February 02, 2026
Dark Shadows
Timothy Birdnow
Curse you Phil!
Yes, that stupid burrowing rat showed up to gaze and his shadow, meaning six more weeks of winter. It's been a far to long and cold one to suit me and probably all the rest of you.
Of course, there are those who say a groundhog seeing his shadow is hardly utilizing the scientific method, but given how often meteorologists get it wrong, and given the superstitious nature of climate science these days, I would say it's as good a method to employ as any. Of course if we are going to look for signs from groundhogs we may as well see the signs we want. I mean the global warming people always do, so why not the groundhog folks?
I am mindful of my uncle, who was drinking in a bar in British Columbia (notice how almost all really interesting stories start with "was drinking"?) when at midnight the bar patrons all toasted the Queen. "hear, hear!") My uncle had tippled a few too many and he thought he was mumbling to himself "piss on the Queen". Dead silence in the bar. My uncle's friend hustled him out before the patrons recovered from the shock, because he was going to be a guest of the Canadian health system very soon - and they might even have kicked his backside at the hospital if they were told what precipitated the butt-whoopin'.
Have set the stage for this I now think everyone may well join me in my exclamation "p on Punxsutawney Phil!"
I have little doubt everyone who doesn't own a snow clearing business would heartily agree.
Posted by: Timothy Birdnow at
08:09 AM
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Couple stories: First, I recently read that some bunch of stupid feminists (hey, are there any other kinds?) were bitching about how it's always male groundhogs who get picked for these weather predictions. Well, they don't realize that male groundhogs generally emerge from their burrows at least two weeks earlier than females.
And: I used to work with a team leader who was a native of Duluth, MN: a town a couple hours north of the Twin Cities and the recipient of considerably colder winters. When the "official" groundhog pronounced "six more weeks of winter," the denizens of Duluth would shout "Hooray! Only six more weeks of winter!"
And: I used to work with a team leader who was a native of Duluth, MN: a town a couple hours north of the Twin Cities and the recipient of considerably colder winters. When the "official" groundhog pronounced "six more weeks of winter," the denizens of Duluth would shout "Hooray! Only six more weeks of winter!"
Posted by: Dana Mathewson at February 03, 2026 01:06 AM (+uala)
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There is nothing crazier than a feminist, Dana.
Hehehe...I can only imagine! Probably in International Falls they make their predictions in months and not weeks!
BTW My wife worked at Home Savings of America in their main office. The people she worked with were not the sharpest knives in the drawer. One day they got in a big argument; one girl said it was a ground SQUIRREL, not gtounhog, and she insisted if the GS saw it's shadow it would be six more MONTHS of winter. Interesting; winter would last until August.
This argument went on until Cathy was dragged into it and they insisted she call me, whom they thought was some sort of bearded monk on a mountaintop. Cathy pretended to call me and gave the definitive answer.
That's what public education does for America. And these folks actually voted.
Hehehe...I can only imagine! Probably in International Falls they make their predictions in months and not weeks!
BTW My wife worked at Home Savings of America in their main office. The people she worked with were not the sharpest knives in the drawer. One day they got in a big argument; one girl said it was a ground SQUIRREL, not gtounhog, and she insisted if the GS saw it's shadow it would be six more MONTHS of winter. Interesting; winter would last until August.
This argument went on until Cathy was dragged into it and they insisted she call me, whom they thought was some sort of bearded monk on a mountaintop. Cathy pretended to call me and gave the definitive answer.
That's what public education does for America. And these folks actually voted.
Posted by: Timothy Birdnow at February 03, 2026 07:44 AM (umJ+Y)
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