Dialysis is a compound word of dia and lysis– which means ‘through’ ‘splitting or loosening’. In chemistry, the term defines the process of separating particles within a liquid, based upon their ability to pass through a membrane. In medicine, we use the term when we remove impurities in the blood based upon their ability to pass through a membrance. Until now.
Monthly Archives: December 2015
Founder Syndrome
One of the biggest problems we see with nascent firms is the founder. When the firm was developed by one person. That person still sees himself (still is mostly a male, although we have two clients that made it herself) as the savior of the firm.
You thought Sandy was bad?
Xmas has come and gone. We’ve added some ¾ of a million drones to the US skies, thanks to all those Xmas gifts. So, it should come as no surprise that the FAA has finally acted to regulate these dangerous items. The agency’s goal is primarily to ensure that commercial aircraft don’t get attacked (intentionally or otherwise) by these flying machines- but not to stop everyone and his grandmother from snooping on us- in our homes, in our yards, even in our bedrooms.
Game Night?
Way back when my kids were younger, we devoted an evening or two a week to playing board games. (Many of your kids have been deluged with such games for their XMas gifts, I’m sure.) And, we played the games I learned when I was a tyke when traveling in the car.
The gift that keeps on giving
You know I write often about the fact that our government has been attriting its support for R&D. Maybe if we could demonstrate to the politicians in terms they could understand (ok, in complete sentences- we can only hope some understand that) we could reverse this terrible trend. After all, without R&D, a nation’s economic prowess simply withers. As they say around MIT, the biggest day for technology transfer is graduation day.
Christmas Spirit? Or, daily routine?
You know the statement- all men are created equal. The problem is that it’s a lofty goal- and one open to terribly wrong interpretations.
Shading the truth?
I mentioned the other day that Dupont appointed a new CEO- one that agreed to merge with Dow. And, Edward Breen was chosen as the interim CEO because he was thought to be the perfect one to turn the company around. After all, he was the one who turned around Tyco International- as long as you recognized that he did so by selling off the company piece by piece. (Oops. Maybe that’s why Dupont chose him, for real, since in essence the Dow-Dupont merger is a process whereby the merged company will be split up into three new companies- and will shed a slew of businesses, to boot.)
About time!
I’m sure you’ve heard that a near miracle has occurred. No, not the miracle of Chanuka that let the menora stay lit for eight days. I’m talking about the transportation bill that finally passed both houses of Congress- and actually funds the program for more than a few weeks. Yes, indeed, we have a FIVE year transportation bill.
Pass-Through Bypass?
Most US businesses are primarily sole proprietorships and partnerships. But, the prime reason why sole proprietorships are so common is the “moonlighting” that is part of many an American’s life. Once that classification is removed from the totals, the situation is dramatically different. Partnerships (and LLC- limited liability corporations, which are usually taxed as partnerships)- both privately held and syndicated (widely held entities, with access to capital markets [i.e.,Wall Street])- are the primary business structure for US businesses.
A Woman Pioneer
So, this holocaust survivor (from Leipzig, Germany) started a company when I was born. One that curried my curiosity enough to have purchased from it more times that I would probably care to admit. And, I was pretty confused as a tyke (I first purchased from this firm when I was 8), thinking I was dealing with a firm in the Virginia suburbs.