That is something I have long wondered about, if it was safe sitting on the verandah when there is lightning about. Thanks for this information We Are Unique I will stay inside from now on.

I was always told it would hit the highest thing first, like the tall palms in the yard before it would hit the verandah. Maybe you could mention if this is true or not when you write your article about lightning. It would be interesting to know.

I had heard this over years also Cherful. On Saturday night [if no-one has already done] will send an application to Graham and the OLO Team. It would be fantastic if someone else commenced one in the meantime!

we are unique.

Asking for response based on gender regarding the ability read and write?
The issue is much more complex than gender.
Based on experience of fifty odd years I tend to a view that young girls coming early under the influence of female teachers, relate well to them as they think in a similar manner. I have watched many female teachers teaching and found they easily went off in tangents. While I am not critical of this but merely point out it is not suitable for the male student.
The female seems able to concentrate on several things at one time, whereas males tend to cope better with one "subject", quickly losing focus. I realise this oversimplification.
You will find fewer male teachers employed at primary school level for a wide range of reasons; hence, with neither a male model or the early discipline available to keep the male child focussed.
Rather than continuing generalised comment, I would recommend reading research documents that analyse the difference between co-educational schools and single sex schools. I believe you will find the outcomes between male and female vary little when applied to single gender education.
There is an argument that males develop their focus much later than females when there is no male teacher model available. This must influence education development.
Having, been involved as an employer and later in employment and training for many years, I would conclude that using gender is not a valid argument. Using”Irishisms". They are the same but different. The thinking, reasoning, analysis and interpretation by the different sexes can be quite different yet the outcome will be the same. Some of this is due to social influence and others will be due to how each thinks and handles each issue.
As an employer, I found that female workers better suited and consistent to certain tasks, staying with the tasks until completed. (Tongue in cheek comment) Whereas many males were much more easily distracted; "needing to walk away and have a smoke or to go to the toilet to contemplate their navels" :)
continued

The subject is too complex to view from a narrow blinkered perspective.
There are many issues. Using my grandson as an example, considered unable to read or write yet in reality he is a quite fluent reader now that he has been prescribed with Erlin Lens. He still has a problem with spelling and at 16years of age; this will take some time to remedy.
The Education Department failed, by failing to recognise the problems. Treating symptoms he was quickly labelled “rebellious and a bad boy”.
The reality his behaviour was a cry for help and not receiving this he responded in badly as this got him some attention albeit the wrong attention. He was treated as “dumb”, “stupid”, etc.
An IQ tests showed him as an exceptionally bright child but this was of no value when no one recognised the other problems.
Over the years, I have seen the same results from many similar children. They fit in the “too hard” basket
Now, he has the lens he will progress rapidly, based on the outcome of a couple of weeks.
I can provide many examples of young people treated badly by society. One young fellow comes to mind that left home due to his parents breaking up and the continued fighting. Exceptionally bright, he was a beautiful guitarist but with no support, he finished up as a homeless person.
It raises the question in my mind as to how many children fail school because they are not receiving the appropriate support. Had he suffered from short or long sight or astigmatism he would have been able to get help, yet when he suffers from a problem, which involves the rods and cones in the eyes support, is not available through the Health system.
Again, let me reiterate, the issues of reading, writing and spelling are much more complex than taking a simplistic view.
Changes will only occur when bureaucracy changes it policies from power control and empire building to providing an appropriate service to its clients.
In Australia, we are probably 20 years or more behind the times.