warning: this may not be an actual groundhog
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happy groundhog day to all and may spring be right around the corner
what is your prediction, groundhog?
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‘for the record, winter will last until it’s over
and then it will be spring.’
-gilbert cumberbatach groundhog
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art credit: groundhog bucket hat for pet pattern by Svetlana Maxarova
it’s ground hog day once again, and poor phil. the famous groundhog
will get pulled out of a deep winter’s sleep.
many will gather to see what phil will predict.
will spring be just around the corner, or delayed for another few weeks?
how accurate are his predications, really?
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At Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, weather-predicting groundhog Phil may see his shadow, which means he’ll call for six more weeks of winter-like conditions. Don’t get too bummed, though—Phil’s recent track record isn’t that great on the national level.
The tradition started in 1887, and since then, the groundhog chosen to represent Phil has seen his shadow 101 times.
Phil has predicted 100% correctly in only five of the 26 years the National Climatic Data Center analyzed. Other than once, he only nailed the years in which he forecasted an early spring. Considering the contiguous United States just experienced its 2oth+ consecutive year with an above-average annual temperature, Phil may be wise to play the numbers and always predict an early spring.
Then again, perhaps we expect too much from a marmot with no access to nationwide climate data.
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happy groundhog day – at last it all makes sense!
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image credit: quotesgram
the kinder celebrated the lunar new year
with a fierce painting of a chinese dragon
who will keep us all safe
woody the groundhog was scheduled to emerge this morning
on groundhog day
to predict how much longer winter will stick around
but..
we are now-
about to be hit with a MAJOR snowstorm.
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it’s truly a week
to celebrate things
big and small.
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in honor of groundhog day:
“what fresh hell is this?!”
-woody the groundhog
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in honor of the lunar new year:
“so comes snow after fire, and even dragons have their ending!”
– j.r.r. tolkien
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in honor of the snow:
“snow day, bring it!”
-beth kennedy
puxatawny phil with some other (less famous) celebs.
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it’s his big day, and one of my favorite fun holidays
no matter what he predicts
about the coming of spring
(*not sure about his accuracy)
i love his spirit.
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*the national climatic data center compared U.S. national temperatures from 1988 to 2012 to determine the accuracy of Phil’s predictions, and he’s only been proven correct 39% of the time — significantly worse than chance.
“groundhog day is like a rock concert
but the people are better behaved and a groundhog is invited.”
-tom chapin
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image credit: trip savvy.com
the big guy checks out the situation.
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“Groundhog found fog. New snows and blue toes.
Fine and dandy for Valentine candy.
Snow spittin’;
if you’re not mitten-smitten,
you’ll be frostbitten!
By jing-y feels spring-y.”
― The Old Farmer’s Almanac
a glimpse into the real story behind the legend.
the groundhog
stays up all night
trying to calculate
exactly when spring will arrive
and is exhausted
when they wake him up
to bring him out
early in the morning
for his official prediction
each february 2nd
on groundhog day.
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“i’m so tired…i was up all night trying to round off infinity.”
-steven wright
“turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you.”
~maori proverb
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happy groundhog day
and
may your face find the sun.
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image credit: angel sarkela-saur
– happy groundhog day –
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image credit: eachdayisacelebration.com
I didn't have my glasses on.... 