Sure, you know about Paul the Psychic Octopus, who got ‘em all right — “predicting” ever World Cup match winner just by. . .um. . .eating his dinner. But have you seen this wonderful, upbeat Pulpo Paul video?
Amazing how such a languid creature can produce such intense energy!
Here in Argentina we know “Paul the Octopus” as “Pulpo Paul” because, um, we speak Spanish. For a couple of days there he seemed to be Enemy #1, having predicted that the Germans would beat Argentina in the quarter-finals. Damn! The country was in a major depression for days — no joke — and so it was hard to find anyone who didn’t want to turn Mr. Pulpo Paul into calamari.
My girlfriend is an exception, saying, “¡Pulpo Paul es el mejor parte del Mundial! — He’s the best part of the World Cup! (Don’t get me wrong: she was as depressed as the rest of us by Argentina’s loss. But for her safety, after publishing a quote like that, I will keep her identity anonymous.)
It was my girlfriend who shared this video with me and as you sing along — “He picks the winners, he eats his dinners!” — note that this video features Pulpo Paul — the bastard — sliding away from the Argentine flag and heading over towards the German one.
Yes, for all of you who love to hear about my life in Buenos Aires, take note that the light blue and white flag with the happy, little yellow sun in the middle is the banner of my new, adopted home. Dale Argentina!
On “Dale!”
It doesn’t sound like “Dale,” as in the name in English, but is pronounced “Dahl-AY” and here in Argentina it means “Go!” and “Yes!” and “You Bet!” and all kinds of things, kind of like “vale” in Spain’s Spanish, from a mellow “OK” to an emphatic “!Dale Pulpo Paul!”