# Amazing Race Family 10/4 - "How Do We Know We're Not Going to Get Shot?" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 4, 2005, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-family-10-4-how-do-we-know-were-not-going-to-get-shot/324762 "2005-10-04T19:11:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-family-10-4-how-do-we-know-were-not-going-to-get-shot/324762/41 "2005-10-05T15:31:03Z")
Not a great episode – way too much wandering-around-the-wrong-reflecting-pool. (The civil war re-enactment was a good detour, though. And every Detour, from now forever, will remind me of “Flotillas and Chinchillas”). I’m still ok with the family concept, and ok with See The USA. But if they do the whole thing by car, I’m concerned that they’re not gonna make a lot of progress. How far can you go in 10 days if you stop a couple of hours for roadblocks & detours? Hope we get a Disgusting Food Detour soon. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-family-10-4-how-do-we-know-were-not-going-to-get-shot/324762/42 "2005-10-05T15:45:29Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Hope we get a Disgusting Food Detour soon. I believe the producers have said that there will be no more eating of disgusting food. You can thank Rob Mariano for that. ---
**Author:** ![annieclaus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5a626/32.png) [@annieclaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/annieclaus)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-family-10-4-how-do-we-know-were-not-going-to-get-shot/324762/43 "2005-10-05T15:57:21Z")
Well, there are definitely scenes of the Grand or some other Canyon in the opening montage, so that would indicate a western leg of the race. And I thought Phil said there were FIFTEEN briefcase carriers, not FIFTY. . . and we did see the same non-clue carriers over and over again. Did anyone else hear FIFTEEN? Buh-Bye annoying Rogers Dad!!! See what you get when you’re the God-ordained leader of the pack? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Big\_Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@The\_Big\_Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Big_Cheese)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-family-10-4-how-do-we-know-were-not-going-to-get-shot/324762/44 "2005-10-05T15:59:38Z")
> [@Gangster Octopus](#): > > My theory about the gas is that: 1) Gas cost ids very important this season as they are going to be doing a lot of driving; 2) TAR does all the legs of the race themselves to estimate the money needed (maong other things) and I assume they were going to make gas cost a part of it, but; but 3) gas prices have proven to be so volatile that maybe they didn’t feel they could fairly include gas as an expense category. FYI…in episode 1 they showed someone pulling into a gas station in NYC, and gas was $2.19/gallon…the good ole’ days! ---
**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:** [October 5, 2005, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-family-10-4-how-do-we-know-were-not-going-to-get-shot/324762/45 "2005-10-05T16:16:52Z")
> [@scotandrsn](#): > > [Virginia’s Air & Space Center](http://www.vasc.org/exhibits/libertybell.html) Crap. Looks like you’re probably right. Maybe the pitstop will be at Ye Olde Williamsburg if they are going to the Tidewater area. At that rate they’ll make it to Savannah by episode 6. Future locations… I read in a preview that Niagara Falls would be one of the locations they would visit, so eventually they’ll head back north, but still stay on the East Coast. Geez…they better at least get out of the Eastern Time Zone by mid-season… ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-family-10-4-how-do-we-know-were-not-going-to-get-shot/324762/46 "2005-10-05T16:20:09Z")
> [@Terminus Est](#): > > I believe the producers have said that there will be no more eating of disgusting food. You can thank Rob Mariano for that. [voice dripping with sarcasm] :rolleyes: :rolleyes: Thaaaankks, Robbbb…[/vdws] ---
**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:** [October 5, 2005, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-family-10-4-how-do-we-know-were-not-going-to-get-shot/324762/47 "2005-10-05T16:21:45Z")
> [@zut](#): > > The odd thing about this episode that struck me was that the Roadblock, in theory, acted like an _anti_-bunching point. According to Phil, there were 50 people with briefcases, and only 10 “spies.” So the first family had a 1/5 (10/50) chance of getting the right case, and the last only 1/21 (2/42). So it should take the last family longer. Anti-bunching. Odd. Why is this odd? They have a challenge like this in pretty much every season. “There are 10 clues hidden in these 500 random containers. Each team must open containers to find a clue.” The metal boxes in India two races ago (Team Geritol had problems with this), the haybales that Team Mormonsisters got eliminated on, etc. A limited number of clues in a much larger number of possible containers. It’s just that in this case, the containers were moving around. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-family-10-4-how-do-we-know-were-not-going-to-get-shot/324762/48 "2005-10-05T16:42:33Z")
