GOODBYE TO 2023

 

GOODBYE TO 2023 
By Bernard Bujold -
It's time to say goodbye to 2023. 
It was good for some, not so good for others, but it's over and we'll soon be starting a new year. 
It doesn't matter if we're waiting for 2024 simply in our living room; in a country cottage; on the ski slopes in the mountains; with friends in the regions; or in a condo in Florida; the important thing is to be surrounded by love! 
Happy New Year. 
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PREDICTION FOR THE YEAR 2024-

PREDICTION FOR THE YEAR 2024- 
By Bernard Bujold -
It's traditional to start a new year with predictions... 
I'd like to make three for 2024! 

1. Donald J. Trump will be re-elected President of the United States on Tuesday, November 5, 2024; 

2. Artificial Intelligence will take center stage in our daily lives, becoming totally inescapable; 

3. Working from home will continue to dominate economic life, and office space will have to change vocation. 

Clearly, the election of Donald Trump, if it comes to pass, will not be active until January 2025, but the political chessboard will take on its full shape in 2024, influencing global politics until 2030, the end of this decade. 
In my opinion, the world will be more polarized than ever in 2024 and beyond. Power on the planet will be divided into four major parties, each of which cannot be ignored. We can assume that Vladimir Putin will be President of Russia until 2030, and for this reason, Russia and China with their allies on one side will become the most influential; the inward-looking United States will form the second pole, while Europe will form a third global pole. Then there will remain a fourth political pole, isolated from the other three, but significant in military power: countries like Iran, North Korea, and their allies. Israel will have to hold on to one of the planet's powers because no survival will be possible outside the four global poles. For the coming year, as far as Canada is concerned, Pierre Poilièvre's growing popularity brings back the possibility of a Stephen Harper style of governance, after the October 2025 election, if Justin Trudeau waits until the deadline for a Canadian election. Let's not forget that he is a minority government, and his survival depends entirely on the support of the NDP. 
In Quebec, François Legault doesn't have to call a general election until October 2026, i.e. not for another three years. We'll have to see whether the other parties become viable alternatives by then, which isn't the case now, despite Legault's steep decline in popularity and Paul St-Pierre Plamondon's great popularity. Plamondon's popularity, however, is too far in advance of the election, as Quebecers generally vote according to the political climate that precedes the year before the vote. Plamondon reminds me of Mario Dumont in 2007 when the polls projected him as premier, but he narrowly failed to win 41 seats against Jean Charest's 48. Plamondon's handicap will be the separation of Quebec, a political goal that has never been accepted by the majority of Quebecers. 
It's obviously something to follow, and sometimes I'm wrong... 
For now, on this January 1st, I wish you all a Happy New Year 2024! Lots of love, and above all, happiness! 
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THE END OF 2023 AND THE MEDIA -

THE END OF 2023 AND THE MEDIA - 
By Bernard Bujold - The end of December 2023 marks the turning of two historic pages! First, the announcement of photographer Jacques Nadeau's retirement from Le Devoir; and second, the announcement of the end of the paper edition of Quebec City's LE SOLEIL newspaper! 
I grew up with LE SOLEIL, as it was the only newspaper available in Gaspésie during my childhood. My aunt, who was the village priest's housekeeper, gave our family each edition of the paper after the good priest had read them... It should be added that Le Soleil was distributed by post, which in those days was transported by train, so it always arrived a day or two late. 
As for Jacques Nadeau, he's a great photographer whose retirement will make us appreciate LE DEVOIR less. 
But as I mentioned following today's editorial in LE DEVOIR: "...Journalism with social media has been transformed and in 2023 everyone has become a journalist! In a sense, journalism has never been so accessible and democratic. It's like with photography and the advent of digital technology. Photography used to be complicated and exclusive. Today, we've all become photographers with our smartphones, and photography has become universal. Media and society will have to deal with this new democracy, which will be multiplied a hundredfold with artificial intelligence! Traditional media will have to keep pace and innovate!" 

SEE REPORT JACQUES NADEAU 
https://www.ledevoir.com/societe/804415/photographie-jacques-nadeau-monument-photojournalisme 

SEE REPORT LE SOLEIL 
https://www.ledevoir.com/culture/medias/804425/medias-soleil-leve-encre 

SEE EDITORIAL LE DEVOIR ON THE MEDIA SITUATION https://www.ledevoir.com/opinion/editoriaux/804408/serie-defis-demain-reinvention-responsable-medias

MY READINGS FOR 2023

MY READINGS FOR 2023 -

By Bernard Bujold -

With the end of 2023 comes the tradition of taking stock of our reading over the past year. 

I've chosen the ten books that most inspired me, some published in 2023 and others several years ago. 

1. ELON MUSK; 

2. PATRICK STEWART - Memoirs; 

3. THE KREMLIN MAGICIAN; 

4. PRINCE HARRY - SPARE; 

5. PUTIN;

6. BIBI - Benjamin Netanyahu; 

7. THE MOON IS A HARSH MISTRESS; 

8. AI - 2041 - Ten visions for our future; 

9. KATHERINE GRAHAM - Personal history;

10. AGAINST THE GODS - The remarkable story of risk. 

Happy New Year 2023! 

