Teresa Smithson's

Yeah, I read it. I would have expected a better article from her. She is pretty sharp.

I enjoyed the article!

It was an interesting article....good reading...:good:

Link

Link

Wow, tough crowd!

I enjoyed the article. It offered a nice snapshot of an interesting and challenging assignment.

Rick

Tough crowd is right!

I know Teresa. This article had nothing to do with politics.

She's rightfully proud of stepping up to the plate and taking on a job/project/responsibility that fits with her personality.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the article. But, then, I took it for what it was...an interesting read written by someone whom I respect. Unlike a few others here.

And if that gets me banned, so be it. But a few others here need to learn some civility. Perhaps a read of https://surveyorconnect.com/index.php?mode=thread&id=104808#p104907 is in order for some.

:good: I too enjoyed the article for a good read.

Teresa Smithson's Edit in RED CAPS

This was a good article by Theresa with a lot of insight into the role and logistics of a surveying professional in a war zone. A corporate war zone, so it is political even though her intent was not to claim it as such. I read it carefully.
But war is good business…to some corporations.
The reality is that Afghanistan war is about long range mineral /mining reserves ( lithium), opium fields, and oil infrastructure. Karzai was selected by the CIA to head the government nd has held office through some dubious election procedures. Same scenarios as Latin America countries in the 1950s like Guatemala.
Of course the popular message is that we are killing Taliban and Al-Qaida adversaries and promoting women’s equality in an attempt to bring them social freedom.
But isn’t it telling that Theresa appears to be the ‘token’ female in this environment also and she highlights that fact. I DO NOT IMPLY THAT THERESA IS QUALIFIED FOR THIS POSITION IN THE COMMON USGAE OF A TOKEN EMPLOYEE. SHE IS EXTREMELY QUALIFIED AS A PERSON AND PROFESSIONAL TO HOLD THIS POSITION
Is she holding up a mirror for us to us look into? Also she states that she has never seen local women during her course of business. You can think about the lack of women surveyors involved in this board also. I can only think of a few licensed professional who post here once in a blue moon. That is regrettable also because they bring great knowledge and insight here.
Afghan civilians are being killed each day by Taliban and NATO forces. That is a fact and the innocent are dead while no one providing them security.
I truly respect Theresa. I know her from the old board. She does have the adventure blood in her like her son who she posted about years ago. She is an action person and made the decision to leap out of poor Colorado business environment before it all came falling down. She once told me that she was a participant of the Tom Brown survival training in the Jersey Pine Barrens many years ago and it was a life changing experience. We have exchanged two emails or so in the past.
Ian, I have always respected your insight also. To ignore the political nature of these articles that appear in the various survey ad mags and stick up for Theresa is admirable.

Good luck and Godspeed Theresa,

Decent article. I may have worded things differently, but hey, when you may be shot, who gives a damn if the writing is perfect.

Very cool job and assignment, and I'd love to buy her a beer to hear about it.

I have had the pleasure of sharing several meals with Teresa and her husband. It really it an educational experience.

Larry P

"Decent article. I may have worded things differently"

All I know is that Teresa Smithson is one of the most intelligent surveyors around. I look forward to reading ssorcbor's or Kris Morgan's better-worded articles, but until then I think she is a fine author and a great surveyor.
Tom

"Good luck and Godspeed".......I second that.

adam

Evidently, you missed my point. My point was to, I hope, explain better what sscorb was trying to relay and that it was a great article, even though I would have worded it a bit differently.

Ease up Keaneu just a little. No harm was meant by my words, only slight constructive criticism and accolades for her work.

I think there is a lack of narrative flow that makes it choppy and kind of distracting to read; but that is the failing of the editor, not the author.

Kris

> Evidently, you missed my point. My point was to, I hope, explain better what sscorb was trying to relay and that it was a great article, even though I would have worded it a bit differently.
>
> Ease up Keaneu just a little. No harm was meant by my words, only slight constructive criticism and accolades for her work.

If it is I that needs to ease up, then I apologize. Maybe I should have said that we all 'would have worded it differently'. I am sure our own style is like a fingerprint. I have tried to write papers and articles in the past and find it very difficult. Maybe for you and others it is as simple as speaking or chatting on an internet board.

If it were meant a constructive criticism, I would suggest being more explicit in where you thought the weakness were. Stating that it was choppy and hard to follow, for instance, sounds more constructive than "I would have worded it a bit differently." One is at least attempting to explain where you thought the weaknesses were, and the other is just inferring that it could have been worded better without saying where or how.

That is what I was trying to say.
By the way, what does "Ease up Keaneu just a little." mean? I am not familiar with it. (not a criticism, a real question).

Adam

The "Ease up Keaneu" is sort of an inside joke. I tend to talk in my sleep, and one night my wife woke me up laughing. She said that I was talking in my sleep, and among other things, said very clearly "Ease up Keaneu". She wanted to know why in the hell I was dreaming about Keaneu Reeves and what it was about. So now, it's that old stand-by. I sometimes forget that it's an inside joke.

As far as her article, I thought it was fine. It's an interesting snap-shot of the times of a surveyor in a combat theater. Personally, I would have liked it more in depth, covering other facets. However, I realize that "A", not everyone writes alike (I still have flashbacks to Business Communications class in college and the "F" for starting a paragraph with the letter "I"), and "B", I wasn't really sure what prompted the article.

At any rate, there is nothing about the woman that is stupid. In fact, I remember her comments here being very well thought out and well reasoned. If she was posting here today, it would be a benefit.

Don't hate on me. I don't always come off as "PC" or "articulate" on a message board. In fact, I tend to come off as a a-hole most of the time. However, within the context of this thread, I'm actually a little jealous of her work. That is the kind of work that I'd LOVE to do. Serving your country, doing something that you love, and probably getting paid VERY handsomely for it. The fact that it's in a sand-box half a world away, would be A deterrent, but not a big one.

She's very cool in my book, and you and I are straight amigo. 🙂

kris

I agree. We often make statements that might sound rude or arrogant when it is not meant that way on an internet page. I have been described as arrogant in this venue, and it is hard sometimes to explain yourself.

I think it's spelled Keanu but then again I don't know how you pronounced it in your sleep.;-)

kris

"I think it's spelled Keanu..."
🙂 Tom, you are irrepressible, I love it and you crack me up.

Kudos to Kris for revealing pillow talk secrets, also.:-)

I'll shut up now ( he said to grateful applause)

Don

Tom

> I agree. We often make statements that might sound rude or arrogant when it is not meant that way on an internet page. I have been described as arrogant in this venue, and it is hard sometimes to explain yourself.
>
> I think it's spelled Keanu but then again I don't know how you pronounced it in your sleep.;-)

I can see xlux is that...and tnytvn is people...but this is just recognizing patterns...:-O

I've never tried recognizing arrogant...I just figure I can't solve the puzzle of what is being said...;-)

DDSM
:beer: