Gigantic Jet Lightning over China Image Credit & Copyright: Phebe Pan Explanation: That's no meteor. While watching and photographing this year's Perseid Meteor Shower, something unexpected happened: a gigantic jet erupted from a nearby cloud. The whole thing was over in a flash -- it lasted less than a second -- but was fortunately captured by an already-recording digital camera. Gigantic jets are a rare form of lightning recognized formally only a few years ago. The featured high resolution color image, taken near the peak of Shikengkong mountain in China, may be the best image yet of this unusual phenomenon. The same event appears to have been captured simultaneously by another photographer, further away. The gigantic jet appears to start somewhere in a nearby thundercloud and extend upwards towards Earth's ionosphere. The nature of gigantic jets and their possible association with other types of Transient Luminous Events (TLEs) such as blue jets and red sprites remains an active topic of research.

Hi Jasdip, What - you need more pictures of snow? Did anyone ever tell you that you have a quirky personality? That said ... winter did spoil us somewhat, this year, with all of that "spring-like" weather, part way through. o j

I have a folder full of totem pole photos on my computer, but have been looking all morning and can't find them, so these will have to do instead. Tree stump carvings seen at a temple in Vientiane, Laos. They are amazingly elaborate and detailed carvings of animals, people, mythical characters, trees and buildings.

4 years ago I planted the white Phlox 'David' and 20 feet away from it, I planted the deep pink Phlox 'Nicky'. They apparently got together and had children in several shades of pink.. This one is my favorite.