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MERRY CHRISTMAS 2023

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2023! THE YEAR 2024 WILL THE GREATEST! ;) https://www.facebook.com/media/set/edit/a.10166662447515541

THE VISITORS HAVE LEFT...

THE VISITORS HAVE LEFT... 
By Bernard Bujold -
It's always nice to welcome visitors, but their departure is often a great relief! Santa Claus came last night, December 24, 2023, to pick up his 4 elves, who had been Ulysse's guests since December 1. 
We offered Santa a cold beer and Ulysse, wanting to be nice, invited him to eat some of the chicken capon we were about to put in the oven, without thinking that he would accept... 
Ultysse didn't know Santa well as he accepted the invitation but even offered to help us in the kitchen. 
He has a good appetite (a giant) and ate half the chicken all by himself...
After the meal, Santa left in his special ship with the elves on board. 
Today, on Christmas Monday, the house is calm again, and no one is complaining... 
SEE PHOTO ALBUM 
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MERRY CHRISTMAS 2023...

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2023... 
Santa Claus is on his way! Keep an eye on the sky to see him flying... 
SEE PHOTO ALBUM 
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BIRTH OF A SAVIOR

 

BIRTH OF A SAVIOR 

By Bernard Bujold -

Religion is a very personal concept, but ultimately all religions are a tradition, no matter which God we pray to. 

The Elves are not religious, but Santa Claus was a close friend of Cardinal Jean-Claude Turcotte (1936-2015). The two had been classmates at the seminary and had taken up the sport of amateur boxing together. Their life paths then took two different directions, one becoming a cardinal and the other a Santa Claus... 

Santa insists that his Elves never pass through Montreal without visiting the Cathedral where Cardinal Turcotte resided. 

Ulysse and his master were very fond of Jean-Claude, but their favorite religious figures are Saint-Antoine de Padou, and of course the good Saint Brother André. 

The visit to the Cathedral on Saturday evening, December 23, 2023, ended in front of the statue of Saint André on René-Lévesque Boulevard. 

A little later on Sunday night, December 24 (2:20 a.m.), firefighters went to put out a blaze at Notre-Dame Basilica in Old Montreal. One never knows the fate... 

SEE PHOTOS 

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SEE BIOGRAPHY CARDINAL JEAN CLAUDE TURCOTTE https://www.flickr.com/photos/lestudio1/53417347962/in/dateposted/

WINTER 2023-2024

WINTER 2023-2024 -

BY BERNARD BUJOLD -

The ELVES wanted to take advantage of the first day of winter last night (Thursday, December 21, 2023) to take a stroll around town. They even took a ride on the REM train. At the end of their excursion, I joined them at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel for coffee at ARTISANS delicatessen. The ELVES love the Reine Elizabeth, a hotel made world-famous by John Lennon's 1969 stay! 

SEE PHOTO ALBUM 

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THE 2024 ELECTION IN UNITED STATES

THE 2024 ELECTION IN UNITED STATES

By Bernard Bujold -

For the second time this century, the U.S. Supreme Court finds itself playing its least comfortable role: ruling on a presidential election. 

The 2024 election is similar to the one of 2000 when the Supreme Court had to decide on the voting count in Florida. Like the Trump case in 2024, the court’s 2000 election decision, Bush v. Gore, also involved the application of the 14th Amendment to a presidential ballot. And then as now, the dispute played out in a sharply divided nation, with partisans unwilling to accept a legal process that would end their candidate’s bid for the White House. 

SEE THE STORY 

https://www.wsj.com/us-news/law/whether-in-2000-or-2024-theres-no-upside-for-supreme-court-in-deciding-elections-655cd07a?st=fu8aqaed8xozjvo&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

DEMOCRACY IS A MATTER OF OPINION

DEMOCRACY IS A MATTER OF OPINION -
By Bernard Bujold -
Many media, in Quebec and elsewhere in the world, present us with one vision of democracy, the so-called left-wing vision. It's a vision, but what do we do with the other half of the vision? A situation always has two opposites, like night and day! 
What do we do with an American majority which, according to various recent polls, favors the vision of Donald Trump for 2024? 
In a democracy, it's the power of the majority that decides. The minority ultimately has three choices: 
1) Accept the domination of the incumbent power during its term of office; 
2) Wait for better times; 
3. move elsewhere. 
Democracy is a matter of opinion, the opinion of the majority!

THE WINTER SEASON 2023-2024

WINTER 2023-2024-
By Bernard Bujold-
Today, December 21, 2023, at 10:27 p.m. Quebec time, the 2023-2024 winter season arrives in town! Enjoy the season... 
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CHRISTMAS 2023 AND THE FINANCIAL DISTRICT -

CHRISTMAS 2023 AND THE FINANCIAL DISTRICT - 
By Bernard Bujold -
The Elves asked to visit Montreal's financial district. First, they went to see Paul Desmarais' famous fountain in front of the Power Corporation offices; then they passed in front of PKP's Quebecor; and finally the new National Bank building. 
The Elves didn't understand the logic. Montreal has magnificent commercial offices, like the brand-new ones at the National Bank, but everyone works from home with their computers... 
SEE PHOTO ALBUM 
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