THE DEATH OF LA PRESSE

by Bernard Bujold - 
The December 31, 2015 is a day of mourning for the city of Montreal... 
Indeed, it is the publication of the last edition of the daily newspaper La Presse on paper. Montreal will never be the same without the daily presence of the newspaper La Presse which was somewhat an institution like The New York Times is for the city of New York. 
I had several friends who were leaders at this newspaper in print including Claude Masson and Michel Roy. I also knew his buyer owner, Paul Desmarais. I had the pleasure and privilege to photograph him several times. The last time was during his funeral at the Notre Dame Basilica ... Some say that Paul Desmarais would have never ended LA PRESSE in paper? We will never know the answer except that the newspaper has only ceased publication in print after his death... 
Picture 1: Bernard Bujold and La Presse December 31, 2015;
Pictures 2, 3 and 4: La Presse building;
Picture 5: Paul Desmarais Sr.;
SEE PHOTO ALBUM ;

THE BEST BOOKS OF 2015

By Bernard Bujold (LeStudio1) -
My great passion is reading! I probably read a hundred books in 2015, but sometimes not all are excellent... I also read sometimes works published several years ago.
From this year reading, I retain three books that I would call my "FAVORITES 2015".
1. The best book, in my opinion, the work of William Boyd "SWEET CARESS or in French"LES VIES MULTIPLES D'AMORY CLAY.” A fictional story about a great photographer who lived from 1908 to 1983. A magnificent book which will appeal to all from photographers to simple romantic people who love stories about life and in this case of a career woman, independent and free.
2. My second best book is the work of Catherine Lafrance "JUSQU'À LA CHUTE". A story about life, resilience and fate in which book the three main fiction characters join the real news of 2015. A cyclist who witnesses of fatal bicycle accident; a homeless person of Indian origin;. and a mother whose son died tragically on the day of his 20 years. According to me, Catherine Lafrance is an author of great talent and his only fault is not be a star. But his talent is equal to the greatest writers in Quebec.
3. My third favorite is a book published in 1987 but which is still completely in today interest: THE ART OF THE DEAL by Donald Trump. We must not believe that Trump invented himself for the actual race for the American presidency. All his life strategy is described in the book he had published in 1987. We could change the title of the book and call it: THE ART OF WINNING. Those are my three best literary choice for 2015.
Happy New Year 2016 ... and read on!
Photo 1: William Boyd AMORY CLAY;
Photo 2: Catherine Lafrance JUSQU'À LA CHUTE;
Photo 3: Donald Trump THE ART OF THE DEAL;
SEE THE SELECTION LE STUDIO1 2015;

DONALD TRUMP - HERO OR PARIAH

By Bernard Bujold (LeStudio1)- 
Our society and its structures are fragile everywhere in the world and our hero of the day become too frequently the pariahs of tomorrow... 
The political debate of the hour is, for many, the many provocative statements made by Donald Trump. 
If Donald is elected next President of the United States, he will likely become a hero, but for now, he is considered a pariah that many love to hate. We love Donald or hate him. There is no gray area with the character. 
Personally I like him! 
I've never met in person but I've read all his books. Marketing that he applies to its current political campaign were already in the book: THE ART OF THE DEAL (1987). In his latest title: CRIPPLED AMERICA (2015) Chapter 13 is of particular interest (see page 127). His ideas are not different in 2015 than they were 30 years ago passed. The character is consistent and it is not an invention of the moment. 
In fact, Donald Trump's speeches have always remember me those of Pierre Péladeau father for whom I had great admiration and I had much pleasure to know and be with. This kind of characters speak as they think. You could say they do not have filters like "politically correct" and also that they are provocative and drooling (bullies), but I prefer to say that they are "real". 
These kind of characters are of course "dominant" and in life there are dominant and the dominated. All those who perform things in society are dominant from Pierre Péladeau to Donald Trump including all other from Steve Jobs to Mark Zuckerberg. I think of Donald Trump as a refreshing new style politicians and the masses seems to be in favor of this kind of character. We recognize in a Donald Trump the opposite of a career politician. 
Does this kind of new politician will make a better world? It remains to be seen, but there is no doubt that we must change the direction of the world! Many of our leaders became too often in recent decades pariahs. I would say that we are due for some outcasts who will become heroes! To be continued...
Pictures 1 and 2: Donald J. Trump;
Picture 3: Pierre Péladeau, Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg;
SEE INTERVIEW WITH DONALD J. TRUMP ;

