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Tag: Groundhog Day

  • Groundhog Punxsutawney Phil’s Winter Predictions Found To Be Wrong 60 Percent Of The Time

    Expect spring to be a tad bit late as Punxsutawney Phil forecasted that winter is here for another six weeks. The world-famous groundhog went with his unorthodox methods to bring the forecast.

    Legend has it that if the groundhog sees his shadow after emerging from his burrow on February 2, people can expect the winter to extend its stay. Punxsutawney Phil quickly retreated to his burrow around 7:30 a.m. in Pennsylvania as the region is hit with scattered snow showers.

    A sizable crowd of about 11,000 gathered to watch the ceremony, hoping that Phil’s prediction will end the long winter that has ravaged the country. The top hat-wearing handlers of Phil however announced the extended winter.

    While it is still unknown if Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction will come true, the National Climatic Data Center has compiled Phil’s successes and failures since 1988. Throughout the years of his service as the gifted groundhog, Phil was recorded to be wrong 15 times out of the 26-year study. Dave Unger, a meteorologist from the National Weather service said that a good forecast will only be considered if the estimate is around 60% accurate. Right now, Phil’s predictions only amounts to about 40%.

    Groundhog Day has been celebrated since 1841, making it a true American tradition. While the tradition is still very much alive, Punxsutawney Phil has been constantly faced with controversies about his questionable predictions. An Ohio prosecutor infamously sought the death penalty for Phil back in 2013 after the furry psychic predicted an early spring, when it fact the cold weather persisted throughout the East Coast until March of that year.

    All around the country, several Groundhog Day-like celebrations are also held. Staten Island Chuck is making the prediction in New York, while Wiarton Willie if the snow will continue to fall in Ontario, Canada. Potomac Phil, a stuffed Groundhog from Washington, D.C. also saw his shadow, echoing Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction.

  • Punxsutawney Phil: How Accurate Is The Rodent?

    Punxsutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of winter on Monday morning, making him the least popular rodent in America.

    The groundhog was accompanied by his top hat-wearing Inner Circle when he supposedly saw his shadow.

    The ceremony on Gobbler’s Knob in Pennsylvania with Punxsutawney Phil was attended by around 11,000 freezing people.

    It hardly seems fair. Since 1887, Punxsutawney Phil has predicted more winter 102 times while forecasting an early spring only 17 times.

    The Inner Circle announced this year’s prediction in a fun rhyme.

    It said, “Forecasts abound on the Internet, but, I, Punxsutawney Phil am still your best bet. Yes, a shadow I see, you can start to Twitter, hash tag: Six more weeks of winter!”

    Some people weren’t so jolly with Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction.

    Some were happy about it.

    But how often is Punxsutawney Phil actually right?

    In Punxsutawney Phil’s hometown, he is actually right only about 30 percent of the time! However, according to the Washington Post, it’s pretty much random guesses and chance. Obviously.

    They say that, “while Phil was technically right more times than not in some cities (it’s bound to happen in some areas because temperatures across the country do not rise and fall uniformly), the average temperatures between shadow and non-shadow years were slight at best. So, much like how you won your last coin toss, Phil is ‘right’ in these regions because of chance.”

    What is your opinion of Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction?

  • Harold Ramis: Inside His Battle With Bill Murray

    Harold Ramis had a hand in creating some of the most beloved and quotable films of a generation. When news of his death began to spread on Monday, millions mourned the loss of such a creative genius, and every social media outlet was flooded with memes, artwork, and quotes in remembrance of Ramis. But over the years, as much as we came to feel like we all knew him through his work, there was a lot that many didn’t know, and that includes the difficult battle he had with fellow Ghostbuster Bill Murray.

    During the filming of “Groundhog Day”–one of the duo’s most revered films–Ramis and Murray disagreed heavily on what the tone of the story should be, and it caused a great deal of friction between the friends. While Murray wanted the tale to lean towards the philosophical, Ramis wanted to hold on to his comedic roots and keep things light. The result, Ramis said in an interview, was a disaster behind the scenes.

    “At times, Bill was just really irrationally mean and unavailable; he was constantly late on set,” Ramis told The New Yorker in 2004. “What I’d want to say to him is just what we tell our children: ‘You don’t have to throw tantrums to get what you want. Just say what you want.’”

    At that time, the two hadn’t spoken in eleven years. In the interview, it clearly pained Ramis to talk about the gulf that separated them, but there was one thing standing in the way of a reconciliation.

    “It’s a huge hole in my life, but there are so many pride issues about reaching out. Bill would give you his kidney if you needed it, but he wouldn’t necessarily return your phone calls,” Ramis said.

    But no matter what happened between the friends, Ramis remained a passionate supporter of Murray’s work and said he was grateful for the projects they’d had the chance to work on together.

