...Pollen

There is SO much pollen in the air! Cars are covered in it and when I walked outside for about 5 minutes today I felt my sinuses cringe in fear. I walked through the woods and it slapped me in the face, I went home and washed my face immediately but I then realized I had to wash my hair or else it would end up in my pillow. I was robbed of a real Winter, and now I am being attacked by this pollen with no rain in sight. Shame. I hope this is not the start of a regular thing I will have to deal with every year. I am giving this a Digit Down. I bought a lot of sinus and allergy medicine so I am ready to fight the good fight.

...Formula 1

Formula 1 returns tonight. I say tonight because the race starts at 1AM EST on SPEED. It is in Australia and so far it seems not so bad. Lewis Hamilton took the pole and I hope that this season is much more interesting than last year's when Red Bull dominated the season and killed the excitement. Formula 1 is no NASCAR, it is more technical and a sport for engineers and mechanics sometimes more than race enthusiasts. I like speed and I love the sounds those engines make so I will be watching. I just hoe the new rules are not too much of a buzz kill, Bernie! New teams and drivers should add a little intrigue as well. I am giving this a Digit Up and I will be watching this in one hour.

...Dharun Ravi

For weeks I have watched the Dharun Ravi case. If you do not know who he is read this, you may know him better as the boy "responsible" for the suicide of Tyler Clementi. He was found guilty and could face 5 to 10 years in prison for what was considered a hate crime. I have a problem with this. I know that this case happened in 2010 at the height of the anti-bullying movement in America. When the case unfolded many gay organizations and groups took this on and spoke out against this. I understand that, however I know that the suicide and the spying are 2 different things. Ravi's lawyers said he used the camera to see if anyone was taking his things from his room, a room he share with Tyler,a room Tyler asked him to leave for a few hours while a non student was in the room with Tyler. For whatever reason the case went to show that the man was in his late 20's and not a student. Ravi looked to see what was going on and saw them making out. It was said that he dared others to look on the cam as well and some did and some did not. The case also showed that Tyler decided to stay in his dorm even after someone offered to let him stay in theirs. For whatever the reason Tyler decided to kill himself. This is the part that upsets me about it all. For whatever reason he killed himself, that is a personal decision and now Dharun Ravi is paying the price for it. We do not necessarily know what caused him to do that. Maybe he got into a fight with a lover or another man. Maybe he could not take the pressure of being in school. This could have been a joke gone bad on Ravi's part. A lot of people do not believe that, however if you watch Punk'd or and practical joke show on television today they take things to the extreme. Young boys, young men find this funny, gay or straight. If Tyler were straight this would not be considered a hate crime. I find hate crimes a little hypocritical; you are a minority yes, but you want to be treated as well as the majority, until something happens to you then you want to be seen a a weak minority. I am cannot be mad at Ravi, he did not kill Tyler, Tyler killed Tyler. At the end of the day that is a fact no matter how the lawyers choose to spin the other details of this story. I am giving this news a 2 Digits Down. If your son were Dharun Ravi you would understand where he was coming from and if you are or were ever 18 then you may know even better.

...Duke

Wow Duke... WOW...
I thought Missouri's loss was a big deal, but this one takes the cake.
My bracket is officially busted.
2 Digits Down.

...Hiatus

I feel like I should take a hiatus, or a long vacation as you would call it. Digit Up.

...Japan

No this is not about that minor earthquake Japan had yesterday or so, this is about a man and a car. A 50 year old doctor in Japan posted a video in car forums of himself taking his new Ferrari 458 Italia for a joyride on public streets in the city and rural highway areas. The video shows him weaving through traffic and going well beyond the posted speed limits. Well he would have gotten away with it, if he would not have posted it because it was not until he posted it that authorities began to investigate. Somehow they were able to not only identify the driver, but pinpoint when and where he broke a traffic law, driving 77 MPH in a zone marked for 25 MPH. Japan has strict speeding laws so this man, if convicted, could face up to six months in prison and a $1,220 fine. So what do you do if you have a Ferrari? Ferraris need to be driven fast, that is a fact. If you drive them slow for too log you will damage them and that would be a waste of money. Japan has rural roads, roads that are perfect for beating out in a Ferrari. America has roads like that, and if you have a fast car you can speed all you want. Yes it is illegal to do so, but oh well. Germany should not be the only fun and free place to take your ultra fast car for a thrill ride. I am giving Japan a Digit Down because jail time for a good time in a car, by yourself, is not a fair sentence. Watch the video below of the doctor enjoying himself and his car...and those gloves.

...HBO

HBO has cancelled their original series LUCK, a horse racing show, a day after a 3rd horse died. The show had been a thorn in the side of animal activist ever since the first 1st horse died months ago. HBO released a statement saying the following:

"It is with heartbreak that executive producers David Milch and Michael Mann together with HBO have decided to cease all future production on the series LUCK. Safety is always of paramount concern. We maintained the highest safety standards throughout production, higher in fact than any protocols existing in horseracing anywhere with many fewer incidents than occur in racing or than befall horses normally in barns at night or pastures. While we maintained the highest safety standards possible, accidents unfortunately happen and it is impossible to guarantee they won't in the future. Accordingly, we have reached this difficult decision. We are immensely proud of this series, the writing, the acting, the filmmaking, the celebration of the culture of horses, and everyone involved in its creation."

While filming Tuesday at a race track in Arcadia, CA a horse was injured. Dr. Gary Beck, a veterinarian from the California Horse Racing Board, was on hand and noted the horse was on her way back to the stall when she "reared, flipped over backwards, and struck her head on the ground." HBO had been working closely with the American Humane Association and racing industry experts within the CHRB to implement safety protocols that go above and beyond typical film TV industry standards and practices. That included pre race exams performed by a CHRB certified vet with radiographs taken of the legs of all horses being considered for use in simulated racing sequences. Of course PETA is happy, and maybe they should be on this one. I am giving HBO a Digit Down not for cancelling the show, which averaged about 625,000 total viewers per episode, but for not taking all of this into account before green lighting the show. Now they will have to fill this time slot with a new show...my show? Oh boy! Hahaha we shall see...