Kicks explained

[sparks]

       A conductor shares electrons to fill it's outer valence shell.  All the good conductors are looking for 7 electrons to become noble.  Electron pairing is now a problem.  This leaves an electron pair with one of the electrons only weakly attracted to the atomic lattice.  These electrons are the ones that it is easy to play with.  Magnetically and electrically.  I believe these electrons bubble up to the surface of the conductor and we get the skin effect.

[allcanadian]

There may be an easier answer, the kick is associated with the rapid closure of a switch closing the circuit of a conductor usually containing higher voltages. We know all conductors have the properties of inductance and capacitance, and the storage capacitity of a capacitance increases greatly when the potential difference across a dielectric is increased. What we seem unwilling to concede is the fact that the dielectric could be the space surrounding a conductor, the conductor is one plate---- the space surrounding the conductor the other. In this case a disruption in the media could produce a temporary storage of energy in the dielectric surrounding a conductor which must discharge itself in order to find balance. Or in cases of extremly large disruptions this dielectric wave could radiate outward, this wave like one capacitor charging the one next to it in a progressive fashion. We could compare this scenario to a lightning strike, the lightning strikes because the potential difference has become so great it causes the dielectric (air) to break down forming a conductive path. Maybe we should consider what may happen if the dielectric does not break down but does never the less conduct.
Just a thought

[sparks]

     @all canadien   

I believe that when we get the electric field fluctuating with the magnetic field in alignment we get scalar waves.  The collapsing magnetic field producing an electrical current and the electrical current  producing the magnetic field over and over again in the same spot.  As you noted this electrical current does not have to go to the length of ionizing the air,  just causing an open air capacitor charging and discharging.  This is what Tesla did.  His lightning was just to awe the audience.
   Meanwhile scalar waves were time traveling right through them.   

[Grumpy]

Doh!

[Grumpy]

If the space surrounding the conductor is a "dielectric", then how can it be the "other" plate?  The "other plate" is a different part of the same conductor.