Final Three Standings

1. Adam 7490
2. Jan 6800
3. Allegra 6060

Woo hoo!

A recap of the finale is perhaps coming.

Final Bonus Question!

Within +/- 1000 of the number I came up with, how many miles have the teams traveled so far?

Good luck!

FINAL STANDINGS BEFORE FINAL

1. Adam 3745 (2)
2. Jan 3400 (2)
3. Stephanie 3315 (3)
4. Karen 3250 (2)
5. Linda 3235 (2)
6. Allegra 3030 (2)
7. Jonathan 3015 (2)
8. Dave A 2955 (2)
9. Judy 2925 (2)
10. Mark F 2765 (1)
11. Jill 2710 (2)
12. Ashlee 2625 (2)
13. Kristin L 2605 (2)
14. Dave 2550 (1)
15. Sarah 2505 (2)
16. Mark 2465 (2)
17. Jay 2435 (2)
18. Mary P 2370 (2)
19. Scott 2305 (2)
20. Victor 2285 (2)
21. Samuel 2235 (2)
22. Mary 2140 (1)
23. Eric 2095 (1)
24. Chris 2070 (1)
25. Mike 2035 (1)
26. Curt 2030 (1)
27. Caitlin 1935 (2)
28. Liz 1930 (1)
29. Les 1880 (2)
30. Frank 1845 (2)
31. Chris H 1770 (1)
32. Laura 1725 (1)
33. Anton 1685 (1)
34. Bari 1585 (1)
35. Ben 1490 (1)
36. Joanna 1420 (1)
37. Peter 1310 (0)
38. Tracy 1045 (1)
39. Kristin 695 (0)

Caption THIS!

Week Eleven - Bonus Question

I am afraid this season has gone Belly Up. What is the origin of that phrase?

Week Ten - Bonus Answer

Skeleton!

It's first two appearances were in 1928 and 1948, both times when the winter games were held in St. Moritz.

Happy Thanksgiving!

From Karen, Jessica, and Jaime and Oliver Phelps, the Weasley Twins.

Caption THIS!

Week 10 - BONUS QUESTION

We find ourselves in Salt Lake City, home of the 2002 Winter Games. What sport was included as a medal sport at these games for only the third time in Olympic history?

BONUS ANSWERS - Week Nine

1. Francis Scott Key's home in Georgetown was dismantled in 1947 to make way for an entrance ramp to the Whitehurst Freeway. Congrats to Chris H who was the only one to find this! I did, however, also accept the park as an answer.

2. A Wobble was a six-day endurance footrace that was popular in England and New York in the 1880s. The Bransens would have done terrible because, um, Wally? Not too into that whole "in-shape" thing.

Happy Harry Potter Day!

I've already got my tickets.

Bonus Answer - Week 8

The Bransens would have looked for a chalk drawing of a top hat, because during the Great Depression that was the hobo sign for "rich gentleman lives here". Cool!

Bonus Questions - Week 9

We're back in America! At least the show is showing a little respect to American History. Much more so than Washington DC showed to the house of Francis Scott Key. What structure was built on the site of Francis Scott Key's house?

We're down to the final four! If this was a wobble, why would the Bransens probably be the next to go?

Good luck!

The Amazing Case Photos

Enjoy, y'all.

Episode Seven - My Thoughts

I'm feeling like a lazy recapper today, so I think we're just going to get random thoughts for each team.

Bransens

• You know, girls, you can either 1) have no faith in your dad's physical strenghth or 2) let him do all the physical tasks. I don't think it works to do both. But your little dialogue "I can get in!" (wally at the swimming challenge) "Are you sure?" (Bransen girls in unison) was kinda funny.
• Wally: I'm glad you "don't want to make a mistake" at the Go-Karts, but how hard is it to screw something up that involves you driving around in a circle?

Godlewskis

• You brought toilet paper? And somehow kept it after all your stuff was taken away? Don't think I didn't see that roll stretching out across the road when one of your bags fell!
• Apparently, Arizona is "hotter than snot". I'm not sure how hot snot is, but thanks for sharing that delightful commentary.

Linz

• You know, I wrote absolutley nothing down about y'all on the first hour tonight. But you better come in first on at least one leg here, kids! At least the last one. When it counts.

Paolo

• Oh, was Mama Paolo throwing around the one liners tonight! I'm not sure what was better, "I'm gonna have more muscles than brains in my head when I'm done with this race", or "Why are we going to Phoenix? I want to go to New Zealand!" Who am I kidding? The latter is far more superior, and echoing the sentiments of devoted Race Fans everywhere...
• The only good thing about Tony almost drowning is that we got a glimpse of some of the local production crew. Kind of nice to give the locals a moment in the sun, right?
• There was something just so...I dunno...pastoral about the Italian immigrant singing on the back of a truck with big sticks in it. And there's more of a joke to be made but I can't pull it out of my brain right now.
• You know, the Paolos were downright awesome (and one both legs) while out of the country. It must be the US soil that does something to their brains, becuse the minute they were back on the ground they were up to their usual arguing antics.
• I'm trying to control my laughter that's still continuing from their getups at the pitstop. At least it was more sensible than the Godlewski thongs (and more supportive than they are to each other)! But Phil was right. They looked ridiculous. But if they'd taken time to count to, oh, I dunno, THREE and notice how many cars were actually there, they wouldn't have needed to do it at all!

