When Facebook switched “become a fan” to “like,” we were admittedly devastated.

Becoming a fan of utterly random things such as ice cubes, bookmobiles and mustaches is what social networking is all about. Sure, it’s great to connect with new-to-the-Internet relatives and hi-remember-me folks, but we prefer pure irreverence. And declaring fandom of intimate objects seems too ridiculously pointless to be ignored.

If you’re an LEO or a just a huge LEO supporter, get your mouse clicker ready to “like” the following pages. But we’re going to still refer to you as a “fan.” So there.

1. Handcuffs – It’s no surprise this popular restraint devise has garnered 930 fans. While those who wear ‘em might not ‘like’ it, others surrounding them probably do. Latest post: “Cops never think it’s as funny as you do. They sent me a picture of me speeding, so I sent a picture of a check… so they sent me a picture of handcuffs.”

2. Canine Police Unit – Life on the canine police unit isn’t easy street. And with zero fans currently, it’s up to you to show this page some love. Latest post: “Just passed a police training seminar in the parking lot of the scottish right building parking lot, a police station and a cop canine unit. Scottish rite? Seriously? Yes.”

3. Badges – Flash this page to your friends, and they’ll think you’re really something. With a respectable 412 fans, you might become the only fan who actually owns one. Latest post: “Badges dress up day today at Hooter’s! I’ll be Mrs. Officer tonight…come see me lol!!!”

4. Parking tickets – Truthfully there were two fan pages for these little love notes. We chose the page with 70 fans because of its page description: “Parking tickets are the roads way of suggesting to idiots to learn how to read. Pictures make it so you don’t even need to know the language!” And you thought getting a ticket was shameful enough.

5. Police officers – Only 240 fans?! Come on LEO world, represent! Latest post: “169 dollar speeding ticket grrr.. God Bless Eagle County for having the most polite and HOT police officers in all the land…at least it wasn’t all bad.”

6. Dunkin’ Donuts – OK, OK … totally stereotypical. However, who doesn’t like donuts? They have more than 1.4 million fans. Hello, it’s time to join the crowd. Latest post: “I Found a Dunkin Donuts in Kuwait Got pics of me in front of it. there should be one on Sabattus st in Lewiston Maine so I wont have to go that far anymore )”

7. Flashlight – Nothing will equip you better in the heat of the night than this handheld light, which is apparently called “torch” outside of the U.S. Latest post: “Crazy morning today! The kid’s school had no electricity and I was sent back and asked to come back with a flashlight among more crazyness!”

8. Tactical Pants – Betcha didn’t see this one coming! The one and only spot on the ‘Book that celebrates uniform pants. Latest post: Reader’s Poll: ‘How much are you willing to spend on tactical pants?’”

9. Police Baton – Another essential piece of equipment. Unfortunately this page only has one fan! C’mon, doesn’t anyone else out there like twirling a baton? Latest post: “I <3 my police baton. The end.”

10. Gun Holsters – We admit to making this page ourselves specifically for this post. But gun holsters are awesome, so can you blame us? Latest post: “Gun Holster Basics: The basic function of a holster is to secure and hold a firearm, or another object, in a location where it can be easily accessed.”

11. Guns – To go along with gun holsters, of course. Except this page has 38,632 fans. Very impressive. And a little scary. Latest post: “Guns are safe, smart, and fun for the whole family.”

12. COPS – It’s everybody’s favorite TV show. And it’s one of the longest-running shows in American history. Latest post: “cops raided, plants pulled!!! ”

13. Police Scanner – How can a cop not like the police scanner? OK, don’t answer that… Latest post: “my mom just tolld me the police scanner was blowing up during the parade most streets we were on had atleast one person call the cops they were trying to track us down with calls”

Next week we’ll follow up this post with the top 10 Facebook pages for police departments and law enforcement-related foundations… promising to be a little more useful but a little less fun.

Did we leave any pages out? Let us know what Facebook pages are your favorite in the comment section below!

