Punxsutawney Phil and Staten Island Chuck Remind Us of Our Misery

The meteorological arc of Groundhog Day is suspect, but it bends toward winter.

The meteorological arc of Groundhog Day is suspect, but it bends toward winter. According to the handlers of Punxsutawney Phil and Staten Island Chuck (oh, you didn't know 'bout Chuck?), it's going to stay cold in the United States for at least six more weeks. The Associated Press sought to grinch on the myth:

In reality, Phil's prediction is decided ahead of time by a group called the Inner Circle, whose members don top hats and tuxedos for the annual Groundhog Day ceremony on Gobbler's Knob, the tiny hill in the town for which he's named about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.

Meanwhile, over on Staten Island, Chuck, seemed fed up with the proceedings and almost escaped(!) when he was dropped by new New York Mayor Bill de Blasio. Chuck, who famously bit New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2009, decided that we all deserve more winter.

While Chuck did not make a Super Bowl prediction, two officials said he prefers the Broncos because Seahawks prey on groundhogs and other small creatures. 

Here is some footage of the very tall de Blasio dropping Chuck:

Let's let the National Climatic Data Center have the final word:

The groundhog has shown no talent for predicting the arrival of spring, especially in recent years. Phil’s competitor groundhogs across the Nation fared no better.