Main Discussion - Panama

[PokéMaster]

I saw the commercial for that a couple of weeks ago! It starts on February 3rd.

[Mstrgmr]

Yeah, but yesterday was the first day I saw it with any info

[PokéMaster]

That's the commercial I was talking about. I submitted this stuff to tv.com a week or two ago. I just forgot to post it.

[PokéMaster]

Aras Baskauskas - 24 - Yoga Instructor - Santa Monica, CA

Aras Baskauskas completed his undergraduate program in three years and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from the University of California, Irvine. In 2003, he was named one of UC Irvine's "Most Eligible Bachelors" in the student newspaper.

Baskauskas continued his education at UC Irvine and graduated from the Graduate School of Management, where he received his Masters in Business Administration. He is proudest of being the only student to have played NCAA Men's Division One basketball on scholarship while in the MBA program.

Baskauskas is a former professional basketball player, having played briefly overseas in Lithuania. After leaving the court, Aras moved to Capetown, South Africa, where he opened up a donation-based yoga studio. He currently works as a yoga instructor in Santa Monica, California. His hobbies include meditation, golf and surfing. He describes himself as outgoing, compassionate and genuine.

Baskauskas is currently single and living in Santa Monica, California. His birth date is September 26, 1981.

Austin Carty - 24 - Author - High Point, NC

Austin Carty was born and raised in High Point, North Carolina. He studied three years at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, where he played Division One soccer while studying speech communications and public speaking.

Carty is currently an established author (he is signed with a literary agent based in New York City). In 2003, his first novel, Somewhere Beyond Here, was published. His agent is currently shopping his two subsequent novels, Storm of Fireflies and Grays' Sacrifice. He supplements his income with modeling for print and commercial advertising. He has previously worked in retail, as a waiter and as a bartender.

Carty enjoys writing, reading, playing guitar and piano. His favorite sport is soccer. He describes himself as charismatic, humorous and genuine. He believes his athleticism, strength and intelligence will help him become the Sole Survivor. Carty's hero is his grandfather. He says if he can one day secure half of his grandfather's faith and integrity, he'll consider his life a success.

Carty is currently single and residing in High Point, North Carolina. He is very proud of his sister, Elizabeth, who is currently Miss United States Teen. His birth date is April 29, 1981. [April 29 is my birthday too!]

Bobby Mason - 32 - Attorney - Los Angeles, CA

Bobby Mason grew up in South Central Los Angeles, where he lost three friends over the years to gunshot wounds. When Mason reached high school, his parents facilitated his admittance to one of the top college prep schools in the country, The Harvard School (now known as Harvard-Westlake) in North Hollywood, California. While at the Harvard School, Mason was exposed to a diverse community of children from varying cultural and economic backgrounds and varying degrees of privilege. Mason declares he had experiences and made lifelong friendships with people that he otherwise would probably never have encountered or been exposed to. He honed his dream of being a scholar/athlete at the highest levels and was able to realize this when he was admitted to Amherst College in Massachusetts.

In 1996, Mason received his Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude in political science from Amherst, where he had also played baseball. He went on to attend Stanford Law School, graduated in 2000 and is currently an attorney in Los Angeles. He previously worked as an assistant to a sports agent and a consultant at a consulting firm.

Mason is a member of the American and California Bar Associations, Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association, Black Sports Agents Association, National Association of Record Industry Professionals and Los Angeles Music Network.

In his spare time, Mason enjoys working out, any competition, fantasy baseball, drawing, reading and comic books. He describes himself as dominant, loyal, malleable and stubborn. He is most proud of being an all-around good guy. He was on "Blind Date" in 1998.

Mason is currently single and living in Los Angeles with his dogs, Bolo and Dog. His birth date is August 20, 1973.

Bruce Kanegai - 58 - Karate Instructor/High School Art Teacher - Simi Valley, CA

Bruce Kanegai is a third generation Japanese American who grew up in Los Angeles. During the 1960's, he received the Boy Scout rank of Eagle Scout and the rank of Black Belt from the Shotokan Karate School. Kanegai received his Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, Northridge. He also received his teaching credentials for the State of California.

