# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Judith\_Prietht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b19c9b/32.png) [@Judith\_Prietht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Judith_Prietht)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064/41 "2005-04-13T15:27:23Z")
I don’t think people dislike Ron because he was in Iraq; it’s just that it’s all he ever talks about. Everything is like bombing downtown Baghdad. Now I don’t know if he’s being prompted or anything, but it’s becoming so much of a joke right now that I’ve started laughing rather than cringing every time he draws that comparison. I personally think Amber’s blandly pretty. None of the racers are turning my crank at the moment, except Uchenna, and that has a lot to do with what a gentleman he is. If they stay in India for the rest of this leg, it should be interesting to see how the Killer Fatigue takes its toll. In previous seasons, India’s been really tough on the racers, particularly the female ones. ---
**Author:** ![rockle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064/42 "2005-04-13T15:28:29Z")
> [@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. They didn’t really show anybody else “analyzing” the clue, did they? We really only saw Ron & Kelly and Romber, so we don’t know what anybody else had to say. And the clue said “HURRY! HURRY! HURRY!” in great big capital letters at the bottom – you would think someone would have something to say about that. **Gangster** – I think Ron is a tool, just in general. AFAIAC, his having been in Iraq has nothing to do with it. I’m sure there are plenty of men and women who have been to Iraq who are not dumb-as-post-hicks, which is how Ron comes off most of the time. He could be my mechanic and I would still think he’s a tool. But Kelly is the truly vile one in the duo. I hatehateHATE her. ---
**Author:** ![rockle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064/43 "2005-04-13T15:33:58Z")
> [@Judith Prietht](#): > > None of the racers are turning my crank at the moment, except Uchenna, and that has a lot to do with what a gentleman he is. With all apologies to Joyce, for how the following statement will sound, considering their medical situation: _Uchenna is a **stud**._ He is unfailingly polite, and I cannot give him enough props for that. Plus, he is smokin’ effin’ hot. (Joyce isn’t so bad, herself.) ---
**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, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064/44 "2005-04-13T15:44:34Z")
Well I do hate Kelly. I always feel like the editors, producers create characters and they almost certainly excavate the quotes about Iraq out of the hours and hours of Ron footage because they are developing a theme. I am sure he does talk about it, but I am not really annoyed because I don’t necessarily believe it’s all he talks about. One thing is that he probably is asked about it all the time in real life away from the show, so to him it isn’t unusual to talk about Iraq. I guess for me it isn’t a Ron issue as much as it is a general theme in these reality shows, they show us what they want to show us and people form very definitive opinons. Some of them are valid, like Jonathan being a prick last season because his actions didn’t require much context. But somebody, like Ron with scattered comments about Iraq throughout the course of the show just doesn’t bother me. Do I think Rob is a great racer? Not particularly, they don’t do the little things really to win the race, but they don’t do the stupid things either that lose the race (like stop at the wrong water tower). They are pretty damn competent. Honestly I don’t see how they end up second worst in **Zut’s** ratings. ---
**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, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064/45 "2005-04-13T15:48:23Z")
> [@rockle](#): > > With all apologies to Joyce, for how the following statement will sound, considering their medical situation: _Uchenna is a **stud**._ He is unfailingly polite, and I cannot give him enough props for that. Plus, he is smokin’ effin’ hot. (Joyce isn’t so bad, herself.) Do we need to take a vote to add him to the Reality TV Boyfriend Cult? I’ll second your nomination. 🙂 ---
**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, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064/46 "2005-04-13T15:51:44Z")
Zut had them second to last. But I would at least put them ahead of Lynn and Alex, because Alex seems so frightened all the time. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064/47 "2005-04-13T16:05:50Z")
> [@Slacker](#): > > Watching Gretchen panic after checking a grand total of 3 boxes at the detour made me miss the brothers. Actually it made me miss the Mormon girls from last year. I can’t imagine Gretchen’s reaction if she ever had to do something, you know… hard! Fer sure. “oh, dear, what to do what to do what to do (wrings hands)…”. :rolleyes: I dunno…how about starting at one end, open each box once, systematically; continue until you find the clue. Stop. I don’t see the point of To Be Continued – why not just make it a NEL? Was this another Hungarian Production Screwup? ---
