Generosity of strangers

So Saturday, little Bub and I went to meet J for lunch. We had some errands to run in the area, stopped and got some Skyline. For those of you located nowhere near Ohio, Skyline is Cincinnati style chili. It's cheap. It's very good. It's quick. And it's readily available in the southwest quadrant of the state.

Anyway, we are used to having meals discounted if J is in uniform (which he was). We don't expect it, we CERTAINLY don't demand it, but we appreciate it and accept it when offered. J tells me typically this Skyline gives them 50% off when they are in uniform. I think Moe's does the same thing. It's a nice perk.

J gets up to pay, I am getting the boy's coat on (no small feat with a wiggly 21 month old), and I overhear some conversation along the lines of "Are you sure?" at the register. I am not really paying attention, but J comes over and says that our bill has been taken care of. I said "the whole thing? That's odd." He says "some guy came in to get carry-out and asked them if we'd paid, then paid it for us. When I got up to pay, the cashier threw the bill away." Since my back was to the door, I didn't even see the guy come in or leave.

I was pretty speechless. I know that sort of thing happens for military and firemen occasionally, but in general cops don't get that kind of appreciation. I don't want it to sound like it is a HUGE deal, because it was probably a twelve dollar meal. It's the gesture.

And it meant a lot.

Cops finally get their 'own' cars

Finally. Purpose-built vehicles for law enforcement. Kind of makes you wonder why someone hasn't come up with one before? All this time, they've been driving regular passenger vehicles retrofitted to meet their needs. These cars are engineered specifically for cops.

Carbon Motors. Check them out. Pretty damn cool.

Look at some of the specs: (some of my favorites in bold)

Meets or exceeds all regulatory requirements
Designed to 250,000 mile durability specification
Turn-key built-to-direct-order - 24/7/365 call center support
Turn-key end-of-vehicle-life process
Comprehensive warranty
Aluminum spaceframe body structure
75 mph rear impact crash capability
Cockpit with fully-integrated factory fitted law enforcement equipment
Integrated emergency lights, spot lights, take down lights, and directional stick
Segment exclusive coach rear doors for safer suspect ingress and egress
Vehicle dynamic control
Anti-lock brakes
Optimized approach / departure angles and ground clearance
NIJ Level III-A (or better) ballistic protection (front doors and dash panel)
Purpose-designed seat for use with on-body equipment - Heated and ventilated seats
Heads up display
Reverse backup camera
Remote start capability
Driver specific intelligent key
360 degree exterior surveillance capability
Automatic license plate recognition system
Video and audio surveillance of rear passenger compartment
130hz - 350hz bass siren
Nightvision compliant interior illumination
Integrated forward looking infrared system (FLIR)
Integrated shotgun mounts
Optimized storage capability (compartment and cargo)
Integrated front and rear passenger compartment partition
Hoseable rear passenger compartment
Integrated push bumpers and PIT capability