Craters & Sink Holes

So, who was it that invented the term "pothole"?  I'm convinced it probably was not someone with a driver's license.  The term almost seems cute.  A little pot such as in cooking and a hole such as in what you would plant a flower in.  Pothole.  Sounds so unassuming.  Why then do they apply this term to the tire blowing, rim bending, gut wrenching craters and sink holes that have popped up on virtually every street from my front  door to my parking lot at work.  Just about a seven mile trip but on the way I don't think I can manage to drive but fifty feet in a straight line.  I can hear the people behind me wondering what the hell is she doing?  She must be drunk!  Is she serious?  Where's a cop?  Granted, the weather this winter has been atrocious but boy you would think that the DPW would be prepared to at least start filling up some of them before Summer arrives.  Frankly, I think they are just waiting for all of them to blend into one and they will have some sort of town to town contest to see who has the largest one.  Be careful everyone - it would be a real shame to be swallowed up by one of these.  I guess we could complain forever, in fact, I think this has been going on for decades, but as we all know..................IJTWLI