For the past 34 years, Kanegai has been teaching art at Simi Valley High School, where he has taught over 10,000 students. He had been awarded "Teacher of the Year" from The International Rotary Club, The Bravo Award from the Los Angeles Music Center, The Amgen Corporation, The Pasadena Art Center College of Design and the Otis/Parsons Art School.

Kanegai is a fifth-degree black belt in karate and has taught more than 7,000 students over about 40 years. In 1967, he was a member of the first US karate team to visit Japan. In 2000, Kanegai was promoted to the highest ranking black belt in the Shotokan Karate of America. In 2004, he was a judge at Shotokan's 40th Anniversary celebration in France. Kanegai is currently in the process of finishing a book on the 50-year history of the Shotokan Karate of America.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Kanegai was a top backpacking instructor for Moorpark Community College, the Yosemite Institute and many private organizations. Some of his backpacking highlights include hiking the entire state of Oregon and, in 1980, setting a new record of running the 220-mile John Muir Trail from Mount Whitney to Yosemite National Park.

From 1978-1992, Kanegai was a POST (Police Officer Survival Training) Instructor in California. Under the Downey-Roth System, Kanegai assisted in teaching police instructors arrest and control techniques, weapon retention and the side-handle baton.

Kanegai is a member of the California Art Educators Association and Shotokan Karate of America. His hobbies include photography, drawing, hiking, golfing and skiing. He has had several close brushes with death, including being bitten by a large rattlesnake while golfing three years ago.

Kanegai currently lives in Simi Valley, California, with his wife of 27 years, Nancy. They have two children, Alexander and Danielle, and one dog, Chako. His birth date is December 17, 1947.

Cirie Fields - 35 - Registered Nurse - Walterboro, SC

Cirie Fields was born and raised in Jersey City, New Jersey. She attended St. Francis Nursing School in New Castle, Pennsylvania, where she earned her nursing degree. She currently works as an operating room nurse. Her previous occupations include surgical technician, home health aid, working at a candy factory and telemarketing. Fields' proudest accomplishment was becoming a nurse. Her mother is her hero because she raised six kids with nothing and taught her kids many life skills.

Fields swims regularly. Her favorite sports include running and working with a personal trainer. She loves amusement park rides and watching television. She describes herself as funny, charismatic and compassionate. She believes she will be a useful member of the tribe because she is very strong. Fields' skills include the ability to fish, cook and do some carpentry. She believes she will be the Sole Survivor because people love her cute, smiling personality. Her primary motivation for being on the show is to win and to change her family's life. She is proud of the fact that she was disciplined enough to lose 30 pounds once she learned she would be a castaway on the show.

Fields currently resides in Walterboro, South Carolina. She recently married Clarencio and has three sons from a previous marriage. They have one dog, Sam. Her birth date is July 18, 1970.

Courtney Merit - 31 - Performance Artist - Los Angeles, CA

Courtney Marit was born in Washington, D.C. An avid gymnast, she reached elite level, was nationally ranked and eventually received a gymnastics scholarship from the University of Georgia, where she was part of the 1993 NCAA Championship team.

Marit is currently a performance artist, working with others to collaborate and create theatrical shows that include music, fire, trapeze, stilts and a myriad of circus arts. She is founder of Revolve Productions, a company that has brought together musicians, disc jockeys, designers and performers dedicated to creating one-of-a-kind events. She also teaches fire dancing with the intention of celebrating this ancient art form as a tool of self-expression, meditation and fun. Additionally, she is working on her first screenplay and focusing on creating film and documentaries that promote world unity.

Having traveled to over 30 countries around the globe, Marit previously worked as a deckhand/cook and helped deliver luxury yachts across the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. She also worked as a massage therapist, ski instructor, snow maker, farmer, elder caregiver, trailblazer, biking/hiking guide and importer.

Marit's many adventures include climbing mountain peaks in the Cordilla Blanca of Peru, skiing the mountains of Alaska, running a marathon in Honolulu, performing throughout Europe, living in caves in India, surfing in Costa Rica, hitchhiking through Mexico and walking the deserts of Chile. Marit wants to have the experience of a lifetime and lives for adventure and knowledge. Learning about other countries and cultures is her passion. She enjoys celebrating life and the world she lives in.

