PAKALUNCH AT RVCA

I got the signals from 7 miles away, where I sat in my office. The sound of a loud conch shell was heard - Chris Guardado over at RVCA telling me to come by.

In a matter of minutes I was there.  Just hung out for a few minutes before I had to get back to work. Frickin stoooooked.

MITCH, SNAKE HANDLER!

Rattlesnake in his backyard.

WHAT UP FROM ROCKABILLY JAY

Submitted by Rockabilly Jay

I decided I am WAY to big to be squished onto a café style bike. I thought about doing a Sportster since I wanted cheap and USA made... but then I figured that everyone making Sportster street trackers were just kinda making crappy Buells. So instead of trying to make a cool looking Sportster handle, I went the other way and tried to make a great handling Buell look cool.

Here's a shot from the day I got it

This it what it looked like a couple days later

It rides really good and I fit on it. I don't have a car, so I had to do everything while never taking it off the road..

It rides really good, and I fit on it. I don't have a car, so I had to do everything while never taking it off the road.

Also... I know you will love this as much as I do. Photos came from here:

DIABLICOS IN OLD TOWN PANAMA

Submitted by Stevie

I ended up in Panama City after spending a week in Bocas del Toro; a Caribbean chain of islands belonging to Panama. 

My wife is a city girl who likes her hotels, spas and rooftop pools.  So after 7 days of surfing, jungle hikes, panga taxi rides in open ocean, quad jungle excursions to secluded beaches... I owed he some quality city time. 

Panams city is rad!  Lots of big Jewish bank money made off the backs of Chinese immigrant labor with the Panamanian people all in the mix. Oh yeah and Merika! History of this country is really fascinating.

This restaurant, Diablicos, is located in Casco Viejo, Panama. The city was established in 1673, re-built by the French after the first town was destroyed by pirates in 1671 (Panama Viejo).  There is a heavy French influence in architecture here although the food remains Panamanian.  The city is going thru a serious gentrification process, even though we did not see any hipsters. 

Mondongo a la culona 

Panama traditional mixed seafood dish over rice. The dark bits are octopus, with scallop, conch, shrimp and white fish as well. Similar to a paella but with a Panamanian spicy twist. Their hot has a whole different flavor. It's a sweet citrus start with a habanero style heat.

Sancocho paneamño Chico
"green soup"

Empanadas de chorizo tableño

Lechon with a crazy banana leaf wrapped maize stuffed with more pork!

Ohhh damn it was soo good! 

The pictures of the devil decorations are traditional to this area. This restaurant is popular amount local Panamanians for traditional celebrations.

diablicospanama.com 

"SUPER" FOODS COLLIDE!

Portuguese Sausage, Kale, Garlic and Brown Rice - FRIED!

WOW

Wow.

I'VE BEEN TALKING TO THE COPS!!!

Well, sorta... had lunch with Jerry today - yup, the same cop who had that tastefully done CFL I shot almost 3 years ago over at West Coast Choppers, which was the last feature I did for The Horse. 

Yes, had to go for yet ANOTHER bowl of pho. And NO Jerry, I do not "medicate"! Good to catch up with the guy. Always fun to hear about life and all the war stories about crazy people and their bad judgement.

Click photo for the old blog post.

DUSTINATION - PURPLE BELT

BRAH. What can I say that I haven't said before about Dustin? Unusually strong, technical and if I may even have an opinion myself, truly deserving of this promotion. On top of that, achieving this rank from an instructor who has authored several books on the subject and known for not easily handing out belts. Out with the old belt and in with the new.

Here's a guy that just can't wait to get some sparring in with any black belt, regardless of who or where they're from. Always ending even the toughest rolls with gratitude.

Shortly after receiving his promotion, Dustin got thrown by three of the instructors that were in attendance. Then he sparred with the entire academy - back to back for 20 minutes straight.

Big time props goes out to Dustin!

PEPE TIME #70

I have a friend named Pepe. He's pretty funny and I like to keep a log of all the funny things he says and does. Enjoy.

SHAOLIN MASTER 

Back in Pepe Time #64, you might recall Pepe's opinion of Jiu Jitsu. I remember that short moment in time clear as day. "Fuck that faggot shit" he said, with such disdain... but that was totally OK with us. If we were patient enough, I knew that it would come around and it did in the good, humorous form of Pepe Time #70! Some of you fight fans may dig this short tale.

So the back story: Pepe loves watching UFC fights like the rest of us. He has literally seen well over a hundred UFC matches over at Nator's house alone. But Mixed Martial Arts and Jiu Jitsu is not where his heart was, grasshopper. It was in Shaolin Kung Fu!

Please, don't get me wrong. I'm never one to make fun of any martial art. I truly do respect them all, including all of Kung Fu. But I do find it entertaining how Pepe had perceived Kung Fu. Here are some of the more memorable moments over the years.

Pepe: I'm telling you, dude, it's just a matter of time before Kung Fu gets into the UFC

Me: and then what? 

Pepe: Shaolin Kung Fu is bad ass, dude. All that UFC shit is nothing compared to it

Me: you think some Shaolin Monks would show up and clean the UFC out? 

Pepe: psssht, FUCK yeah

Me: Have you seen the first few UFC from the 90's? 

Pepe: So? 

Me: they had some Kung Fu guys in there but they got fucked up. 

Pepe: psssht, I don't remember but fuck all that

Me: you watch any Kung Fu movies lately? 

Pepe: dude, I watched every Kung Fu movie there is on all of Netflix

Me: are you serious? 

Pepe: Totally serious. I fucking watched them ALL. Ask me, quiz me. I'm serious.

Pepe: I've NEVER seen Jiu Jitsu in the UFC before!

Me: How come there isn't any Kung Fu guys on YouTube fucking everybody up?

Pepe: it hasn't come out yet.

Pepe: you know what else I can't get into about Jiu Jitsu?

Me: what?

Pepe: I can't get down with rolling on the floor with a bunch of sweaty guys!

Then exactly one year later, Pepe starts training with us in Jiu Jitsu at our same academy. What caused him to have such a change of heart is still a mystery. He's been hard at it and its been great fun, we're all stoked to have him. Below is an actual photo of his first day!

Me: how was your first day of Jiu Jitsu training? 

Pepe: it's cool, you know, whatever. I just do it for the exercise. 

Me: you went to Kung Fu once in your entire life and went to Jiu Jitsu like 4 times so far this WEEK.

Pepe: so? I rather take Kung Fu... just that in Jiu Jitsu I get to roll with my homies.

[note: Pepe has been training with us regularly for the last 5 months!]

BUILT NOT BOUGHT

Homemade cinnamon walnut bread, peanut butter and strawberry chia seed jam. Courtesy of Sasha.

NEW CUP