Get this: Those hacks at ABC News would have us believe that Punsutawney Phil and his fellow groundhogs cannot actually predict the weather!
Yeah, right!
Next thing you know, they'll try to convince us that Jews don't control the world's financial system!
Showing posts with label Groundhog Day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Groundhog Day. Show all posts
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Groundhog Day
While not quite on our all-time top-ten list, we love the movie "Groundhog Day." For those of you who have never seen the film--where the hell have you been? In this romantic-comedy-fantasy, Bill Murray plays Phil, a self-absorbed local TV weatherman who gets snowed in in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, after covering the eponymous holiday's rodent-related festivities. He awakes the next morning and finds that it is STILL Groundhog Day--and so is the next day, and the day after that, and the day after that. . . . Phil is the only one aware that time seems to have stopped, and that the day's events are repeating endlessly. Through the course of the movie, Phil's reactions to his predicament approximate the five stages of grief, culminating in several suicide attempts--after which he STILL finds himself once more back in bed, on Groundhog Day, awaking to the clock-radio playing "I Got You Babe." Only after he accepts his situation--realizing that this infinite loop allows him to remake himself infinitely--does he achieve his greatest human potential--and is he able to break free.
The movie is beloved by many and for good reason. The script is charming, the pacing is brisk, and Bill Murray is perfect. Phil, at first, is a typical Murray character: sarcastic, arrogant, world-weary. By the end, though, he is. . . well, still world-weary, but we see his joy when he realizes that his life will, literally, go on, and we share that joy.
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, many other creative types have flattered "Groundhog Day." The plot of being trapped in an infinite temporal loop was subsequently used in "Star Trek: The Next Generation," "The X-Files," and "Stargate: SG-1" (to name only those that occur to us off the top of our head).
(DIGRESSION: While not strictly a "Groundhog Day" reference, we are reminded of a moment in "Futurama." The main character, Fry, is in love with a Lucy Liu-robot. At one point, they are snuggling, and "conversing": "I love YOU more." "No, I love YOU more." "I love YOU more." Etc. Observing this, the professor comments: "Oh, my. SHE's stuck in a loop, and HE's an idiot." EOD.)
We think the appeal of the movie has to do with the fact that it addresses one of the fundamental tragedies of humanity. We strive for perfection. We wish for perfection. But we cannot ever achieve it because we are subject to the limitations of both time and our own moral shortcomings. The movie is uplifting in its message that, if we only devote ourselves to making the most of our time, we can achieve greatness. And if our time were infinite, we could achieve absolutely anything.
The movie is beloved by many and for good reason. The script is charming, the pacing is brisk, and Bill Murray is perfect. Phil, at first, is a typical Murray character: sarcastic, arrogant, world-weary. By the end, though, he is. . . well, still world-weary, but we see his joy when he realizes that his life will, literally, go on, and we share that joy.
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, many other creative types have flattered "Groundhog Day." The plot of being trapped in an infinite temporal loop was subsequently used in "Star Trek: The Next Generation," "The X-Files," and "Stargate: SG-1" (to name only those that occur to us off the top of our head).
(DIGRESSION: While not strictly a "Groundhog Day" reference, we are reminded of a moment in "Futurama." The main character, Fry, is in love with a Lucy Liu-robot. At one point, they are snuggling, and "conversing": "I love YOU more." "No, I love YOU more." "I love YOU more." Etc. Observing this, the professor comments: "Oh, my. SHE's stuck in a loop, and HE's an idiot." EOD.)
We think the appeal of the movie has to do with the fact that it addresses one of the fundamental tragedies of humanity. We strive for perfection. We wish for perfection. But we cannot ever achieve it because we are subject to the limitations of both time and our own moral shortcomings. The movie is uplifting in its message that, if we only devote ourselves to making the most of our time, we can achieve greatness. And if our time were infinite, we could achieve absolutely anything.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Climate Chaos Ensues as Groundhog Fails to See Shadow
Earth (February 2)--A catastrophically sudden shift in global climate patterns occurred at 7:14 AM Eastern Standard Time, as famed marmot Punxsawhatsis Phil failed to see his shadow, causing instantaneous springtime.
Despite prodigious amounts of pointing, screaming, and jumping up and down by local groundhog enthusiasts, Phil steadfastly refused to look down and notice his shadow. "If I didn't know better," said longtime Phil-ologist Mike "Scooter" Redfern, "I'd say the little feller's being stubborn."
As is well-known in meteorozoological circles, springtime commences on March 20 only because a special groundhog (known to afficionados as "The God Marmot") sees its shadow. While the precise mechanism of Punxsahoochie Phil's absolute control over the Earth's climatic system is unknown (scientists believe it has something to do with the kidneys), the statistics speak for themselves: Approximately six weeks after Groundhog Day, spring begins.
While many observers welcomed the sudden blossoming of trees and greening of snow-covered hillsides, scientists fear the consequences of the instantaneous 48 degree average jump in temperatures across the northern hemisphere. Retailers responded quickly, slashing prices on winterwear by 60-80%. Nationwide, drugstores were overrun by those suffering sudden crippling attacks of hay fever.
The Reverend Pat Robertson was quick to declare that the sudden onset of springtime temperatures was a consequence of homosexuality. "It is a known fact," he said, "that your typical homosexual is a godless heathen who worships groundhogs. We have reaped what we have sown. Oh, and Jews are still bad, too."
President Obama addressed the situation at a hastily called press conference. "You know, for eight long years we had an administration that put its faith in magic groundhogs and kicked the problem of climate change down the road. Well, we can no longer afford to ignore global warming. It's here. It's real. The groundhog has spoken."
He implored congressional leaders of both parties to put aside partisanship and work together to address the crisis.
Despite prodigious amounts of pointing, screaming, and jumping up and down by local groundhog enthusiasts, Phil steadfastly refused to look down and notice his shadow. "If I didn't know better," said longtime Phil-ologist Mike "Scooter" Redfern, "I'd say the little feller's being stubborn."
As is well-known in meteorozoological circles, springtime commences on March 20 only because a special groundhog (known to afficionados as "The God Marmot") sees its shadow. While the precise mechanism of Punxsahoochie Phil's absolute control over the Earth's climatic system is unknown (scientists believe it has something to do with the kidneys), the statistics speak for themselves: Approximately six weeks after Groundhog Day, spring begins.
While many observers welcomed the sudden blossoming of trees and greening of snow-covered hillsides, scientists fear the consequences of the instantaneous 48 degree average jump in temperatures across the northern hemisphere. Retailers responded quickly, slashing prices on winterwear by 60-80%. Nationwide, drugstores were overrun by those suffering sudden crippling attacks of hay fever.
The Reverend Pat Robertson was quick to declare that the sudden onset of springtime temperatures was a consequence of homosexuality. "It is a known fact," he said, "that your typical homosexual is a godless heathen who worships groundhogs. We have reaped what we have sown. Oh, and Jews are still bad, too."
President Obama addressed the situation at a hastily called press conference. "You know, for eight long years we had an administration that put its faith in magic groundhogs and kicked the problem of climate change down the road. Well, we can no longer afford to ignore global warming. It's here. It's real. The groundhog has spoken."
He implored congressional leaders of both parties to put aside partisanship and work together to address the crisis.
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