Episode 11: Emarginations and Notches, An Andean Condors' Ascension
A pronounced narrowing at some variable distance along the feather edges at the outermost primaries of large soaring birds, particularly raptors. Whether these narrowings are called notches or emarginations depends on the degree of their slope. An emargination is a gradual change, and can be found on either side of the feather. A notch is an abrupt change, and is only found on the wider trailing edge of the remiges. The presence of notches and emarginations creates gaps at the wingtip; air is forced through these gaps, increasing the generation of lift.
Day 22 - Morning/Afternoon
Today was definitely a lot quieter. I think that's a good sign that our F4 is solid. I did have some conversations with Deshawn and Evvie regarding the plan tonight. Deshawn mentioned that he was worried about Xander after Heather commented that his alliance will cut him the first chance they get. This is great to hear from Deshawn, as it means he's secure with the F4 and worries more about external forces. I reassured Deshawn and let him know that it would be dumb for anyone to waiver on our F4 now, as it would just give JR a chance to sneak in some new plan and it would also be making a lot of bitter jury members.
Speaking of JR, the guy is once again trying to work out something with me. I love that I've shifted things with him where he's constantly trying to get my favor and work on a deal. He came up with this solution of picking 1 person out of the 7 that is off limits and then he would pick one as well. We would then decide on who to vote out from the remaining 3 choices. I said Shan (because JR still believes she's my number one ally) and JR said Leslie (of course). That left Xander, Deshawn, and Evvie. I told him right away that I'm assuming he wants Deshawn to go and he confirmed. I said I'll talk to Shan about it and see if we could get a 4 together to make it happen. JR said he would talk to Leslie.
Shan came on shortly after this, so I could present the plan to her. She hesitated but said she would be on board if I was. Soon after this, Evvie let me know she told her about that plan to vote out Deshawn. It's great that I can get Shan info from two funnels this way. Evvie already knew this was coming as I had previously told her JR was pushing Deshawn and I would agree with him. I then let Deshawn know that this info might come from Shan as well. Funny enough, Shan pushed JR more to Evvie and Deshawn...but also mentioned that if I didn't win immunity, it was another good option. Well fuck. I didn't think I had to win immunity tonight, but I guess I have to worry about that now!
Day 22 - Immunity Challenge
When I saw the challenge was match game, I was overjoyed. I had actually practiced this challenge as it was used in previous seasons (see my solutions for previous ones
here and
here). I used the same strategy in my practice and just put a line through the pairs as I found them. Then start to make boxes around the shapes still available and continue to put a line through all the matches. Eventually I would end up with four shapes that did not have a line through them. I quickly grabbed the numbers and cycled through them in the password box. Boom, I was first and no one was even close.
Having immunity wasn't absolutely necessary but it was nice to know that barring any weird issues, I would still be going to the Top 6. The name JR was still floating around to JR, Leslie, and Shan...but Xander mentioned that they were actually pushing to break up the Abe/Evvie/Deshawn F3. It's so funny how much JR thinks he's in on the secret of the game, but still manages to be so wrong. You're selling to my number 1 ally, dude. We spent the rest of the time waiting for tribal by discussing our childhood girl crushes. Denise Richards anyone?
Day 22 - Post Tribal Council
That tribal... a split 4-3 vote, hardly any whispers, Jeff's questions, etc. How do you make of all of that, as well as Shan leaving?
That went extremely well! We now know that Deshawn is unwavering and will help us take down the last 2 Kallpa without issue. No whispers was great as it shows how secure we were in our F4 and the 3 on the outs knew there was only one plan for them to work out. Jeff's questions were great as usual. He loves to stir up things and get people thinking. The nice thing is though, Xander doesn't see himself as the Scooby-Doo player and it makes me like the idea of taking him to a possible F2 more and more.
Speaking of which, Evvie brought up the idea of idols and a F2 instead of a F3. I think she's right about it being a back to basics season, but I'm still considering making some fake idols for Ancha and Pachamama that I can reveal at the finale, just to get that small edge over the rest of the competitors. Jeff or game runners - would you have to reveal my idols are fake at the end if the jury or other players ask?
