Yesterday was Groundhog's Day and Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow. The elder Free-Ride offspring expressed concerns about the conclusion that we're in for six more weeks of winter:
This is backwards! Seeing his shadow means it's sunny. Sunny means it's more like spring. I think seeing his shadow means spring should come sooner, not later.
That groundhog is in Pennsylvania. We're in California! Maybe we get spring sooner even if Pennsylvania gets six more weeks of winter. We would really need a groundhog in California to find out anything about what's going to happen with spring in California.
Why do they only check what the groundhog sees on this one day? Wouldn't it be better to check whether the groundhog sees his shadow for lots of days? That would give more information about whether spring is coming sooner or later.
After enumerating all these problems with the Groundhog's Day methodology:
"I don't think groundhogs really know how to predict the weather. And, people who think whether the groundhog sees his shadow will tell them when spring will come are being kind of silly."
Of course, Pseudonymous Kid suggests a change to a different animal system for the prediction.
UPDATE: Caroline Helpy-Chalk proposes yet another animal system here. I see the beginnings of a high-powered research institute ...