Anybody got Punxsutawney Phil’s accuracy record over the years?
At least Phil isn’t a denier.
They all up high here in SW PA, meanin' t'say .. a mild winter.
Tha's all I think I know.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTo9T96TFOA
On the other hand, today is groundhog day and Punxsutawney Phil will tell us about spring.
Its Groundhog day....again...
I actually trust a rodent more than any meteorologist who embraces climate change!
I know what I am getting with the rodent.
So-— just 6 more weeks to winter instead of the usual month- and 1/2 ??
Groundhog Day, February 2nd, is a popular tradition in the United States. It is also a legend that traverses centuries, its origins clouded in the mists of time with ethnic cultures and animals awakening on specific dates. Myths such as this tie our present to the distant past when nature did, indeed, influence our lives. It is the day that the Groundhog comes out of his hole after a long winter sleep to look for his shadow.
If he sees it, he regards it as an omen of six more weeks of bad weather and returns to his hole.
If the day is cloudy and, hence, shadowless, he takes it as a sign of spring and stays above ground.
The groundhog tradition stems from similar beliefs associated with Candlemas Day and the days of early Christians in Europe, and for centuries the custom was to have the clergy bless candles and distribute them to the people. Even then, it marked a milestone in the winter and the weather that day was important.
According to an old English song: If Candlemas be fair and bright, Come, Winter, have another flight; If Candlemas brings clouds and rain, Go Winter, and come not again.
General Beauregard Lee, the most famous resident of the Yellow River Game Ranch in Lilburn, did his job Wednesday morning. But Beau took his time in emerging from his "Weathering Heights" home.
"We made enough racket that he finally came out," Art Rilling, owner of the ranch, told the AJC.
About 200 guests weathered the blustery temperatures to greet the groundhog, who finally crawled out of his home to the sound of cheering and bell ringing.
Beau made his entrance at 7:41 a.m. and did not see his shadow. Spring is coming early, according to Beau's prediction.
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local/beau-fails-to-see-shadow-predicts-early-spring/nQqGD/
I love Punxsutawney.
Had the pleasure of working there one summer as a teen.
At the WV/VA state line, the blackbirds had already returned last month and are still congregating near a truck stop on I-81.
Hubby thought I’d gone insane because I got extremely excited when I saw them.
They *never* come back to the area unless ‘spring’ is close at hand.
I was at the state line a couple days ago and most of them are still there, waiting.
I assume parts of the flock have gone further upstate by now.
So I am hopeful of an early spring, in spite of the fact that as of this moment, when I step outside, I pretty much instantly freeze in place.
[it’s viciously cold and windy]
Anyone who believes that rodent will probably be on welfare and food stamps shortly!
Phil must be very aware that whether we have 6,7,8,10 more weeks of winter, it will get blamed on global warming! Spring came early in 2013...Global Warming! Ah Shucks! Spring came 6 weeks late,,must be GLOBAL WARMING !!
Phil and Karl Rove have similar abilities in making predictions.