I was recently in Vietnam due to a family emergency.  I’ve been there many times before, but here I am at the airport, their newly remodeled and very impressive airport that is now up to international standards - and there it was: Phuc Long Coffee. 

 Now was this coffee with built-in Viagra?  Did it contain some sort of enhancer that allowed one to phuc long? 

 It was inexpensive - about $2.00 for a bag.  So I bring it home for the bigjock.com taste test. And to tell you the truth, it tasted a lot like something I had tasted before. Coffee.

Next time you think to yourself that where we live sucks, or that we may not be totally “free,” just be glad we don’t live in Pakistan, or UAE - and if you do and are reading this, I feel your pain. 

Pakistan has decided to block access to YouTube because those pesky Danish cartoons that poked fun at their prophet can be found lurking. 

UAE is blocking users’ path to FaceBook and MySpace because apparently they are just too darn fun.  These sites apparently degrade the morals, ethics and values of good Muslim kids.  If they only knew how many Muslims from those countries that regularly cruised BigJock.com! 

To once again quote that great fence-mender, Rodney King, “Can’t we all just get along?” 

Another season of American Idol means new dirt.  Each season has been touched by one or more of the wannabe stars having a past life.

Mario Vasquez left 2 seasons back after he allegedly cornered an Idol staffer, and showed him HIS staff.  His album bombed, and is found in the Bargain Bin at a CD store near you.  There was the stripper, the topless pictures last season, as well as the car-thief twins. 

This season we have the gay stripper, David Hernandez, who gave lap dances in Phoenix for a few years.  Not illegal by any stretch, but will AI let him continue?  Will America vote for him now because of this - or will America vote for him BECAUSE of this! 

Now, Tmz.com is also reporting that Danny Noriega, is a disturbed kid.  He went off in his MySpace profile about Christmas. 

I think it’s pretty clear that both Danny and David are BigJock.com material, if you get my drift - and if either would care to stop on by and sign up - heck even post some streaming video, drop me a line.  I am sure once your run is over on the show you may need a place to show your wares. 

Hi Everybody - Believe it or not, 2007 is almost over and 2008 is just days away.  BigJock.com is now one year old, and thanks to you, we are growing each and every day!   Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or nothing at all, this time of year is always fun and festive as we bring in the New Year.  I would personally like to wish you and your loved ones and families a fantastic holiday season and prosperous and healthy 2008. A quick note about the site – We will be launching Version 2.0 of our JockChat feature that is 1000% better than what we have now!  I will drop you a note when the final testing is done.

Once again, here is another Buy One-Get One coupon from Jamba Juice!  Please drink responsibly, and remember that BigJock.com is not responsible for over-indulging or any restrictions your neighborhood location may put on your comsumption desires.

http://www.jambafunctionals.com/bogo/coupon.aspx

Once again, it has been a while since I have had the chance to sit down and write my blog even though much has been going on around us.  That said, I am making my October 10^th resolution to make a much better effort to contribute to this space on the website. 

My purpose today is to express my frustration with the City of
San Francisco, and their lack of competence when it comes to dealing with parking tickets – in particular, reconciliation of fine collections. 

So here is the story:  I was in San Francisco earlier this year on official BigJock.com business, and my meeting in the lower Hayes
Valley took longer than expected.  Naturally, I got a ticket because my 2-hour spot ran 15 minutes over and there was a $40 tag neatly placed on my windshield.   

Well, to the delight of The City, I didn’t get around to paying the ticket right away and the fine multiplied, steeling at $100.  Instead of paying the ticket, and then having to deal with DMV as well, as my car registration would be due in a short time, the ticket appeared on my DMV registration renewal. 

Because of Arnold and his cuts, my registration fee was “only” $278, and the $100 ticket made it an even $378.  I paid my penalty and fee and received my 2008 sticker in the mail, along with a note stating they recognized my ticket has been paid. 

Of course, the next week I get a letter from City Hall demanding the $100, or else.  So, thinking this would be the end of it, I make a photo-copy of the DMV note and drop it in the mail, showing that the ticket had been paid and I am a good citizen.   

