Framing

So here is a close up of the framing system on the main classroom building. As you can see it isn't done, but you can see there is only a faming system in the short transverse direction, none in the longitudinal direction. Only the one meter wide precast concrete panels span longitudinally.

The building is split up into three segments with a 10mm gap between them located where there are double columns and beams. yep, only a 10mm gap for seismic deflection. Also, the precast panels are not structurally tied with the adjacent one, so you're not really getting any diaphragm action. They pretty much just sit on top of the beams with a lame mickey mouse rebar tying it only to the beam.

Trip to Bagram Air Base

investigation continues

You're looking through a hole in the roof from a rocket blast. Good, so I can see the slab.


They were able to remove some of the concrete cover on the rotunda building.
Check out the size of that aggregate, it's like 6 or 7cm!

Why?

As I was waiting for an engineer with the ministry of education to arrive, I happened to look up and...

spotted another column blown out! It almost look as they were trying to hide it behind some plywood. Great, so I walked down the length of the building looking for any others.


and guess what?! I found a third one. When I frist came here I asked them if there was only one column blown out, and they said yes. Wrong! there are three! The last two were in locked rooms and so when I did the walk through, I wasn't able to see them. (eventhough I did asked them at the time to open the door. They said they couldn't or didn't have the key) Don't you think this is a little important for me to know?? can't trust anyone here.




I don't know what the hell is keeping that up.

U.S. Military Releases Video Footage of Airstrike over Afghanistan/Pakistan border

The airstrike that happened a few days ago that pissed off Pakistan.

from the Washington Post:

---

Karzai threatens to chase militants into Pakistan
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/06/15/asia/afghan.php

Taliban jail raid frees hundreds

Front page on the BBC World News website.

Afghan security forces are searching for hundreds of prisoners who escaped a jail in Kandahar, Afghanistan, after Taleban fighters blew up the main gate.

BBC report

1,000 people escaped, including 400 Taliban members. Kandahar is under a state of emergency. Are things really that out of control?

They said the blast was large enough to blow out windows 3km away.

Great Diet Plan

Lost 4kg (8-9 lb) in the past two to three days when I was sick and not eating. It's a great diet plan, Afghanistan Sickness Diet!

Bet the South Beach Diet can't beat those results.

Quality Products from China: The Office DVD Box Set

What the hell is the "secondly series"?!? or the "there season"?!?

Chicken Street

Morwari showed me Chicken Street.

It was the first time I walked on the street without guards, actually it was the first time I walked on a street. Has lots of cool shops.


This storekeeper was showing me an old Afghan helmet. Not sure if it's real, but it's cool nonetheless. And tons of stores with knives and blades. Knives are cool!