# The Amazing Race 4/12 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 13, 2005, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064 "2005-04-13T02:03:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064/21 "2005-04-13T13:41:46Z")
> [@watsonwil](#): > > **Ron and Kelly** - Ron, how many times are you going to pour fuel on the fire? When the producers ask those silly roadblock questions, like “Who has patience?” the proper etiquette is to avoid answering with an insult. Oh, and stop comparing _everything_ with downtown Baghdad, would you? I still can’t believe Rob and Amber (well, just Amber, really) were the only ones who seemed to have caught the significance of the wording in the final clue. When it was read aloud, I thought somebody was paraphrasing, but then there was a closeup of the clue, which made it clear to me that there was no pit stop. I was really kinda hoping for a non-elim, just to see Gretchen lose that snazzy backpack of hers, but I’m relieved it wasn’t. There’s only so much hardship I’m willing to watch old people take, I guess. ---
**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:** [April 13, 2005, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064/22 "2005-04-13T13:45:45Z")
I liked the end, the look on Amber’s face was priceless. I knew something was up when there was no greeter. Luv that greeter! Gretchen And Meredith seem to be falling farther and farther behind, but who knows with that editing. I still think it’s Romber’s to lose. ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064/23 "2005-04-13T13:59:18Z")
> [@Draelin](#): > > I still can’t believe Rob and Amber (well, just Amber, really) were the only ones who seemed to have caught the significance of the wording in the final clue. When it was read aloud, I thought somebody was paraphrasing, but then there was a closeup of the clue, which made it clear to me that there was no pit stop. I knew right away that there’d be no pitstop. It amazes me that these teams all start out the legs saying, “We have to be really conscientious and not miss anything”, then fail to realize that the wording of the clue is such that it makes it obvious that you’re not going to the pitstop. I understand that they’re exhausted, but if there’s one thing _anyone_ could pick up from even watching previous seasons, it’s that the wording is always very deliberate. I agree that, as much as Gretchen annoys me, I would have felt horrible to see her stripped of her new backpack. I think the editors were trying to set that up, too, by the long view of her walking away with it. It killed me, though, when she was just stumbling around the boxes going, “Ohhh, I just don’t know what to do!” I was screaming. “Open some more f-ing boxes! That’s what you do!” at the TV. Seemed to me that she didn’t really have any method going there, so she could have been opening the same dozen or so boxes over and over again. I do have to say, though, that I found it cute that she went to get a hug from Meredeth, just for support. That’s something I would have done. ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064/24 "2005-04-13T13:59:46Z")
Don’t give me “To Be Continued”! At least give me an NEL to see Gretchen and Meredith lose whatever little they have gathered together since the last time they lost all worldly possessions. [wicked witch]And your little backpack, too![/ww] Soldier boy? _WE GET IT! YOU WERE IN IRAQ!_ > [@jayjay](#): > > What was with all the cheering and shouting and autographs for Meredith and Gretchen? There’s no way they’re stars yet…this season hadn’t even started airing in America at that point. Perhaps they’re all fans of _Curb Your Enthusiasm_? 😉 ---
**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:** [April 13, 2005, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064/25 "2005-04-13T14:05:52Z")
> [@Nutty Bunny](#): > > Perhaps they’re all fans of _Curb Your Enthusiasm_? 😉 _spit take_ I KNEW Meredith looked like someone famous! Gretchen looks NOTHING like Larry David’s wife, however… ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064/26 "2005-04-13T14:15:45Z")
> [@Nutty Bunny](#): > > Perhaps they’re all fans of _Curb Your Enthusiasm_? 😉 I said the same thing to my son when Meredith was riding in on the rickshaw. Of course, he’s three and had no real response. ---
**Author:** ![Broken\_Wind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Broken\_Wind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broken_Wind)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064/27 "2005-04-13T14:23:21Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > I KNEW Meredith looked like someone famous! Gretchen looks NOTHING like Larry David’s wife, however… I think Gretchen kinda looks like Rue McLanahan. Only older. With no makeup. Having a really bad hair day. After getting the shit kicked out of her. ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064/28 "2005-04-13T14:27:58Z")
> [@Broken Wind](#): > > I think Gretchen kinda looks like Rue McLanahan. Only older. With no makeup. Having a really bad hair day. After getting the shit kicked out of her. Are Gretchen’s injuries spreading, by the way? She looked more beat up this week than she did with the bandage on her head. What is this race doing to the women this time around? Poor Deana looked like she’d been mauled by a bear by the time they got eliminated. ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064/29 "2005-04-13T14:29:23Z")
> [@watsonwil](#): > > I said the same thing to my son when Meredith was riding in on the rickshaw. > > Of course, he’s three and had no real response. I said the same thing to my husband. He, unlike your son, knew what I was talking about. ---
