And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Monday, March 30, 2026
Massive Roman aqueduct built in Segovia, Spain by emperor Trajan (r. 98-117 AD).
Was there recently. There is a renowned restaurant nearby that serves suckling pig. The owner goes through this animated speech, then breaks up the suckling using the edge of a plate. When he's done he throws the plate across the room. Restaurante Meson de Candido https://mesondecandido.es/
Future historians are gonna look at the Roman's use of concrete and then they're gonna look at the Brutalist's use of it in the 20th century and they're gonna go "wtf? happened?"
Nothing the US has built has been built to stand. 2000 years from today there will be no structure left standing from what people in this blog like to call the #1 country in the world.
Near London, a Roman aqueduct is still in use, same engineering style, different materials. No one is 100% sure of the composition if the mortar the Romans used, but they think it is volcanic ash or pumice, which gave their cement and mortars its remarkable longevity.
No mortar. Just 2000 year old jenga with limestone blocks.
ReplyDeleteThey used to use tar. But that’s a big structure. When they ran out, there was no mortar.
DeleteEach stone is "keyed" on the top and bottom and on the sides that are against other stones. It all interlocks.
DeleteAnd it was in use until 1973!
ReplyDeletehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aqueduct_of_Segovia
And he built it in his spare time and on weekends !
ReplyDelete💪
DeleteWas there recently. There is a renowned restaurant nearby that serves suckling pig. The owner goes through this animated speech, then breaks up the suckling using the edge of a plate. When he's done he throws the plate across the room. Restaurante Meson de Candido https://mesondecandido.es/
ReplyDeleteHe must have really hated that pig
DeleteFuture historians are gonna look at the Roman's use of concrete and then they're gonna look at the Brutalist's use of it in the 20th century and they're gonna go "wtf? happened?"
ReplyDeleteIn many ways, modern society is to the Romans, as 'Idiocracy' is to modern society.
ReplyDeleteOLD WORLD STRUCTURE, the romans didn't build that...
ReplyDeleteSeriously?
Deletewell duh, yes they did.
DeleteMeanwhile 5 year old roads are crap and 10 year old bridges are collapsing. US #1...my ass.
ReplyDeleteHave you been to Singapore?
DeleteNothing the US has built has been built to stand. 2000 years from today there will be no structure left standing from what people in this blog like to call the #1 country in the world.
DeleteTo be fair - all the poorly built structures from that ear have fallen by now…..
ReplyDeleteNear London, a Roman aqueduct is still in use, same engineering style, different materials. No one is 100% sure of the composition if the mortar the Romans used, but they think it is volcanic ash or pumice, which gave their cement and mortars its remarkable longevity.
ReplyDeleteThis is a nice place to visit. If you want to see another unbelievable Roman aqueduct, visit Pont du Gard near Remoulins, France.
ReplyDeleteSecond the Pont du Gard- bring a picnic to sit on the stony river bank and just gaze…. But look at the aqueduct too-
ReplyDelete