# Amazing Race 3/6/11 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 7, 2011, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-3-6-11/573729 "2011-03-07T02:22:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-3-6-11/573729/41 "2011-03-07T19:32:52Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Direct means that you don’t change planes, though there might be a stop along the way where some people get off and others get on. Yes - in fact I’d say “direct” means there’s absolutely a stop, because otherwise they’d call it a non-stop - I learned this to my chagrin many years ago. If I was on TAR, I’d be inclined to take a non-stop that was scheduled to arrive anywhere up to an hour after a direct, just because a direct has many more opportunities for delay. The intermediate airport could have weather or traffic issues that are slowing things down, they may hold your 2nd leg because a connecting flight that has a bunch of passengers scheduled for your plane hasn’t arrived yet, they may change flight or cabin crew at the intermediate airport, and they haven’t arrived, etc. > [@Eyebrows of Doom](#): > > Huh? I just looked on the Qantas website for flights from Sydney to Tokyo and the first result is a non-stop flight. You’re right. For some reason, I had originally selected Mar 21 as a travel date, and both travelocity & Qantas decline to show the redeye non-stop for that date - I guess it’s already fully booked? ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-3-6-11/573729/42 "2011-03-07T19:34:03Z")
Looking at booking sites, the direct Qantas Sydney-\>Tokyo flight is 9hr 45mins, while the Cathay Pacific flight via Hong Kong is 16hr 20 mins. Yikes. Seems like they edited out a lot of down time for the Qantas folks at the the airport, because obviously the Cathay folks must have left many hours ahead of the Qantas folks. Maybe I am misremembering how competitive the cowboys were in their season, but they have been completely disappointing so far. They’re lucky their “drive until we find it” strategy didn’t have them getting completely off track this round. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-3-6-11/573729/43 "2011-03-07T19:35:43Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Direct means that you don’t change planes, though there might be a stop along the way where some people get off and others get on. Thanks! I fly _maybe_ once a year, and that for less than a decade now. ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-3-6-11/573729/44 "2011-03-07T19:43:20Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > Yeah, I’m glad to see them go–the level of overly-hysterical drama was just too much. I completely understand that they were both freezing and suffering possible hypothermia, but… > > …either dad is too fucking frail to race (or get out of bed unassisted, or eat using a fork, or…etc, given the amount of sniveling from the son) in which case _they shouldn’t be there_ or > > …dad is a lot tougher than the whiney, sobby, tear-soaked son makes it sound. Preach it, brother. Dad wasn’t much better when they were rolling around in the mud. He said something like, “I’d rather die right here with you than home in bed.” If you’re that close to death, then perhaps the Amazing Race is not for you. If you’re healthy enough to race, then sack up and race. I’m also feeling less love for the cowboys this time around. I hope it’s just a matter of them not getting their legs under them quite yet and that they’ll improve and soon. And if not, there are other teams I’m happy to root for (Flight Time and Big Easy, I’m looking [way up] at you!) ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-3-6-11/573729/45 "2011-03-07T19:45:11Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Direct means that you don’t change planes, though there might be a stop along the way where some people get off and others get on. Even that’s not a certainty…a “direct” flight may feature an equipment change at the stopover point where they move you off one plane and onto another. Not common, but it happens. “Non-stop” is the only way you know for certain the plane you get on at the origin will be the plane you leave at the arrival city (barring mechanical/medical emergencies). ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-3-6-11/573729/46 "2011-03-07T19:48:47Z")
The Cowboys started off slowly on their last race too. Weren’t they close to the bottom on their first couple of legs? ---
**Author:** ![zut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zut/32/2875_2.png) [@zut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zut)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-3-6-11/573729/47 "2011-03-07T19:49:54Z")
> [@Lare](#): > > That bothered me too. Intentionally or not they affected another team’s play outside what I expect are the allowed tolerances of the game. It seems Phil would have been pre-warned that this happened and should have imposed a penalty when they checked in. > > As it played out, it almost seemed to say “Well, since you complained, we’ll do something about it. If you hadn’t mentioned it, we might have ignored it.” I’m guessing that it took the production team a little while to figure out what happened and assess an appropriate penalty, and they hadn’t sorted it out by the time the Globetrotters hit the mat. This could have been because of bad communications, or maybe it just took time to review the tape. (Christina _could_ have misremembered where she left her fannypack, then jumped to the wrong conclusion when finding it back at the changing room. Contrariwise, the Globetrotters could have taken the pack on purpose. Luckily, cameras are rolling the entire time.) ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-3-6-11/573729/48 "2011-03-07T19:53:59Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > Yeah, I’m glad to see them go–the level of overly-hysterical drama was just too much. I completely understand that they were both freezing and suffering possible hypothermia, but… > > …either dad is too fucking frail to race (or get out of bed unassisted, or eat using a fork, or…etc, given the amount of sniveling from the son) in which case _they shouldn’t be there_ or > > …dad is a lot tougher than the whiney, sobby, tear-soaked son makes it sound. > > Regardless, I’m happy they’re gone. I’m not a fan of Mel & Mike, but I was rooting for them over Jaime & Cara. Even if Mel & Mike had survived, they wouldn’t have lasted much longer, and I just don’t care for the redheads.[sup]\*[/sup] - Wow, there’s a phrase I never thought I’d hear myself type. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-3-6-11/573729/49 "2011-03-07T19:55:25Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > The Cowboys started off slowly on their last race too. Weren’t they close to the bottom on their first couple of legs? I think that’s right. Remember when they found out they were going to Argentina, so they exchanged their US Dollars for Brazilian money? Or something of that sort. ---
