I know this isn't really automotive but since my transition from Maryland
to Massachusetts, I've noticed some interesting differences. Both states
are equally expensive to live in but perhaps Maryland was not so bad after
all. There is a local excise tax on cars here. I think it's like $25.00 per
thousand that your car is worth. I just bought a new Ford Escape and got a
whopping bill in the mail last week for $595.00 for the year 2012.  Damn,
is this supposed to fill in the pot holes? Well there are as many pot holes
here as there is anywhere else. Perhaps it's to pay the cops that direct
traffic at road construction sites. Believe it or not, only police are used
to be flag men at any road construction here and on the interstates, they
use state police. I am sure it's been suggested to privatize this but then
many cops would lose their extra pay.  Ok, I am off my bandwagon and will
get back to the topic of automobiles ;)  

Oh so the Escape isn't so bad, I traded my 300 hp VW gti in for it because
I needed the AWD for my nursing work. Everyone drives slow here and admires
the scenery. Only thing I really miss are my HID headlights. There are no
projector lenses for the Ford standard reflectors, but I found a kit to
retrofit in the Ford housing using morimoto mini projectors that allow you
to put in the xenon bulbs and focus them without killing oncoming drivers.
The only way to do this is to do it right. So, I will be getting a second
set of Escape headlight housings to do this so I won't a) screw up the ones
on the car and b) take my time and do it right having them ready to
install. You have to heat the light housing in an oven for about 5 min at
275 to soften the weatherseal so you can pry them apart. Then after the
projectors are installed, you can reseal them and then put in the xenons
from behind.  To be continued....

  
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