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groundhog day

Staten Island Chuck’s Uninformed Prediction Is Preferable to Punxsutawney Phil’s

PUNXSUTAWNEY, PA - FEBRUARY 2: Groundhog handler Ben Hughes watches Punxsutawney Phil after he did not see his shadow predicting an early spring during the 125th annual Groundhog Day festivities on February 2, 2011 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Groundhog Day is a popular tradition in the United States and Canada. A smaller than usual crowd this year of less than 15,000 people spent a night of revelry awaiting the sunrise and the groundhog's exit from his winter den. If Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow he regards it as an omen of six more weeks of bad weather and returns to his den. Early spring arrives if he does not see his shadow causing Phil to remain above ground. (Photo by Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)

Local famed rodent Staten Island Chuck spent the morning with Mayor Bloomberg and did not see his shadow, meaning spring is coming early, according to the arbitrary rules agreed upon by society. Chuck's more notable national counterpart, Pennsylvania's Punxatawney Phil, disagreed, calling for six more weeks of winter, but he is just a pawn anyway: "Phil's prediction is determined ahead of time by the Inner Circle, a group who dons top hats and tuxedos and decides in advance what the groundhog will predict."

Groundhog Day 2012: Staten Island Chuck predicts early spring [SI Advance]

Pa.’s Punxsutawney Phil predicts 6 more weeks of winter _ but at this rate that’s not bad [WP]

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Photo: Jeff Swensen/Getty Images

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