Who Ed? He never read INQ before? He surprised by INQisms?

The iPod is what ATTRACTED the lightning.
The iPod is NOT grounded (earthed, for you brits).

The iPod is what nearly got her killed.

A majority of universities post their classes on iTunes...

Having just graduated from a big 10 university with a degree in Chemistry and keeping up with what happens at other major universities for research purposes I can tell you that is absolutely wrong...

A professors at A college posts A class and it becomes another verse in the Steve Jobs gospel

"The fruit themed MP3 player apparently took most of the load and earthed it."
May be because apple devices consume too much enery that is why it eate up the Lightning...
Just Kidding, in fact, the more hungry power, the iPhone has a more lasting battery that the black berry I use for my work.
And regarding "...and not enough time learning" Most of the universities post they classes on iTunes, so people with iPods are the most educated people.

Please note that her bloke was only temporarily blinded and nothing else. Further note that he did NOT have and iPlod. Maybe it is as Nick said, "God has also been known to strike people down for being too smug." But fortunately he (she?) missed, though I am happy about that.

the Mad Winemaker

The body WILL protect you from being hit by lightning, provided that you are not wearing ANYTHING conductive at all. If struck, lightning will simply follow your outside of your skin to the ground and not "enter" your body. It's when you start wearing things like rings and other jewelry, underwire bras, etc. that you start getting electrocuted and bad burns. Your skin is a terrible conductor.

Isn't the moral of the story DON'T STAND UNDER A TREE DURING A THUNDERSTORM?

If the iPod was not there, the probability of lightning striking them was small. The iPod only attracts the lightning and toasting those kids.

Are the kids looking for a June Tree?

That ipod owners spend too much time being smug and listening to their beloved fruity music player and not enough time learning, it's common sense that sheltering under a tree in a thunder storm is a bad idea.
Obviously not common enough!