Weavers

• You know, I hate to keep harping on your guys. Wait, I'm not sorry at all. And here we go!
• I'm thinking that Rolly just might be Brandon's long lost brother. Christian but not overtly crazy, and coming out of the water he totally had that Blue Lagoon think going for him.
• Did they actually chant "Go Arnold Go!" for two and a half hours in the Costa Rican cab? I was kind of hoping they would, and the cab driver would put out an APB on them to all other cabbies not to pick them up.
• "What state are we in again?" Need I even comment on that?
• If I had been that dude at the track that you said you needed someone who was "compassionate", I would have shown you the nearest church and not let you race. Maybe that would have been more your speed.
• When some nice ladies come up to you to try to make you feel okay about your mom out on a GO KART on a race track after your dad died at a track, they're probably sincere. I don't think I'd return their kindness by saying how they lie and are so mean to you.
• And again, kids, it's a GO KART. No need to freak out until they have, like, crash-test dummies littered around that you have to "avoid the pit crew" or something.
• Here is the link to the CBS glossary of Race Terms. Please note the definition of the yield. If I were you, I'd spend less time interrogating DJ Paolo about why he used it on your and following it up with a "We've still got our yield, sweets", and instead worry about the little fact that YOU CAN GET YIELDED AGAIN, YOU DUMBASS.
• Need some help with your kids, Ma? I found someone who can help you!
• I think the Weavers need a mirror to hold up to see their behavior and their words. And to fix their pants, too.
• I think they should have tried out for this show. Because it'd be a miracle if you were ever nice to someone.
• It is amazing that as much as they hate speedways and racing, they drive likes bats out of hell on every single stretch of road. I'm just saying.
• I have this dream for next week, where the teams go to Independence, Missouri, and Phil says "This is the scared returning place of Jesus according to Mormons. Look up 5 verses in the Book of Mormon that exemplify good family practices" and Ma throws a fit in which she refuses to touch a "sacred" text that doesn't involve hot pants or thowing garbage at other teams.
• With all their paranoia and delusions, these dudes really are a four person Mirna. Oh, the scariness of typing that sentence.
• But, really, what I think it boils down to is that this family is a textbook example of people who create the situations they fear, project all their own bad behavior onto other people, they're defensive and nasty, they haven't given any of the others a single reason to like them, and then they just get mystified by their social isolation. Maybe they're President Bush's favorite team. That certainly describes his foreign policy.

And with that it's Scrappy, signing off.

Caption THIS!

Week 7/8 Team Scores / Pool Scores

Team Scores

1. Godlewski 230 (745)
2. Linz 230 (805)
3. Weaver 210 (605)
4. Bransen 130 (675)
5. Paolos -80 (585

Pool Scores

1. Adam 2870 (3)
2. Jan 2585 (3)
3. Karen 2415 (3)
4. Jonathan 2390 (3)
5. Linda 2335 (2)
6. Stephanie 2300 (3)
7. Allegra 2290 (2)
8. Mark F 2285 (2)
9. Judy 2185 (2)
10. Dave A 2095 (2)
11. Dave 1905 (1)
12. Jill 1850 (2)
13. Kristin L 1825 (2)
14. Ashlee 1760 (2)
15. Sarah 1645 (2)
16. Mary P 1630 (2)
17. Liz 1610 (2)
18. Mark (2), Scott (2) 1605
19. Chris (2), Mike (2) 1590
20. Victor 1585 (2)
21. Jay 1575 (2)
22. Mary 1555 (1)
23. Laura 1550 (2)
24. Eric 1510 (1)
25. Les 1450 (2)
26. Samuel 1375 (2)
27. Caitlin 1335 (2)
28. Curt 1285 (1)
29. Frank 1265 (2)
30. Chris H 1165 (1)
31. Anton 1080 (1)
32. Peter 1035 (1)
33. Bari 1000 (1)
34. Ben 865 (1)
35. Joanna 815 (1)
36. Tracy 730 (1)
37. Kristin 615 (0)

Week Eight Bonus Question

We ran into another Non-Elimination Leg in the first hour of tonight's race.

If the race had taken place, oh, 75 or 80 years ago, why would the Bransens have sought a chalk drawing of a top hat?

Good luck!

Week Seven Bonus - ANSWER

And the answer is...William Walker!

Here is the article I originally found on the "crazy man's war" of 1856.

Today, however, when I was trying to find a site to put up with a little about Walker, I came across this one. That almost makes him sound like a hero. Stupid Americans and their manifest destiny.