Oh! I forgot to mention this, but someone gave us the Amazing Race DVD game for xmas, and we had a blast. Most of it is just a geography quiz, but it's totally Philtastic.

I love that when he says "been" it sounds the same as when he says, "being."

That was the last non-elim. But with the three hour lead everyone has on them AND the extra task - I fear that unless there is massive bunching or extraordinary bad luck there is just NO WAY the Hippies can make up the time.

As Jess, said, whatever trans-Pacific route they take is sure to lead to bunching somewhere. Given the distance involved, I was surprised there wasn't bunching on this leg, until I realized that that had to mean non-elimination.

Nick and Don have really grown on me - for some reason they didn't grab me at first - and I'd love to see them win. At the end of the day, though, anyone but Nate and Jen is good enough for me.

This is true for me as well. Although it bugs a bit that I don't think any of the people left are particularly good racers. I know they are all still there, but still, they don't impress.

Also, I thought the taxi thing was a brilliant task.

I laughed when they caught Christina saying that she really didn't want to drive in Japan. I bet the cameraperson had to restrain themselves from doing a little jig when he/she got that.

I wonder how long that drive took!

Like going on Survivor without knowing how to make fire, how do you go on Amazing Race and expect not to drive. With the amount of driving they do through the race it would be unrealistic to expect your partner to do all the driving.

My housemate says driving in Japanese cities is crazy making.

The roads are really narrow, there are tons of one way streets, and then there's the whole driving on the left thing.

I was thinking, being able to drive has got to be a requirement, huh.

I believe they ask you on the application, but I may be misremembering.

I notice the cars didn't seem to be stick so they probably took into consideration that both partners might not be able to drive stick (as is often the case).

She didn't say she couldn't drive, just that she was crappy at it (though I was wondering a bit when she was first starting the car). We've seen people before who were all "I don't know how to drive stick!" but I think this is different, and less fixable, probably.

I was thinking, being able to drive has got to be a requirement, huh.

Well people could get around it. They could be like me, with a legal driver's license, but having had little actual driving experience.