The Predictive Skills of Octopii: Paul’s World Cup Prognostications

http://wmbriggs.com/blog/?p=2607 ^ | William M. Briggs

[mattstat]

In Detroit, for that glorious game of soccer-on-ice-with-sticks, we—I still say “we”; you can never separate yourself from your birthplace—know what to do with octopuses, octopii as were: We toss them on the ice. In Germany, they use them as crystal balls.

Paul is its name. He is an octopus. And he has, so it is reported, correctly predicted the result of each German game this World Cup. How? The Fate of Paul

Well, inside Paul’s tank are two clear boxes, and inside each of them is placed a clam, one labeled “Germany” and the other the name of the opposing country. Paul slithers aquatically down and opens the lid on one of the boxes and eats the poor clam inside. A sacrifice in the name of science!

In other words, whoever gets eaten is predicted to win. Paul has become so popular that his gastronomic guesses are broadcast live. The attention afforded this briny beastie has been such that he is now eligible to join the bizarre celebrities list, which contains such luminaries such as Paris Hilton, Lady Gaga, and Al Gore.

Paul was shipped to the Red Wings after forecasting a Spanish victory, but he was a hero when he predicted Germany would best Argentina. The Argentinians were not amused. According to the Guardian, ...

[allmost]

Octupi require at least 8 threads, any less and you start messing with the ‘chi’.

[Perdogg]

ping

[gundog]

C’mon. Give me 1,000 silver dollars and the bracket for the World Cup. I can start flipping them and find some that are “psychic.”