VISIT OF THE CHURCH THE GESÙ IN MONTREAL

By Bernard Bujold (LeStudio1)- 
Although I do not believe in God, I am a deep admirer of church buildings and I love visiting them. 
A media officer friend (Marie Marais) recently invited me to the press conference marking the 150th anniversary of the Church of GESÙ in Montreal, which conference also announced the official opening of the new show area on the ground floor. 
The history of this chapel-church, inaugurated by the Jesuit community on July 10, 1865, is captivating and it is one of the oldest religious buildings in Montreal. The church-chapel has long been affiliated with the Collège Ste Marie formerly located south of the church and destroyed in 1972. The College and the Gesù were both under the direction of the Jesuits. 
If from the outside, the church GESÙ is probably the most discreet of all the churches in Montreal (there is not even a bell tower...), however the interior is worthy of the greatest museums with beautiful and historic frescoes from 1865, and two organs in perfect condition, the smallest is the first one installed from the start. 
Several activities are planned for the 150th anniversary and one can read it by visiting the website of the institution. 
Note that to greet the guests at the press conference, the organizers wanted to give a nod to the Jesuit community and it is with the "sacramental wine" that they closed the presentation... "...Gratias ago tibi Domine..." 
Pictures 1, 2,3,4, and 6:
Église du Gesù; Picture 5: Marie Marais;
SEE PHOTO ALBUM ; 
SEE WEBSITE GESÙ ;

GUY TURCOTTE

By Bernard Bujold (LeStudio1) - 
Guy Turcotte tragedy is now a story closed. 
This is a sad tragedy for all, including Turcotte! 
Indeed, it is always very sad to lose an exceptional talent like the one of a medical specialist but Turcotte had a serious fault, he was not resilient to cope with everyday life. 
A normal human would have forgotten the existence of his wife who no longer loved him and wanted to be with another man. Turcotte should have moved on. He should also start a new life with another partner, but rare, very rare, are the normal people in our modern society... 
CONCLUSION: We must make the most of life in every passing moment and, above all, never attach to the past! Human life is the now moment, nothing more, nothing less. 
Above all, we must never break down our life for another person. 
In a way, I consider myself lucky because I have lived the same situation as broken couple like Turcotte and Isabelle Gaston, with several nuances and many great differences, and I was able to turn the page, let the children live and forget the existence of the former spouse. 
One must believe that I am, a little bit, normal... 
Photo 1: Guy Turcotte;
Photo 2: Isabelle Gaston;
Photo 3: The two victims Anne-Sophie and Olivier;
SEE STORY LA PRESSE;

GOD, HAPPINESS AND ETERNAL LIFE...

by Bernard Bujold (LeStudio1) - 
The universal question among the people of the earth: "Does God exist and if so, why do not he constantly offers us happiness? Why wars and terrorism? 
This question is particularly relevant now because of the terrorism which is currently raging on the planet earth. 
I thought a lot about this subject and I concluded that the various gods "revered" by humans simply do not exist! The "human gods" are "political" creations in the sense that the various religions, whatever they are, are based on human ideologies rather than on a divine reality. I think the true God is a form of energy as insensitive to the feelings as is a computer... 
Human life is nothing else than energy. 
In reaching my conclusion, I have repeatedly looked in the sky and observed the stars and planets in trying to define, in my mind, the place that I occupy in the infinite universe. Each time, I had to stop my observation because dizziness came over me. The conclusion is inescapable: the religious gods cannot exist! 
That does not mean I do not admire a religious and human character like Pope Francis or some other great human character, but I do not believe in a god who is all-powerful and from who one can expect a new life after our physical death. 
It is also another of my findings: "There is no life after death!" Death is like a switch that closes the lights. Except that the switch of human life has only one use... and therefore one must take in every passing moment and enjoy it! 
It is also useless to pray God for happiness or peace, because this responsibility, minor in the infinite universe, belongs to each one of us. Each of us, in our souls and in our actions, are our god, or our devil. 
Happy Holidays 2015!
Photo 1: God in Michelangelo;
Photo 2: Universe;
Photo 3: Pope Francis;
Photos 4-6: Cathedral of Mary Queen of the World in Montreal;
SEE PHOTO ALBUM CATHEDRAL;

ADELE - A STAR OF THE WORLD ...