**Author:** ![rockle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064/48 "2005-04-13T16:21:04Z")
> [@Draelin](#): > > Do we need to take a vote to add him to the Reality TV Boyfriend Cult? I’ll second your nomination. 🙂 Well, since we run the Cult, I guess that’s good enough for me. Uchenna Agu, if you read this, CONGRATULATIONS! You are Reality TV Boyfriend #5! Welcome! > [@Gangster Octopus](#): > > Do I think Rob is a great racer? Not particularly, they don’t do the little things really to win the race, but they don’t do the stupid things either that lose the race (like stop at the wrong water tower). They are pretty damn competent. Honestly I don’t see how they end up second worst in Zut’s ratings. 😕 Are you talking about RON here? I think you mean RON (even though you typed ROB), but I am a natural blonde, and as such, I occasionally have trouble following the conversation. Anyway … although I have this terrible sinking feeling that Ron & Kelly are being edited to show that they do quite well, I personally could do without them. Their constant bickering bugs the crap out of me. Here’s a suggestion: If neither of you doesn’t like what the other is saying, how about if you BOTH just _shut the hell up?_ Nobody would mind, swear to Og. And I don’t think they’re so much “competent” (except at what Ron calls “military-style” tasks, like shining shoes and driving Land Rovers, at which they do pretty much rock) as they are excellent mimics. Whatever works for someone else, they tend to follow. However, big ups to Ron for eating at the DisgustingMeatBlock, when Rob wussied out. Have to give credit where credit is due. But I still hate the both of them, only slightly less than I hate Romber. ---
**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, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064/49 "2005-04-13T16:29:50Z")
**rockle** , Yep, I meant Ron. I don’t begrudge anyone disliking Ron and Kelly, I particularly dislike her. I think I got annoyed by **zut’s** rankings. 🙂 if I recall they have finished second or first in almost every recent legand pretty much near the top in every leg except the first. I don’t see them as mimics, they don’t get lost, thy do the tasks, they don’t overly concern themselves with other teams, they are polite to the locals wherever they are. To me their biggest issues is their relationship is annoying as hell and they don’t do anything special to try and win the race. For the record, I want Uchenna and Joyce to win, followed probably by Romber then R Kelly ---
**Author:** ![SCCajun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@SCCajun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCCajun)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064/50 "2005-04-13T16:31:54Z")
Please tell me this is about something other than a new episode of The Amazing Race that was aired on Tuesday, April 12. My TIVO said there weren’t any new episodes (which I thought was odd), and an incredibly busy weekend and week have kept me from my normal TIVO check to make sure everything is as it should be. I just started watching about 4 or 5 episodes into this season and really like it. In fact, it is the only “Reality” show I have any interest in. I would hat to have missed an episode. (PS. what is a Yield? and are there any other neat tricks I don’t know about besides the Detour - Choose between two activities and the Roadblock - Only one team member can do the activities.) Thanks ---
**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, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064/51 "2005-04-13T16:37:41Z")
> [@SCCajun](#): > > Please tell me this is about something other than a new episode of The Amazing Race that was aired on Tuesday, April 12. My TIVO said there weren’t any new episodes (which I thought was odd), and an incredibly busy weekend and week have kept me from my normal TIVO check to make sure everything is as it should be. > > I just started watching about 4 or 5 episodes into this season and really like it. In fact, it is the only “Reality” show I have any interest in. I would hat to have missed an episode. > > (PS. what is a Yield? and are there any other neat tricks I don’t know about besides the Detour - Choose between two activities and the Roadblock - Only one team member can do the activities.) > > Thanks I wish I could tell you otherwise, but yes, there was a new leg last night. The Yield can be used to “yield” a team behind you. Once the yielded team gets to the Yield, they have to turn over the sandglass and wait until it’s empty to move on. There are only three yields in this season of TAR, and each team can only use a yield once. I think, in the three seasons I’ve been watching, that the yield has only been used three times. Chip and Kim yielded Colin and Christie in TAR5, Adam and Rebecca yielded Freddy and Kendra in TAR6, and Freddy and Kendra revenge-yielded Adam and Rebecca in TAR6. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064/52 "2005-04-13T16:39:11Z")
> [@SCCajun](#): > > Please tell me this is about something other than a new episode of The Amazing Race that was aired on Tuesday, April 12. My TIVO said there weren’t any new episodes (which I thought was odd), and an incredibly busy weekend and week have kept me from my normal TIVO check to make sure everything is as it should be. > > I just started watching about 4 or 5 episodes into this season and really like it. In fact, it is the only “Reality” show I have any interest in. I would hat to have missed an episode. > > (PS. what is a Yield? and are there any other neat tricks I don’t know about besides the Detour - Choose between two activities and the Roadblock - Only one team member can do the activities.) > > Thanks Check to make sure your Tivo has phoned the mother ship recently. Sorry to say that yes, there was a new TAR on Tuesday, April 12. (we recently cancelled our second phone line, thinking that we weren’t using it…then several days later noticed that Tivo hadn’t updated its schedule, and it started giving us urgent messages that it was dying from lack of communication.) The only other neat trick is the Fast Forward, which the late and unlamented Roy & Deanna used in Africa. There’s only a few sprinkled throughout the race; but if you get to a FF first and complete the associated task, you go straight to the Pit Stop without passing Go. ---
