« Some people call me Maurice | Main | bad news: teens say 'free speech, no big deal' »
hibernating until mr. perfect arrives
by jen x at 11:05 AM on February 02, 2005
Cross-posted from my site, 'cause I'm lame that way.
I don't understand Groundhog's Day. On the radio this morning, they said that Punxsutawney Phil and Shubenacadie Sam had seen their shadows, so that meant that we had another six weeks of winter.
But then they went on to say that our Ontario groundhog, Wiarton Willy, hadn't seen his shadow, so that meant that spring would be arriving in another six weeks.
Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this just another way of saying, we'll flip a coin, and heads I win, tails you lose? We'll have six more weeks of winter, or in six weeks spring will arrive?! I'm confused.
comments (18)
Maybe groundhog Wiarton Willy's eyes are going a bit, but he was too afraid to say so for fear of letting all those people down. With his dodgy eyes he can't tell a shadow from a crazed crowd of humans actually expecting him to predict the weather anymore. Might need some specs eh? Aw, all the other hogs will laugh at him, poor bugger.
by Ex Crimson Guard NCO at February 2, 2005 12:47 PM
When Chekhov saw the long winter, he saw a winter bleak and dark and bereft of hope. Yet we know that winter is just another step in the cycle of life. But standing here among the people of Punxsutawney and basking in the warmth of their hearths and hearts, I couldn't imagine a better fate than a long and lustrous winter.
by mg at February 2, 2005 12:54 PM
Just move south.
by MrBlank at February 2, 2005 5:34 PM
Jen, you live in Canada. You'll get another 6 months of winter, trust me.
by Anna at February 2, 2005 6:07 PM
*cries* It's so true.
Oh, wait, it's not. I'm planning on a brutally hot summer that involves the least amount of clothes I've ever worn yet. Who's with me!?
by Jen at February 2, 2005 8:08 PM
the only good use for Groundhog Day is that it's a reminder to watch Groundhog Day.
by not chris at February 2, 2005 10:12 PM
Or move to LA. Wait, we've been having chilly wind and rain. Of course, “chilly” means 50°. And it's 70° once it's no longer morning.
by snaggle at February 2, 2005 11:08 PM
Here's a sample of Lockheed's corporate side: I really want to throw a fuck you into this report from now on...
Australian Retail Sales DEC (00:30 GMT, 7:30PM EST)
Consensus: 0.8%
Previous: 0.1%
Outlook: A slightly stronger rise in retail sales is expected for the month of December, bucking the otherwise hampered trend in recent months, as the pullback in crude oil prices and the rise in employment have reinvigorated spending. Expected to gain 0.8% from a smaller increase of 0.1% in November, retail sales for December will be more reflective of the 29,000 jobs created for the month, and the nearly 10 year high in consumer confidence levels. Despite the sharp monthly rise, the first quarterly decline in four years is expected as the drop in October retail sales and less than expected November sales will carry the bulk of the data.
Previous: November retail sales failed to meet estimates with a slight increase of 0.1% versus an expected 0.6% according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Higher fuel costs dampened consumption, resulting in less hawkish outlook for the 2005 interest rate environment, where rates are expected to remain steady at 5.25%, based on the median forecast of 20 economists by Bloomberg News. Previous expectations were for a rise in rates by June. Spending short falls could be found across the board in department, recreational, and clothing stores, as well as in the prolonged softening of the residential building sector.
by Lockheed at February 3, 2005 3:52 AM
Just a point of interest. Its not all cold in Canada. The southern most tip is os southern as California. Man do those Canadians get pissed when their igloos melt and they are homeless.
by dominathan at February 3, 2005 9:10 AM
I'm for little-to-no cloths. I'm with you, Jen!
by MrBlank at February 3, 2005 10:40 AM
Come on down and hang out with me in Nicaragua! You can prance around in a bikini all day, everyday. They kinda look at me weird around here doing the books in my bikini, but ah well.
by Leaffin at February 3, 2005 3:52 PM
I just can't get past the whole idea of Nicaragua-as-fun. It's like Afghanistan-as-fun. And what part of Canada is as southerly as California? Isn't there, like Washintgon and Oregon in between the two?
by Anna at February 3, 2005 6:17 PM
Ooh, can I do the books in my bikini as well?
I'm also guessing you have a killer tan going on now... do you rival Ang when she got back from the Canaries?
by snaggle at February 3, 2005 8:15 PM
Who cares, I wold rather cook em and eat em and I'm not even a redneck.
by Patrick at February 4, 2005 5:04 AM
Now that's funny. Put one of those little pop-up thermometers in there and roast em.
by Anna at February 4, 2005 7:17 AM
The part of Canada that is as far south as California is the southern tip of Ontario, up near Niagra falls etc. Unfortunately, being near the middle of the continent and all, it has no where near the same weather as Northern California in the winter.
by chuckwoolery at February 4, 2005 12:58 PM
Anna, contrary to popular US opinion, Nicaragua is a very safe (but poor) country. No wars here since 1989. They like to say that there's far less violence here than in the rest of Central America. I'm not entirely sure about the accuracy of that statistic, but there's less tourist-directed violence here than in Costa Rica. Nicaragua = Costa Rica, but fewer tourists and fewer English speakers. And much much poorer. Tons of foreigners are coming in and buying property around here... beachfront lots for $40,000, and the prices have shot up tons in the past year or so.
Snaggle, nope, not nearly as tan as Ang was, but I'm pretty tan for me. However, it doesn't really help that I work until about 4 every day... don't get as much sun as I would like to. When my brother came down to visit, it was very obvious that he's pastey-white and that I've got a bit of color. Before and after, if you will.
by Leaffin at February 4, 2005 4:54 PM
Anna: the southern most tip of Canada is known as Point Pelee. They have a provincial (possibly national park there. Look it up on a map and you can see for yourself (im not talking LA range, but still rather south. It really is a beautiful place, and they have an excellent winery there as well.
by dominathan at February 4, 2005 6:00 PM