Thanks Jody
..but I saw the story the first time when it was "Adam Link" not "Powder" who was the unaccepted outcast much smarter than the fearful townfolk and the novel was called I, Robot. ;-) And this elaborate lightning-suicide was simply him accepting the idea of turning himself off for the good of the masses.
It sounds like a real tear-jerker, but with Jeff Goldblum in it...ER is the guy who really wants to see that film. I'll check some of them out the next time I hit Blockbuster.
Thanks for the recommendations Jody!
;-)