    “Bill was a strong man…You’d do a movie with Bill, a big comedy in those early days, just knowing he could save the day no matter how bad the script was, that we’d find something through improvisation,” Ramis said. “That was our alliance, kind of, our big bond. I could help him be the best funny Bill Murray he could be, and I think he appreciated that then. And I don’t know where that went, but it’s there on film. So whatever happens between us in the future, at least we have those expressions.”

  • Groundhog Day 2014: Shadow or No Shadow?

    Groundhog Day 2014: Shadow or No Shadow?

    Well thanks to that pesky polar vortex, many of us are more than aware that we are in the grips of a horrible winter season. There’s been snow, freezing wind, and icy roads. Then there is the depressingly low temperatures to contend with.

    This pattern has been rinsed and repeated for the past few weeks and plenty of us are sick of it and wanting a straight answer….Is the worst over or are we going to have to put up with several more weeks of the same?

    During this time of the year, Americans turn to that one furry source of comfort that is said to know for sure: Punxsutawney Phil, the famous weather-predicting groundhog.

    Groundhog Day, which occurs on the 2nd of February each year, originates from a tradition that holds that the groundhog and hibernating animals like it can correctly guess whether or not there will be an early spring.

    Legend has it that should the animal emerge and see its shadow, this indicates six more weeks of bad weather. After seeing its shadow, the groundhog returns to continue hibernating. If for whatever reason the groundhog’s shadow is not visible, the animal takes it as a sign of early spring. This also means that winter is pretty much over.

    The tradition began back in the year 1886 and continues 128 years later.

    Now, Groundhog Day is a fun little tradition on its own, but what many people are looking forward to is spending it watching the Bill Murray comedy that revolves around the tradition combined with a strange and extreme case of deja vu.

    The Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks will also be doing their part to make it a special holiday, as the Superbowl is set to occur on Groundhog Day.

    So whether you’re watching for groundhog shadows, watching a movie classic, or watching an exciting football showdown, this weekend promises to be a very exciting affair.

    What are you more excited about: “Groundhog Day” or The Superbowl? Be sure to share your thoughts and predictions regarding the game and whether you think Phil will see his shadow this year!

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Groundhog Day Prediction to be Streamed Live Online

    Everyone snowed-in and sick of winter will be happy to learn that the yearly Groundhog Day prediction in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania will be live-streamed online this year. The Pennsylvania tourism website will stream Punxsutawney Phil’s annual “prognostication” from this website. The prediction is scheduled to take place around 7:25 am EST.

    According to the folk tale, six more weeks of winter are predicted by Phil if he sees his shadow. If not, an early spring is “just around the corner.”

    The tradition of Punxsutawney’s Groundhog Day dates back to 1887. Since February 2 falls on a weekend this year, record crowds are expected to visit Gobbler’s Knob.

    In addition to live-streaming the event, the Pennsylvania Tourism Office has again teamed up with Foursquare to offer a special Groundhog Day badge. The first 500 Foursquare users to check in from Gobbler’s Knob on February 2 will receive a Groundhog Day-branded Slinky toy. The Slinky was declared the official toy of Pennsylvania in 2001.

    Last year, Phil predicted six more weeks of winter, as is usually the case. Still, there is always hope that the groundhog will predict an early spring, and that the prediction will happen to be correct.

    For those who prefer to sleep in on their Saturdays, the movie Groundhog Day is currently streaming via Netflix Watch Instantly. It is, in every way, more entertaining than one of the real predictions. As proof, last year’s festivities (which consist largely of men in top hats making a spectacle of a terrified rodent) can be seen below.

  • Twitter Roundup: Groundhog Day Edition

    Twitter Roundup: Groundhog Day Edition

    Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow today. Six more weeks of winter. If you call this winter.

    In a season with record-breaking high temperatures and sunny-ish days, it was pretty much a given that the rodent would see his shadow. This year, nobody really seems to mind.

    Pundits, amateur humorists, and snarky folk in general took to the Twitter machine. Most had to be restrained from making Bill Murray jokes:

  • Groundhog Day 2012: Punxsutawny Phil Sees Shadow, More Winter, Twitter Reacts

    Every year on the second of February people gather in the wee hours of the morning at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawny, Pennsylvania and wait eagerly for a weather forecast brought to them by a small woodland mammal. If, the legend goes, Punxsutawny Phil happens to see his shadow when he emerges from hibernation, the world will be subjected to six more weeks of winter. If not, we get an early spring.

    Well, according to Phil’s handlers on Gobbler’s Knob, an early spring isn’t in the cards. It seems the famed forecaster saw his shadow this year, which means we’re staring down the barrel of another six weeks of winter. Of course, at this point much of America is still waiting for winter to start. An extra six weeks of what we’ve had so far seems to be sitting just fine with most people.