Marit describes herself as free spirited, creative, fun, sensitive and compassionate. She enjoys being part of an artistic community that integrates music, creation, dance and travel.

Marit is currently single and living in Los Angeles. Her birth date is May 24, 1974.

Dan Barry - 52 - Retired Astronaut - S. Hadley, MA

Dan Barry was born in Norwalk, Connecticut, but considers South Hadley, Massachusetts his hometown. He is a former astronaut who currently spends his time building robots for his own company, Denbar Robotics. Barry's work and research has been supported by the National Institute of Health, the National Science Foundation, the Grass Foundation and the American Heart Association of Michigan. He has five patents and has had over 50 articles published in scientific journals.

For his work and accomplishments, Barry has received numerous special honors and awards over the years, including the 1971 McMullen Engineering Award, the 1984 Young Investigator Award from the American Association of Electrodiagnostic Medicine, an Honorary Doctor of Science degree from St. Louis University in 1996; the Vladimir Komarov Diploma from Federation Aeronautique Internationale in 1998; an Honorary Life Membership from the United States Tennis Association in 1999, inclusion in the list of 100 Most Notable Princeton Graduate School Alumni of the 20th Century in 2001, and both the Paul J. Corcoran Award from Harvard Medical School and an Honorary Doctor of Science degree from Beloit College in 2003.

Barry is a member of the American Association of Electrodiagnostic Medicine, Association of Academic Physiatrists, Sigma Xi (a scientific group), Association of Space Explorers and the United States Tennis Association.

In 1971, Barry graduated from Bolton High School in Alexandria, Louisiana. In 1975, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Cornell University. In 1997, he received a master of engineering degree and a Master of Arts degree in electrical engineering/computer science from Princeton University. In 1980, he received a doctorate in electrical engineering/computer science, also from Princeton. In 1982, he received a doctorate in medicine from the University of Miami. In 1985, Barry completed an internship and a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation residency at the University of Michigan. He was then appointed by the University of Michigan as an assistant professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and in the Bioengineering Program. He spent the summers of 1985-1987 in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, working in skeletal muscle physiology at the Marine Biological Laboratory.

Barry was offered tenure at the University of Michigan in 1992. At the same time, he was selected by NASA to train at the Johnson Space Center and opted to relocate to Texas. He completed one year of training and qualified for assignment as a mission specialist on Space Shuttle flight crews. A veteran of three space flights, Barry has logged over 734 hours in space, including four space walks. He retired from NASA in April, 2005.

Barry currently lives in South Hadley, Massachusetts with his wife of 24 years, Sue. They have two children, Jenny and Andy, and one dog, Windy. He enjoys flying, tennis, sailing, ultimate Frisbee and running. His birth date is December 30, 1953.

Danielle DiLorenzo - 24 - Medical Sales Representative - Pompano Beach, FL

Born and raised just outside of Boston, Danielle DiLorenzo grew up the eldest of three children in a small town called Lynnfield. She attended the Winthrop Gymnastics Academy, Massachusetts, where she competed for eight years and won many awards. At Lynnfield High School, she played varsity soccer, basketball and track. An athlete and fierce competitor, DiLorenzo set high school state records in track and was captain of both her track and soccer teams. At 16, DiLorenzo was selected to represent the United States at the World Gothia Cup and traveled to Germany, Sweden and Austria. Additionally, she worked with the Ford Modeling Agency, participating in fashion shows in the Boston area.

DiLorenzo was then recruited to play Division One soccer at Quinnipiac University, where she studied marketing. Unfortunately, a knee injury during pre-season kept her from playing her first year. She decided to transfer to Northeastern University, where she eventually earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business with a concentration in both finance and marketing. After graduation, DiLorenzo moved to Floridam where she currently works for a medical sales company. Her proudest accomplishment to date is the purchase of her first home in Boca Raton, Florida.

DiLorenzo's regular workout routine includes kickboxing and soccer. Her favorite hobbies include dancing and traveling. She describes herself as driven, intelligent, vivacious, strong-minded, athletic, genuine and good-hearted. She never shies away from a discussion on the New England Patriots or the Boston Red Sox. Her hero is her grandfather, because he always enjoyed discovering new things. He was a politician, a schoolteacher for children with special needs, a loving father and husband and an awesome grandfather.

