Blowing & Drifting

I’m pleased to report that this afternoon’s automotive drama has ended with a simple repair, a fully-functioning vehicle, and no (monetary) cost to me. The “master body module” – some sort of microprocessor for the “electromechanical systems” (i.e., power doors, windows, steering, but not the radio) – had failed, essentially disabling the entire car. We could turn the car on, but not, you know, turn the wheel. At the Saturn dealership, they popped out the old “MCB,” popped in a new one, rebooted the car (srsly!), reprogrammed the keyless entry fobs, and sent me on my way.

As a friend said later, “We’re all hanging on by a thread, aren’t we? We’re one bad embedded system away from the brink.” I think he’s right. On the drive home, I listened to NPR’s “Marketplace,” which was all about the banking crisis. American finance has the same problem as the car, only there’s no warranty.