WELCOME TO DAYBREAK DIVERSIONS, UPPER VALLEY!
Lightning streaking upward. At least, it would streak if it hadn't been captured at 40,000 frames per second so that you can actually see it happen. The footage comes from a researcher at Brazil’s National Space Research Institute, who, along with a grad student, caught the strike over the city of São José dos Campos. In the video, you'll see upward bolts emerging from lightning rods and other tall objects—though the downward bolt ultimately hit a smokestack, writes Andrew Marshall on Explorers Web.And while we're on the subject... Last week, NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers caught a remarkable photo of a red sprite—essentially, an electrical discharge that occurs between the clouds and the upper atmosphere, rather than between clouds and the ground. If you're a longtime Daybreak reader, you know they've been photographed before—but not from above. This is Ayers' photo of a sprite above a thunderstorm in Mexica (via Instagram).James Joyce came this close to winning American Idol. Okay, not quite... but not far off. The novelist was, apparently, an extraordinary singer, and in 1904 he decided to enter Dublin's Feis Ceoil (Festival of Music)—an annual music competition that still takes place. His friend John McCormack had won the previous year, parlaying the victory into international celebrity. "A victory in that setting," writes music historian Ted Gioia, "could have served as a springboard for a successful performing career, perhaps even more lucrative than writing." He was on the verge of winning the gold medal when...SPONSORED: How Good Neighbor makes a difference. When Steve came in for a recent primary care appointment looking more tired than usual, staff offered to run a few tests. The results came back showing Steve's A1C was high, an early sign of prediabetes. He had no idea. With his care team, they developed a plan -- discussing nutrition, movement, and follow-up. This is the kind of high-quality care that changes lives, all made possible because of you. Consider supporting our mission by giving directly at the burgundy link or here. Sponsored by Good Neighbor Health Clinic.Time to get lost. When I was young, I could do that for hours (not literally, although it's been known to happen in the fall around here) in mazes. This is an intriguing set by a New York artist named Sean C. Jackson that ran in The Guardian a while back. He gets his inspiration from cities. “I enjoy building a little world that you get lost in,” he says. “You’re almost pulled into exploring it.”Today's Wordbreak. With a word from the regional news.And since we started with rooftops: Growing up, English sisters Emily, Jessica, and Camilla (known as Milly) Staveley-Taylor figured they'd try to create a sketch-comedy troupe together. Instead, they turned into the indie folk trio The Staves. Back in 2012, in the middle of a US tour, they found themselves on a Manhattan rooftop on a biting December night, warming a small but happy crowd with their song, "Icarus." It works in the middle of the summer, too.See you Monday.
Daybreak is written and published by Rob Gurwitt About Rob
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