Rodents predict early spring. What could go wrong?

I got out of bed at the crack of dawn this morning, with the intention of seeing whether Fort Mudge Francis (the local natural-born groundhog) would see his shadow. Unfortunately his hole was covered in two feet of snow and ice, so I sealed up the crack (of dawn) and went back to bed.

Ed. has found a picture of the new Wiarton Willie, mentioned in yesterday's post on global warming, whose residence is enclosed in glass for protection from the winter's snows, as well as meeja accessibility. Reports just in say that Willie did not see his shadow this morning, which means there will be an early spring.

Walt's agent in the vicinity of Pennsylvania sends word that Punxatawney Phil was likewise unshadowed, so the omens are good. That's if you believe what Willie and Phil tell you. I learned not to listen to rodents during the Obama administration.