h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I have been told that my eldest sibling leaves his tree decorated year-round - and plugs it in each morning. "Christmas every day", he says.

He's also thought to be "mostly harmless" ...

Cool old Guy leaving the Christmas decoration in place
"I have the idea the mirrorball scares off the flock of crows.
Will leave it in the roof until proven it does not work.

No longer first on page, press post. "

They had celebratory fireworks in nearby Punxsutawney this morning - Phil's predicted an early spring.

It's quite warm here today - 9C and sunny - so I don't know how he missed his shadow, but hey, not complaining...

http://www.wtae.com/news/no-shadow-punxsutawney-phil-predicts-early-spring-on-groundhog-day/37770892

I don't know who that Staten Island Chuck is, but he has no bona fides. Those Netherlanders over in New Amsterdam don't qualify over our Pennsylvania Dutch experts. Yes, it was supposed to be a badger, but what we have a lot of is groundhogs.

Phil should be happy with his job: around here, it's allowed to shoot groundhogs any day but Sunday. And it ISN'T legal to release a groundhog anywhere but on property you personally own. I tell you, they'd be endangered if the Commonwealth had its way. But there's one next door, and my sister's dog has eaten quite a few, so they're pretty much large (very large) and in charge.

How do the observers tell that the groundhog has seen his shadow? Or do they assume that if they can see his shadow, the he must be able to too?

Well, we suspect it's bogus these days - those guys in the top hats are probably in collusion with the weather bureau.

However, they PRETEND to ask the groundhog. Let me see if I can find the video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zioQMpSjtyg

As you can see, there is consultation involved.

(Bringing the subject line back)

The two primary prognosticators of Canada disagreed, so we are in limbo ...

One of the biggest faux pas of this event was a few years back. Wiarton Willie (southern Ontario) is traditionally an albino groundhog. And the current generation died a month or so earlier. Town Elders tried to get by with the best results of the local taxidermist.

That's just wrong on so many levels...

Regarding Post 21:

I, on the other hand, am harmly mostless.

" Town Elders tried to get by with the best results of the local taxidermist" [Rev Nick]

I didn't know taxidermists could see their shadows.

After that very poor presentation of the stuffed critter, the taxidermist may have been high-tailing it with The Elders - and no time to look for shadows.

Our friendly neighbourhood wolf saw the groundhog's shadow and ate him before he could spread the malicious news

While looking over aardvark listings on Youtube, I found this:

http://youtu.be/CaRRUuXYuog

Mr , has your neighborhood wolf a business card? I may try booking ahead next year.

Well, we made it to the 2nd of February.

Re post 32:

Now there's a face only a mother could love

Re 33:

Could be, but we need him here desperately, Mr. Nick

Re post 35:

Many returns - but will they be happy

If the Internal revenue Service doesn't get your return, *they* will be unhappy, and soon you will be even more unhappy.

Considering that the arctic jet stream pseudopod that's been hovering stationary over New England and Labrador for what seems like untold ages just shifted to the midwest, maybe Punxatawney Phil knows something at that.