Yes - to both those things.

Also: Tony & Dallas.

So three things.

I like the new NEL thing. (This is slightly different than last season, right?)

Last season was the first time they did the speed bump. I remember Kynt and Vyxen doing yoga, but I can't recall the other one from last season. I like it SO much more than the taking away all the possessions and then we have to watch people begging for money.

Yes, the Speed Bump is by far the best NEL twist they've come up with.

Definitely.

Although, on the money question, I do remember thinking last night that it would be nice if they had to guard their money a little better so that the question of making your driver wait, for example, was something you really had to think about. Or taxi v. train v. running, etc., if they ever even let people decide these things anymore.

(Why you would ask a driver who got you hideously lost and clearly is totally unfamiliar with the part of the city you're in is a different question, of course.)

I do remember thinking last night that it would be nice if they had to guard their money a little better so that the question of making your driver wait, for example, was something you really had to think about.

I was thinking the same thing - it's been a while since we've seen a team run out of money!

And also a YES to letting teams decide on their own form of transportation. Making those decisions is supposed to be a part of the race!

I do remember thinking last night that it would be nice if they had to guard their money a little better so that the question of making your driver wait, for example, was something you really had to think about. Or taxi v. train v. running, etc., if they ever even let people decide these things anymore

That would definitely make things more interesting. And would kind of mitigate the overwhelming advantage of being in superior physical shape.

Margaretta from season 1 of TAR has passed.

In non-news: Terence on The Amazing Race is still a GIANT AMAZING TOOL

And WTF was up with Starr criticizing the Desperate Ex-Housewives for their clothes when she was wearing A SPORTS BRA AS A SHIRT?

Right now I'm rooting for Tony & Dallas.

I like it SO much more than the taking away all the possessions and then we have to watch people begging for money.

And also a YES to letting teams decide on their own form of transportation. Making those decisions is supposed to be a part of the race!

Yes to all these things. Too bad about Margaretta. I was just thinking about the first season last night and how many of those teams I was actually rooting for.

I didn't start watching TAR until Season 4, but I've caught up on TAR1-3 through the GSN reruns a few years ago. Sad to hear about Margaretta.

My favorite TAR season is still TAR5, because that had the best casting (Colin/Christie, Myrna/Charla, Chip/Kim, Bowling Moms), some of the best locations (loved the zorbing in NZ, the Phillipine coast), and, of course, the plotline of "When will Colin crack up?" ending with the meltdown of "My ox is broken!!!" and the race to the finish line between Chip/Kim and Colin/Christie (and their manic town car driver).

In the midst of all that, my favorite team ever ended up being the Bowling Moms, who started out whiny and annoying, and ended up being kick-ass, tough-it-out ladies who literally changed the rules by splitting the Road Blocks equally and who were only done in by the killer cliff face.

Also, a question that came up watching 30 Days.

How many times have you been to the emergency room? That is, for yourself, not kids or partners. In the original pilot, on living on minimum wage, both Spurlock and his fiancé ended up there. I thought that was unusual, but then my housemate said he had been to the ER at least 20 times in his life. Basically, he's gone about once a year as an adult. I could only come up with 5 visits total (3 as a small child, and twice the same year in Brooklyn). Is that just really unusual?