You've probably heard the news by now: Winter 2007 is officially on the way out as Willie III has spoken (squoke?) and we're in for an early spring. Just as well I didn't get the cross-country skiis out of the shed-attic ... again.

It was pretty iffy right to the last of it. The CFOS pundit poll was split, the CWF poll was even more neck and neck, and even the Weather Channel, AccuWeather and the Environment Canada reports couldn't really say one way or the other on the Shadow Question.

So ... now, for all the detractors and nay-sayers, I have a fun game for you: If you'd care to wager your buddies on this Spring thing (or any other matter of prognostic opinion), and help along your favourite charity at the same time, check out Steward 'Whole Earth' Brand's latest brain-child, LongBets.org