Danielle DiLorenzo has been in a steady relationship for almost two years. She currently resides in Pompano Beach, Florida. Her birth date is June 3, 1981.

[PokéMaster]

Melinda Hyder - 32 - Singer Sevierville, TN

Melinda Hyder was born and raised in Elizabethton, Tennessee. She has one sister, Regina, and is proud to point out that her parents, Richard and Carol, were high school sweethearts and have been married for 44 years. Hyder began singing in church at the age of four. She trained in ballet, tap, jazz and gymnastics for 12 years. She attended classes and taught at the Watt Dance Studio in Elizabethton.

Hyder graduated with honors in music and math from Elizabethton High School. She then attended East Tennessee State University in Johnson City on a full vocal scholarship and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music. While in college, she performed with the music groups 10BucsWorth, Chorale and Women's Ensemble.

After college, Hyder entertained at Six Flags over Georgia for two years. She then toured Europe while performing on a cruise ship. She also spent six years performing at Dollywood (often times with Dolly Parton). In addition, she has worked as a real estate agent, private vocal coach, dance instructor, pageant coach and model.

Hyder describes herself as vivacious, competitive and compassionate. Her hobbies include creative home decorating, collecting Marilyn Monroe memorabilia, watching CBS soap operas and jogging.

Currently single, Hyder resides in Sevierville, Tennessee, with her Pomeranian, Lexi. Her birth date is May 23, 1973.

Misty Giles - Engineer - Dallas TX

Misty Giles was born in Valdosta, Georgia. The first of three children in a military family, she moved frequently during her early years. She eventually settled in Texas, where she attended Killeen High School. No stranger to competition, Giles participated in varsity sports and later won the title of Miss Texas Teen USA 1999.

Giles' proudest accomplishment so far has been her ability to support herself through college and earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from Southern Methodist University. She is currently employed as an engineer by a premiere advanced technology corporation and is pursuing a master's degree. Additionally, she is training for her next big challenge, marathon running.

Giles describes herself as highly adventurous, determined and sexy. She considers herself a "tomboy in high heels," as she was once the only girl on her local little league baseball team. She values her faith and work ethic as her best personal attributes. She has a passion for youth and spends time mentoring young girls to help them prepare to be strong and confident women. She has also lectured at motivational and engineering seminars. She enjoys political discussions, running, kickboxing, playing with her two Boston Terriers (Harley & Arthur), and most of all, spending time with her close friends.

Giles believes her competitive nature and natural problem-solving skills will help her get to the end of the game. Competing in the ultimate game of survival and winning are her motivations for taking on SURVIVOR: PANAMA--EXILE ISLAND.

Currently single, Giles resides in Dallas. Her birth date is February 25, 1981.

Nick Stanbury - Financial Sales - Tempe, AZ

Nick Stanbury grew up in Riverton, Wyoming. He attended his freshman year of college at Montana State University in Bozeman. He transferred to Arizona State University his sophomore year and eventually received concurrent Bachelor of Science degrees in finance and supply chain management.

Stanbury is currently working as a waiter while he awaits word on his law school applications. In law school, he wants to study international and natural resources law, which he hopes will provide many different opportunities to see more of the world. He previously worked in radio sales and as an Operations Analyst at Parker Aerospace.

Stanbury's hobbies include basketball, golf, fly fishing, surfing, reading and traveling. He describes himself as curious, loving and overly analytical. He is proudest of his family, especially his sister Natasha and his boys in Tempe, who never cease to amaze him. He feels he'll be the Sole Survivor because of his willingness to try anything and his enjoyment of the learning that comes with both success and failure. He wants to be on SURVIVOR so he can travel, learn about himself in a difficult situation and meet smart, beautiful women.

Stanbury is currently single and residing in Tempe, Arizona. His birth date is July 21, 1980.

Ruth Marie Milliman - 48 - Director of Retail Leasing - Greenville, SC

Ruth Marie Milliman was born and raised in Anderson, South Carolina, where she enjoyed athletics and was actively involved in Little Theater and competitive ballroom dancing, along with singing in pageants and weddings. She graduated from T.L. Hanna High School.