(Images via Wikimedia)

Mrs. Fuzz's Iconic Picture

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, we decided to investigate what life is like as the spouse of a police officer. And there’s no better person to ask than Mrs. Fuzz.

Her husband Hot Fuzz (both names are aliases, of course!) graduated from the police academy in May 2009. She shares the joys and hardships of being married to the law on her blog A Police Wife, which she started a year ago.

However, the mother of three has been blogging for much longer than that. Since 2006, she’s been sharing cooking stories and swapping recipies on her other blog Fuzz Food. Her tagline, “feeding and nurturing my family one meal at a time and trying to lay off the donuts,” says it all.

Why did you start blogging?

We had just had our second child, and we decided that I would stay at home while Hot Fuzz (or HF) worked. We both had just finished our degrees as well. In an attempt to stay sane being at home with little ones 24/7, I started blogging and had a lot of fun with it. When HF started the police academy, he wanted complete privacy, and I was looking for an outlet, support and information about police life. So, that’s how Mrs. Fuzz came about.

What’s the most difficult thing about being a police officer’s wife?

The most difficult thing about being a police wife for me (other than the obvious threat of death and danger in the back of my mind constantly) would be the negativity. Suddenly the entire world “hates” my husband because of what he does and suddenly all LEOs are lumped into one category. They are all corrupt, they are all bullies, etc. I had no idea the horrible things people say or think about police until HF became one. And also, the media is anti-police, too, so no help there.

Is there something that all police wives have in common?

I would say that one common thing would be “the single life of an LEO wife.” We know how it is to do things on our own whether it’s tending to our home and kids or going to events alone. Also, expecting the unexpected, like working on a day off, working overtime, staying later because of events that happened while on shift, etc. It has definitely made me more independent as a person and as a parent. There isn’t a whole lot that would surprise me.

Have you seen the blog Hott Cops? Is this a reason you became a police officer’s wife?

Ah. Hott Cops. I have seen this site. It’s not a reason why I became a police wife since I met HF many years before. I was never one to be drawn to a particular kind of guy just because of his profession, but getting to see him in a uniform now is definitely a bonus or a cherry on top as they say. I can see why girls swoon over a man in uniform. It definitely made my heart do a turn when I first saw him on graduation day in his class A’s. I think Hott Cops is fine and all, just keep HF off and we’ll be alright. .

We read that you used to be scared of cops … how did you transition into marrying one?

I met HF when we were teenagers, but I always knew that he would do something police related. I think knowing him for so long before he actually became one helped prepare me for what would come. So transitioning into marriage, I would say, was a lot harder than transitioning into being married to a police officer. It has its own set of challenges, but we both feel that this is a great match for our family, and that I’m doing well with the challenges.

I was completely scared of cops until HF was graduated and wearing the uniform and patrolling. I think understanding why they do what they do and how everything works definitely takes the fear out it.

Do you think you’ll ever trade in the apron for a badge … or any another profession?

As far as trading the apron in for a badge? NOT A CHANCE! I couldn’t do what they do or see what they see.

I do, however, see myself being an owner of a boutique or a little cafe or bakery or bed and breakfast. I also have a dream of being paid to organize and declutter people’s lives. Or there’s that one dream of writing children’s books or cookbooks. I have a lot of dreams.

In your opinion, aside from tactical pants, what’s the best gift you can give a police officer? Why?

Aside from tactical pants, I think the best gift a police wife could give her LEO would be support. I listen to HF, I ask him a lot of questions, I ask him what he needs, I ask him what I can do to help him in any way, I make him healthy meals to take to work with him, and I try and read related books that help me understand him and this life/profession he has chosen. I would expect the same for me. That’s why he has a lot of jobs around the house. The work doesn’t stop when he gets home. Having fun is also a big part. There isn’t a lot that is fun about his job and I want him to have a great time with the time he does get to spend with us. But if you were to ask him he would probably say wholeheartedly that he is having a blast on the job. He loves what he does.

Or. . . there’s always a flashlight. For some reason, they can never have enough flashlights. Or knives.

