My big dog would thank me for the lunch.
David
"If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it
costs when it's free
"If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it
costs when it's free."*---P. J. O'Rourke*
On 2/2/2014 2:28 PM, [email protected] wrote:
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>
*
*
February 2, 2014 at 7:25 am
(Getty images)
(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=40.9441&textField2=-78.9776&e=0>,
Groundhog Phil saw his shadow in the small town of Punxsutawney, Pa.
The appearance of PhilâEUR^(TM)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.
PhilâEUR^(TM)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. (High Plains Regional Climate Center)
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 GroundhogâEUR^(TM)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 PhilâEUR^(TM)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-punxsutawney-phil-after-bad-forecast/>
for âEURoemisrepresentation of early springâEUR? before a Pennsylvania
law firm came to PhilâEUR^(TM)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/>.
PhilâEUR^(TM)s official Web site
<http://www.groundhog.org/groundhog-day/about-groundhog-day/> says he
has âEURoeof courseâEUR? issued a correct forecast 100 percent of the
time. But NOAAâEUR^(TM)s National Climatic Data Center says
<http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/special-reports/groundhog-day.php> PhilâEUR^(TM)s
forecasts have shown âEURoeno predictive skillâEUR? 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 âEUR" 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)
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.
âEURoeSuperstition has it that fair weather [at this midpoint] was
seen as forbearance of a stormy and cold second half to winter,âEUR?
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 âEUR" a stuffed Groundhog âEUR"
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.
---
This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection
is active.
http://www.avast.com
--
--
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.
