It’s a tad goofy, this Groundhog Day tradition — and PETA, campaigning for an animatronic Punxsutawney Phil, would even say it’s inhumane — but if weather forecasts by clairvoyant rodents are your thing, we, who just spent part of the morning researching the origins of Groundhog Day, certainly aren’t going to judge.

Hey, did you know there was a Staten Island Chuck competing with Phil for national attention on Feb. 2? How about Gen. Beauregard Lee? This is getting out of hand. Anyway, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this year, so someone over at the Drudge Report is probably going to pounce on that as further evidence that global warming is a myth. Also, according to National Geographic (see “origins” link above), Phil’s attempt to join in on the whole Twitter thing was thwarted by a hacker. –KA

WPRI.com via YouTube:

Your support matters…

Independent journalism is under threat and overshadowed by heavily funded mainstream media.

You can help level the playing field. Become a member.

Your tax-deductible contribution keeps us digging beneath the headlines to give you thought-provoking, investigative reporting and analysis that unearths what's really happening- without compromise.

Give today to support our courageous, independent journalists.

SUPPORT TRUTHDIG