'Alarming Increase' in Lightning Deaths

[Joe Hillshoist]

We get positive lightning around here all the time.<br><br>And you can kind of see and definitely feel it, it defintiely lasts longer and has more energy in it.<br><br>Ole mate that took the photo (no idea who he is old mate is an aussie term for someone.) apparantly said it blew him 2 metres into the air or something. he definitely risked his life to get the photo. And was rewarded with it being the August pic in the 2006 Bureau of Meteorology Calander.<br><br>Its on the wall here now.<br><br>There's been lightning about 50 to 100km se of here all week. <p></p><i></i>

[Joe Hillshoist]

I remember hearing that astronauts and pilots had seen sprites and the like for years but refused to report them because they were worried it would lead to them being grounded for being nuts.<br><br>It wasn't until the space shuttle captured them on video that the pilots were confident they wouldn't be pilloried for it, and began talking about them. <p></p><i></i>