It is true that whomever has thesecond most goes. But that will be true no matter when that person with the idol gets the votes. It would seem wise to try to manipulate the events to figure out who will get the second most votes.

For example, let's say there's a merge and there is a 5-4 split between two old tribes. Our 5 has Terry, and I know he has the immunity idol. I know that the other 4 are voting for Terry.

At tribal, I switch to vote for Terry, so we have a 5-4 vote to put Terry off. Terry pulls out the immunity idol, saving himself, and the other person still goes. No one knows who flopped. Some turmoil within our alliance of 5? Certainly. But it's either that or give him a free pass to the final 3, I believe it is.

In that situation, perhaps. But in the earlier stages, when alliances are less clear and votes are often spread out and near-random, there remains too high a chance that those other votes will come your way. So if you think you're going to be voted for, it might make sense to say, "Hey, uh, you know, I have the idol, so if you vote for me, and I vote for you and one other person votes for you...you're screwed. So I wouldn't suggest voting for me."

C'mon, you had to have loved, "So, I put the stick on this fire thing I got here?" Bloody hillarious, and he got what he wanted...he got to go back to sleep!

He did have a few good one liners. I was put off with him from the first few mins of the show. What he did with the wine was great, stupid, but great. If it hadn't been for him the team would not have won. I think that was part of where he was coming from, but he had to have known the consequences.

So...

Thoughts on last nights episode? Did anyone remember to watch (or care to)?

My thoughts...

1) I'm not sure there is anyone left that I really care to see win.

2) Terry is not very bright. Had he given the immunity necklace to Nick, it might have resulted in Shane getting the boot and giving Terry a much better chance at finding someone to switch sides and even things out a bit. It would appear at this point that Terry's only plan is to keep winning immunity challenges. We'll see how that works out.

3) Not very bright of Austin to let everyone know that he faked being weak. It wasn't a bad idea and it probably saved him but why tell everyone?

4) Bruce got hit in the face with a machete so at least there was some entertainment value to last nights episode. :)

Sally! Oh, right, you're gay.

I thought that too...but that would still only leave them at 5-4. Not worth risking your ace-in-the-hole for that.

Seriously. WTF was he thinking?

Yep. Would have only made sense to do it if it was 5-5. Defintiely have to use it for self preservation.

I am entertained by Shane's insanity.

That was seriously the lamest attempt I have ever seen to flip someone to your side. "Join our four and you'll get to the final 5!". Um....if you already have the numbers on your side, why flip just to have numbers on your side?

They needed to play some head games with Shane. Tell him that Bruce was talking to them because he doesn't like Shane or the girls. Tell Cerie that Shane told them she was the first of the 6 to go after the others are gone because she didn't deserve to be there. They needed to mess with the alliance, and they didn't.

Bruce deserved the machette to the face for falling for the "You're calling the shots" line. Clueless!

Clueless is about the best word to describe Bruce. I liked him early in the season but he is really starting to grate on my nerves.

By the way, who knew that Nick could even speak? I thought he was a mute.

And Sally? ... Maybe she has a shot by staying so far under the radar, I forgot all about her. :)

And I agree with scaeagles (damn, I'm getting tired of saying that). Head games with Shane would have been very entertaining. He might have even just snapped completely.

If only Terry had smuggled a cigarette on to the island. Shane would have shifted alliances in a heartbeat. :)

He was spending all his time in a corner practicing that weird little motivational speach he gave after he was voted out.