RIP Paul the Octopus

[ForeverAutumn]

Can anyone give me an example of an anti-octopus song?

Paul, World Cup 'psychic' octopus, dies in Germany

BERLIN (AFP) - Paul the octopus, who shot to fame during this year's football World Cup for his flawless record in predicting game results, has died peacefully in his sleep, his German aquarium said Tuesday.

"Management and staff at the Oberhausen Sea Life Centre were devastated to discover that oracle octopus Paul, who achieved global renown during the recent World Cup, had passed away overnight," the aquarium said in a statement.

"He appears to have passed away peacefully during the night, of natural causes," said Sea Life manager Stefan Porwoll.

"His success made him almost a bigger story than the World Cup itself... We had all naturally grown very fond of him and he will be sorely missed."

Paul, who was nearly three, beat the odds during the World Cup by correctly forecasting all eight games he was asked to predict, including Spain's 1-0 win over the Netherlands in the final.

For the prediction, two boxes were lowered into the salty soothsayer's tank, each containing a mussel and the flags of the two opposing teams.

Watched by a myriad of reporters, Paul would head to one box, wrench open the lid and gobble the tasty morsel, with the box he plumped for being deemed the likely winner.

His astonishing ability made him a global media phenomenon. His later predictions were carried live on rolling news channels in Germany.

Within two hours of his death, more than 250 messages of condolence were posted on Paul's "official" Facebook page.

"Paul, we will never forget you. We love you," wrote one. "There will never be an octopus as cool as you again," wrote another.

"RIP in octopus heaven," wished a third member of Paul's nearly 60,000-strong Facebook fan club.

One user of microblogging site Twitter wrote: "Paul the octopus is dead. Bet he didn't see that coming."

Meanwhile Paul himself "wrote" from beyond the grave on his Facebook page: "It seems, my time has come, finally. Take care everybody. Hugs and don't forget me."

The eight-legged oracle became a media superstar for his skills, but he naturally fell out with fans whose teams he failed to tip.

He was slammed in the British press for treason after tipping Germany to beat his "home country" which they duly did, 4-1.

He then fell offside with bitter German fans who threatened to turn him into sushi after he correctly predicted a semi-final defeat for the Mannschaft against Spain.

Stung by Paul's "treachery", some sections of the 350,000-strong crowd watching the game on giant screens in Berlin sang anti-octopus songs.

The honour of Paul's mother was also called into question in the stands, and Paul's home aquarium received death-threat emails saying "we want Paul for the pan."

No less an authority than Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luiz Rodriguez Zapatero called for octopus bodyguards.

But Paul's fans need not despair too much at his death. The aquarium has already been grooming a successor, to be named Paul like his mentor.

Paul's body is now in cold storage while the aquarium decides "how best to mark his passing."

"We may decide to give Paul his own small burial plot within our grounds and erect a modest permanent shrine," said Porwoll.

"While this may seem a curious thing to do for a sea creature, Paul achieved such popularity during his short life that it may be deemed the most appropriate course of action."

[Hyfi]

I almost thought this was a Beatles thread...Octopus, Walrus....what's the difference

[Geoffcin]

Our civilization will now crumble.....

[Luvin Da Blues]

I almost thought this was a Beatles thread...Octopus, Walrus....what's the difference

Ya me to, but I thought Paul was the walrus.

[ForeverAutumn]

I almost thought this was a Beatles thread...Octopus, Walrus....what's the difference

Well, there is the Octopus's Garden.

[audio amateur]

A bit of a rediculous phenomenon but I laughed a few times reading that. Body guards for the octopus are you serious!? lool