Mind Soup

MIND SOUP : In a televised live appearance on the German television, Paul the octupus predicted that Spain will win the World Cup finale which is scheduled on Sunday night. Netherlands fans started getting edgy, especially after seven correct predictions made by the lower invertebrate earlier this season, latest of which was the defeat of Germany to Spain on Wednesday. (Reuters) "That was fast -- it looks like a clear-cut victory for Spain," said Tanja Munzig, spokeswoman for Sea Life in Oberhausen. She was surprised by his speed in picking Spain. For some matches it took Paul 70 minutes to decide. Also, according the Associate Press , Paul has predicted that Germany will win over Uruguay for third place. (Reuters) Meanwhile, other animals are predicting the outcome of the final World Cup game too. "A parakeet, long tailed parrot, named 'Mani' has also been forecasting match results. Mani has become the talk of the town after predicting that the Neth...

London, United Kingdom , September 6, 2009-- Paddlers ply the River Thames, which was recently turned into a giant bathtub for the annual Great British Duck Race. Organizers released 205,000 blue rubber ducks—each sponsored by a donor—into the river, breaking the race's previous world record of 175,000 ducks. The first ducks to cross the finish line win their sponsors cash and other prizes. This year the event supported the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. Kierdijk, Netherlands , September 7, 2009-- Winds of change blew through the historic mill complex at Kinderdijk this week. For the first time, energy-efficient LED bulbs powered the popular Dutch tourist attraction's annual illumination. Part of a UN World Heritage site, the windmills help pump water in and out of low-lying areas called polders. Centuries before the mills were built around 1740, a cat was spotted balancing atop a baby in a cradle during a flood, hence the name Kinderdijk (...