The newspaper LA PRESSE will be free on the web

by Bernard Bujold (LeStudio1.com) - 
Following the announcement earlier this week of the sale of their building, now the managers of the newspaper La Presse of Montreal announced that their format internet will be completely free from April 18, 2013 with no obligation to buy a print subscription or pay wall as do other newspapers. A very bold challenge but which will put the Montreal newspaper in front of its local competitors, especially Le Journal de Montreal, Le Devoir and the english newspapers like The Gazette and The Globe and Mail. 
To be continued... 
Photo 1, 2 and 3: Building La Presse;
Photo 4: Newsroom of La Presse ;
See Le Devoir report on the sale of the building ; 
See press release of LA PRESSE ;

Philippe Couillard is the new leader of Quebec Liberal Party...

by Bernard Bujold (LeStudio1.com) - 
Philippe Couillard is the new Liberal leader with 58% of votes (1394) of 2377 delegates. Pierre Moreau won 22% of votes (521) and Raymond Bachand only 19.5% (462). 
Jean Charest was present at the congress held in Verdun for the election of substitute.
To be continued... 
Photo 1 et 2: Philippe Couillard ;
Photo 3: Pierre Moreau, Philippe Couillard, Raymond Bachand;
Photo 4: Jean Charest ;
See story La Presse ;

Pope Francis shoes...

The new Pope Francis will wear black shoes... Gone are the flashy red ones!
Photo: Pope Francis ;
See press conference ;

Gerard Depardieu talks about his life...

The friend Gérard Depardieu gave an exclusive interview about his impressions of France since he became a Russian citizen. A meeting very charming! 
Photo 1 and 2: Gérard Depardieu;
See interview ;

The end of demonstrations in Montreal...

by Bernard Bujold (LeStudio1.com) - 
I love attending demonstrations for the energy they give off. But only at the beginning and then I come quietly at home because it is too dangerous. It is impossible to face off fellows equipped with sticks and helmets. I'm athletic but never in front a lost a match and uneven in advance... 
I wanted to be present at the march of Friday, March 15, 2013 against police violence but it never started! Upon my arrival on site at 5 pm, I could assess the situation and I said to myself that the meeting would not last long seeing the police force and especially their plan of encirclement. 
It looked like a game of hunt where foxes are circled without exit. Their plan worked perfectly as on the 400 people wanting to manifest, three quarters were arrested in less than two hours and only one small window was broken... The police plan seemed to be, for the first time, very well organized strategically. It must be said, however, that 200 policemen against 400 demonstrators is easier to manage than if there had been 2,000 people. 
Conclusion: the era of demonstrations seems to be over in Montreal as one of my friends said: "Everything in life eventually pass ..." Spring 2013 will have brought a new Pope, many new political leaders and end of the public protest. 
Happy Spring 2013! 
Photo 1,2 and 3: Demonstrators and police;
See photo album LeStudio1.com ;

The New Pope Francis

by Bernard Bujold (LeStudio1.com) - 
Habemus Papam! We have a new Pope! 
Personally I am disappointed that Georg Gänswein is not the new Pope but hey, maybe next time. I remain convinced that Don Georg would have been a breath of freshness and renewal for the Catholic Church but it is the opinion of a non-practicing Catholic, which I am ... 
The new pope was first known as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, born December 17, 1936 (76 years), in Buenos Aires and was Argentine Archbishop since 1998. He was appointed cardinal in 2001. He chose his Pope name in honor of St Francis of Assisi the patron of the poor... 
"Vivant novum pontificem Francisci!" "Long life to the new pope Francis"
Photo 1, 2 and 3: Pope François 1er;
Photo 4: Militant Catholics after the announcement of the appointment to the Vatican;
Photo 5: Mgr Georg Gänswein;
See story The Wall Street Journal  ; 
See story The New York Times ; 
See the Vatican website ;

I COULD HAVE BECOME A POPE...

