groundhog day is a con

(scooped from pinterest.com)

So, today is Groundhog Day.

We all know that if the groundhog sticks its head up today, spring will come early, before the vernal equinox (here in the northern hemisphere), the first day of spring. This year, 2017, the first day of spring for us is Monday 20 March.

However, if the groundhog sees its shadow and retreats into its den, we will have six more weeks of winter. Well, that would place winter running to Thursday 16 March for this year. Pretty close to the official end of winter.

So, by those calculations, every groundhog, no matter what it does, will be correct in the prediction it provides.

What a scam! These rodents have a pretty sweet thing going on. They get pampered all year round, have more than their fifteen minutes of fame. Every year. What is funny, is many get death threats to not predict a longer winter. Actually, that is sad. If anything, they should be denounced as shams. Each and every one of them!

by that expression, he must realise he has been found out as a fraud (courtesy coreyswrite.com)

On a lighter note, some fun facts:

This event is descended from Germans who arrived in Pennsylvania in the 19th century. Back in Germany they used badgers to predict the coming of spring. They even have their own dance.

In Serbia, the predictive event uses a bear.

In Alaska, it is Marmot Day.

In Nevada, they use a tortoise, Mojave Max. He is also a spokestortoise for all wild tortoises that live in the Mojave desert. Sounds like a busy guy.

In Ontario, we have Wiarton Willie. Willie is an albino. Also, willie and his successors have been mired in scandal over the years.

So, whatever you may or may not be commemorating today, with whichever animal you choose to do it with or not, just remember:

"Don't drive angry."

keep calm and drive on (courtesy themightyturtle.net)