We are already one month into 2010 and a groundhog has told us that there will be six more weeks of winter.  I find it amazing that with satallites, and computers, and all of our technology advances, that we still rely on a groundhog, that we have to usually pull from his hibernation, to tell us if we are going to have six more weeks of winter or an early spring.  We are being low tech superstitious and broadcasting it out to the world. 

Which brings us to the question about supersititions.  Actually, groundhog day turned from a supersitition to a tradition.  The town, Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, has a good racket because why else would tourist show up there in 18 degree weather. 

Dubbed “Punxsutawney Phil,” the rodent made his forecast in front of about 12,000 people who came from as far as Chile and the Netherlands to see the 124-year-old tradition in 18 degree Fahrenheit (-8 degrees Celsius) temperatures. Phil was lifted from his cage in a stump at dawn to the cheers of the waiting crowd, many of whom were dressed in groundhog hats and other paraphernalia.

While the people froze and the news orgainizations will duly carry the perdiction throughout the day, and people will chuckle and smile at the happenings in rural Pennsylvaina (we in Arizona have some lizard I think), a question is asked.  What good, besides fatting the wallet of Punxsutawney, is it to show such a tradition? There can be good in the world when we pass on these harmless traditional beliefs because some kid will ask a question - “How does a groundhog know what the weather is going to be like?”  And they will research and find out that the groundhog doesn’t.  They could will do more research about weather, and ask questions, and those questions will lead the kid to the answer of “I can make something better than a groundhog.”  And thus an engineer is born.

Which, if he or she decides to build a robotic groundhog…

Animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) had criticized the event for traumatizing the groundhog and said Phil should be replaced with a robotic rodent.

And if you want to read some fun facts, click here. 

Otherwise, happy Groundhog Day!
Mark Viquesney