Coupla quick q’s: Who called the Weavers “The Desperate Housewives”, and should we adopt that monicker ourselves? Who said “Washington, DC? What state is that in?” And is there anyone who doesn’t love Little Carissa Gaghan? My fave Racer of all time, already. Honestly, I thought the clue was miswritten - I practically said out loud “The Reflecting Pool is at the \*other \* end of the Mall, dimwits!” I’d have looked at a map and realized it, though. If they were in York, PA, there really ought to have been a roadblock at the barbell factory or the Harley Davidson engine factory, not a weird house they didn’t even enter. BTW, this race is 11,000 miles. No way they’re driving it all. ---
**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:** [October 5, 2005, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-family-10-4-how-do-we-know-were-not-going-to-get-shot/324762/49 "2005-10-05T16:52:53Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Coupla quick q’s: > > Who called the Weavers “The Desperate Housewives”, and should we adopt that monicker ourselves? Actually, it’s the Godlewskis that are getting called “the Desperate Housewives”. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-family-10-4-how-do-we-know-were-not-going-to-get-shot/324762/50 "2005-10-05T16:55:31Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Who called the Weavers “The Desperate Housewives”, and should we adopt that monicker ourselves? The Weavers called the pink sisters that. It’s a cute name. ---
**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:** [October 5, 2005, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-family-10-4-how-do-we-know-were-not-going-to-get-shot/324762/51 "2005-10-05T16:59:22Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Why is this odd? They have a challenge like this in pretty much every season. “There are 10 clues hidden in these 500 random containers. Each team must open containers to find a clue.” The metal boxes in India two races ago (Team Geritol had problems with this), the haybales that Team Mormonsisters got eliminated on, etc. A limited number of clues in a much larger number of possible containers. It’s just that in this case, the containers were moving around. Well, the difference is (assuming my original interpretation is right, although I’m leaning towards SBS’s interpretation) that theoretically, for the haybales, earlier teams will eliminate both _clued and unclued_ haybales, so that later teams would tend to have the same odds, and thus spend the same amount of time, early or late. Same with the metal boxes-- again in theory, later teams could tell which boxes have been gone through because they’re on the floor or whatever, so both clued and unclued are eliminated. With the briefcases, only the _clued_ cases are eliminated, so later teams spend more time (again, assuming my original interpretation) because there’s fewer clued, but the same number of unclued, spies. So only the briefcase task would result in longer-and-longer times. (Also, I recall there being a lot more clues hidden in the boxes and bales, not just one more than the number of teams). > [@scotandrsn](#): > > I meant to mention, there are a number of place they could be next week… I’m reasonably sure I’ve read newspaper reports saying that this season was filmed in part in Huntsvilleso we’ll probably see that next week. ---
**Author:** ![rockle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-family-10-4-how-do-we-know-were-not-going-to-get-shot/324762/52 "2005-10-05T17:04:23Z")
> [@scotandrsn](#): > > Some random thoughts on each of the families: … **Gaghans** (Team Rugrats) For a team that spent the better part of two hours wandering aimlessly around a shadeless area in DC summer heat with two tired young kids in tow, Dad seemed remarkably calm. If they can pull it together next week, I think they’ll be around awhile, until they can’t find an android battery recharger at a pit stop. I think you’ve put your finger on the one thing about this family that bugs me: The parents do seem a little bit like _automatons_. It appears to me that the kids are pretty close to human, but the parents are just _preternaturally_ calm. _Weird._ They seem alright, but just … kind of robotic. Still, I like them much more than I don’t. > [@scotandrsn](#): > > I meant to mention, there are a number of place they could be next week. … if our worst fears are realized, and this race is destined to take place in a 1000-sq-mile area in the eastern US, then my money is on the travelling museum exhibit, complete with 2-g centrifuge, of Gus Grisolm’s recovered Liberty Bell capsule, which spent the summer at […] Virginia’s Air & Space Center Please do not click [here](http://www.al.com/entertainment/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/entertainment/1121246191244210.xml&coll=1) unless you wish to be spoiled on locations for the next (two?) episode(s). That’s enough out of me on that topic. > [@jsc1953](#): > > And every Detour, from now forever, will remind me of “Flotillas and Chinchillas” Tee hee. That is some of my best work _ever_. > [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > And is there anyone who doesn’t love Little Carissa Gaghan? My fave Racer of all time, already. Mine, too. When I see her in commercials and previews, I squee a little bit. But not in a weird perverted way. I just want to adopt her and have her sit on the couch with me with a big bowl of popcorn while we watch other reality shows and heckle the contestants together. ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-family-10-4-how-do-we-know-were-not-going-to-get-shot/324762/53 "2005-10-05T18:51:28Z")