Now that most tactical pants have a back pocket specifically dedicated to keeping wallets from sinking down the lower leg, it’s almost a requirement to get a wallet that’s equally as tactical.

As luck would have it, Toner Machining Technologies, or TMT, manufactures just that—a tactical wallet. What some have dubbed the “Swiss Army wallet,” the tactical wallet combines the functionality of your average-joe wallet with ninja-like slickness. In addition to credit cards, this bad boy totes a compass, tweezers, a glass breaker, a toothpick, a pen and some super-secret compartments for iPods, medication and other goodies.

How tactical is your wallet?

The patent-pending wallet is offered in two models: the TMT – H20 Sports Wallet ($85) and the TMT – Tactical Wallet ($125). However, don’t let the name of the sports wallet fool you—both wallets are incredibly tactical. Each are designed to survive extreme conditions, even as extreme as mall shopping on Black Friday.

In addition to the features listed above, the wallets have an o-ring sealing that prevents anything but your own grimy fingers from getting into it. There’s also a stainless steel money and credit card clip. If you do carry credit cards in your wallet like most of America, this wallet will block folks from stealing your information through RFID scanning devices. Take that, criminals!

One of its coolest features is a defense mechanism on its side. That means that this wallet not only kicks butt, it can help you kick someone’s butt. The outside of the wallet can also be engraved with your favorite tactical phrase. Or, you know, go the non-tactical route and etch your initials on it. We won’t judge. Promise.

Not completely convinced that this is the greatest wallet on Earth? Watch the video below for further evidence.

(Images via The Gadgeteer)

Even members of law enforcement must answer to the fashion police. And you thought you were exempt! Oh no. When we all want to wear our tactical pants seven days a week, things can get a little tricky. If you don’t have enough shirts that pair with khaki, black or olive drab pants, peruse the shopping list below.

While it seems fairly simple, there are definitely some tactical fashion don’ts. Like don’t wear khaki on khaki (unless there’s a good reason, like if it’s part of a uniform or going on a safari). Oh, and never sport clashing khaki or black. That’s *way* worse. You can also mix and match your tactical shirts with your other non-tactical clothes … like jeans. Or sweatpants perhaps.

And ladies, keep an eye out for the women’s tactical pants fashion police update. We’ll post it next week.

Elite Short & Long-sleeve Tactical Polos ($34.99-$39.99)
Polos are probably the best pairing for tactical pants. Nothing looks more classic or clean-cut. Woolrich offers multi-functional polos in black, khaki, range officer red and navy that will help you keep a low profile undercover or off-the-clock. Choose either a short or long sleeve polo with moisture-wicking fabric, keeping you dry and cool for whatever might come up.

5.11 Tactical Shirt Long Sleeve ($59.99)
It’s only natural to wear a 5.11 shirt with tactical pants since they basically invented the pant and have garnered a cult following. With colors like black, khaki, olive-drab green, navy and desert sand, finding a match for your pants will be simple. What’s cool about this shirt that differs from mainstream military-style fashion is its patented hidden-document pockets perfect for a cell phone. With six pockets total, your shirt will be competing with your pants to carry all your equipment.

Warrior Wear Tactical Shirt ($46.99)
Whether you choose olive drab, navy or black, this durable shirt features added ventilation and wrinkle-, fade- and stain-resistant cotton. With extra breathability, you’ll be able to move freely and comfortably both on- and off-duty. And when the work gets really dirty, easily roll your sleeves up and fasten them with a button on the side. There’s also a hidden zipper pocket aside from the shirt’s main pocket along with a cell phone catch pocket.

Covert Casual Plaid Shirt ($39.99)
Since plaid is all the rage right now, there’s no way you could go wrong with this 5.11 lightweight shirt. While you might be able to find similar looks in department stores, none will have the same moisture wicking capabilities or functionality. Ideal for undercover wear, this shirt has been specially designed for concealed carry, whether it’s a shoulder holster or at your waist. The shirt’s lining is CovertMesh, a lightweight fabric that won’t bunch around your concealed gear. Blackhawk’s 1700 shirt in blue, green, green or brown plaid boasts a similar look and features.