**Author:** ![zut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zut/32/2875_2.png) [@zut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zut)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-3-6-11/573729/50 "2011-03-07T19:56:35Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > The Cowboys started off slowly on their last race too. Weren’t they close to the bottom on their first couple of legs? You’re probably remembering that they had dropped to the back at some time _during_ some of the first few legs (I had the same impression). However, they never _finished_ a leg any lower than fourth until leg 7, when they finished sixth but were saved by a non-elimination. This season they’ve already notched a sixth, in addition to their eleventh-place finish in leg one. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-3-6-11/573729/51 "2011-03-07T20:00:19Z")
I am glad Mike and Mel (Oh, my groin) have been eliminated. I never understood the Mel and Mike love on their other season and it continues right into this season. Zev and Justin for the win. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-3-6-11/573729/52 "2011-03-07T20:01:47Z")
I was confused by exactly what happened with the Globetrotters & the fannypack. What I \*thought \*happened was that one of the Globetrotters saw the fannypack laying on the ground and told the other one not to forget it. The second one then picked it up and brought it into the changing room. After changing, the first Globetrotter picks up the correct bag and the second one asks him if he has it, thinking it was the one he picked up from down by the water. I didn’t think they even realized at any point that there \*was \*a second bag. But if that’s incorrect and they \*did \*realize while in the changing room that they had the wrong bag, then yeah they should have brought it back to where they found it. ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-3-6-11/573729/53 "2011-03-07T20:05:25Z")
It was confusing. I understood it as that the Globetrotters realized they had taken the wrong bag in the changing rooms and decided to leave it there knowing Ron & Christina would eventually end up back in the changing rooms too. But obviously they should have made an effort to run the bag back up the mountain to the waterfall, but instead they just drove away. ---
**Author:** ![DoperChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@DoperChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoperChic)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-3-6-11/573729/54 "2011-03-07T20:14:03Z")
It seemed to me that Phil’s penalty was clearly added later in post-production. There was a clear change in his voice and the camera cut away from him and instead focused on Ron and Christina. They were shown nodding after the comments but that doesn’t mean they actually heard that at that moment. Perhaps the whole production team needed time to assess the full situation, refer to the rule-books, and make a decision. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-3-6-11/573729/55 "2011-03-07T20:16:33Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > I am glad Mike and Mel (Oh, my groin) have been eliminated. I never understood the Mel and Mike love on their other season and it continues right into this season. I think that Mel seems like one hell of a nice guy (the groin thing aside) and a damn fine father, but his son Mike seems to be a drama queen, at least as far as his dad’s abilities are concerned. In fact, except for Ron and Christina, I like all the parents (Gary, Margie, Mel) MUCH more than their children (Mallory, Luke, Mike). Mallory is OK, and I like her enthusiasm for the Race, but she seems to have a personality that is 180 degrees opposite from that of her father, who seems like a very calm, sedate kind of guy. ---
**Author:** ![Scuba\_Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-3-6-11/573729/56 "2011-03-07T20:23:08Z")
> [@zut](#): > > Why oh why did so many teams choose the needle-in-a-haystack Detour option? Has choosing the NiaH option _ever_ been the better choice? The collected Amazing Guidelines recommend taking the NiaH option only under one or more of the following conditions, as best as I recall: - Your team needs a massive stroke of luck to avoid elimination. (“It’s a sure hour to do that task, we’re in last place by about 30 minutes, we’re Philimated if we do that task, so it’s time to roll the dice.”) - The alternative task is one that your team will NOT be able to accomplish, no way no how. - The alternative task requires your team to maintain control of a non-domesticated animal. ---
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-3-6-11/573729/57 "2011-03-07T20:34:50Z")
I’m not giving up on the Cowboys just yet – as mentioned upthread, they started out slow in their season, although not as near the bottom as this season. But yeah, their directionally-challenged-ness is a bit alarming. Re the Fanny Pack Kerfluffle: It would have been nice for the Globetrotters to have left it where they found it, but I’m betting it was a time factor as to why they dumped it in the men’s changing room. We don’t know how long it’d taken them to get to the waterfall – if it was a ways up, and if you’re in a race, you’re going to right the wrong as quick as possible. The changing room was the logical choice, as they knew Ron would find it there. Plus I’m willing to bet that if Christine hadn’t said anything on the Amazing Mat, there wouldn’t have been a penalty. (not that I blame her – heck, I would’ve panicked too) The Redheads are grating on me even more this season than they did on their season. Mel and Mike? Kudos to Mel for wanting to finish the task. I never expected Mike to snivel, but perhaps that was the mild hypothermia talking. At any rate, I’m glad they were OK. Mallory, honey? Your enthusiasm is beginning to tip into the mania scale :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-3-6-11/573729/58 "2011-03-07T21:27:27Z")
Another problem with needle-in-a-haystack challenges is that they get harder as more people have done them before you get there. There were ten teams racing, and they could have all done that Roadblock, so there must have been at least ten frogs hidden in that mud pit. The first team to do it only has to find one of the ten. Later teams have fewer frogs but still have to search the whole pit. It’s kind of an anti-bunching point. ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-3-6-11/573729/59 "2011-03-07T21:30:34Z")
Am I the only one who thinks Kent is flamingly gay? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-3-6-11/573729/60 "2011-03-07T21:31:56Z")
> [@Laggard](#): > > Am I the only one who thinks Kent is flamingly gay? No. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-3-6-11/573729.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-3-6-11/573729.md?page=4)