u/burgiebeer

From the California Drivers Handbook:

Navigating Roundabouts

Overview
What are roundabouts, and what are their benefits?
A roundabout is an intersection where traffic travels around a central island in a counterclockwise direction. Vehicles entering or exiting the roundabout must yield to vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians.

Roundabouts can have many advantages over traffic signals when constructed in the right location, including:

—They provide traffic calming, resulting in reduced speeds.

—They require less maintenance, have lower yearly operational costs, and have a longer service life.

—They reduce greenhouse gas emissions by reducing vehicle idling time.

—The median islands provide refuge for pedestrians, allowing them to cross one direction of traffic at a time.

—They provide additional opportunities for landscaping in the community.

Tips for Motorists Navigating Roundabouts
When you approach a roundabout:
—Slow down as you approach the intersection.
Yield to pedestrians and bicyclists crossing the roadway.

—Watch for signs and pavement markings that guide you or prohibit certain movements.

—Enter the roundabout when there is a big enough gap in traffic.

—Drive in a counterclockwise direction. Do not stop or pass other vehicles.

—Use your turn signals when you change lanes or exit the roundabout.

—If you miss your exit, continue around until you return to your exit.

Oakland has amazing taquerias but where can I find some bomb old school sit down Mexican restaurants? The kind where the chips come in red baskets and the margs flow freely.

We've had some propane fire pits that are set into half wine barrels. The barrels were falling apart after years of use so I rebuilt them into some new barrels. Used the opportunity to replace the red lava rocks with black ones. They came from a week-known commercial building materials store in the area that supplies them for fire pits.

The first lot we rinsed well because they were covered in dust, and immediately starting cracking and popping. I left them on for four hours to make sure there was no water. Eventually it seemed like they stopped, but then we turned them on later for service and within 20 minutes they started popping and exploding again. Turned off. Waited a day. Let them run for another 4 hours on low -- continuing to crack and pop. Additionally, within a few hours the rocks were black with soot which had never happened before.

Took the off the rocks we rinsed and replaced with some that we did not rinse and within 20 minutes they started exploding.

Did I do something wrong in rebuilding the fire pits? Is there something (other than the rocks) I should be looking at? Investing in fire glass is a logical next step, but it's like 10x the cost of lava rock.

We never ver had any popping or soot issues with our old red lava rocks and those would sit out in the elements rain or shine, so I'm lost for what to do next...