Thatsaclevername
Thatsaclevername t1_j9gofgw wrote
Reply to TIL of Macadam roads. These roads were convex, raised a few inches, and made of layered crushed rock; they were state-of-the-art for the 19th century. The rise of automobiles led to the dust issues that were solved by binding the roads with tar, leading to the invention of tarmac. by jamescookenotthatone
Most roads are still built this way, your top level of asphalt pavement is only a few inches thick and then will have some manufactured gravel under that to maintain stability. That's where most of your strength comes from, the gravel under the pavement. They're also "crowned", as the OP discussed, to allow drainage of water.
Crushed rock and the science behind it, which is also the science of roadways and pavement, is super neat and one of those "I didn't know it was that complicated" things that people use day to day.
Thatsaclevername t1_iyeurmi wrote
Reply to comment by CodeNCats in The EU is looking at seizing $330 billion in frozen Russian assets and investing them — with any profits going to Ukraine by KeenlyFirst
That was the thing that jumped out at me too, like wtf? It would be one thing if Ukraine was in the EU and this was seed money for some form of reconstruction post-war. But it sounds like the EU is just going to take the money. I'm not sure what the expected returns on investment would be on something like this, but I'm sure it's nowhere near that 300 billion total.
The whole thing seems kinda weird.
Thatsaclevername t1_j9uueam wrote
Reply to The very first image published of Russias invasion. A soldier jumping over a crimean toll-booth. by CustardAccurate1540
Those early days of fighter jets burning full throttle over populated areas were surreal. I'm glad it wasn't the opening stages in a larger conflict, and I'm glad that I won the "Ukraine won't last two weeks bet"
You still owe me 20 bucks Nick, you scoundrel.