by Bernard Bujold (LeStudio1.com) -
The search for a new Pope reminded me of my childhood memories in Gaspésie while my aunt was the faithful servant for the village priest, who saw me as a future priest. 
He tried everything to convince me to become a priest but I was afraid of this job and I refused all openings even though he said that I would be promised to a brilliant career in the Church. So I grew up with as second home a nice rectory but I never became pastor... 
The conclave which begins tomorrow Tuesday, April 12, 2013 will be the event of the year, whether you are Catholic or non-believer. Personally, I still think Don Georg Gänswein would be the candidate of choice. My reasons for this prediction is that he has all the features required for the future Pope: Communicator extraordinaire (charismatic), energetic, fearless and faithful believer. Dom Gänswein is an influential member of Opus Dei, he is fearless even having discovered the crime by the secretary of Benedict XVI who stoled documents. Finally Don is young at 56 years old. 
To be continued ... 
PICTURE 1: CHURCH AND RECTORY WITH BERNARD BUJOLD AND THE OLD PRIEST; PICTURE 2: MGR.GEORG GÄNSWEIN AND MGR MARC OUELLET;
PICTURE 3: CARDINAL AT THE VATICAN ;
SEE WEB SITE THE VATICAN ;

Senator Pierre-Hugues Boivenu: Glorious one day, pariah the next day ...

By Bernard Bujold (LeStudio1.com) - 
I learned the relationship between the Senator Boivenu and his assistant on Saturday morning while reading the newspapers. 
I knew the assistant because we were "friends" on Facebook but I've never met her in person. I sent her a "friendly" email Saturday to tell her that she was featured on page A-13 of La Presse. She did not answer, but her profile was no longer on line Monday morning. 
Not easy to live with such a situation to pass between relative anonymity to star stoned in the public square in Canada. Isabelle Lapointe seemed a good girl and the cause of the Senator was commendable. 
If there is one conclusion, is that social status, as does everything in life, is very fragile. 
Glorious one day, pariah the next day... 
Stay tuned! 
Photo 1: Senator Boivenu Hugues Lapointe and Isabelle;
Photo 2: Isabelle Lapointe, Stephen Harper and Hughes Boivenu;
See story La Presse ;

McDonald's restaurants - A love of youth!

By Bernard Bujold (LeStudio1.com) - 
McDonald's restaurants were once the undisputed leader in fast food. During the 1980s, McDonald's was the franchise's most coveted by contractors and it is their model that was adopted by other franchises such as Tim Horton's. 
 Personally, I have always admired McDonald's and its directors in particular George Cohon who I had the pleasure of meeting in person. Today in 2013, the competition has completely transformed the economic landscape of fast food and there is not a true leader. We can no longer say that McDonald's dominates. The company has then to modify its business plan and get away from fast food to get closer to the relaxation, especially coffee and atmosphere. 
I am no longer a regular McDonald's as I have adopted other eating habits, but I still have a lot of admiration for the company. Also, when it presented last week his Week doors open with free coffee, I decided to go visit the main McDonald's in the Montreal area. A bit like someone who went to visit his old love... 
Conclusion: the coffee is excellent and I had a lot of fun to see my old friend! 
Photo 1,2 and 3: McDonald's Restaurants ;
Photo 4: Bernard Bujold - LeStudio1.com;
See photo report LeStudio.com ;

Claude Jasmin : ANITA, UNE FILLE NUMÉROTÉE

By Bernard Bujold (LeStudio1.com)-
The new book by Claude Jasmin "Anita! une fille numérotée" is amazing! A love story between a Jewish and Catholic from Quebec (Claude Jasmin himself ...).
The conclusion is particularly dramatic, romantic but mostly sad! If there is a lesson to be learned is that you should never leave a question unanswered whether in love or in other areas of life...
Read this book!
Picture 1: Claude Jasmin and his book cover ;
SEE CLAUDE JASMIN WEBSITE ;