THE CORONAVIRUS AND THE UNITED STATES

THE CORONAVIRUS AND THE UNITED STATES 
By Bernard Bujold
The Coronavirus is particularly severe in the United States but one must remember that there are 331,002,651 people in this country. In this challenging time, one positive thing is that the President Donald Trump, who is very energetic and aggressive in front of any challenge, is backed by Mike Pence, who is a very quiet and patient man, a perfect fit with President Trump. This team produced a very efficient "War Plan", considering the size of this very exceptional and unique challenge. 
It is evident that Donald Trump will be reelected next November as the only other option would be Joe Biden who is not up to the posting of President of the United States. 
Considering the performance of Mike Pence in front of the Coronavirus, I would also predict that he would be elected President come 2024. 
To be continued. 
SEE THE WHITE HOUSE 

HOW TO PAUSE THE ECONOMY AND AVOID RUIN?

HOW TO PAUSE THE ECONOMY AND AVOID RUIN? 
by The Wall Street Journal March 30, 2020 -
The coronavirus has produced something new in economic history. Never before have governments around the world tried to put swaths of national economies in an induced coma, artificially maintain their vital organs, and awaken them gradually. 
See full story 

THE CORONAVIRUS - NORTH AMERICA MAKE-OR-BREAK WEEK

NORTH AMERICA MAKE-OR-BREAK WEEK 
BY BERNARD BUJOLD -
All over Canada, Quebec and United States it will be a hard week as April 1st is here! 
The bills are now coming due for big and small companies as well as for millions of laid-off workers. Decisions made in the next few days will shape how coronavirus impacts on the whole economy of North America. For business organisations and the laid- off people, the question will be: which obligations do they pay and which can they put off? How many employees can enterprises afford to keep on the payroll? 
Can they get a break on rent of building and home? The decisions made this week could shape how deeply the economy will be damaged by the coronavirus pandemic. 
To be continued...
www.lestudio1.com

THE CORONAVIRUS - FACEBOOK PHOTO CHALLENGE 2020

(Photo Circa 1969 - official photo primary school)

(Photo Circa 1969 - class council)

(Photo circa 1962 - Class photo)

(Photo circa 1960 - Presbytery St-Siméon de Bonaventure)

(Photo circa 1958 in the flower garden with my father)

(Photo circa 1958 in front of the family home with my father)

(Photo circa Spring 2020 at the cottage)

(Photo circa in the future Spring year 2040)

FACEBOOK PHOTO CHALLENGE CORONAVIRUS 2020... 
b y Bernard Bujold
A challenge is circulating on Facebook inviting us to post on our wall a picture of us as kids in order to make the coronavirus disappear from our conversation for a moment ! I found some pictures in my family album, dating from 1958 to even one in the future 2040... 
Life is a journey and if the memory is pleasant, we must never forget to live each moment in the present! 
SEE PHOTOS

THE CORONAVIRUS - THE CITY IS IN A STATE OF WAR

THE CORONAVIRUS - THE CITY IS IN A STATE OF WAR 
By Bernard Bujold -
We can say that the City of Montreal is like a city in a state of war! 
In fact, the mayor of Montreal declared a state of local emergency on Friday (March 27, 2020), but she hastened to say that for the moment the prospect of a "quarantine" or "confinement" of the metropolis is not under consideration. "If one day this were to be the case, it would be at the request of the Quebec government and Public Health" ... 
Never has the city of Montreal been so empty and lifeless! The situation is very worrisome, but above all, it is sad to tears! 
Good luck... 
SEE PHOTOS

LE CIRQUE DU SOLEIL IS CONSIDERING BANKRUPTCY

LE CIRQUE DU SOLEIL 
By Bernard Bujold -
The famous Cirque du Soleil, Quebec's flagship, is said to be on the verge of filing for bankruptcy. Debts amount to more than $900 million. 
SEE STORY THE NATIONAL POST 

THE CORONAVIRUS AND THE WARTIME PRESIDENCY OF DONALD TRUMP

           
THE CORONAVIRUS AND THE WARTIME PRESIDENCY OF DONALD TRUMP 
By Bernard Bujold
The President Donald Trump is fighting a war against the Coronavirus and one could say that he is a "Wartime President". 
It is not easy, for any politician in the world, to fight a war, any war, as his decisions will have a life or death consequence. 
In the case of Donald Trump, 60% of Americans approve of the job he is doing in handling the crisis while 38% disapprove of how he has done (source the Gallup poll March 13-22, 2020). 
Recently asked if he regrets to have asked for and win the job as President of the United States, Donald Trump answered that it cost him dearly financially but at the end the question is: "so what?". 
He realizes that he lost a lot of money, billions of dollars in the last three years (before the Coronavirus crisis) that he would have been able to make with his private enterprises but he did not regret it at all to have given up his former life to be the President of the United States. 
He is deeply proud to be fighting for his country and be a leader in this time of war. 
One could love or hate Donald Trump, but all have to admit that the whole planet Earth is facing a very strange and dangerous situation. Close to 200 countries are in this 2020 Coronavirus War! The challenge for all the political leaders is one of life and death. 
Personally, even if I am deeply scare about the Coronavirus situation and the damage it is doing to our world civilization, I am comforted to be living this hard moment in history, and of my life, knowing that a Donald Trump is fighting with all his soul and like him, I hope for the best, in a near future! 
It is not "my death" that scare me but to live "a life" in a world where survival is without rules in abandoned structures (buildings, roads, public places, etc.). 
SEE PHOTOS

THE CORONAVIRUS AND THE MUSEUM

CORONAVIRUS AND THE MONTREAL MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS
By Bernard Bujold-
In spite of its closure following the Coronavirus crisis, the Museum of Fine Arts continues to be accessible through its website where the exhibitions are presented, virtually with photos and comments. 
On the MMFA's Facebook page, we are asked what is our fondest memory of our visits to the Museum? 
Personally, in addition to OCTOBER by James Tissot, which I love, I have two other favourite works hanging at the Museum and they are: 
1. Henri- Joseph Harpignies - CLAIR DE LUNE (1889); 
2. Georges Michel - LANDSCAPE(with navy) 1820-1830. 
At each visit, I look at these paintings and they inspire me Life! 
I would need to see them again in these times of the Coronavirus... 
Note: Ulysses and I miss our friend "October" very much! Will we ever see her again? 　 

SEE MUSEUM WEBSITE 

SEE PAGE FACEBOOK MUSEUM 

SEE PICTURES MONTREAL GHOST TOWN 

THE CORONAVIRUS AND THE MEDIA

CORONAVIRUS AND THE MEDIA 
By Bernard Bujold -
I have always been passionate about the media and my first job was as a journalist. It was the best time of my life! 
With the Coronavirus crisis, the media is considered an essential service, but even before the virus, the media was in a moribund situation. 
How will they cope with this period? 
They have two challenges: 
1. Survive economically as their advertisers shut down and eliminate their advertising campaigns. The collapse of the economic structure is also the collapse of the media.
2.The second challenge is how to maintain the independence of their role from the state. A journalist is not the messenger of governments but his watchdog! 
Good luck in the storm... 

SEE STORY LE DEVOIR 

SEE STORY LA PRESSE 

SEE PHOTOS

ASTERIX AND OBELIX - THE DEATH OF ALBERT UDERZO

         
ASTERIX AND OBELIX 
The cartoonist Albert Uderzo, creator with René Goscinny of ASTÉRIX ET OBELIX, died Tuesday (March 24, 2020) at the age of 92. The comic strip had been created for the first time in 1959.  
SEE STORY