It may not be sub-zero out there, but the temperature drops when you're out on the Maumee. I wouldn't want to be on this tug passing under Toledo's Martin Luther King Bridge.

Along Marconi Blvd. near City Hall, the usual flags of all nations are replaced by snowmen for the holidays.

in January of 2005 volunteers from the Columbus Global Village Team went to Awaso, Ghana to work on a Habitat for Humanity project. Participants Dave Bezaire and Susi Havens-Bezaire post this heartwarming shot of the village chief in his Buckeyes hat.

Hey, everyone knows about the Wright brothers. What about some famous people who were born in Ohio, but found their fame elsewhere? You might not even know they were buckeyes.

You've heard of Zanesville, right? You've probably heard of Zane Grey, too. Ever made the connection? Zane Grey wasn't only born in Zanesville, his family started it. For a writer of westerns, he started pretty far east.

How many of you knew Steven Spielberg was born in Cincinnati? A lot of well known people came from there. Take Ted Turner, he was from Cincinnati, too.

It helps to have a sense of humor, especially when dealing with Ohio politics. Erma Bombeck, who was born in Dayton certainly did. So did my favorite on the list, the great humorist and cartoonist James Thurber. That's his picture at the top. He came from Columbus and told some good stories about the place. While we're on the subject of humor, Ambrose Bierce was from Meigs County. He could tell a funny tale or two when he wasn't in a darker mood.

Did you know Clarence Darrow was born at Kinsman, in Trumbull County. His law practice got started in northeast Ohio, before he moved west. Then there's Norman Vincent Peale, who preached the power of positive thinking.

Next we have someone whose face might not be familiar, but you'd probably know her voice. Nancy Cartwright, from Kettering provided the voice of Bart Simpson. Don't have a cow if you didn't know.

Finally, a woman was born in Licking County, or Athens County, the sources differ, back in 1838. She went on to lead an eventful life and was the first woman to be nominated for president. Her name? Victoria Claflin Woodhull.

It's odd. I can't believe how hard it was to cut this list down to only ten people. The only easy part was leaving out presidents,astronauts, and actors. They were covered in other posts. Ten? I could have listed a hundred and still had more. If you'd asked me years ago, back when I lived in Pennsylvania, about famous people from Ohio, I'd have thought of a few presidents, the Wright brothers,and Thurber. I had no idea how many famous people were born here. I do now, and I'll post on some of them from time to time.

I know that I don't really like shopping in the first place (unless it's a bookstore or craft fair), but malls during the holiday season are just not my cup of tea. Check out the Westfield Southpark mall in Strongsville, Ohio! That's just one line, people.

This is my version of Toledo in a storm. My apologies to El Greco.

Brighterworlds took this outstanding shot at the 2006 Hamilton Ohio Ice Fest. It reminds me that the same ice I curse as I chip it off my windshield in the morning can become something wonderous.

Each year, the Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus has a butterfly exhibition. The delicacy of their wings and vibrant colors are great therapy as we enter the dark days surrounding winter solstice. Thanks to Code Poet for this wonderful shot.

This view from Toledo's Martin Luther King, Jr Bridge shows a wide cross-section of activity. An office building to the left, grain elevators, a docked freighter, and, in the distance, the almost completed Veterans' Glass City Skyway Bridge.

There is no way you will love to do something as much as this jump rope team has a passion for double dutch. Double Dutch Will Take You Higher!

I ran across this old fella sprinting up the steps at Hoover Dam (Columbus) recently. I'm guessing this is a Midland Painted Turtle- any turtle experts out there that can help me out?

Again - how could I resist the beautiful weather yesterday? Look at this great shot of the skyline, and how nicely you get the corporate skyscrapers of downtown Cleveland behind the industrial Flats. That's a nice little sociological thought!

photo credit: katherine galo

This stunning shot of fall berries was taken by Harold_5056 of Springfield.

Once upon a time, our car designs had a whimsical quality that I miss. I ran across a line of these beauties rusting in a parking lot near downtown Columbus.

A nice colorful photo to cheer up this spell of dreadfully gray days. Taken by James Spurrier of Hamilton, OH.