Change we can believe in . . .

Among today's headlines, interspersed with the inauguration frenzy, a bit of reality check:

Maine auto-parts manufacturer closing, another hundred-plus jobs gone poof:

http://www.bangornews.com/detail/97565.html

Meanwhile, I guess I go snowblower shopping today.

Change that has happened

I remember "White Only" drinking fountains and toilets . . .

Snowblower shopped

Well, that's over a thousand bucks I'll never see again . . .

Getting an 8 hp version to replace the 5 hp boat-anchor, the better to chew up snowplow berms that have frozen into place.  As I get older, I feel less inclined to ply the coal shovel against such forces of evil.

And the dealer will take the old one away.  Which matters, when you don't own a pickup truck.  They confirmed my diagnosis of a buggered gearbox, for which the replacement part cost is $350 US.  Plus labor.