pulpo

"Marine Style" flask with octopus, Aegean Civilisation of Crete,
the Late Minoan Bronze Age from c. 1500-1450 BC

Throughout the world and throughout time, people and cultures have both revered and feared this eight-limbed, legendary Cephalopod - the octopus. We’ll look at the mythology and folklore of the octopus, their physiology and behaviour; which all strengthen their reputation as symbols of strength, intelligence and mystery. We’ll look at artworks by Japanese master Hokusai, resin artist Keng Lye, potter Tammy Garcia and illustrator Esther Van Hulsen. Plus I make takoyaki - round octopus pancake balls!

Show Notes:
00:00-01:45
Intros
01:45-06:30
Octopus background history, myths, characteristics, origins, ancient history,
06:30-16:00
art, late minoan marine style flask, tammy garcia, Hokusai, Esther Van Hulsen, Keng Lye
16:00-19:15
Intelligence of the octopus, Octopolis, Octlantis, escape artists, anatomy, physiology, sex lives and child rearing
19:15-20:40
Jean Painleve octopus short films
20:40-25.25
Takoyaki and Michiru!!!
25:25-27:25
Closing
27:25-28:07
Cringey jingle 

Blackware pottery with octopus motifs by potter Tammy Garcia

A block print depicting the folklore tale of Akkorokamui from Hokkiado, Japan, date and artist unknown



Hokusai’s 1814 shunga print, its Japanese title is Tako to Ama, translated to English as Girl Diver and Octopuses and also widely known in English as Dream of the Fisherman's Wife
from Shingu Gallery

retouched singular image of Hokusai’s 1814 shunga print, Tako to Ama

Octopuses as depicted by artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi from the story of Princess Tamatori and the Dragon King.

Illustration by Esther van Hulsen made with ink extracted from a 95 million year old octopus fossil by paleontologist Jørn Hurum. The piece is exhibited together with the fossil in the Natural History Museum in Oslo, Norway.

95 million year old octopus fossil found in 2009 and it’s ink, extracted by paleontologist Jørn Hurum and then . The piece is exhibited together with the fossil in the Natural History Museum in Oslo, Norway. ink as used in Esther Van Hulsen’s octopus illustration as seen above.

Singapore based artist Keng Lye’s resin and acrylic 3-D octopus on an enamel plate

Takoyaki ingredients

Cooked octopus

Takoyaki - first batch

I used the Japan Centre recipe for Takoyaki:
Ingredients
batter:
200g flour, 
2 eggs
, 450ml water, 
pinch of dashi stock
fillings:
100g fresh boiled octopus, chopped
, 1 bunch spring onion, chopped 
red pickled ginger
, tempura flakes
toppings:
takoyaki sauce, 
japanese mayonnaise
, aosa powdered seaweed (or aonori)
, katsuobushi, bonito flakes

How To Prepare
1. Start by creating the batter. Grab a large bowl and mix together 2 eggs, 200g of flour, 450ml of water and a little dashi stock. Set this aside. If you have the ready-made okonomiyaki flour, follow the directions for making the batter and you’re good to go.

2. Place your takoyaki plate on the gas stove on medium heat and heat up a small amount of oil in each hole.

3. Cut up your octopus into small pieces. Place a piece of octopus in each of the semi-circular holes, and then fill up each hole to the top with the batter mix. You can even overflow the batter out of the hole to make it easier to flip them later.

4. Now you can add the chopped spring onion, red pickled ginger and tempura flakes to each hole. The amount you add is up to you, but only a small amount of each will give enough flavour.

5. Once the takoyaki are about half cooked, about 1-2 minutes, you will need to flip them over. The best way to do this is to use a small wooden skewer to poke the outside of the batter and flip it over within the hole. This takes a bit of practice to get done smoothly so keep trying if you are making a mess.

6. You can usually only flip each takoyaki about three quarters of the way round so allow it to cook a little more before flipping it again. By now, all your takoyaki should be round so keep rotating them in the holes to make sure that they cook evenly on all sides. This will take about 3-4 minutes until golden brown on the outside. 


7. Place a few takoyaki on a plate and smother them with loads of takoyaki sauce and Japanese mayonnaise. Then sprinkle a bit of powdered seaweed and some bonito flakes on top and enjoy. Allow to cool slightly and enjoy hot. 


Takoyaki - second batch

Liguria Polpo salad

Greco Octopus salad

 Pulpo beard oils maybe some of the most uniquely scented oils out on the market.  Jorge Montes, Pulpo, is the man behind these well crafted scents and the founder of this up and coming beard oil company. Pulpo was one of the first companies that reached out to me well over a year ago to have me try out some of his products.  I️ graciously accepted knowing that I was going to have to give him some constructive feedback on all the products he sent me.  Over time I️ tried out all of the scents and they got shelved due to a busy lifestyle and a growing podcast.  I️ felt it was time to reach back out to Pulpo and hear the story, learn the reasons why and to finally give him the review that he and his product deserved.

