TV: Amazing Race 9 - Ep 5

Slight delay in posting this week -- not because I was pouting about the Double-Ds elimination (though maybe I was), but because I had a bunch of meetings and after work activities did not allow me to watch the episode until now. Thank goodness for the DVR.

- A pox on Lake for using the Yield, but the Double-Ds still squandered several opportunities to beat other teams. I guess Long Island gals don't drive stick. And they aren't as familiar with the male anatomy as they might lead you to believe.

- I wonder how many microseconds of sadness the frat boys felt after learning of the Double-D's demise. I suspect only as long as it takes for them to spot another woman. And wouldn't it have been tragic if they were forced to retire from the race by injuring themselves while horsing around with the wheelchairs at the airport?

- Leave it to a Bay Area hippie to know how to navigate a German Travel Web site to find an English version.

- Ray and Yolanda would be near the top of the heap if they could just read a map and stop relying on others for directions. I fear they may suffer the same fate as Wanda and Desiree.

- I suppose I would have chosen the Bell at the detour, but if I knew I'd be the first to get to the laundry lines, then 20 out of 2400 chance of finding the right piece of clothing does not seem like bad odds to me.

- Were the clothes donated to charity afterward, or is it all in Phil's closet now?

- At least Fran and Berry only walked back and forth past the clue box for 5 or so minutes instead of 40 this time around. Hopefully, they'll remember to pay a visit to the optometrist after the race is over.

- You'd expect nerds to recognize the statue puzzle's trick faster than anybody else. But I guess they actually aren't in the science branch of the nerd species.

- The relationship cracks (beyond Lake and Michelle) are starting to show. This week the nerds, next week's preview shows some stress on MoJo. Let the fireworks begin.

- Looks like next week, the Amazing Race steals a page from The Apprentice and makes some teams try to sell stuff in a market. That might be entertaining.

- Sicily added to list of places to visit. The last time I heard the city Palermo mentioned, I was a mere child watching a great war movie titled Patton. Ancient sites and warm sandy beaches, what more could you ask of a dream vacation?