[ninty]

3 out of 4 groundhogs agree: more winter coming
Last Updated Mon, 02 Feb 2004 12:53:36
WIARTON, ONT - North Americans received a sentence of another six weeks of winter from a jury of four groundhogs on Monday.


In a 3-1 decision, groundhogs from Pennsylvania to Alberta ruled that another month and a half of hibernation is in order.

"[Willie] did a quick turn there," said Carl Noble, mayor of South Bruce Peninsula, where Ontario's Wiarton Willie makes his home. "And I think it's because he did see his shadow and we have six more weeks of winter."

Organizers of the Wiarton Willie Festival claim Willie's track record over the past 48 years is "better than 90 per cent."

Only Shubenacadie Sam, the Nova Scotia groundhog whose vote came first, decided winter had gone on long enough. Sam emerged from his winter home and failed to cast a shadow, which would indicate an early spring.

Sue Penney, an education co-ordinator at Nova Scotia's Shubenacadie Wildlife Park, said she doubts Sam is right even half the time.

Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil and Alberta's Balzac Billy agreed with Wiarton Willie that Sam got it wrong this year. They all saw their shadows Monday morning, a signal that they weren't ready to emerge from their holes to stay.

The Groundhog Day legend began with a German superstition. It suggests that if a hibernating animal casts a shadow on the Christian holiday of Candlemas, which is Feb. 2, winter will last another six weeks. No shadow indicates an early spring.

When he emerged from his home at Gobbler's Knob, Punxsutawney Phil issued a proclamation that commented on recent events, such as the capture of Saddam Hussein.

"I'm glad I live in this luxurious burrow on the Knob, and not in a dirty, smelly, spider hole like a slob," said the proclamation. "When I come out, I don't want to negotiate; but to just do my job and prognosticate."

[Madmartagen]

Im telling you, this winter will stay until someone does something about that groundhog. He needs to be stopped. oOo:

[Old Reliable]

anyone up for a groundhog burger?