Survey Says!

As far as I'm concerned, the world has gone totally mad with "surveys".  Family Feud with the legendary Richard Dawson was one thing, but the deluge of survey's crossing my snail mail postal box and my email has gotten out of hand.  Everyone seems to "want my opinion" - but only one so far has wanted to pay for it.  I'm a firm believer in the TVM - Time Value of Money and Time is a very limited economic resource.  I actually had one high end company give me a $50 gift card for my opinions!  I am now even getting surveys from my dentist!  I'm being surveyed to death! Seems as if I go to a website, some window pops up "wanting my opinions".  Believe it or not, not long ago I was placing on order for something across the Wild West Web and the site would not let me place the order until I had completed a survey!  "You must answer these questions in order to process the order".  WRONG!  Guess what, I pressed the cancel button and went elsewhere.  Seems they would rather have my opinion than make a sale.  Something is wrong here.    So, please, no more surveys unless you want to pay for my opinion and my time isn't cheap!

On a more positive front, things are rocking and rolling at Synchro32.  Things are going very well.  Simon and I will be meeting up next week in Chicago for the Metalcasting Congress.  I just really like going to these shows.  The Synchro32 road show.  Why?  Well, I like introducing everyone to the metalcasting specific software Synchro32, seeing old friends and meeting new ones, visiting with vendors, and spending time with Simon.  Simon is just a wealth of metalcasting knowledge! 

Guess what, it won't be long until GIFA!  I am so excited about attending this world class show.  It's been a goal of mine for sometime.  The entire Synchro32 management team will be on hand in Germany.  I've never been to Germany, wish I had more time to explore and see the former East Germany, explore Berlin, the Brandenburg Gate, Check Point Charlie, etc.

Well, next time I catch up with you the survey will say "Metalcasting Congress was an outstanding success".  Until next time, see you on down the road in Chicago!

Shane Allen
North American Operations

Wagons Ho!

Ah, Spring time.  That time of the year to turn our attention to the Metalcasting Congress or CastExpo.  This year, it's the 115th Metalcasting Congress in Schaumburg, IL - just outside of Chicago.  Simon and I will be putting on this years Synchro32 road show from booth #300.   Be sure to stop on by and see what all is new and exciting with the world renowned platinum level global leading provider Synchro32 ERP/MRP software ONLY for the metalcasting industry - you know, liquid metal.  Synchro32 is AFFORDABLE for any sized metalcaster!

Many new and exciting stuff going on at Synchro32.  The road team for implementations and training is about to wear the wheels off the wagon train!  Things are so bright we've got to wear shades!

Spring sure is in bloom here in Texas.  As I type this, it's 82 degrees.  Going to be a hot and wicked summer.  Already have the A/C unit cranked up at home and work.  Everything is coated in a fine layer of "green stuff" - commonly called pollen.

Until next time, see you on down the road.

Shane Allen
Synchro32 North American Operations

The Winds of Fall Out

Simply utterly amazing is all I can say about the unfolding tragedy in Japan.  The human misery and loss of life is beyond comprehension.  The worlds third largest economic powerhouse is on it's knees with one devastating blow after another.  One reporter likened it to a "trifecta" - first the earthquake, then the tsumami, then the radiological problems.  What makes this natural disaster so different from others is that it is unfolding before our very eyes on the computer monitors.  The bellwether sites of the BBC, CNN, Reuters, MSNBC, amongst others are keeping the world constantly updated.  Additionally, with the advent of all the modern communication devices and digital recorders, we, while in the safety of our homes and offices, are viewing this from a vantage point like no other.  With the internet, real time video streaming and pictures are presenting information of how bad it really is.   Putting aside the economic impact for a moment, recovery from this will be a testament to the millennium old tenacity of the Japanese people.  So many people have lost everything and I mean everything.

Just close your eyes for a moment and imagine the room you are in - one blink of an eye it is there - sitting in your recliner watching TV - the next eye blink - everything and I mean everything is gone.  You have nothing but the clothes on your back and they are probably wet.  It's not like you can go to your neighbors next door for shelter or comfort, because your neighbor is gone too.  The social impact on the family unit is beyond belief - entire families are gone.  There is death and despair everywhere. 

Being at student of Abraham Maslow and the Hierarchy of Needs, one instant an entire nation is poised at the upper reaches of the pyramid, then suddenly,  the nation is at the base of the pyramid - the lowest level of basic human needs.

We are finding out that this disaster, while confined to Japan, has immense global ramifications.  Sub-sea communications lines are damaged, meaning the "cloud" is unreachable to many or is severely impaired/hampered, Japanese industry - especially the semi-conductor and automotive industry, has been severely impaired, and the nation that is so reliant on nuclear power is now at the mercy of the global petroleum markets.  The fallout from these business disruptions will be global and prices will rise due to the lack of products.  Remember, inflation is caused by too much money chasing too few goods - classic supply and demand. 

Of course, there is nothing more precious than human life.  Write it down, mark it, asterisk, because it is an absolute truth.  This also reminds me of the seminal book "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl and his theorem that "If you have a why, you can live with any what".


Tonight I will be thankful for everything that I have.

Till next time, see you on down the road.