By Bernard Bujold (LeStudio1)- 
The British singer ADELE is the new world star of popular music! How to define her success? If one want to analyze the situation on a Quebec perspective, we can say that Adele has the qualities of four great artists. 1. ADELE's voice is comparable to that of CELINE DION; 2. her writing talent to the one of a LUC PLAMONDON; 3. the beauty of her face friendly as a MITSOU; 4. and finally a physical slightly outside the norms as a GINETTE RENO. ADELE been also very lucky as she admits it herself. In life, no success comes without the chance! CONCLUSION: "For a star like ADELE, there are thousands of nobodies that luck would not welcome ..." 
Photos 1 to 3: ADELE LIVE;
Photo 4: Céline Dion, Luc Plamondon, Ginette Reno and Mitsou;
Photo 5: ADELE ADVERTISING BOARD;
SEE PHOTO ALBUM ; 
SEE STORY THE NEW YORK TIMES;
SEE ADELE LIVE IN LONDON ON BBC ;

MY GIFT FROM SANTA, AT OGILVY?

By Bernard Bujold (leStudio1.com) - 
Montreal merchant Ogilvy has covered all angles to emphasize the period of 2015 celebrations. On the one hand, there are for children, young and old (I am still a young kid in my soul), the traditional showcase of mechanical toys that have been nicknamed "THE MILL IN THE FOREST". 
Then, for adults (I love adult gift...), there are more conventional shop windows that however are not sober and their lights are shining brightly. 
I wonder if my friend Santa will pass by La Maison OGILVY... 
I wish!
Photos 1 to 6: Ogilvy Montreal;
SEE PHOTO ALBUM ;

THE MONTREAL BOOK FAIR 2015

By Bernard Bujold (LeStudio1) - 
The 2015 Montreal Book Fair takes place from November 18 to 23 at Place Bonaventure. 
While the 2015 version is sober, it has more than 1,500 authors and 250 publishers. 
One absent is Kathy Reichs whose waiting lines to her signings sessions were outstanding. Her admirers will miss her... 
Kathy agenda did not allow her to attend the 2015 Salon. 
The excellent thriller author Louise Penny is also not present! 
Other star authors, however, are present at the Show as Danny Laferrière, Kent Nagano and the immortal Gilles Archambault. 
Good book fair to everyone! 
Photo 1.2, 4 and 5: 2005 Montreal Book Fair;
Photo 2: Dany Laferrière;
SEE PHOTO ALBUM ;

ELECTIONS AND GOVERNANCE - JUSTIN TRUDEAU AND THE EXAMPLE OF BRIAN MULRONEY

By Bernard Bujold (LeStudio1) - 
The electoral victory of Justin Trudeau was a foreseeable event because he applied all the right techniques to win an election. 
However, there is a total difference between winning an election and run a government. 
An election is an exercise of sale and the winner is the one who best manages to seduce. A government is a project manager who has to operate effectively the organization which he is responsible. 
It is wrong to believe that the voters always choose the best manager because in practice it is usually the emotions that influence their choice. 
Is Justin Trudeau will be a good manager? 
It remains to be seen but the thing is possible if he can recognize his new responsibility. For example, note that Brian Mulroney was a champion of electoral campaigns and he knew better than anyone seduce. Once elected (in 1984) he quickly realized, however, that the team of salesmen who had given him the victory could not effectively manage the country. So he changed his entourage and reached some effectiveness. 
Hopefully Justin Trudeau will take example on Brian Mulroney... 
Picture 1: Justin Trudeau;
Pictures 2 and 3: Brian and Mila Mulroney (Baie-Comeau, September 4, 1984);
Picture 4: Bernard Bujold (Ottawa (1984)

FRANCE AND STAR WARS ...

By Bernard Bujold (LeStudio1) - 
The terrorist attacks on Paris, Friday, November 13, 2015, are dramatic and very disturbing especially since they are neither the first nor unique, nor the last! The attacks are not limited to France but targeted worldwide. 
We live in a kind of Star Wars in real version... 
Paris attacks were claimed by the Islamic State (ISIS), a political movement without borders who wants to conquer the world through terror and ideology. The question that arises is how to defeat this movement? The difficulty is that this state has no boundaries and does not identify any geographical location on earth! 
Terrorism of the Islamic State is like an invisible virus that spreads everywhere without traces and seeps in the center of the target. 
In a sense, it's like a god and a devil that is everywhere and nowhere... How to recognize that god is and who is the devil? 
To worsen the situation concerning the recognition of the enemy, the French authorities confirmed that there was a Syrian migrant among the terrorists who attacked Paris, migrant who entered in Europe last month... 
The war raging now can be described as "Star Wars"! 
There is quite a challenge for our political leaders, and only true leaders can survive and win this war. 
To be continued! 
Photos 1 to 4: Terrorist attacks in Paris;
Photo 5 : Star Wars;
Photo 6: God in Michelangelo;
SEE REPORT TERRORIST ATTACKS; 
SEE REPORT MIGRANT AMONG THE SYRIAN TERRORISTS; 
SEE WAR MEASURES;