Well, 2 weeks ago, another letter appears – again asking for the $100. I decide to pick up the phone and call to state my case.  Hahaha!  Joke is on me, my friends.  I challenge you to call any department of City Hall and have something resolved in short order.  Fighting my way through the “sorry sir, they are out on break,” and the long wait-times on hold, the end result was a request for me to BRING IN THE LETTER.  Right.   

I don’t think they can put “The Boot” on my car for one ticket, so all I can say is screw ‘em.  I’ve done my part.  I’ve paid the ticket and attempted to reconcile it for them by sending a copy of an official State of California document, but apparently the two departments are not in communication.   

Anyone else have similar stories?  We’d love to read and chuckle/cringe along with you!

I came across another Buy-One Get One Free coupon, this time for TCBY.  Keep in mind, it is their coupon and their rules of use apply…BigJock.com is just the site that is spreading the word!!

 http://www.glamour.com/images/sweeps/tcby.pdf

So the Russian president, Vladimir Putin has been seen around the ‘net without his shirt, cruising through a stream in Siberia. So?

 My philosophy is that if you’ve got it, flaunt it.  Maybe he was doing a David Hasselhoff gut-suck, but for a 54-year old guy, he looks like he has a pretty good personal trainer. 

 Th fallout from this spread, both for and against, is expected, and likely planned.  Now if we can only have our 2008 presidential candidates pose topless, who would do the best?  Hillary Clinton, topless?  Maybe  contest to narrow things down.  Hmmmm….Barack Obama versus Rudy Giuliani; Hillary versus John McCain and John Edwards against Michael Bloomberg. 

Contestants can take off their shirts, give a few poses, and BigJock.com will set up a voting system to see who wins.  Granted, it won’t be scientific and probably not too accurate, but it sure would be fun….Edwards looks fit….Obama looks like he needs a few hot pastrami sandwiches to fill out some…Hillary always wears loose-fitting blouses, so you can’t really tell…Rudy has eaten the sandwiches….and I can’t say anything about McCain….war hero, and all….plus I’ve been taught to never speak ill of senior citizens.

Any thoughts or any pictures, please post away!

As I mentioned in my earlier post I attended the Santa Clara County Fair last weekend. 

Making my way through the exhibit halls I saw the booths for the San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose Police Department.  Each booth had stickers and coloring books for the kids, and job application information for potential recruits.

Just across from the SJPD folks was a booth selling wallets, purses and other “designer” items from Coach, Gucci, Chanel and LV.  Knowing full well a Chanel bag costs several hundred dollars - not $15, I had a pretty good idea it was less than legit.

So, again me being a good citizen, I politely asked one of the uniformed SJPD booth-jockeys if he realized his neighbor was hawking fake goods.  He looked over in that direction, giving a response while chuckling, “Ya know, lots of people like that stuff.” 

At the next booth, there were two uniformed Santa Clara County Sherrif deputies, that I posed the same query to.  Their response…”You’d better call Customs, it’s not our job.” 

Maybe they are correct…who cares?  Bootleg music, DVD and computer software, who does it hurt?  Fake autographed sports memorabilia and licensed Sponge Bob stuff.  So what. 

Hello, Chuck Reed, mayor of San Jose.  Your city, your cops, your citizens.   Just wanted you to know. 

Santa Clara County Fair Organizers claimed the Fair would cease to exist if they didn’t at least break even this year.  So, me being a good citizen, I decided to check it out. 

 My opinion?  Cancel the damn thing.

Why?  OK, first off, $8 to park + $8 to get in.  $24 off the bat.  Overpriced lousy food that I could get at the San Jose flea market on Berryessa; vendors that sell nothing of relevence that are also flea market regulars; overpriced games…and thugs.  Lots and lots of thugs.  $75 later, I walked out with a tiny stuffed bear. 

If they were attempting to attract families, couples or upstanding citizens, they failed miserably.  I saw very few couples, and even less families.  Mostly it was groups of individuals wearing some sort of clothing that could be considered gang-related (color-coordinated hats, shirts, etc.) with body art on necks, backs and hands.

Is there anything wrong with this?  Maybe not. Am I being prejudiced in any way? Possibly.  But since I have been around this environment myself in a “past life” I know who likely is and who likely isn’t associated.  Of course you cannot judge a book by its cover - but, if you don’t want to be judged, don’t look the part.