#all this marketing denotes confidence in the game & i hate that for as much as i hate falling for it face first

[screwattack]

a lot of the imagery involving the chozo we see in dread seems to align with the notion that these are a splinter group that arose from the chozo that studied the x parasites on SR388 & developed metroids as their apex predators .  speculating that with the resurfacing of the x hinted at in dread’s marketing, perhaps it was because they sought to continue observing the x out of a desire to mimic their biology or potentially weaponize them .  i do hope that is the revelation at play (as opposed to the more tired revelation that the chozo have all been secretly imperialist all along) because, if i’m being honest, it would more interesting as a display of the chozo’s benevolence not being a homogeneous goal & samus’ alignment with the chozo’s legacy of galactic peace being closer to this faction & their more destructive nature .  

the chozo who raised her, the dying race that clung to zebes in the last years of their civilisation & others whose path she followed throughout the cosmos in the prime series, through talon iv, aether, bryyo & elysia .  they were engineers, architects who brought their advancements to similar civilisations who could realise the chozo’s potential, other starfaring species experiencing a failing golden age .  so powerful they could terraform a gas giant & for all that samus shadows in their legacy, walking through the ruins of their greatness, she will only ever be a weapon of chozodian design, incapable of anything but realising their peace through violence .  herself perhaps a more interesting critique of the real nature of the chozodian empire, their last gift to the universe a lone mercenary who has burned planets out of the sky in their name .

coming to face chozo who mirror her perfectly, make use of the same technology that has made her a legend for its stated purpose, so very different from the ancient, dying species who had no energy for war left, god i can’t wait .

[icemaninvestments]

Got strong positions but you can't relax, in COVID times it is all about the Vax!

Counting my blessings as IceMan and the portfolio and are both enjoying good health.

Review of Sports investments to follow but first politics, I have been impressed with the campaigning work Hope not Hate are doing in exposing links that the far right are cultivating with conspiracy theorists and C0VID crackpots. Talking of crackpots, I just have to say Trump lost, not because it is news but just because it can’t be said often enough.

So here we go with the Sports. Football matches are coming at us so fast I can only promise these facts and figures were correct at time of writing. IcePrice denotes where the price that bet placed at is higher than current trading price.

Premiership Arsenal top 6 at 4/7 and top 4 at 11/4. What can I say, it seemed a good idea at the time. Despite recent improvement it is too little, too late, the Gunners are lingering in 10th place and I cannot see them getting past the pack in front of them. This bet has been absolute toilet and it is time to pull the chain. Top 6 now trading at 7/2 (ShitePrice) which still seems plenty short. One for the loss column.

Championship Norwich Promotion 23/10 This is going better than expected as they sit at top of the table with a 10-point margin for automatic promotion. Admittedly it is a bit flattering as Swansea have played less games but a bird in the hand and all that. As you would expect from the hometown of Colman's this lot are really cutting the mustard. Now quoted at a ridiculous 1/12 (IcePrice) . I am not as confident as the revised price suggests but I do expect Mrs IceMan to be heading to TKMaxx (should they ever re-open) to spend some winnings.

League One Portsmouth Promotion 3/1 When you back Portsmouth, you can't be surprised when they act like, well Portsmouth. Gloriously inconsistent, they have flirted with automatic promotion but are now clinging on to a playoff berth. Think the automatic promotion place is now a stretch too far so I will be happy to see them consolidate a playoff position and we can take it from there. They are still outrunning their original trading price as now 9/4 (IcePrice). Pompey are still very much in play.

League Two Bolton Promotion 5/4 When you take a price like 5/4 you would be expecting the team to be sitting in or at least seriously competing for automatic promotion. Bolton had a disastrous start to the season as the massive churn of players from the previous campaign did not settle. However, a change of manager has led to a change of fortune and they have been a charging up the table. Bolton have now scrambled into a playoff place. They still have a lot to do but I feel cautiously optimistic. Obviously, I am on the wrong side of this pricewise as they now trade at 5/2 which is a (ShitePrice) for me but a fair price for anyone getting involved at this stage.

