STORIES OF POLITICIANS

STORIES OF POLITICIANS... 

By Bernard Bujold - 

If there is one conclusion to be drawn from Jean-François Lisée’s books on René Lévesque and Pierre Elliott Trudeau, it is that Quebec of yesteryear was a golden age for far-reaching political ideas... Personally, I really enjoyed the first volume of Lisée’s historical work on the origins of these two figures, as I wanted to get to know Lévesque’s personality up close—he, like me, comes from the Gaspé Peninsula, he from New Carlisle and I from Bonaventure. Lisée’s second volume, which has just been published, this time offers us a look at the political stances of these two great statesmen. The book will appeal to political observers, particularly as the October 5 elections in Quebec approach. 

Does the inspiration projected by Lévesque and Trudeau still exist in 2026? Political inspiration exists in every era in one way or another; you just have to discover it. Reading Lisée’s two books can help us better understand the vision of Paul St-Pierre Plamondon and, conversely, that of Mark Carney and his Quebec allies opposed to separation. 

See author Jean François Lisée’s website 

https://laboitealisee.com/

THE INSPIRATION...

THE INSPIRATION - 
By Bernard Bujold - 
When high-profile events occur, they often have a ripple effect. Thus, the suicide of former star hockey player Claude Lemieux seems, unfortunately, to have inspired my condo neighbor—a man who had faced his share of media scrutiny over the past year but who still had significant financial resources. He lived in the nicest condo in the building... Why did he commit suicide? Only he really knows, but I can’t help thinking he was inspired by the hockey player… A sad way to start the summer of 2026! 

www.lestudio1.com

THE SUMMER SEASON OF 2026

THE SUMMER SEASON OF 2026- 
By Bernard Bujold - 
For meteorologists, summer always begins on June 1 and ends on August 31. Scientists thus group these three full months based on average temperatures. June, July, and August are generally the hottest months of the year. This allows for fixed three-month periods, which makes it easier to calculate statistics and compare climate data from one year to the next. 
However, June 21 is the date of the astronomical summer, the official start of the season. This is the date found on calendars, and it corresponds to the summer solstice. This date is determined by the Earth’s position relative to the Sun. It is the precise moment of the year when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted most toward the Sun, giving us the longest day of the year. 
Have a great summer 2026... 
SEE VIDEO

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xeLgt-plaOBmfnVDvppDdAIffl5b4Ghf/view?usp=sharing

CHURCHES IN 2026

CHURCHES IN 2026 - 
By Bernard Bujold - 
There was a time when all community life revolved around the church. When I was growing up in the Gaspé Peninsula, people exchanged news on the church steps. In 2026, we use devices the size of the religious images of yesteryear to communicate... 
The church is fundamentally threatened by artificial intelligence, because the faithful no longer turn to the parish priest for their personal questions. Of course, the church should be the link to God, but throughout history, the church has instead served as an advisor to the community on human affairs. 
We can conclude that artificial intelligence will not replace God, but it will replace the church, which, in order to survive, will have to focus on its true calling: God... 
SEE ANALYSIS IN THE WALL STREET JOURNAL - religion section https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/church-pope-ai-belief-33d3c158?st=KTSNGa&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

THE END OF THE DREAM

THE END OF THE DREAM… 
By Bernard Bujold
Thousands of Montreal Canadiens hockey fans are seeing their dream come to an end. There will be no Stanley Cup for their team in 2026… For some, the pain is too much to bear, and they’d rather forget it all completely, while others say, “See you next time!” In any case, in the end, for many, the fun will have lasted a few weeks, and for everyone, life goes on. It will be Monday, June 1, and soon it will be summer 2026… 
To be continued! 
www.lestudio1.com

LIFE, DEATH...

