An English poem describing the event:
If Candlemas be fair and bright,
If Candlemas be fair and bright,
Winter has another flight.
If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,
Winter will not come again.
In southeastern Pennsylvania, Groundhog Lodges celebrate the holiday with social events in which food is served, speeches are made, and one or more plays or skits are performed for entertainment. The Pennsylvania German dialect is the only language spoken at the event, and those who speak English pay a penalty, usually in the form of a nickel, dime, or quarter per word spoken, with the money put into a bowl in the center of the table.
Meteorological accuracy
According to Groundhog Day organizers, the rodents' forecasts are accurate 75% to 90% of the time. However, a Canadian study for 13 cities in the past 30 to 40 years found that the weather patterns predicted on Groundhog Day were only 37% accurate over that time period. According to the StormFax Weather Almanac and records kept since 1887, Punxsutawney Phil's weather predictions have been correct 39% of the time.
A cartoon in this morning's paper:
Animal one, to another down in a hole: Are you coming out to see your shadow?
Voice from the hole: No!
Then how will we know when spring starts?
Google it!
Fun --
TALES OF THE TECHNOLOGICALLY CHALLENGED
Customer: My keyboard is not working anymore.
Tech support: Are you sure it's plugged into the computer?
Customer: No. I can't get behind the computer.
Tech support: Pick up your keyboard and walk 10 paces back.
Customer: OK
Tech support: Did the keyboard come with you?
Customer: Yes
Tech support: That means the keyboard is not plugged in.
* * *
Tech support: Your password is the small letter “a” as
in apple, a capital letter “V” as in Victor, the number 7.
Customer: Is that 7 in capital letters?
* * *
Customer: I can't get on the Internet.
Tech support: Are you sure you used the right password?
Customer: Yes, I'm sure. I saw my colleague do it.
Tech support: Can you tell me what the password was?
Customer: Five stars.
* * *
Customer: I have a huge problem. A friend has placed a screen saver on my computer, but every time I move the mouse, it disappears.
* * *
Tech support: What's on your monitor now, ma'am?
Customer: A teddy bear my boyfriend bought for me in the supermarket.
Tech support: Are you sure it's plugged into the computer?
Customer: No. I can't get behind the computer.
Tech support: Pick up your keyboard and walk 10 paces back.
Customer: OK
Tech support: Did the keyboard come with you?
Customer: Yes
Tech support: That means the keyboard is not plugged in.
* * *
Tech support: Your password is the small letter “a” as
in apple, a capital letter “V” as in Victor, the number 7.
Customer: Is that 7 in capital letters?
* * *
Customer: I can't get on the Internet.
Tech support: Are you sure you used the right password?
Customer: Yes, I'm sure. I saw my colleague do it.
Tech support: Can you tell me what the password was?
Customer: Five stars.
* * *
Customer: I have a huge problem. A friend has placed a screen saver on my computer, but every time I move the mouse, it disappears.
* * *
Tech support: What's on your monitor now, ma'am?
Customer: A teddy bear my boyfriend bought for me in the supermarket.
Excellent recognition of the Groundhog's work and the joy of this annual celebration!
ReplyDeleteI must disagree with one statistic. Phil's predictions have been claimed, by his sources, to be 100% accurate!!! That's what makes him the Seer of Seers, Prognosticator of Prognosticators, Weatherman of Weathermen. I will not ask you to remove those stats you've posted (or sue you for Phil deformation) but I don't want Phil's forecasting ability to be undermined by doubters. Believe the Hog's forecast. Believe!