Definitely not cool!

My car conked out yesterday in a bad way. I visited a friend, then when I returned to my car and attempted to crank it over, there was a hideous noise and smoke started pouring from under the hood. I shut it off, then opened the hood and asked my friend to tentatively turn the key. This time, I saw that the air conditioner compressor pully was stuck and not rotating. But then it slooowly started to turn and finally started spinning. I drove cautiously, and noticed that when I turned the air conditioning on the engine seemed under far more strain than usual. So I left the AC off and drove it home.
Today I removed the belt (which was burnt and cracked), and sure enough, I couldn’t turn the pulley unless I really bore down on it, and then it would only rotate half way around in either direction, then stop completely. The damned compressor had seized!
I never thought an air conditioner problem could shut you down, but this did.
Here’s the blasted thing for everyone to contemplate:

The cheapest el cheapo rebuilt compressor I could find runs $289.00 — at Autozone! That’s a lot of money — and just in time for Fall and Winter… Not only that, but I have to put the coolant back into the system after I get it all back together.
I guess this beats computer carpal tunnel syndrome. (I was worried about Instapundit because of his dad’s surgery, but I am glad things are OK.) Repetitive mouse movements — especially the clicking with the index finger — are supposed to be what create the most serious problems.
Probably a good idea for me to do some wrenching for a change. I used to study Hap-Ki-Do, and my master made me do all sorts of joint twisting exercises which I use to this day to limber up. (When you feel aches and pains doing them you know you needed to.) No mouse strain yet. (Knock on particle board.)