Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early spring

[Dave (imported)]

>>I have been told that this "Event" is an alcohol soaked three day binge...

>>No one really cares what the groundhog sees or even if it is alive -- unless it bites them. Just keep that booze flowing and the party rocking and it's GroundHog Day!

>>

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-New ... rly-spring

Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early spring

Groundhog day: Punxsutawney Phil emerged just after dawn on Wednesday morning to make his 125th annual weather forecast.

By Lee Powell, Associated Press / February 2, 2011

Punxsutawney, Pa.

To the relief of the winter-weary, the world's most famous groundhog predicted an early spring Wednesday.

Punxsutawney Phil emerged just after dawn on Groundhog Day to make his 125th annual weather forecast in front of a smaller-than-usual crowd who braved muddy, icy conditions to hear his handlers reveal that he had not seen his shadow.

Including Wednesday's forecast, Phil has seen his shadow 98 times and hasn't seen it just 16 times since 1887. There are no records for the remaining years, though the group has never failed to issue a forecast.

RELATED – Groundhog Day: How accurate is Punxsutawney Phil?

http://www.csmonitor.com/Innovation/Hor ... awney-Phil

The celebration took place on Gobbler's Knob, a tiny hill in Punxsutawney, a borough of about 6,100 residents some 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.

The celebration is rooted in a German superstition that says if a hibernating animal casts a shadow on Feb. 2, the Christian holiday of Candlemas, winter will last another six weeks. If no shadow was seen, legend said spring would come early.

In reality, Pennsylvania's prophetic rodent doesn't see much of anything. The result is actually decided in advance by 14 members of the club's Inner Circle, who don tuxedos and top hats for the event.

The celebration usually draws 10,000 to 15,000 spectators when it falls on a weekday, Groundhog club spokesman Luke Webber said. The area was under a winter weather warning and while heavier snows and sleet never materialized, rain falling in about 35-degree temperatures made for a below-average crowd, said Webber, who offered no specific estimate.

[Uncle Flo (imported)]

The groundhog that lives in my backyard will not even come out of his burrow for at least six more weeks. --FLO--

[Dave (imported)]

The groundhog that lives in my backyard will not even come out of his burrow for at least six more weeks. --FLO--

well of course, dearie... Punxsutawny Phil is dragged kicking and screaming from HER den and then washed and perfumed for the appearance. You wouldn't want a girl to appear on camera without the proper amenities?

Darling, my last ex-wife wouldn't think of leaving the bedroom without makeup and leave the house like an unfashionable slob -- well just the thought of it is way to philistine to contemplate.

[KimiRhoze (imported)]

They're gonna reach in one too many times and feel Phil's wrath one of these days. Can you just picture that on the news? Today in PA there was a grizzly scene as a crowd of onlookers watched Punxsutawney Phil become rabid and maul three people. More at 11.

[Dave (imported)]

They learned that a long time ago.

They wear gloves that the groundhog can't bite through and the "burrow" you see on TV is a box decorated to look like a burrow. It has bars and doors so the groundhog doesn't come out and run away.

You think that the groundhog is stupid? It wants to run away. It's saying to itself -- hey, all the drunks are going to step on me or worse, make me into a stew with carrots, potatoes and grren beans!

[moi621 (imported)]

So what is a groundhog?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundhog

Same thing as a wood chuck.

[Riverwind (imported)]

A groundhog, a woodchuck, a big RAT, part of the squirrel family.

Tastes like chicken.

River

[Riverwind (imported)]

The groundhog that lives in my backyard will not even come out of his burrow for at least six more weeks. --FLO--

That is not a groundhog Flo, its a gopher, looks like a woodchuck, part of the squirrel family a big rat, tastes like chicken.

River

[Blz131356 (imported)]

I Live in Punxsy, yay another day to drink, the place is full of itilians though, nothing wrong with that.