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‘Indictment’ issued against groundhog Punxsutawney Phil for ‘purposely’ predicting an early spring falsely
Famed groundhog Punxsutawney Phil might want to go back into hibernation.
Authorities in still-frigid Ohio have issued an “indictment” of the furry rodent, who predicted an early spring when he didn’t see his shadow after emerging from his western Pennsylvania lair on Feb. 2.
“Punxsutawney Phil did purposely, and with prior calculation and design, cause the people to believe that spring would come early,” Mike Gmoser, the prosecutor in southwestern Ohio’s Butler County, wrote in an official-looking indictment.
Gmoser wrote that Punxsutawney Phil is charged with misrepresentation of spring, which constitutes a felony “against the peace and dignity of the state of Ohio.”
The penalty Phil faces? Gmoser says — tongue firmly in cheek — is death. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)
It’s Groundhog Day (again) and the rodents can’t agree when spring will come
It’s Groundhog Day — the day millions of North Americans turn to weather prognosticating rodents in the hope they’ll call for an early spring.
And Wiarton Willie, Canada’s most celebrated of all its furry forecasters is predicting an early spring.
On the East Coast, Nova Scotia’s Shubenacadie Sam was the first out of his burrow this morning to make his prediction to a worldwide audience via webcam, and sadly for those hoping for an early spring, the pride of Shubenacadie did see his shadow.
Stateside, Pennsylvania’s Punxsutawney Phil is generally regarded as the groundhog of record and his prediction this morning is for an early spring. (Keith Srakocic/The Associated Press; Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press; Andrew Vaughan/The Canadian Press)
Ooops, missed a day, but the other 30 are still good.
The April showers are behind us, and you know what that means: It’s time to look at the cultural happenings for May 2012! Click on our guide for daily highlights in movies, TV, music and more. Sure, there are flowers out there, but you don’t have to spend every day looking at them!
Don’t know your retro from your romantic? Click through the image above for a guide to the prettiest prints for printemps!
Spring has sprung, so get outside and enjoy it — just don’t forget your Wellies! Scroll through the calendar above for our daily highlights in arts and culture for the month of April.
Gary Clement’s week in review for March 18-24
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Review: The Hunger Games is a faithful, stylish adaptation
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Etch A Sketch sales soar after Romney aide gaffe
Spring equinox 2012: Google Doodle heralds official end of winter
Dear Diary: ‘The world will finally take notice of the Quebec Spring’
Thomas Mulcair’s challenge is to prove he is no political opportunist
Groundhog Day 2012: Shubenacadie Sam predicts early spring; Punxsutawney Phil calls for more winter
This country’s first furry forecaster brought good news to winter-weary Canadians on Thursday morning, as Nova Scotia’s Shubenacadie Sam failed to see his shadow — meaning, according to tradition, an early spring is on its way.
The news was less pleasant for our neighbours south of the border, as Punxsutawney Phil — made particularly famous by Bill Murray’s 1993 movie Groundhog Day — did see his shadow in the town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. (Photo: Jason Cohn/Reuters)
The Week That Wasn’t by Sarah Lazarovic: Toronto Seasons (well, most places in Canada really)
Photos of the day, April 26, 2011
Workers harvest tulips in a field near the eastern German town of Schwaneberg on April 26, 2011. The flowers are sold to customers in Germany, France, Austria and Switzerland. (JENS WOLF/AFP/Getty Images)
Apropos of nothing, here’s a dog named Bobby jumping over crocuses near the Rhine in Duesseldorf, Germany. Spring should hurry up already. (Julian Stratenschulte/AFP/Getty Images)
You can find plenty of other great photos on the National Post photo page.
