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....   
      
        
   --- WWIVToss v.1.50    
    * Origin:  http://www.weather-station.org * Bel Air, MD -USA (1:261/1304.0)