National League Notts County 3/ 1 Promotion Notts Co currently are sitting comfortably in the playoff positions, their slow start has cost them the chance of securing the one automatic promotion place. I would hope that they can finish the season strongly as there is a real advantage in finishing second or third as they will have less playoff games. They are still priced at 3/1 but that might shorten if they can win their games in hand and break the top 3. Still in the Mix.

Scottish Premiership Hibs without Celtic/Rangers 13/5 This position has moved in a positive direction. Hibs have now moved 4 points clear of Aberdeen and have a game in hand. Hibs have now shortened to 2/7 (IcePrice). Aberdeen have had some financial problems and had to ship out some talent in the January transfer window. Expect to collect.

Scottish League One Falkirk to win 2/1 The Scottish weather has made the lower divisions a whiteout. Falkirk were sitting 2 points clear at the top before games stopped. One of the reasons for backing them was their strength in depth at this level, so I am hoping that might be a telling factor when the league resumes with an extremely busy fixture schedule. Falkirk now Evens (IcePrice) and should have enough about them to stay ahead of dangerous rivals Cove Rangers.

Scottish League Two Queens Park to win 1/2 Yes, it was a very skinny price but the disparity in resources between Queens Park and the rest made this the proverbial ‘buying money’ opportunity. So far, so good as they top the Division with 5 points to spare. Queens Park now trade 1/5 (IcePrice) and we look set to collect.

Champions League Seville E/W 66/1 At these odds you are hoping that your selection can make the quarter finals which gives a trade out opportunity or just stick with it as anything could happen at that stage. Seville looked on par to achieve this as they made last 16 landing a winnable tie but are 0-1 from the first leg against Dortmund. This has sent the price spiralling to 150/1 (ShitePrice). It ain’t over until the Fat Lady sings but she is clearing her throat.

FA Cup Everton e/w 20/1 No complaints about this one which I took on after the last posting. Everton have acquitted themselves well and have made the quarter finals. Normally you would expect these odds to have tumbled, however next up is Man City so there is a ceiling on the price of 14/1(IcePrice). Everton still in with a shout but will be a proper bonus if we collect on this one.

Horses Cheltenham is coming up and in the interests of full disclosure I have already taken a loss on my original Gold Cup pick Cyrname who was completely out of sorts in recent outings and has been withdrawn. So, I have revisited the race and can’t get pass the fact that Al Boum Photo looks decent value at 3/1. He is going for a hat trick of wins in this event, ran a decent prep race and his trainer has indicated he is sharper than last year. He is now available at 11/4 (IcePrice) which is still fair value. I am also getting involved in the Queen Mother Champion Chase (another right-wing crackpot btw). Chacun Pour Soi at 6/5 looks like the banker of the meeting. I backed this one just prior to its impressive recent warm up, this horse can’t stop winning. It has now gone a shade of odds on at 10/11 (IcePrice).

My favourite Sports event of the year is the Grand National and I am going in double handed with two each way bets. I got some 66/1 about Lord Du Mesnil who looks a proper National sort and has a decent weight. He ran a brilliant trial race in recent weeks which has taken the price down to 40/1 (IcePrice) still represents good value in IMHO. The other pick is Discorama at 50/1 now 40/1 (IcePrice) he is an out and out stayer who should be doing his best work at the finish. Downside is he rarely gets his nose in front and often finds one or two that are too good for him, however that is priced in and he has the potential to be involved in the shake up and secure a place.

Other stuff I still hold a ticket for Battleground at 8/1 for the 2000 Guineas in May. There has been no market movement and this will be one to watch once the flat season kicks off. Finally, Green Bay Packers come up just short in the Super Bowl they made the semi finals at 22/1 e/w just one game away from a pickup so no real complaints.

As usual we hope to make an end of season donation to Hope not Hate and  Rojava Solidarity. That is it, let it play.

IceMan Investments – Against the Odds.