     I️ needed to entrusted a friend to handle all my product reviews under The Beardcaster name and branding.  I️ want my name and reputation to be held in highest regard as someone who is detailed, trusted, and honest when it comes reviews and advice on products.  Seeing as how I am but one man who focuses his time on his family, his podcast, events, and club involvement, I️ needed to find someone who I️ knew could help give me a super detailed, well trusted, thoughtful, and insightful review of whatever I️ sent their way, and feel confident to represent the “Beardcaster” name. I introduce you to Brandon King, fan, past guest, friend.  Here is his fantastic review he did for us for Pulpo Beard Oils-

A Month w/ Pulpo Beard Oils

     I know there are a lot of gentlemen out there looking for a beard oil that meets all the expectations of well...... being manly w/o the sacrifice in fragrance. In the coming months we hope to check out new, inventive, and creative companies that are going out of their way to bring you the freshest and most cutting edge in follicle stimulation. This past month I have been doing an intense product review of Pulpo Beard Oils Coconilla and Pina Orange. Below is how Pulpo stood up to our expectations:

Smell

     With these two scents the first thing I noticed was how unique the smells were. The scents were quite refreshing, not to over powering, but just enough that at any point in the day my ADD kicked in wanting more, I got a little stimulation from the Socal sun or some wind coming from the coast. From some of the research I found about some of the ingredients, I was able to put the oils to more than one use. In the morning when I needed a pick me up I went to the Pina Orange, and at night when I wanted to come down from a long day of medical school I put on the Coconilla. 

 Absorption

     Absorption is one of the most important things when it comes to beard oil, b/c if the oils are not absorbed, then they are not doing what we want and that is to nourish the hair follicle and provide the best environment for GROWTH! Pulpo Beard Oil uses oils that are very easily absorbed, probably one of the best products I’ve tried as far as this aspect. No matter the oils size either the classic “dime” size, to when I got wild and crazy and used more, nothing was left in my hands.

 Ingredients

     If you reference my Beard Oil Facts Sheet, I spent some time looking into the ingredients that Pulpo Beard Oil Uses. You will not be disappointed with the quality as well as usage of each product that is included in their oils. Argon Oil is probably one of the best oils from what I can find and has a high absorption rate. 

 Presentation

     The Pulpo Beard Oil Company design has changed some over the last couple of years, but the iconic Pulpo Octopus is one of the most recognizable Bearding logos I have ever come across. I absolutely love the logo, it pops off the screen, and its something they should be extremely proud of. Its badass!!

Final Thought

- What can I say about Pulpo Beard Oils? I wish I had the words to say it all in. They simply blew my socks off. I have been wanting to try this company out for over 2 years. I’m extremely thankful that I had a opportunity to do so, and share it with you all. If your on a journey looking for a high quality oil and don’t have the time or energy to try oil after oil, let your curiosity follow the iconic octopus over to pulpobeardoils.com. Their hair follicle stimulating high quality argon oil, unique scents, and outstanding customer service will get your beard up to par, and ready to take on any competition. If you don’t believe me ask Nate “Chops” Johnson who placed #1 in Sideburns Freestyle at the 2017 World Beard and Mustache Championship in Austin Texas. In all we set the bar extremely high for our future reviews by giving Pulpo Beard oil 5 stars.  

- Enjoy - 

Coconilla/Pina Orange :

Ingredients:

Argon Oil:

- Often called ‘liquid gold’, argan oil is an organic product extracted from the kernels of the argon tree, which is native to Morocco. It is extremely rich in beneficial nutrients including fatty acids and vitamin E. Its properties make it particularly beneficial for the hair and skin

- Argan oil is proven to make hair softer, silkier and shinier. It is the ideal hair conditioner, and it can even help to treat split ends and tame frizzy hair.

- Due to its ability to tame frizz and give hair shine, argan oil is also commonly used as a styling agent. It makes hair more manageable and adds a healthy, attractive shine to any hair style.

- Other uses:

- acne, protection and healing, stretch marks, foot/hand/nail treatment, 

lip moisturizer, dry skin conditions and anti-aging. 

Castor Oil:

- Castor oil is derived from the seeds of the Ricinus communis that grow wild in wastelands across tropical regions. It is often grown as an ornamental garden plant in milder climates, and now cultivated on a large scale for biodiesel manufacture.

- Castor oil has been around for a very long time, and has been widely used for medicinal purposes in its native lands spread across Africa, the Indian subcontinent and the Mediterranean basin. It is one of the first vegetable oils to be used for industrial purposes because of its high viscosity and lubricating property. In fact, the automotive lubricant company Castrol derives its name from castor oil.

- According to North Carolina State University:

- castor oil is detoxifying and helps to break up oils on the face that clog glands and pores. 

-castor oil can also help to cleanse the skin of dead skin cells that are clogging the sebaceous glands. Rubbing castor oil on your face helps to pull out impurities in the pores. 