Shan leaving was really rough. I did enjoy working with her, but I was constantly worried about what she was really thinking. She was just way too smart to bring further in the game and she went at the right time. Evvie even mentioned that he going now was probably better for us in the end, as it caused Deshawn to be more locked with us and think Xander was the swing vote, when it was actually him the entire time. I was also able to use this vote out to reconfirm with Xander that I always had his back and that it was me and him to the end. I want Xander to always think of me as his number 1 person, even thinking of me over himself.
F6 means we're getting near the end of the game. What is the most important part of your endgame to you?
Out of everyone left, who here would you not want to sit next to at Final Tribal Council?
Getting JR and Deshawn out of the game. I think with Evvie, Xander, or Leslie, I would win the game. They were a lot more subdued and didn't really work as hard as Deshawn and Myself. JR will sweep the jury alone just being that one crazy guy who went from a 7-2 deficit to being at the Finale. JR has to go next and I have to work extremely hard to get him out of this game.
I've been working extremely hard the entire game and I've been pegged as the big threat constantly. JR mentioned it the night Sara went home. Heather mentioned that people need to wake up and play their own game and was definitely referring to my gameplay. I need to continue to show everyone how hard I'm working and just get to that FTC so I can explain my game even better than what was shown. I've had an amazing social game the entire time, but I've also had an underrated strategic game. I need people to see that I've been the conductor of every vote leading up to the Finale. And I think I'll do a great job explaining this.
On a scale of 1 to 10, how much of a winning game do you think you currently have, and why? Anything you need to do to make it even better?
Probably a 7 or 8 right now. I give myself a few points off because the biggest threats, JR and Deshawn, are still here. Once they're out of the game, I give myself a 9. It's hard to know what the jury is really thinking, but should JR get to the end, I need to really start thinking about my case against him. But if he does, I see my chances plummet to a 3 or 4.
Ponderosa is starting to fill up. Which current jurors do you believe would vote for you to win? Or would refuse to vote for you to win?
That's really tough to guess. I would hope that if people aren't bitter by my gameplay and are true fans of the game, I would receive votes from Jaime, Erik, Heather, Shan. If there are some bitter players or a Kallpa at the end, I'm lucky to get Heather or Shan. I don't think Sara will vote for me. She seems incredibly salty and continues to dislike all of my comments in tribal council. It's kind of lame, because in the grand scheme of things, you were nothing to me. You were a pawn that we used until we had to discard you. The fact that you're acting so high and mighty on the jury is annoying as hell and I can't wait to call her out at FTC. If I make it to the end, I'm going to give her a case that only makes her think "Well, shit. He's right". And I don't really care if she votes for me or not, I just want to give her a piece of my mind, if she comes at me with the fangs.
Finally, let's get an updated trust ranking list please!
Alliance Chart
Day 22 - Post Tribal Council (Con't)
Leslie ended the night by being 'honest' with me and that Deshawn or Evvie would beat me soundly in a FTC. She claimed that my game has been filled with emotions and paranoia and the only way I can win now is to reveal that I've been using those emotions to manipulate people. Girl, you have no fucking idea how true that is. I know Jeff mentions this whole Scooby-Doo scenario where you never win if you have to do a final reveal at the end. However, I'm hoping that the moves I've made that were public can be backed up by evidence provided at the final tribal council. I have researched and worked extremely hard on these confessionals so that I can reference them back later in an FTC scenario. I've thought of every machination of this game and to boil it down to being someone paranoid or emotional is such an understatement. It does make me worry a bit about how I will do at the end, however I have thought about other possible end-games for myself.
When Evvie mentioned this season being a F2, I had already been planning for this eventuality. Building my relationship with Xander greater than my one with Evvie has been for a reason. I know that in a final immunity for the season, Xander will most likely beat Evvie and will have no choice but to take me to the F2. Xander sees us as an unbreakable connection and will definitely sit with me in the end. He has no idea that people won't vote for him in an FTC scenario yet and I think bringing him in a F2 would secure my win for me.
However, there is a lot of game left to play, and I need to continue to play my hardest and power to the end. There is absolutely no slowing down now. I need to work extremely hard this weekend on the challenge to confirm my spot moving into the F5 and finally take JR out of this game.
