Modest suggestion, that each of us obtain a stuffed platypus and each Feb 2
go through the ritual, note if Paul (named after the Apostle) cast a shadow
or not,
then average our observations to make a forecast.
Might be good publicity for RC.
Billy R
PS
Those who are so inclined to keep a pet platypus are free to do so.
---------------------------------------------------------------
W Post
Groundhog Day 2014: Punxsutawney Phil sees shadow, 6 more weeks of winter
* By _Jason Samenow_
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/jason-samenow/2011/08/01/gIQAMnn9nI_page.html)
* (mailto:[email protected]?subject=Reader feedback for
'Groundhog Day 2014: Punxsutawney Phil sees shadow, 6 more weeks of winter')
* February 2, 2014 at 7:25 am
(Getty images)
At 7:25 a.m. Sunday, _a raw, cloudy and damp morning_
(http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Punxsutawney&state=PA&site=PBZ&textField1=40.94
41&textField2=-78.9776&e=0) , Groundhog Phil saw his shadow in the small
town of Punxsutawney, Pa.
The appearance of Phil’s shadow means winter will extend well into March
according to folklore. Had Phil not seen his shadow, it would have meant
spring is around the corner.
Phil’s prediction may depress residents in the eastern U.S., weary from
repeated outbreaks of arctic air.
December and January temperature differences from normal across the U.S.
Green, blue, and purple shades are cooler than normal. Yellow, orange, and
red shades are warmer than normal. (High Plains Regional Climate Center)
Since the Groundhog’s first prediction in 1887 (through 2013), Phil has
seen his shadow 100 times and not seen it on just 17 occasions. There are nine
missing years in _the record_
(http://www.groundhog.org/groundhog-day/past-predictions/) , but Phil has
issued a forecast without exception.
No one questions Phil’s dedication to prognostication, but his accuracy is
an unending source of controversy.
Last Groundhog Day, Phil did not see his shadow, a supposed harbinger of an
early spring. Yet, bitter cold and snow affected the eastern U.S. deep
into March. The prosecuting attorney in Butler County, Ohio went as far as
to _seek the death penalty for Phil_
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2013/03/21/ohio-prosecutor-seeks-death-penalty-for-punx
sutawney-phil-after-bad-forecast/) for “misrepresentation of early spring”
before a Pennsylvania law firm came to Phil’s defense, claiming _the Ohio
attorney had no jurisdiction to prosecute the Groundhog_
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2013/03/22/pa-law-group-warns-ohio
-official-to-cease-and-desist-prosecution-of-punxsutawney-phil/) .
_Phil’s official Web site_
(http://www.groundhog.org/groundhog-day/about-groundhog-day/) says he has “of
course” issued a correct forecast 100
percent of the time. But NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center _says_
(http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/special-reports/groundhog-day.php) Phil’s forecasts
have
shown “no predictive skill” in recent years. AccuWeather _finds_
(http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/will-phil-see-his-shadow-on-gr/60994)
the
rodent has an 80 percent accuracy rate.
_Infographic: Groundhog Day fun facts_
(http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/infographic-all-there-is-to-kn/5218176)
(AccuWeather)
As for the present, AccuWeather half agrees and half disagrees with the
Groundhog – _calling for a 50/50 split in winter and spring conditions in the
U.S._
(http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/spring-outlook-six-more-weeks/22312537)
in the coming weeks. Winter will not loosen its harsh grip
over the North, it forecasts, while spring will come early in the South.
AccuWeather.com spring forecast graphic (AccuWeather.com)
NOAA, like AccuWeather, is predicting _better chances of colder than normal
conditions in the North_
(http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/30day/off15_temp.gif)
compared to the South.
NOAA says Groundhog Day originated as an ancient celebration of the
mid-point between the winter solstice and spring equinox.
“Superstition has it that fair weather [at this midpoint] was seen as
forbearance of a stormy and cold second half to winter,” NOAA _writes_
(http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/special-reports/groundhog-day.php) in its summary of
Groundhog Day background and folklore.
Groundhog Day-like celebrations are held in several other regions of North
America where other furry rodents make their predictions, including:
* Atlanta, Georgia: _General Beau Lee_
(http://www.yellowrivergameranch.com/about-general-beau-lee/)
* Ontario, Canada: _Wiarton Willie_
(http://www.southbrucepeninsula.com/en/wiartonwillie/welcome.asp)
* Raleigh, North Carolina: _Sir Walter Wally_
(http://www.nc-climate.ncsu.edu/climate/groundhog)
* Sun Prarie, Wisconsin: _Jimmy_ (http://www.groundhogcentral.com/)
* Staten Island, New York: _Chuck_
(http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2014/02/groundhog_day_2014_staten_isla.html)
* Birmingham, Alabama: _Birmingham Bill_ (http://www.birminghamzoo.com/)
In Washington, D.C., Potomac Phil – a stuffed Groundhog – _makes his
forecast_
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/potomac-phil-readying-for-groundhog-day/2014/01/31/cdfd2d5e-8a5c-11e3-a760-a86415d0944d_story.html)
in Dupont
Circle at 8 a.m.
--
--
Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community
<[email protected]>
Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism
Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
"Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email
to [email protected].
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
