Holy Cow Tractor Pulling Team

Thursday, November 27, 2003

Survivor 7 - 10
Now that we are not focused on Rupert, we actually get to meet the other players in this game. Welcome aboard castaways!

RC. It is the loved one challenge. First the Loved ones are brought out one at a time and we see many happy faces. Until John, that is. Johns buddy informs him that his Grandmother dies.

Again it is a political game. Personal questions are asked and if the castaway and the loved one match answers (ala Newlywed Game) then they can send a different loved one down the plank. Last loved on still dry, wins a night on the island with their partner. John murmers that he hopes he wins so he can get more details.

Blah, Blah, Blah, John wins. This seems so much like last season when Jenna wanted to win to get a health update on her Mom and was upset when she didn't win. Stacey and I discussed that then as we discussed that this time. Sure, we feel bad for John...but everyone has misses their loved one. And, that is not to say that some other survivor didn't have a death in the family that they need to learn about. I guess I am glad that John won, but I don't think he had a greater need than anyone else.

So, the big twist is that John and his buddy get to go back to the beach, while the other are left of a new beach, just for the night. Sucks to be them, no shelter or anything, just a machete and some matches.

Back at Balboa, the buddy says, did my acting seem convincing? It was all just a ploy. John made this plan before the start of the game, and it worked well. Again, let me just say how much I hate John, but this was absolutely brilliant. The forethought that you would make it that far in the game and to scheme a plan, not really knowing what you would need at that point, was brilliant.

The conclusion challenge was that John got a day with his friend, and that is all. So, while his great plan worked, I don't really know what real benefit he got. He didn't get food, or a car, or a great excursion, or anything like that. I guess we will just see of the deception works to his advantage, or backfires, or has no effect. The real excitement will come at the finale when John Grandma comes to the show.

And so, on me go. Next up is the IC. This is a game sort of like Boggle, you make words of varying lengths. Burton wins and the challenge is over. Later it was discovered that Burton had an invalid work, and the game is restarted with new words, and only among those that were still in at the time. Darrah ends up winning.

OK, now this is super. The girls all know, they are simply cannon fodder and Burton, John, and Lil go to the final three. Here is their chance to take Burton out. He is clearly the most physical threat and could potentially do a Colby and win the rest of the IC's. Darah, T, Sandra, and Christy could easily take the other three out and make it an all girl final.

But, in the end, John sweet talks Sandra and Christy into an alliance with him and Tijuana is voted out. I was really impressed with the girls and I think they had a strong chance to win. I don't think we saw all of what went on, but not voting Butron out will probably go down as the number one mistake of this game.

Friday, November 21, 2003

Survivor 7 - 9
We start with Rupert talking about how he is the King and all and how all the little people just bow down to him and the mightiest survivor contestant ever. Hmmm. Doesn't seem like the way to win a game of politics. It is obvious that Rupert is the man, he is the strongest, and probably the best by every measure, and that just places a big target on his chest. You win this game by being in the middle. Do you work, support the other players, and play hard, but don't make waves. Don't be the best and don't be the worst.

Don't get me wrong, I really like Rupert. First of all, he is from Kokomo originally and seems like a really neat guy. But, his ego just seems to keep growing and it's going to get him in trouble.

RC. Team challenge for a deep sea fishing trip. Teams are drawn and once again we see Burton and Lil on the same team. How does that always happen? They win and are given the change to trade. Lil keeps hers, and by all rights, Burton should give his to Rupert. After all, that was the plan, right? So, Burton gives it to John. I can't stand John, but I know I am not alone in that opinion.

IC. Here we are with the political type game again. It is not the first person to score three hits wins, it is the last person not to receive 3 hits. Burton targets Rupert and like that he is gone and Burton wins immunity.

And just like that, Rupert is gone. I am sad to see him go, I really liked him, but I can't say I am surprised and had I been playing the game, I would have done the same thing.

Friday, November 14, 2003

Survivor 7 - 8
Not one of the better episodes as far and strategy and the future of the game goes. Rupert wins immunity, but gives it to Burton. I think his theory here was to build or strengthen and alliance. However, in the past, all "food" type challenges get to bring a buddy, and this one was no exception. Rupert probably should have kept the reward and brought along Burton. That being said, Burton, probably should have brought Rupert along, after all that is the only reason he is there. But instead he brings Lil. Here is what I see as an error in Ruperts ways, he is giving Burton and Lil and chance to strengthen an already strong bond.

The immunity challenge was the required answer questions related to this series, Pirates this time. The catch is that with each right answer you give someone else a ball, and with so many balls, your are out. Rupert makes it clear not to vote for him, and wins immunity. Personally, I think individual immunity challenges should be just that, individual immunity. Whether it is standing on a post or shooting arrows, or running an obsticle course, the strongest (or most intelligent, or fastest, etc) person should win. I don't really like these popularity contests where winning a round lets you do something to someone else. I think one such challenge is cool, because it lets you see the alliances and politics, but this series is getting too many.

Anyway, Ryan is the one to go at TC. This only made since. During the "team" portion of the game, you needed to eliminate the weak players to make your team stronger overall, but after the merge, you need to eliminate the strong players to give you a better shot at immunity.

Wednesday, November 12, 2003

National Farm Machinery Show
Just got out letter and we were not accepted to the show this year. We are naturally disappointed because we really enjoy pulling there. It is a great facility and a great group of people. On the bright side, weather is always a big question mark. The last two years we have lucked out with above normal temperatures and dry conditions. Our DQ last year got us home before the big ice storm that trapped many of Saturday's competitors. At some point, there will be the big snow...

The other thing is the show does make it had to do maintenance. It seems like we are always rushing to get things together for 1 pull, and then end up tearing it all back down to make additional changes for the upcoming season only to be rushing to get it all back together again for the start of the regular NTPA season. Plus, with an uninsulated shop, it is very unpleasant working in December, January, and February. Now, I can work on engines during those months in my insulated engine room and be nice and toasty warm. So, while we would have been honored to come back for a third time, we will also enjoy the extra time to prepare for 2004.

Saturday, November 08, 2003

Survivor 7 - 7 (Part II)
So, precisely why they needed to get rid of Shawn, because Burton is back. I think Lil deserved it and I don't really know who I would have picked to be with her.

OK, I was fully expecting this week to be the merge, so why did no one on the show expect it? I was expecting it. The main clue from the show was that Probst kept enforcing that the outcasts were be immune at the NEXT tribal council, so the only way BOTH outcasts could be immune is if they attended the SAME TC, and that implies a merge. Anyway, Andrew et. al. were plotting how to get rid of the outcasts, and I was thinking, gee what one tribe needs to do is befriend the outcast on the opposing tribe and then it is a simple matter of Pagonging that other tribe since it would be 6 or 4. Then, when the 6 are left, get rid of the outcasts.

Here is my concern...I really don't think Lil and Burton deserve to win. I can see them picking off all the Morgans, and then Lil, Burton, Maybe Jon, then pick off the core Drakes.

There is a really good discussion board at Survivor Blows. It is a spoof site, but there are a lot of people there doing a lot of research on the castaways and the families. Someone tracked down family members plane tickets for the "loved one reward challenge". By who flew to Panama, you know who had already been eliminated, and the one that flew home early is presumably with the one vote out the night before. Check it out.

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