In 1975, Milliman was crowned Miss Teenage Greenville and participated in Miss Teenage America. She then attended the University of South Carolina, where she eventually received a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice. While in college, she was a member of the Chi Omega sorority and was a cheerleader (she was head cheerleader for the squad in 1979). She also worked as a page for the South Carolina House of Representatives.

During her college years, Milliman was crowned the 1978 South Carolina Watermelon Queen and the 1979 Miss Cayce West Columbia. She attended the Miss South Carolina Pageant, in which she was voted Miss Photogenic by the press.

After graduating college, Milliman was hired by Eastern Airlines as a flight attendant. In 1981, she was appointed First Female Narcotics agent with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Agency and attended the South Carolina Police Academy.

For the past 19 years, Milliman has been involved with and employed in shopping center development. She is currently the Director of Retail Leasing for Centennial American Properties in Greenville, South Carolina.

Milliman has been running competitively since 1992 and holds many road race records in South Carolina. In 2001, she was awarded the YWCA Women in Sports Award. In 2003, she participated in the Marathon Des Sables, a race often called "the toughest footrace on the planet." The competition entails a seven day, 152-mile stage race. She finished second out of 59 women and placed 100th overall out of 677 runners. She was featured in an Emmy-nominated ESPN special about the race, titled "Foot Race Across the Sand."

Milliman is an active member of the PTA for Greenville High School and is a member of the Greenville High Booster Club. She was head coach for the Greenville Track Club Junior Olympic Youth Program for four years. She is also a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church.

Milliman is the proud mother of two teenage children, Anna, 15, and Max, 17. She currently resides in Greenville, South Carolina. Her birth date is April 11, 1957.

Sally Schumann - 27 - Social Worker - Chicago, IL

Born and raised in Duluth, Minnesota, Sally Schumann spent a lot of time outdoors. She attended Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she played midfield on the women's soccer team and earned her Bachelor's Degree in social work. She spent the last four years employed as a social worker and varsity girl's soccer coach at Buffalo High School in Buffalo, Minnesota.

Sally describes herself as compassionate, competitive and funny. The accomplishment she is proudest of is having trained for and completed her first marathon last summer. Her favorite sports to watch include baseball and hockey. She enjoys many outdoor activities, such as fishing, camping and playing broomball. Reading, listening to music and spending time with friends and her dog, Darby, rank among her other pleasures. Photography is her greatest passion; a day spent behind her camera is a day well spent.

SURVIVOR and THE AMAZING RACE are the television shows Schumann never misses. A huge SURVIVOR fan, she has applied for the show a total of five times. This was the first time she made it to the semifinals. Schumann believes she has a great shot at winning because she is determined and competitive, and she enjoys building relationships with people. She draws strength and inspiration from her older sister, whom she admires more than anyone else.

Schumann recently went through a divorce and is currently dating her best friend. She currently lives in Chicago, where she works as a waitress and bartender. Her birth date is December 10, 1978.

Shane Powers - 35 - Owner, Entertainment Marketing Company - Los Angeles, CA

Shane Powers was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. After finishing high school, Powers moved to Los Angeles.

In 1999, Powers and two business partners established a boutique specialty marketing company with the goal of effectively branding products. On the side, Powers makes time to coach his son's football team. Previous employment included work as a club promoter and restaurant manager.

Powers describes himself as witty, outgoing and funny. His most important accomplishment, still in progress, is raising his son. His hobbies include basketball, softball, writing and frequenting bookstores.

Powers believes he can be the Sole Survivor because of his unmatched communication skills. He believes he is also a physical threat and has the ability to manipulate people and not have them be resentful. If he wins, he wants to buy some real equipment and a great field for his son's football team.

Powers currently resides in Los Angeles under the watchful eye of his son, Boston. His birth date is November 28, 1970.

Terry Deitz - Airplane Pilot/Retired Navy Fighter Pilot

Terry Deitz was born and raised in Matawan, New Jersey, by his mother, Peggy and father, George. He has three brothers, Mickey, Skip and Tommie, and one sister, Pegi.

