About DHughes

Straightspeak’s purpose is to be a catalyst for conversations that make a difference, conversations that foster and elevate thinking. Conversations that change perspective. "Amid the noise and haste” straightspeak is a colloquium for thoughts and knowledge that stimulate the mind. Enjoy! And share.

Is the pomegranate the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of sex?

By |2016-12-10T00:40:54-05:00July 2nd, 2016|Categories: social|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

Pomegranates could be called a "passion fruit," except when it's recalled for Hepatitis A. (1 minute read) Just when you thought it was safe to eat the pomegranate Recently, Zoomer magazine (see earlier blog) highlighted a group of five foods that could feed your sex drive (walnuts, bananas, peppers, avocados and pomegranates). Since then, pomegranate sales are not Read more...

A must read book for anyone with life insurance

By |2016-12-10T00:40:55-05:00June 30th, 2014|Categories: business, social|Tags: , , , , |

Interview and excerpt at hereliesyourmoney.com. Book is available at: Chapters/Indigo.ca and Amazon.ca and Amazon.com Leading financial expert Leonard Goodman says, “Life insurance can be worth more to you alive than you think.” In this perspicacious book, Goodman rips the veneer off of an egregious economic and moral injustice for millions of Canadians and encourages Canadians and politicians to Read more...

Can farmland save urban renewal?

By |2016-12-10T00:40:55-05:00May 20th, 2014|Categories: communitywatch|Tags: , , , , , , |

They're coming, they're coming ... can the farmers save the urbanites?  As published in Northumberland Today, May 15, 2014 In 1973, Oregon State passed a law to protect farmland and they drew a circle around every town and city in order to curtail urban sprawl. This was at the height of suburbamania when "new towns" were spreading like spilt milk across Read more...

In search of leadership

By |2016-12-10T00:40:56-05:00April 10th, 2014|Categories: business, politics, social|Tags: , , , |

Two things you might not know: Lee Iacocca's leadership at Ford (1968-1978): To fix the Ford Pinto's exploding gas tank problem Ford did a cost-benefit analysis: "To fix would cost an additional $11 per vehicle, and Ford weighed that against projected injury claims for severe burns, repair-costs claim rate and mortality. The total would have been approximately $113 million (including the Read more...

One small step for democracy, one giant leap for Port Hope

By |2016-12-10T00:40:56-05:00April 6th, 2014|Categories: communitywatch|Tags: , , |

Is there hope for democracy in small towns? The metaphor of the moon landing is overused but it seems appropriate for a local historic event that happened just one week after the forty-fifth anniversary of the moon landing (July 20, 1969). That first step was on July 21, 1969 and on July 29, 2014, one small town with a lot Read more...

Community? What is it good for?

By |2016-12-10T00:40:56-05:00November 19th, 2013|Categories: communitywatch|Tags: , , , |

You are part of a community and the sum of the parts is greater than the whole (photo: oneeyeland.com) As published in Northumberland Today Community is a grand word. It’s ubiquitous, universal and everyone innately knows what it means. At first blush, it’s a place, a place we know well, but on deeper reflection it feels more like Read more...

No shitting, it’s a conspiracy – with Matt Damon, Bono, Branson and Wilde

By |2016-12-10T00:40:58-05:00May 29th, 2013|Categories: social|Tags: , , , , , , |

The clean water Illuminati conspiracy has gone viral Who gives a shit? Just rich celebrities? How about you? Do we really give a shit about the rest of the world? The evidence is in and the decision is clear: No!  780 million people – more than double the population of the US and Canada – do not have clean drinking Read more...

Eco-friendly vibrator – branding at its climactic best

By |2016-12-10T00:40:59-05:00May 8th, 2013|Categories: social|Tags: , , , |

This is no joke. A sustainable vibrator is coming soon ... Only the Swedes could pull off the branding coup of the year in the sex toy market. Funny, clever and explosive, this is equal to a premature ejaculation turning into a long-term relationship. It started out as an April Fool's joke and after fooling everyone, the company is now Read more...

If the moron majority “like ’em,” they win – are we that superficial about superficial politicians?

By |2016-12-10T00:40:59-05:00May 8th, 2013|Categories: politics, social|Tags: , , , , , |

“Like” and “looks” matter, “talent” is incidental Mark Sandford, back from hiking off with a South American beauty, wins seat in US Congress. He’s a looker. Will Justin Trudeau be Canada’s next Prime Minister? If looks and likability matter, he’s a shoe-in.               Democracy is just in Read more...

Canada, make a choice – are you for or against child abuse?

By |2016-12-10T00:41:00-05:00March 17th, 2013|Categories: politics, social|Tags: , , , , |

NO excuse! The good life  49 countries – except Canada – support international child abuse battle Some issues are above politics. Child abuse is one of them – except in Canada. An article in the Toronto Star on March 15, 2013 reported, "Canada drags its feet on joining global online child abuse battle ... American and Read more...

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