Groundhog Day

Punxsutawney Phil’s big day arrives, and I find myself repeating a common practice – ranting to the local newspaper about some perceived injustice. This time, again, I’m certain I’m right.

At issue is Mark Twain’s classic American tale, “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” and whether it’s appropriate reading material for eighth graders. After spending $5,000 for copies for each of the district’s eighth graders, administrators determined the book’s language and racial issues were inappropriate for middle school students.

Rather, administrators determined teachers were incapable of dealing with such issues as racial identity and name-calling. The book, they smugly noted, was available for students to check out from the library.

Quite coincidentally, except it’s not, the district is asking voters to approve a 10-year, 1-cent local option tax. This wrong-headed decision won’t help their cause.

But that’s not all that today brought. First, Punxsutawney Phil didn’t see his shadow, foretelling winter’s imminent end. With temperatures hovering around zero – and wind chills well below – in my neck of the woods, spring can’t come soon enough.

My soul was warmed by mid-morning with the news that Brett Favre would return for another year as quarterback of the Green Bay Packers. While some contend Favre’s skills have diminished, he’s still one of the top 10 quarterbacks in the NFL and, week after week, gives the Packers the best chance of victory.

I’m pleased that, at least prospectively, my final memory of Favre won’t be of him fumbling victory away against St. Louis. But it’s fitting that his decision was announced on Groundhog Day, since retirement watch has become an annual ritual for Packer fans.

To complete the day, Mediacom and Sinclair Browbeating Group reached an agreement that restored CBS broadcasting for local cable subscribers. With Super Bowl Sunday on the horizon, the timing is ideal – if not predictable.

As I write this, I’m watching Letterman for the first time in weeks – without the aid of rabbit ears. Financial terms of the agreement – which extends through 2009 – were not disclosed, but Mediacom will carry through on its promise to hand out 10,000 frozen pizzas to customers in Cedar Rapids and Waterloo.

The pizzas are “free,” and if you believe that, you believe a groundhog in Pennsylvania can determine how long winter will last in Iowa.