'Psychic' octopus predicts Germany victory over England

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A "psychic" octopus is said by its aquarium owners to have predicted the country's football team will knock England out of the World Cup.

When consulted, Paul the octopus chose a mussel from a jar with the German flag on it ahead of one in a similar jar bearing the cross of St George.

The two-year-old cephalopod has a record of predicting past German results in this manner, his owners say.

Paul has so far correctly predicted all of Germany's results in South Africa.

Read more @ BBC News

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Ya'qub — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 - 03:25

Octopus are one the most intelligent creatures in the sea.

They learn alone, and can teach and communicate too. They are resourceful, using their tentacles in a vast array of ways, even so far as to make tools.

Masha'Allah.

But I don't think Alan Hansen has to worry much about his job. Not sure I'd take too much football punditry or advice from someone with no feet whatsoever.

Personality wise, would probably be an improvement on Gareth Southgate, though.

LookingToSee — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 - 03:27

an octopus? and football? perlease! maybe it found the german flag more colourful. or his tentacles on the side where the england flag was were hurting? there are SO many probabilities for why he chose that flag. calling him "psychic" is just ...

why am i being a killjoy?

Ya'qub — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 - 03:35

[quote=Lilly]lemme see the serbian flag...

wait... am i really arguing over an octupus choosing flags?

it might be a miracle of Allah. trying to get in contact with all those footy fan and convert them?[/quote]

or a coincidence.

only reason holding me back about thinking this is a whole miracle thing, is the gambling element.

and that IS a big no-no.

Joie (not verified) — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 - 10:24

I clicked on the link to read why the aquarium owners have not retired to a private island or taken up posts as government advisers. Sure enough:

[quote]His keepers say he correctly predicted nearly 70% of Germany's results during the 2008 European Championship.[/quote]

Germany's record is a lot better than 70%. If he had favoured the German tank every time he would have a better track record.

LookingToSee — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 - 13:18

[quote=You]Boo, spoilsports!

(gambling if people take the octopus's results and use them to place bets.)[/quote]

i'd rather be called a killjoy. its less of a mouthful and it sounds more threatening

did it talk about gambling in the article? Maybe i skipped that part..what with that heat...

all my schoolbooks have been returned. Summer! here i come!!!

Joie (not verified) — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 - 13:44

But it is just so hokey of the BBC to cover that. You can map historical events and have fun linking the possible correlations with a scale of credibility ranging from attention whoring to nuclear physics, and in Joie World if you score high the BBC can write stories about you, and internet forum administrators might dedicate whole threads to your newsworthy pronouncements. Pet octopus location corresponding to 70% of your team's wins is something different.

LookingToSee — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 - 02:47

Dont try it!

If Ya'qub or Joie are girls (which i dont think they are) then there's only me you're talking to.

but im not taking offense. i consider myself a girl. not a woman and definitely not women...

There must have been a better place to post this comment...

Joie (not verified) — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 - 13:48

[quote=You]Well, I couldn't say that in a setting where the "victim" may not have seen the humour...[/quote]
Dude, I upset someone at the weekend that way. A guy on a fungal microscopy forum was being odd, had posted pictures of himself in an irrelevant thread and was saying women don't pay him any attention, and it was Saturday night. He's from Essex. I had a lot of quips for that guy, I mean we were talking about fungi on a Saturday night, but he just took it all to heart. The important lesson I learned is don't joke with strangers about why they can't get girlfriends because the truth is probably worse.