Broadsword calling Danny Boy: The Great Pumpkin and the Iranian 358; CHIEFS (+155), CHIEFS, RAVENS, LIONS (D/ST) | Eastern North Carolina Now

After the turn of the century
In the clear blue skies over Germany
Came a roar and a thunder men had never heard
Like the screamin' sound of a big war bird

Up in the sky, a man in a plane
Baron von Richthofen was his name
Eighty men tried, and eighty men died
Now they're buried together on the countryside

Ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty or more
The Bloody Red Baron was rollin' up the score
Eighty men died tryin' to end that spree
Of the Bloody Red Baron of Germany

In the nick of time, a hero arose
A funny-looking dog with a big black nose
He flew into the sky to seek revenge
But the Baron shot him down ("Curses, foiled again!")

Now, Snoopy had sworn that he'd get that man
So he asked the Great Pumpkin for a new battle plan
He challenged the German to a real dogfight
While the Baron was laughing, he got him in his sight

That Bloody Red Baron was in a fix
He'd tried everything, but he'd run out of tricks
Snoopy fired once, and he fired twice
And that Bloody Red Baron went spinning out of sight - Phil Gernhard


The Traveller and her Dad review the run-stopping equation.: Above.     Click image to enlarge.
    With American bases in Iraq and Syria increasingly suffering direct hits from Hezbollah and Houthi ballistic missiles, the recent confirmation of Iranian made "358" systems in theatre may explain the failure of Western anti-drone air-defence programming. A bridge between MANPADS (Man Portable Air Defence Systems) that are hand held and SAM (Surface to Air Missile) platforms, the "358" can be mounted on the back of a large pickup truck and with internal thrusters that extend their operational range to 100 km, this loitering ordnance is tearing holes in the Allied defence perimeter.

    The American Reaper drone just shot down likely a victim of "358". In simplest terms, this new technology is impacting American drone-command networking to the point of disruption in both the kinetic and neural space. The Company safe house wiped out near Idlib the result of a direct hit from a "358" that got through the screen. Even when a Patriot battery manages to take down one of these, or its equivalent in Ukraine, it is the case of a million dollar missile taking out a forty thousand dollar drone. The other side will take that exchange every day -- all century long.

    There is a reason American warships are exiting the Red Sea theatre early -- their magazines are empty. Western air-defence doctrine is being overrun at the point of attack in every theatre of World War III. That concept we understand as these prop losses are overrunning us despite breaking even in the game calls -- as the Texans fall while the Packers get it done to leave us 2-2 and down 11.3 units in this space as every prop has lost. With conference championships on the line, wearily, we turn back to Farnell for insight as we need winners, Man.


    "This is a pretty easy call as we want the Chiefs and Mahomes as an underdog. Their experience and superior coaching give them the edge against a Ravens squad that has been shaky in post-season play under Jackson. He may be the league MVP but Mahomes is better. The one wild card in the equation is Ravens WR Zay Flowers who has the speed to burn the youngest defence in the NFL deep and we may be on him as a TD prop at (+160). Otherwise the Spagnuolo defence is going to make Jackson beat them with his legs. A spy out of the 4-3 will do just that -- but leaving Flowers in single coverage."

    "The D/ST (Defensive / Special Teams TD) shows great value again this week -- (with the Texans punt return bringing home a sweet +750 Saturday for those on it). This week the 49'ers are too low at (+400) but the Lions (+600), the Chiefs (+650) and the Ravens (+600) are all worth being on at these prices. We are holding a half unit of Lions (+750) to reach the Super Bowl so will sit tight there. The 49'ers opened (+7) and then dropped a hook. The Ravens opened (-3) and added a hook quickly, KC backers may find a better price by waiting a day or two to pull the trigger."

    "Our focus continues to be the Super Bowl safety and March Madness. We are adding two units of BAYLOR (+700) to make the Final Four. The Bears join Arizona (+650), Texas (+700), K State (+1200) and Illinois (+1300) at that level in our futures portfolio. We have taken a beating on the Texas price as it has gone up, but both Arizona and Illinois have dropped substantially in price, leaving us with huge overlays in terms of value."


    "Carolina must be playing better as their price has dropped dramatically in the last month while Duke has slipped close to our price target. We have wondered about Miami and Clemson in the (+1300-1500) range. We have probably waited too long to get Tennessee and Marquette as those prices have dropped below our target threshold."

    "The Chiefs should beat Bal'mer and we will be on them at a higher volume than is wise. It is tough to take D/ST props until they start hitting for you; then it is not hard at all. The Lions are a live dog with a chance and instead of hedging it out we will sit tight and ride the Motown label for the fat futures payoff. Regardless, we will retain enough dry powder for the epic Super Bowl safety hit."

    We need winners and our so-called football expert is talking about Iranian counter-drone strategy? What kind of madness is this? We are losing altitude and these props don't seem to be spinning sufficiently to keep us airborne.

    However, in for a shilling in for a pound. We will take the CHIEFS (+155) on the money line for five units meaning they must win the game to cash the ticket. We will take two units of D/ST on each of the LIONS (+600), the RAVENS (+600) and the CHIEFS (+650). Finally, we will add one unit of ZAY FLOWERS <i>(+160) to score a TD. We have twelve units riding on this game; oxygen will be scarce here as kickoff approaches.

KC and THE SUNSHINE BAND    27  •  'BILLY TOWN    17

    Like Custer at the Little Big Horn, we are charging into Injun Country out-numbered, out-gunned and looking for a high-odds payoff with much of the campaign hanging in the balance. Unlike the ill-fated 7th Cavalry, we ride into battle with Mahomes and The Great Pumpkin's D/ST strategy as our sabre of destiny.

    "Oh, that's the way, uh-huh, uh-huh

    We like it, uh-huh, uh-huh"

    Better to die a free man than to live a slave.

    "You go down there General, if you've got the nerve."