Deitz attended St. Joseph's Grammar School in Keyport, New Jersey, where he played little league baseball, football and basketball. He was also an avid swimmer and a member of the dive team. He then attended St. John Vianney High School in Holmdel, New Jersey, where he earned 11 Varsity letters in football (quarterback), baseball (catcher) and wrestling. He received All County and All Conference awards and made All-State Baseball 1st Team. In addition, he was Varsity Captain for three sports.

From 1978 to 1982, Deitz attended the United States Naval Academy. While there, he played four years of Varsity Division I baseball. In 1982, he was ordered to the USS Enterprise aircraft carrier as a Ship's Officer in the Weapons Department, where he handled ship's defense systems. He was also Officer of the Deck qualified, which enabled him to run the ship for the Captain on a four-hour watch rotation.

In 1984, Deitz was ordered to the US Navy flight school in Pensacola, Florida, where he learned to fly a Navy T-34 turbo prop. He earned jet grades and was sent to Meridian, Mississippi for T-2 and T-A4 advanced jet training. After he obtained his Navy wings, he was ordered to NAS Miramar in San Diego, California, for training in the F-14 Tomcat. In 1986, he began flying the F-14. In 1987, he was a pilot with the Fighter Squadron-51 (Miramar/Deployed on the USS Carl Vinson CVN-70).

Deitz met his wife, Trish, six days before his last six-month cruise. They had three dates, and then he went away for six months. They eventually married on October 5, 1991.

From 1990-1992, Deitz conducted shore duty as an F-14 Instructor pilot. In 1992, married life with family aspirations triggered his decision to leave the active duty Navy.

He was honorably discharged from active Navy and entered Navy reserve. He was then hired by American Airlines as a commercial pilot. In 1994, he and his family moved from San Diego to Simsbury, Connecticut to be able to fly out of New York and Boston. While employed as a commercial pilot, he was also hired by the Naval Reserve Logistics Squadron-52 where he flew the DC-9 worldwide out of the Navy air station in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. He was later promoted to Commander and eventually retired in April 2001.

Deitz presently resides in Simsbury, Connecticut with Trish and their children, Kayla and Daniel. He continues to fly with American Airlines, piloting the Airbus A300. His birth date is October 10, 1959.

Tina Scheer - 45 - Logging Sports Promoter/Performer - Hayward, WI

The youngest of six children born into a logging sports family, Tina Scheer learned how to log roll in Northern Wisconsin when she was seven years old. She feels all of her childhood memories are good ones and credits her mother for raising six children by herself.

Scheer is the owner of the World Champion Lumberjills, "Chics with Axes," a traveling group of female lumberjacks. She is also owner of The Great Maine Lumberjack Show, which is based in Trenton, Maine. She competes regularly as a lumberjill and is also a logging sports promoter. In addition to touring the country, she has traveled to Australia ten times with her exhibitions. She also traveled to South Africa, Germany and New Zealand. She has been featured in CBS's Challenge of the Sexes, MTV's Real World, National Geographic, Sports Illustrated and Women's Sport & Fitness.

After Scheer was accepted to participate in SURVIVOR: GUATEMALA, her only child, Charlie, 16, was killed in an auto accident one week before she was expected to leave. In spite of this tragedy, Scheer was determined to complete the SURVIVOR adventure that they had started together. She describes herself as outgoing, funny and adventurous. Scheer feels her greatest achievement, apart from the privilege of being Charlie's mom, is promoting women in a man's sport.

Having grown up in the woods, Scheer is most comfortable in the outdoors. She is an avid hiker and biker, kayaks regularly and does X-C skiing.

Scheer currently splits her time between Hayward, Wisconsin, and Trenton, Maine. Her birth date is November 17, 1960.

Had to put it in two posts because it was too long...

[PokéMaster]

Survivor: Panama starts tonight! (Already almost over in the Eastern areas...)

[Mstrgmr]

No, almost starting

[PokéMaster]

Tina was voted out of the Casaya (Older Women) Tribe last night. Check tv.com for my synopsis! (It's not written yet but it will be and most likely accepted!)

[PokéMaster]

Poor Bruce...

[Mstrgmr]

Very poor Bruce, I like him, after Terry