This & That, Ceci et Cela

Freaky factoid of the day = 10,000 bullet-proof cars in Mexico City:

“Safety on the roads has a whole new meaning in Mexico City, where there are an estimated 10,000 bullet-proof cars in circulation. With fear of violent crime at an all-time high, it’s a booming sector, despite the hefty price-tag: converting your Mercedes or BMW can cost anywhere from $20,000 to $90,000, depending on the level of security. According to the Mexican Association for the Protection of Bulletproof Vehicle Users, around 63% of those getting their cars bullet-proofed are businesspeople; 20% are politicians and celebrities; and 17% are government functionaries.  Your arsenal can include anything from steel radiator shutters to nozzles that spray chilli-pepper gas, immobilising your opponent for 40 minutes. There is even a retractable area of the armour, euphemistically referred to as the “Reaction Outlet”, through which you can shoot at your would-be assailant” (via Economist, “To the Batmobile!”).

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