**Author:** ![Jaade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dfb087/32.png) [@Jaade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaade)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064/30 "2005-04-13T14:29:36Z")
> [@BigDummy](#): > > Actually, Rob was one I thought might not do the coal. He’s got some skills, no doubt, but he really can be a bit of a wussy sometimes. But Uchenna’s a pretty big boy, and I’m fairly sure Ron has done tougher stuff. One of them I thought would want to try it. If the brothers were still in it they would have. Well, Rob is a construction worker. He must be used to physical labor. I had a major DUH moment last night and missed TAR but I don’t think that Rob would wuss out of a challenge _because_ it was physical. He’s more likely to choose the one that seems like a smarter choice, regardless of what it is. ---
**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:** [April 13, 2005, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064/31 "2005-04-13T14:34:12Z")
> [@Draelin](#): > > Are Gretchen’s injuries spreading, by the way? She looked more beat up this week than she did with the bandage on her head. What is this race doing to the women this time around? Poor Deana looked like she’d been mauled by a bear by the time they got eliminated. It sometimes takes a day or two for a bruise to really get roaring, and you have to remember that she fell in the cave only two days ago, their time. ---
**Author:** ![Broken\_Wind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Broken\_Wind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broken_Wind)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064/32 "2005-04-13T14:36:57Z")
> [@Draelin](#): > > Are Gretchen’s injuries spreading, by the way? She looked more beat up this week than she did with the bandage on her head. What is this race doing to the women this time around? Poor Deana looked like she’d been mauled by a bear by the time they got eliminated. Tell me about it. There are no real ‘beauties’ left in this TAR, as opposed to the model-fest that was last TAR. Oh, except for the Beauty Pageant Queen. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064/33 "2005-04-13T14:43:32Z")
> [@Jaade](#): > > I had a major DUH moment last night and missed TAR but I don’t think that Rob would wuss out of a challenge _because_ it was physical. He’s more likely to choose the one that seems like a smarter choice, regardless of what it is. The problem I had was that it didn’t seem to be the smarter choice, yet _everyone_ did the tea. They didn’t have to carry the coal, they had to take it on a bike! I think I’d rather chip 170 lbs. of coal and bike it a few blocks than run around an Indian office building looking for five guys who want tea. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064/34 "2005-04-13T14:47:51Z")
> [@Broken Wind](#): > > Tell me about it. There are no real ‘beauties’ left in this TAR, as opposed to the model-fest that was last TAR. > > Oh, except for the Beauty Pageant Queen. :rolleyes: Amber’s smoking hot! There was a Hollywood plastic surgeon interviewed in Entertainment Weekly once and he gave Amber his highest rating on a “Beauty Test” he had designed. ---
**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:** [April 13, 2005, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064/35 "2005-04-13T14:57:58Z")
> [@watsonwil](#): > > Amber’s smoking hot! Or, as Rob’s very first on-air reaction to her went (from Survivor All-Stars): “Ambuh’s slammin’!” ---
**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:** [April 13, 2005, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064/36 "2005-04-13T15:05:07Z")
> [@watsonwil](#): > > Amber’s smoking hot! Or, as Rob’s very first on-air reaction to her went (from Survivor All-Stars): “Ambuh’s slammin’!” ---
**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:** [April 13, 2005, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064/37 "2005-04-13T15:06:56Z")
I swear I only hit “Post Quick Reply” once… ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064/38 "2005-04-13T15:16:33Z")
> [@zut](#): > > **"Hey, Homes!"** - or, making meaningless ineffectual comments from the back seat, but in no immediate danger. > Ron/Kelly (downgraded from Passing Lane) - This team is still comfortably ahead of the pack, but it’s clearly because they’ve followed Rob and Amber over the course of the leg. Totally disagree with this. They could easily win and a don’t think there is any way you can characterize them as following ROb and Amber. ALl the teams had to go to the same places and do the same things. I actually think there is a Ron backlash on SDMB because he was in Iraq. Just my opinion. I don’t hink he is all that special, and yes he mentions Bagdad, I am sure the editors don’t pick those quotes on purpose. And it isn’t like Rob isn’t fond of mentioning Survivor. I think Rob and Amber will win because they seem to be the best racers, but I would not be surprised to see it be Ron and Kelly. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064/39 "2005-04-13T15:21:50Z")
I am a pro-War Doper here, and I agree entirely with all the negative Ron comments. He’s a choad. ---
**Author:** ![Jaade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dfb087/32.png) [@Jaade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaade)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064/40 "2005-04-13T15:23:37Z")
> [@Gangster Octopus](#): > > Totally disagree with this. They could easily win and a don’t think there is any way you can characterize them as following ROb and Amber. ALl the teams had to go to the same places and do the same things. I actually think there is a Ron backlash on SDMB because he was in Iraq. Just my opinion. I don’t hink he is all that special, and yes he mentions Bagdad, I am sure the editors don’t pick those quotes on purpose. And it isn’t like Rob isn’t fond of mentioning Survivor. > > I think Rob and Amber will win because they seem to be the best racers, but I would not be surprised to see it be Ron and Kelly. I kinda have to disagree with this. I am very defensive of our soldiers in Iraq as I know several of my friends are there right now but Ron seems to be…trying to remind everyone that he was in Iraq. I think he has mentioned downtown Baghdad or Iraq in almost every episode. Maybe that’s because it’s still so fresh in his mind but it does get old. He bugs me, but I am not really sure why I feel that way. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064.md?page=3)