- Organic Facts reports:

-  that castor oil contains a compound called undercylenic acid, which can help to disinfect the skin and even kill bacteria that cause skin conditions such as acne.

- castor oil can be very moisturizing and can even soften dry skin and rough age spots.

- Other Uses:

- relieves muscle soreness, joint pain, treats fungal infections,

Coconut

(fragrance/oil):

- Coconut oil is a powerful moisturizer that is beneficial to restoring dry or flaking skin. Unlike your average moisturizer that contains a lot of water and likely synthetic ingredients, coconut oil helps to strengthen skin tissue more deeply and eliminate dead skin cells while absorbing quickly into your skin.

- Coconut oil also helps to delay the occurrence of wrinkles because it contains antioxidant Vitamin E, known to protect skin cells from damage over time. The Vitamin E found in coconut oil soothes eczema, sunburn and psoriasis, and its antiviral and anti- fungal benefits even help to treat bug bites.

- Coconut oil contains 3 fatty acids: capric acid, lauric acid and caprylic acid. Each of these acids kill candida, a common cause of fungal infection on your skin.

Vanilla

(fragrance/oil):

- Aphrodisiac

-A systematic administration of vanilla essential oil to patients suffering from impotence, erectile dysfunction, frigidity, or loss of libido can relieve them of their problems. This oil stimulates the secretion of certain hormones like testosterone and estrogen which help bring about normal sexual behavior and promotes sexual arousal.

-Sedative

-The essential oil of vanilla soothes the body in innumerable ways. It soothes all types of inflammation and hyperactivity in the systems of the body, including the respiratory, circulatory, digestive, nervous and excretory systems. It reduces inflammation stemming from fever, as well as convulsions, anxiety, stress and hypersensitivity to allergens.

Orange

(fragrance/oil):

- Orange is a staple aromatherapy oil for creating a bright, uplifting and invigorating ambiance.

- Orange (Citrus sinensis) essential oil is a time-tested remedy going back thousands of years. The people of China, India, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean have used orange for easing coughs and colds and for cleansing and purification rituals. They have also used it for improved digestion, skin problems, cleaning, lifting depression, and even for its aphrodisiac qualities!

Other Uses:

- anti-cancer, anti-fungal, immune boosting, anti-bacterial, promotes good digestion, skin cleansing and anti-aging, reduces blood pressure, and pain relieving

Pineapple

(fragrance/oil):

- the presence of vitamin C (thus, the tartness) in pineapples enables this fruit to be used, internally as well as externally, as a cure for acne and other inflammatory skin conditions. Also, bromelain, the anti-inflammatory enzyme in this fruit, boosts the healing power of vitamin C

- There are many skin benefits that include some of the following: solution for acne, anti- aging, exfoliation, helped prevents cracking, strengthen hair, hydration, prevents hair loss, anti-inflammation, and can help hair thicken  

- Other Uses:

- Reduces inflammation in joints, has cancer preventing properties, boosts the body’s immune system, effective at treating colds and coughs, protects against constipation and IBS, and helps speed up the healing of cuts and wounds

The Beardcaster and Pulpo Beard Oils have teamed up to give away a couple prize packs, all you need to do is click below to enter to win!!!  Pulpo has also given Beardcaster fans a coupon code to get 15% off their order at Pulpo Beard Oils, use code : thebeardcaster to get your discount!

 Thank you for your support and make sure you share this with a friend!!!                           goto www.thebeardcaster.com for more information!                www.thebeardcaster.com/subscribe

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 about-BRANDON KING

My name is Brandon King and I am a Chiropractic Student here in sunny, way to hot all the time Southern California. I am originally from Birmingham, Alabama where I lived for around 24-25 yrs. Living here I graduated from Auburn University. After school I moved to Greenville, South Carolina where I met my wife, and where we had our first girl named Peyton. Living in Greenville was pretty awesome, but my feeling to become more than a what I was at the time brought me to where I am now. It was in my 3rd term of Chiropractic school that we were blessed with our second girl Emerson. Between being a husband and Dad to two little girls most my time is spent driving to class near L.A.. Class is pretty intense studying chiropractic in hopes to become a doctor and help people live a pain free lifestyle. My bearding curiosity came to be around 2 years ago when after avoiding shaving, and being lazy, I began my quest into facial hair and follicle stimulation. I found a podcast in its beginning stages, made a awesome friend with Scott Sykora. Once in contact with Scott the bearding became real and now you know a little about me.   In this section I hope to submit extensive reviews of bearding products. My pursuit is find what makes bearding oil so “awesome”.   I hope to give you an in depth look into the ingredients, what they do for you, and your beard. I will leave you with some knowledge so that you can go out in your pursuit of growing the gnarliest beard that every man in your local area will envy. 

Craig Briggs talks about wine making and Galicia, while Allison Bauer describes a whole range of Spanish food and dishes from the Galicia region. For more notes visit www.spainuncoveredpodcast.net/episode15