that's a story for another day. It's something I've been working with Al Gore on.

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14.  

    

    Sue Apple, Jul 6th, 2006 @ 8:27pm

    
    

    So.... the point of this article is to let us know that it's okay to sue Apple for making iPod users more likely to die. ;)
    
    SUE SUE SUE!

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15.  

    

    Clair Ching, Jul 6th, 2006 @ 8:46pm

    
    

    The thing with myths is that we tend to believe them because so and so and such and such put together makes sense. Somewhat. But we all need to learn to verify facts before jumping to conclusions. There have been a lot of mobile phone related myths before and hopefully, there won't be much iPod myths. Then again, you never know.

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16.  

    

    Anonymous Coward, Jul 6th, 2006 @ 9:25pm

    
    

    >I have a better question, does anyone actually read their posts, before they post them?
    QFT

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17.  

    

    a, Jul 6th, 2006 @ 9:39pm

    
    

    booga booga booga

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18.  

    

    Anonymous Coward, Jul 6th, 2006 @ 9:41pm

    
    

    Bottom line, lighting always takes the path of least reasistance from the point of origin to the ground. That's what makes it jagged.

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19.  

    

    Raymo, Jul 6th, 2006 @ 9:57pm

    
    

    here is a question for anyone to answer.... why is a kid outside if there is lightning flashing about anyway?

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20.  

    People are stupid

    

    Chronno S. Trigger, Jul 7th, 2006 @ 6:05am

    
    

    Just like the golfer out in the rain and thunder.
    
    The lightning is more likely to hit you than your iPod (Hay I spelled it right) since you’re mostly water and salt, and that is a excellent conductor of electricity. Plus you’re one really big wire and all the electricity will be able to run threw you much easier than the little tiny wires on the iPod.
    
    Watch Mythbusters some day. They proved this on two separate myths

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21.  

    Re: please read up on some basic science before po

    

    Mr Shag, Jul 7th, 2006 @ 6:30am

    
    

    HEAR HEAR!
    
    I can't believe how Techdirt is the first one to claim that the 'other people' use fear--mongering headlines. To minimalists this, is stupid. I don't understand how people just don't read on.

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22.  

    ITHAPPEND TODAY

    

    TheMoose22, Jul 7th, 2006 @ 8:44am

    
    

    Wow you guys are good, you predicted this story only a day or so before it printed....
    
    http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/07/ipod-equipped-teen-struck-by-lightning/
    
    enjoy the bs

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23.  

    RE: Lightning

    

    Carl Spackler, Jul 7th, 2006 @ 10:14am

    
    

    I don't think the heavy stuff is coming down for awhile yet.

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24.  

    Re: People are stupid

    

    C. Cornell Joyner, Jul 11th, 2006 @ 8:33pm

    
    

    Actually (pure) water does not conduct electricity. In fact water is an electrical insulator. It is what is in the water that conducts electricity.

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25.  

    Am I the only one wondering...

    

    Lettuce, Jul 17th, 2006 @ 3:21pm

    
    

    ..if he was listening to "Ride the Lightning"?

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