**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, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064/53 "2005-04-13T16:42:19Z")
> [@SCCajun](#): > > Please tell me this is about something other than a new episode of The Amazing Race that was aired on Tuesday, April 12. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what it’s about. The CBS website usually has a thorough recap of each episode, though, so at least you can get an idea of what happened. To answer the next question, the Yield is a (relatively) new concept in the game–on certain legs, there’s a spot where one team can “yield” a team behind them, which forces them to turn over an hourglass when they get to the Yield mat, and then stay there until the hourglass runs out, which gives the Yielders time to get further ahead, and possibly take the Yieldees down a few spots, if other teams are close enough to pass them. You can only use the Yield once during a race. There’s also a Fast Forward on some legs, which is one task (usually pretty hard) that a team completes, then they get to go directly to the Pit Stop. The first team to _finish_ the Fast Forward gets it–also can only be used once in the race. If you’ve been watching the season, you probably saw Ray and Deana take it a few episodes back. ---
**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, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064/54 "2005-04-13T16:42:57Z")
Oh, and I think the only other trick you’ve missed was the Fast Forward. There’s usually only one or two Fast Forwards per race. You can choose to do a different task instead of whatever Roadblock or Detour they have that leg. The first team to finish the FF task can go straight to the Pit Stop without doing the rest of the tasks in that leg. I know there was at least one Fast Forward this leg (the walk the shaky bridge across the cooling tower that Ray & Deanna finished). If you get to the Fast Forward and someone’s already finished it, or if you can’t finish it, you have to go back and do the other tasks you were going to skip, which can put you fairly far behind. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064/55 "2005-04-13T17:15:06Z")
yeah i think you missed the Fast Forward **SCCajun**. how much detail on the detour do they receive? are they told what we are told? that the ‘liquid’ might take longer because it’s a big crowded place or ‘solid’ might be faster if you are strong? (and that you get to use the bicycle carts) > [@Gangster Octopus](#): > > … Do I think Rob is a great racer? Not particularly, they don’t do the little things really to win the race, but they don’t do the stupid things either that lose the race … i know you don’t mean Rob, but this reminds me of the recap with Rob on the highway playing around with the others following them. Mr Glee was enjoying himself while Amber looked embarrassed as usual. > [@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. … i don’t see it. here’s two examples i can’t picture the others on this race do 1) where he got out of the car to investigate a traffic jam and helped push away the offending vehicle. 2) where he helped repair the truck that broke down. 3) where he totally ate all the meat that Debbie/Bianca was able to finish. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064/56 "2005-04-13T17:22:48Z")
> [@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. Actually, no. I don’t mind that he mentions Bagdad frequently. (I kind of giggle a little because everything seems to be like Bagdad, but it was a monumentous recent event in his life - of course, things are going to remind him of it.) My dislike is based on the not-so-nice way he treats his girlfriend, (if that’s what she is. I’m not sure). But he’s not kind to her (not in the huge way that some of the racers last season and this season have been). It rubs me the wrong way. As much as I dislike everything else about Rob - I cannot fault the way he’s been shown treating Amber. ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064/57 "2005-04-13T17:30:20Z")
> [@Gangster Octopus](#): > > Do I think Rob is a great racer? Not particularly, they don’t do the little things really to win the race, but they don’t do the stupid things either that lose the race (like stop at the wrong water tower). They are pretty damn competent. Honestly I don’t see how they end up second worst in **Zut’s** ratings. You’re reading those rankings backwards. ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064/58 "2005-04-13T17:34:17Z")
> [@shijinn](#): > > yeah i think you missed the Fast Forward **SCCajun**. > > how much detail on the detour do they receive? are they told what we are told? that the ‘liquid’ might take longer because it’s a big crowded place or ‘solid’ might be faster if you are strong? (and that you get to use the bicycle carts) They get a pretty good description of what the Detours involve. The Roadblocks are only a cryptic comment and they don’t get to see what it is until it’s decided who’s going to perform it. ---
**Author:** ![Quint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/76d3ee/32.png) [@Quint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quint)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064/59 "2005-04-13T17:58:51Z")
> [@rockle](#): > > With all apologies to Joyce, for how the following statement will sound, considering their medical situation: _Uchenna is a **stud**._ He is unfailingly polite, and I cannot give him enough props for that. Plus, he is smokin’ effin’ hot. (Joyce isn’t so bad, herself.) The last thing I want to see is another cat-fight over some reality TV hunk. Still, I have to agree that **Uchenna** is class personified. Did anyone else notice that he was pedaling their rickshaw/pedicab _from the back seat!_ The little guy up front had his feet on the bike frame while Uchenna powered them along. That _is_ studly. Ron was telling their driver to “Hurry we’re in a race” while Uchenna quietly made things happen for his team. I’m officially rooting for them (U&J) due to that event alone. ---
**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, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064/60 "2005-04-13T18:21:38Z")
Part of me wants Rob and Amber to win. They are the villians after all, and I route for the bad guys in my fiction. But I’d be VERY happy if Joyce and Uchenna win. Not only are they locals, they really seem like decent people. And they are having fun. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-4-12/299064.md?page=4)