Men’s Operator Grade Zip-Up Shirt ($61.99-$66.99)
This all-cotton poplin shirt becomes very tactical when it comes to taking it off and on. Instead of fumbling with buttons, it boasts a hidden zipper down the front while still visibly hosting a series of buttons. However, the shirt’s collar still is a button down. Another tactical feature is its multiple pockets—a sleeve pocket for pens and two chest pockets with hook and loop flap closures.

Here at the Tactical Pants Blog we come across all sorts of tactical nonsense (tac corsets, anyone?) as well as more logical items such as tactical pens and, of course, tactical trousers. However, when we saw a sizzling advertisement for tactical bacon, we simply couldn’t resist.

When this canned wonder hit the market back in April, it was openly embraced by the place that has an ongoing love affair with all things bacon. From bacon booze to bacon jam, it seems like if you tack the word “bacon” to any story on the Internet, you’re met with instant success (much like the word tactical, eh?).

Now what exactly makes this bacon so tactical?

Firstly, the 9-ounce can has an amazing shelf life of ten years. Once you pop the top, you’ll uncover 54 bacon strips coiled up and smooshed together in lard for $15.99. Moreover, it’s advertised as a perfect companion for camping, hunting, zombie standoffs, end-of-the-world scenarios and more. Plus, you could probably use an unopened can as a defense mechanism.

Tac-Bac contains pork, water, salt, sugar, sodium flavoring, sodium phosphat, sodium erythorbat and sodium nitrate. It’s described as “smelling like dog food,” “holding the shape of the can really well” and “really really really greasy” in the various video reviews below. (Note: Apparently canned bacon brings out some NSFW language, so beware in the second and third video!)

“I think the future wars will be battled over tactical bacon because this is the best bacon I’ve ever had out of a can,” proclaims Stew for Lunch as he shoves an uncooked piece of Tac-Bac in his mouth.

So, don’t be shy … take a bite!

And then there’s a different kind of tactical bacon …

Want to get into some serous James Bond stuff? Turn your ticket-writing tool into a window-breaking, DNA-catching weapon. Don’t worry … everyone else is doing it!

Recently UZI released a tactical defender pen ($19.95), which takes your average writing utensil and transforms it into a something that could possibly save your life. What really sets this scribbling tool apart is that its crown doubles as a DNA collector. When an attacker is jabbed, not only does it hurt like hell, it inconspicuously picks up some DNA. That way, if he does get away, it won’t be for long.

Tactical pens are especially useful for those in the law enforcement field. Patrol officers generally love that they can use the same thing write some tickets and then seconds later kick some serious butt. Others in military and public safety can’t get enough of these pens perfect for unexpected hand-to-hand combat. (Note: These are mostly assumptions, so tell us if you really do or have used a tactical pen to defend yourself or others. We’re really, really curious.)

If you’re looking to spend a little more on a tactical pen, there’s a variety …

There’s ones that can break windows.

SureFire, $125

Others tout stainless steel, ergonomic benefits…

Benchmade, $153

And, of course, there’s a girlie version.

Schrade, $22.95

Todd over at The Apathy Ball ties the tac pen craze to a specific scene in The Bourne Identity, where Matt Damon’s character Jason Bourne really messes up the bad guy with the help of a hardcore desk pen. The pen doesn’t appear until the 1:23 mark, which makes it all the more suspenseful to watch. Pass the popcorn, please!

Todd gives us three reasons for tactical pen proliferation: 1. Easy to transport (on airplanes, bars, spaceships…). 2. Less scarier than a knife. 3. As he puts it so poignantly … “They’re extremely useful because you can write sh** with them.”

Want to see more action? Watch how kung fu master Johnny Tsai demonstrates how to break away from an attacker using what else but a tactical pen.

Are you convinced that tactical pens and tactical pants are soul mates? We are.