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.

Synchro32 Supports AFS Texas Chapter

Synchro32 is proud to announce that we are the newest Platinum Level Sponsor of the AFS Texas Chapter!  Synchro32 is committed to the AFS and the Foundry Industry and we prove it all day everyday.

I had the pleasure of attending the most recent meeting of the AFS Texas chapter this last Friday evening in Lufkin.  Lufkin has a special place in my heart as I formerly worked at Texas Founcries - Lufkin Citation for twelve years.  Two of my dear friends and former coworkers were at the meeting and I got to break bread with them.  Charlie Cummings was the melting supervisor and Maren worked in the lab.  Maren was always busy with the methylene blue tests for clay content.  Charlie could sure make the furnaces and holders sing and get them relined in no time.  He was also instrumental in insuring that we had no "wet charges".  Nothing like a wet charge to get your attention.    Also, Lufkin Texas is home to a brand spanking new metalcasting operation and even though the first heat has not happened yet nor the first pour, Synchro32 is already installed there.  This is a forward looking progressive company, just like Synchro32, and they are gearing up for the future.

AFS Texas Chapter

Here are a few pics from Friday night's meeting.

Until next time, see you on down the road.  ShaneA

Remember That Resolution?

New Years 2011 Resolution

Well, it happened today to someone that I kinda know and happened to a good friend a while back.  This is serious stuff people.  This just isn't the Nigerian King smuggling money out of the country and wants your assistance (and your bank account number) nor the Powerball Lottery scam, nor the Unclaimed funds account of Siberia Russia.  Nope, this is serious and it needs your attention.  The internet is really a Wild West Web.

Here is the text of an email I received today, names withheld obviously...  Note how both her email account and Facebook account were breached - one has to wonder what else was breached.

Hey All:

By now many of you have received the e-mail from my old hotmail account lamenting about my trip to Wales and how I got mugged there.  Very fortunately for me, I was home snug in my bed when this sorry tale made its way to your e-mails.  I have never been to Wales (tho I do suppose it would be a good trip) and it has been a very long time since I even passed thru Wells, Texas.  Thanks for all the calls tho.  As some of you know, my Facebook account was compromised also…so if you see any off-color posts or such on there…it wasn’t me!!!  Hopefully, I will be up and running again in a few days.

I am so thankful that I have friends and family like you guys who would have been there to help me had I really been mugged in Wales!

All I can say is – I have the best family and friends!! 

When I received the first call this morning about my “distress email” I laughed it off and finished my breakfast.  Little did I know that I have friends who love me so much that without even stopping to think about the enormous fallibility of it all  they came to “my rescue.”  I love you for that! I love you for loving me so much!!

Please share this story with all of your address book.  If you get a “distress email” from friend or family, please first check with mutual acquaintances to see if the person “in distress” is really out of the country.  If there are no mutual acquaintances, check with their employer to see if they are off work.  I don’t want to deter anyone from helping out friends or family but just make sure that it is a legit.

If you responded to the first email, you know you will receive a second email to send funds.  In this case, my friend was instructed to send funds to Glenda Barnes at Western Union.  I am not familiar with Western Union but it seems like the thief would have to have an id that has my name on it.  Obviously, in this information age with social networking that would be easy enough to do… obviously the thief did have some proof because the money was picked up.

I am sorry this happened but it has a good outcome….my friend is getting her $2,000 back (thank goodness it was a credit card transaction). And…as I said before… I have the best family and friends!! 

Whatcha Doing Friday Night?

If you are in Texas, please consider stopping by the American Foundry Society, AFS, Texas Chapter meeting in Lufkin (deep East Texas - behind the Pine Curtain). 

Synchro32 is now a Platinum Sponsor of the AFS Texas Chapter and is proud to support the cause.

See:  AFS Texas Chapter Lufkin Meeting Feb 25th 2011

Until next time, see you on down the road - in Lufkin....

Planes, Trains & Baby Snakes....

Well,  Hello again everyone.....

So, February has almost passed us by, and here at Synchro towers (well, the support caves), its the usual bustle of yet another month thats whizzed past... with training trips, development work, and support at its usual level... something which I should take time out to thank the team for.... everyone is doing such a great job, it couldnt be done without you all, and your supreme effort & sacrifices... the same goes for our marketing dept, who, not only, have managed to produce yet more stunning work on the Synchro32 website, but also, have the rather large task of arranging our Gifa presence...and a great job thats turning out to be, so if your coming, make sure you stop by to say hello, as the entire team will be present..(just dont get close to a support troll....the drool gets everywhere...)

In personal news, the last of the Baby cornsnakes went off to pastures new over the weekend, so its all back to normal for me and the slithery ones.... thankfully, breeding season is still a way off, so I'll have chance to rest before we do it all over again...

Well, I think I've rambled on enough for now... take care everyone, and maybe we'll see you at Gifa 2011....


Lee