Hotel, Motel, Holiday Inn (w/ Bing Crosby)

[discreet_chaos]

It has snowed off and on all day, here. Perhaps at its fluffiness, we maybe had between three and four inches, but I theorize that the dry climate quickly zaps the moisture from any snow because now it's all just laying flat on the ground

Comments

[niap_si_efil]

You hit it right on the nose there; In Maine, we basically kept three feet of snow on the ground all winter.

Here, where snow is a rare thing, no one is taught or learns how to deal with it. So drivers don't reduce speed, they don't anticipate slowdowns, they don't know about black ice, etc.

[discreet_chaos]

So, you're saying that it's the paternalistic nature of this state and because Daddy-Government is going to protect its citizens, come hell or high water, all of those people using I-40 to cross the country be damned?

Yesterday morning, I-40 was closed from Albuquerque to Gallop and yesterday evening, they changed it to Albuquerque to Texas. There was a short window when you could go in both directions, but for most of yesterday, half of the highway's travelers were forced to stop in the city by the State Police. They weren't allowed to be masters of their own destinies, it had nothing to do with their individual skills or backgrounds, they were summarily delayed under the threat of arrest.

[niap_si_efil]

No, that's not what I'm saying. I'm sure it was terribly inconvenient to be stopped if you happened to be travelling across the state, but an individual driving doesn't have the resources necessary to make an informed decision about road and traffic conditions that might vary widely during and after a snowstorm.

[discreet_chaos]

I'd venture that most vehicles traveling I-40 (outside of Albuquerque) are doing multiple states and though I'm not trying to be difficult, but last time I checked, we're supposed to be Americans. Throughout the 80s, Ronald Reagan made multiple references to our "freedom of mobility" and he used that as an example to set us apart from the rest of the world. Personally, if I were trying to get from Point A to Point B and if they tried to stop me, I'd have to be tempted to test it in court. In this instance, I haven't read the particular laws and judged how they might enable such a declaration, but in other matters because most interstates are built with federal funds, they aren't generally subjected to so much local control. I'd be interested to see how this particular idea is allowed under the regulations and I'd also be interested to learn, if it happens in other parts of the country.

[jaberwockynmt]

I like the Sugarhill reference (assuming it is one and they weren't referencing something older that you are also referencing).

I also had never heard of closing freeways until I moved to NM. Since I've traveled around the west for a while, I've seen big gates that could be closed in Idaho, Oregon, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico, though they've never been closed when I was traveling through.

Lauren told me a story the other day that included I-25 north of Socorro being closed due to snow. Based on context, I'm guessing that the story occurred in the late 80's or earlier.

I also think it's unreasonable to close the freeways due to the ignorance of the locals. Snow preparedness and driving skills should be taught.

[discreet_chaos]

Good catch. It was a Sugar Hill reference with a touch of "White Christmas" for good measure.

Last night as I was posting, I wanted to prepare myself in case someone wasn't to get it, but instead decided to ask. So, if you don't have a copy of "Rappers Delight" and if you'd like to spend a few minutes old school, it's the second song on their MySpace page.