This is a sign I saw on the road from Las Cruces to Tucson.
So. What does it mean?
Is it a description of what might be? That there is a possibility of dust storms? Here, and now, but not other wheres or whens? Or is it (as we were reprimanded by our mothers or English teachers) simply an expression of permission for dust storms to exist? By whom? Our betters in Santa Fe, or Phoenix? These are state-sanctioned dust storms? And they’re not permitted elsewhere?
Or is it more of a Heisenbergian deal? That dust storms simultaneously both exist and don’t exist, and which is the case is determined only when one collapses the wave function by driving down the road to Lordsburg?
I’ll never know for sure, of course, but I can say that I never saw a dust storm on the trip.
Next up (or perhaps other things in between) — a road sign that I liked a lot more, on the American autobahn. There are a few things that the Germans got right.
Me, I’m a dust storm agnostic…
Caution Dust is a known cause of excessive preparation. If it ever does rain Caution Dust, you’ll be glad the sign was there.
It’s the same as if I went hiking in the parks east of Vancouver and I saw a sign that said: “Caution: Big Foot May Exist.” All they’re saying is he might exist, and if he does exist he’s certainly dangerous – so you should exercise caution just to be on the safe side.
It appears to be to be an artifact typical of stimulus bill projects.
Is New Mexico the haven for philosophers in state gov’t?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/theophile/2217437551/
It was written in nonjudgmental prose so as not to label dust storms.
How awful it would be to say “warning” or use words that might instill fear or label the dust storm as bad or having unacceptable behavior. It might upset the children. The best they could do is to caution you about their possibility.
I’ve never seen a dust storm except on television, and I think those were faked just like the moon landing.
…and if Buzz Aldrin calls, I’m not here.
Usually it’s too dusty in the dust storm to see the signs too. So the question becomes, are these signs really effective as predictors? Or are they extraneous?
Given how little else there is to see and think about on I-10 between Las Cruces and Tucson, I’d say the sign is a public service – kill a couple hours pondering the deeper meanings, and you’ve covered half the stretch without falling asleep and driving off the road.
Seriously though, it’s been there for years. Yes, it might or might not be zen, but it’s definitely not a stimulus excess. (I can see it now – the new WPA, scattering koans on roadsides across the land.)
Henry
You sure it would be Heisenbergian, and not Schroedingerian?
Either or both.
We’ve been talkin’ about this for years in New Mexico,there’s a sign in Tijeras Canyon,east of Albuquerque,identical to the one in James’ post.Every year or so the local radio stations will bring up the existentialism of it all 😀
Well what could be construed as a storm of dust is purely an ideal from the perspective of the individual. There is always dust in the air per say, it is what one’s personal perpective of what constitutes a storm that is the purely subjective experience. One man’s storm may be another’s hazy day. Storms a comin’ I feels it in my bones.
I remember that sign from the last time I made that trip (10 years ago). There’s a counterpart to it on I-5 north of San Diego through Camp Pendleton; don’t remember if it’s the exact same words, but pretty close. Not too far from the twin falsies (with red lights at the apex) of the San Onofre nuclear plant…
“I think therefore I am.” Descartes
“I am therefore I do….” Sartre
“Scooby-dooby doo …..” Sinatra
Another sign on that same corridor, whose picture I can’t locate at the moment, has a warning about how zero visibility is possible. I always wondered what possible good that sign was…
I miss the Burma-Shave (or similar) sign series. They gave you something to look forward to on that long, straight drive.
Those are on the Florida Turnpike, RB, hawking electronic tollbooth passes and advising drivers of buckle-up campaigns. I’d be surprised if Mr. Simberg has photos of them, though. The ‘pike is busy enough that stopping to snap pics like the NM one might be a bit dangerous.
Rand,
I use to drive that route on a regular basis. Those signs were put up a decade ago after a huge dust storm caused multiple chain reaction accidents and multiple deaths on I-10. Often drivers not used to the desert don’t realize that area is at risk from that hazard or how dangerous they are. Often they are very localized, just over an arroyo the freeway is crossing or next to one of the dry lakes.
In Colorado on I-25, it’s “Gusty Winds May Exist” My wife and I have been laughing about it since we moved to the state.