I heard 15 people with briefcases. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-family-10-4-how-do-we-know-were-not-going-to-get-shot/324762/54 "2005-10-05T19:06:31Z")
> [@KGS](#): > > 1. Rogers: Good Fucking Riddance. Mr. Rogers, your son hates you now and you totally deserve it. You blame him for YOUR mistake, and don’t even bother to apologize? So much for your I’m-The-Boss-Because-God-Tells-Me-So attitude. Never have I hated a TAR contestant this much, and that includes Jonathan AND Flo! Oh, and by the way? There IS a God. That’s why He keeps sending giant hurricanes to Louisiana, to try and get rid of YOU. > > I miss the Blacks… ☹ I am in full agreement, except that I must point out that I live in the same town they do, and we’re too far inland for hurricanes to blow us off the map. It did rain impressively when Rita went by, though even that wasn’t as bad as they thought it would be. But the only way I’d have been happier last night was if the Paolos were gone. ---
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-family-10-4-how-do-we-know-were-not-going-to-get-shot/324762/55 "2005-10-05T21:12:50Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Who said “Washington, DC? What state is that in?” It was one of the Weaver girls. But I think she said, “Washington DC? Is that in Washington State?” ---
**Author:** ![annieclaus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5a626/32.png) [@annieclaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/annieclaus)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-family-10-4-how-do-we-know-were-not-going-to-get-shot/324762/56 "2005-10-06T00:46:03Z")
> [@rockle](#): > > Mine, too. When I see her in commercials and previews, I squee a little bit. But not in a weird perverted way. I just want to adopt her and have her sit on the couch with me with a big bowl of popcorn while we watch other reality shows and heckle the contestants together. Nope, not mine. Not at all. She reminds me of a Show Biz Kid. . . and that’s a pejorative. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-family-10-4-how-do-we-know-were-not-going-to-get-shot/324762/57 "2005-10-06T01:37:01Z")
> [@SmackFu](#): > > They always do this kind of roadblock. It’s never that interesting for the viewer. Not exactly: the locations are usually enough to make it somewhat more interesting–they’ve done it in a “bubble club” (IIRC), they’ve done it in some sort of dance club, etc. And there’s usually a catch–all the people look alike or something. This was just tedious. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-family-10-4-how-do-we-know-were-not-going-to-get-shot/324762/58 "2005-10-06T01:45:21Z")
> [@Terminus Est](#): > > I believe the producers have said that there will be no more eating of disgusting food. You can thank Rob Mariano for that. Gawddamnit…_that’s the wrong f_cking message\*! I _want_ gross local foods–the live baby octopi that the locals were chowing down on. The gross tea, etc. What I object to is the “Too _much_ food” competition. The difference is “Can you overcome your food prejudices to win a million dollars” vs “Do you have a big tummy” Dammit. And they showed someone puking in the first episode, so they don’t even have that going for them. ---
**Author:** ![Squonk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squonk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squonk)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-family-10-4-how-do-we-know-were-not-going-to-get-shot/324762/59 "2005-10-06T01:49:07Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Who said “Washington, DC? What state is that in?” > [@hillbilly queen](#): > > It was one of the Weaver girls. But I think she said, “Washington DC? Is that in Washington State?” I think it was Mom Weaver who said something like “Washington, D.C.? What state is that in?” and later said “Are we going to Washington State?” I pretty sure she’s also the one in the first episode who asked if Pennsylvania was a state. ---
**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:** [October 6, 2005, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-family-10-4-how-do-we-know-were-not-going-to-get-shot/324762/60 "2005-10-06T02:36:09Z")
I thought it was only the gluttony challenges that were going away, and eating disgusting things was still okay. But the live squid type stuff was always some local delicacy of where they were travelling. Do we have anything sufficiently gross in the U.S? There’s scrapple, but they’ve already been through Philadelphia. > [@hillbilly queen](#): > > It was one of the Weaver girls. But I think she said, “Washington DC? Is that in Washington State?” I would have laughed if they’d actually driven to Washington state. One of my secret dreams is for someone to hack the Amazing Race; to venture so far out on their own that by the time anyone misses them they’re 500 miles from the nearest phone. With a CBS credit card. There’s something missing from this thread, too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-family-10-4-how-do-we-know-were-not-going-to-get-shot/324762.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-family-10-4-how-do-we-know-were-not-going-to-get-shot/324762.md?page=4)