    Meanwhile, Twitter has been very aware of the groundhog situation. Happy Groundhog Day, Punxsutawny Phil, Gobbler’s Knob, and Bill Murray have all been trending on Twitter this morning. Check out some of the things Twitter is saying below:

    @meyoung
    Mary Emma    Six more weeks of winter! Were people really booing Punxsutawney Phil? The poor guy was just doing his job. 39 minutes ago via Twitter for Android · powered by @socialditto

    @damirbojanic
    Damir Bojanić    HAPPY BILL MURRAY TRAPPED IN A TIME LOOP DAY 19 minutes ago via web · powered by @socialditto

    @NotthatAdamWest
    West Lee    Happy #GroundhogDay! It seems Punxsutawney Phil predicted 6 more weeks of winter. No one had the heart to tell him winter never started. 1 hour ago via Twitter for Android · powered by @socialditto

    @mattizcoop
    Matthew Cooper    They say we’re young and we don’t know. We won’t find out until we grow. #GroundhogDay 2 hours ago via Twitter for iPhone · powered by @socialditto

    @emilylinnert
    Emily Linnert    I love Groundhog Day! I want to kiss that Punxsutawney Phil right on the mouth! That’s probably not a good idea. #earlyclub 4 hours ago via web · powered by @socialditto

    @slybeer
    Jaks    “Well, what if there is no tomorrow? There wasn’t one today.” #GroundhogDay 37 minutes ago via web · powered by @socialditto

    @nyutix
    NYU Ticket Central    PA’s Punxsutawney Phil may have seen his shadow; but our own Staten Island Chuck says early spring! Happy… http://t.co/XGKKfldp 37 minutes ago via Facebook · powered by @socialditto

    @ShooterMcGavin_
    Shooter McGavin    BREAKING: Bill Murray has kidnapped Punxsutawney Phil after he saw his shadow. High speed chase in progress. 12 minutes ago via Tweetbot for iPhone · powered by @socialditto

    @thehipgoddess
    Kat Hudson    Happy Groundhog Day! And remember, “Don’t drive angry!” 44 minutes ago via web · powered by @socialditto

    @steveschale
    Steve Schale    Any truth to rumor that Romney & his Super PAC went up in Central PA today bashing Punxsutawney Phil for extending winter? #groundhogday 37 minutes ago via Echofon · powered by @socialditto

    @mattizcoop
    Matthew Cooper    They say we’re young and we don’t know. We won’t find out until we grow. #GroundhogDay 2 hours ago via Twitter for iPhone · powered by @socialditto

    @UnvirtuousAbbey
    Unvirtuous Abbey    Lord, you who rose from death on the third day, we give thanks that you did not see your shadow. Amen. #GroundHogDay 10 hours ago via TweetDeck · powered by @socialditto

    @calebwilds
    Caleb Kaltenbach    Apparently Punxsutawney Phil & Staten Island Chuck disagree about their shadow. I hate it when these things happen #groundhogday 39 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone · powered by @socialditto

    @jaketapper
    Jake Tapper    Today’s forecast: “It’s gonna be cold. it’s gonna be gray. And it’s gonna last you for the rest of your life.” #GroundHogDay 1 hour ago via UberSocial for BlackBerry · powered by @socialditto

    @sweetpeaj
    Penny Hodges    Groundhog Day 2012: Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow. So, this means we have to endure 6 more weeks of this springlike winter. 44 minutes ago via Echofon · powered by @socialditto

    @mattizcoop
    Matthew Cooper    They say we’re young and we don’t know. We won’t find out until we grow. #GroundhogDay 2 hours ago via Twitter for iPhone · powered by @socialditto

  • Foursquare Offers Unique Groundhog Day Badge

    Do you care enough about Groundhog Day to get a special badge from Foursquare?

    The Pennsylvania Tourism Office today announced an exclusive deal with Foursquare that will allow users to obtain the official “PA Groundhog Day 2012” badge on February 2. The badge features the likeness of Punxsutawney Phil, the world-famous co-star to Bill Murray in the 1993 classic, Groundhog Day.

    “We invite Foursquare users worldwide to earn this special badge from visitPA, which has been updated for 2012,” Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary C. Alan Walker said. “This is a one-day opportunity to earn a unique virtual badge as we all learn whether we may see an early spring.”

    For those who don’t know, or haven’t seen the classic Bill Murray film, Groundhog Day is celebrated every February 2 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. According to folklore dating back to the 1800s, if Phil sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. If he doesn’t, there will be an early spring.

    To earn the exclusive “PA Groundhog Day 2012” badge, users should follow visitPA on the Foursquare site. From there, check in to shout on February 2 to receive the badge.

    “We’re thrilled that visitPA has been able to enhance the experiences of so many visitors through the use of our platform,” Eric Friedman, Director of Business Development at Foursquare said. “Pennsylvania’s continued enthusiasm and openness to new partnership opportunities and Foursquare’s ability to attract and reward people combine to make a powerful partnership.”

    In 2010, Pennsylvania became the first state to partner with Foursquare by populating the network with more than 200 state attractions and creating custom badges. Since its launch, visitPA has amassed nearly 93,000 followers and more than 67,800 users have unlocked a PA badge.