<div style="margin: 12px 0px; font-family: arial; color: #333333; background: #ffffff; border: solid 4px #e5e5e5; width: 100%; clear: left;"><div class="CM_CTB_Content_Wrap" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;background-color: #ffffff;"><div style="border-bottom: solid 1px #dcdcdc; white-space: nowrap; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: #eeeeee ;background-image: url(http://clipmarks.com/images/source-bg.gif); background-repeat: repeat-x; height: 24px; line-height: 24px; vertical-align: middle; padding-bottom: 4px; color: #666666; font-size: 10px;" ><a href="http://clipmarks.com/clip-to-blog/" title="see clips that are hot right now"><img src="http://content.clipmarks.com/blog_embed/f28943ce-9500-4274-8fec-81917d51e014/01E57F60-A701-4A97-87C3-3EC5755F45FF/" alt="" width="19" height="19" border="0" style="vertical-align: middle; margin: 0px 4px; display: inline; border: none; float:none;" /></a>clipped from <a title="http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/07/lightning.html" href="http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/07/lightning.html" style="font-size: 11px;">www.boston.com</a></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/07/lightning.html">A weather front rolls in from the horizon, storm clouds darken the sky, and (at least 1.3 billion times a year) lightning strikes. Last month, the National Weather Service promoted their Lightning Safety Week, with information designed to call attention to safe practices, helping people avoid lightning strikes which kill an average of 100 people every year. While the exact nature of the initial formation of lightning remains a subject of debate, what is known is that lightning strikes are caused by electrical imbalances present in the clouds. Those imbalances correct themselves suddenly, with an often spectacular light show - which I've tried to show here, with a handful of recent photographs of lightning from around the world. </blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/07/lightning.html"><div align="center"><img src="http://content9.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/www.boston.com/img/427D421E-16E8-44B5-A492-269CE7EDAB3C" alt="" /></div></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/07/lightning.html"><div align="center"><img src="http://content6.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/www.boston.com/img/084A096B-ADD4-4372-A30A-F4900DDBD5C5" alt="" /></div></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/07/lightning.html"><div align="center"><img src="http://content7.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/www.boston.com/img/6B2EF65F-8D43-445A-9722-7256D92A52A4" alt="" /></div></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/07/lightning.html"><div align="center"><img src="http://content8.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/www.boston.com/img/50932DD8-D37C-427B-A0DB-64F56C20557B" alt="" /></div></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/07/lightning.html"><div align="center"><img src="http://content9.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/www.boston.com/img/5DDCDBD8-70DD-4DD0-91B8-873347738637" alt="" /></div></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/07/lightning.html"><div align="center"><img src="http://content6.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/www.boston.com/img/8753B6C7-955E-47A4-8B1D-7619F1A3E101" alt="" /></div></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/07/lightning.html"><div align="center"><img src="http://content7.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/www.boston.com/img/AFA9739B-B37C-4353-9D73-EFD1170F59E9" alt="" /></div></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/07/lightning.html"><div align="center"><img src="http://content8.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/www.boston.com/img/AC02509E-FE26-4418-BB54-6144B5306EFD" alt="" /></div></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/07/lightning.html"><div align="center"><img src="http://content9.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/www.boston.com/img/2233E5BD-6C7B-4E53-A490-12055D72BCFC" alt="" /></div></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/07/lightning.html"><div align="center"><img src="http://content6.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/www.boston.com/img/0EC00D52-D773-4C57-9706-DE1EA6F51DC0" alt="" /></div></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/07/lightning.html"><div align="center"><img src="http://content7.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/www.boston.com/img/CFAF525B-485E-4B72-9F55-1171BD66DAC4" alt="" /></div></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/07/lightning.html"><div align="center"><img src="http://content8.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/www.boston.com/img/39DEB837-3372-4A4A-A664-D4D8B9B55245" alt="" /></div></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/07/lightning.html"><div align="center"><img src="http://content9.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/www.boston.com/img/B0AD65A8-F4E9-4C68-8069-8DF048850B2A" alt="" /></div></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/07/lightning.html"><div align="center"><img src="http://content6.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/www.boston.com/img/A3F75B83-C087-4C65-8B4B-9FA070BE5C81" alt="" /></div></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/07/lightning.html"><div align="center"><img src="http://content7.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/www.boston.com/img/D77238D6-F6B8-49F2-852B-9EE311B5A1B8" alt="" /></div></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/07/lightning.html"><div align="center"><img src="http://content8.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/www.boston.com/img/D0B11DD4-1328-4806-BB10-04592A749CD4" alt="" /></div></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/07/lightning.html"><div align="center"><img src="http://content9.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/www.boston.com/img/2AA5C3D8-ADBE-467F-923C-10BB878E53C7" alt="" /></div></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/07/lightning.html"><div align="center"><img src="http://content6.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/www.boston.com/img/B861FDED-26F7-4FF3-9B28-54AA329C8CAD" alt="" /></div></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/07/lightning.html"><div align="center"><img src="http://content7.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/www.boston.com/img/B3BD8EC2-1065-43F2-B152-204642165D18" alt="" /></div></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/07/lightning.html"><div align="center"><img src="http://content8.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/www.boston.com/img/7B7941A9-C6EF-45BE-9DDC-E10F6649F4B8" alt="" /></div></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/07/lightning.html"><div align="center"><img src="http://content9.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/www.boston.com/img/E7D4122C-DBD3-4DD4-8AC4-F84B83974594" alt="" /></div></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/07/lightning.html"><div align="center"><img src="http://content6.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/www.boston.com/img/4262A560-94C6-4ACA-B11C-26653BCED279" alt="" /></div></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/07/lightning.html"><div align="center"><img src="http://content7.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/www.boston.com/img/5C950EF8-468B-48FB-A12C-77942E055F95" alt="" /></div></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/07/lightning.html"><div align="center"><img src="http://content8.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/www.boston.com/img/484D0DCE-E0A3-4AFF-8295-170FE49B3A6D" alt="" /></div></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/07/lightning.html"><div align="center"><img src="http://content9.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/www.boston.com/img/33533CC4-965E-420F-9605-00B3C21D2694" alt="" /></div></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/07/lightning.html"><div align="center"><img src="http://content6.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/www.boston.com/img/2230D8FC-12D9-453E-BF4F-4BF94D568A70" alt="" /></div></blockquote></div><div style="margin: 0px 6px 6px 4px;"><table style="font-size: 11px;border-spacing: 0px;padding: 0px;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tr><td style="background:transparent;border-width:0px;padding:0px;">&nbsp;</td><td align="right" style="background:transparent;border-width:0px;padding:0px;width:107px" width="107"><a href="http://clipmarks.com/share/01E57F60-A701-4A97-87C3-3EC5755F45FF/blog/" title="blog or email this clip"><img src="http://content7.clipmarks.com/images/c2b-foot.png" border="0" alt="blog it" width="107" height="17" style="border-width:0px;padding:0px;margin:0px;" /></a></td></tr></table></div></div>

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