I apologize to all my adoring fans (ha!) who have been incessantly checking for updates to my phlog. Rest assured, I'm back now with a few good shots to start the year off with, and what better to start with than a rant!

There sure are some big icicles out there, huh? Sure, I guess there's some sort of beauty in frozen water spears draping those hundred or so year old buildings, but spears...spears, some nearly 20 feet in length hanging at the mercy of mother nature, at any moment capable of at the very least, giving passersby a good smarting if not a permanent vacation.

As you can tell by today's picture (true, it was taken a few weeks ago), dangerous icicles don't just hang out (get it?) along the sides of houses where landlords don't shovel, they sometimes line the sidewalk, in this case, the busy walking area of East Johnson Street. Keep your eyes to the sky as you walk, or maybe bring your handy telescoping pole and do the city a service yourself as it doesn't seem like too many property owners are concerned with alleviating this danger.

I am making an open call to anyone to find the biggest icicle in the city. The only caveat is that it has to be free forming, not running along a drain pipe or adhered to a building (though, those are pretty cool to see). I know I've seen ones that near 20 feet. Find it before I do. Feel free to comment on my page with a link to the pic or just the location if you don't have a camera/place to post it).