LIFE, DEATH... 
By Bernard Bujold - 
Humans' relationship with life is sometimes incomprehensible. How can someone adored by the crowds end their life (by hanging) a few days later, as former hockey player Claude Lemieux (60 years old) did? Lemieux was married and the father of four adult children (in their thirties). Conversely, there are people who are hated by thousands and who absolutely do not want to die. This is the case with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, the supreme leader of China, both dreaming of immortality. 
Putin's Russia has even launched a state project worth an estimated US$26 billion to fund research on longevity. The goal is to stop cellular aging, in other words, the pursuit of immortality. 
Personally, when I was younger, I had once thought about suicide, but I didn't act on it because I'm too curious and I wanted to see what the future held for me on this planet. Now that I'm an old man, like most old people, I'm rather afraid of death, and I would be happy to benefit from Vladimir's research... 
Perhaps I should contact him... 
Have a good weekend! 

THE IMMORTALITY ACCORDING TO PUTIN...

https://www.wsj.com/world/russia/putin-longevity-antiaging-92dee6e8?st=TwhR99&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

www.lestudio1.com

CHILDREN IN 2026

CHILDREN IN 2026 - 
By Bernard Bujold - 
Time passes, and it doesn't ask us permission to change life on the planet... About ​fifteen years ago, I employed a cleaning lady who sometimes brought her two young daughters with her. I found it charming, especially since the two girls were drawn to my ​new computer... I recently learned that these two children of yesteryear are now healthcare professionals (in the private sector), married, and grown adults. It was a real wake-up call for me... Conclusion: Time doesn't stop, not for me, not for anyone! 
www.lestudio1.com

RACING CARS AND MONTREAL

RACING CARS AND MONTREAL… 
By Bernard Bujold - 
I just finished reading the autobiography "PASSION INTACTE" by François Dumontier, former head of the Canadian Formula 1 Grand Prix. As a reminder, Dumontier was the promoter of the Formula 1 Grand Prix between 2010 and 2019. There was no Grand Prix in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19, and in 2021, Bell, the country's largest telecommunications and media company, acquired Dumontier's Octane Racing Group. 
Personally, I attended the Canadian Grand Prix, but in a different era than Dumontier, between 1997 and 2007, and for various reasons, including the crowds and the difficult access to Île Notre-Dame, my interest subsequently waned. My "Grand Prix" era was during Normand Legault's time there, and it was always a pleasure to greet him when I ran into him around town. 
That being said, I loved reading Dumontier's book. It reveals several secrets about the Grand Prix organization, including the Normand Legault era, and one can only admire François Dumontier's career. 
A must-read! 
https://www.archambault.ca/livres/passion-intacte/fran%C3%A7ois-dumontier-dominique-fauteux/9782924923368/?lang=en-ca&id=4630959&cat=1884314&srsltid=AfmBOoopwQNedresL06B2KsN-6X6bXZUAFRUZFf7gGw_NFpmmWf2LOB4

THE POPE'S WAR

THE POPE'S WAR -
By Bernard Bujold -
Pope Leo has just published an encyclical, a 42,300-word open letter sent to his 1.4 billion Catholic faithful worldwide. "Magnifica Humanitas," or "Magnificent Humanity." This letter primarily aims to defend the values ​​of the Catholic Gospel, but it also directly attacks artificial intelligence. One could say that Pope Leo is declaring war on new technologies (AI). 
I have read the encyclical, and it is clear that the Pope is concerned about the role of artificial intelligence in society. In a way, AI is taking the place of priests in accompanying people and answering their questions about life, and in a more neutral way, because priests are human and therefore subject to more weaknesses, flaws, and shortcomings than machines (power, sex, money). Pope Leo describes the field of artificial intelligence as a highly promising area and a valuable tool, but he emphasizes throughout the text that artificial intelligence is not human, even if it closely resembles the human mind or even the soul. Pope Leo XIV has been one of the world's leading critics of repressive measures against immigration and of war, outlining a moral agenda that has sometimes challenged political leaders around the world, particularly in the United States. Pope Leo has added artificial intelligence to his list of battles, taking on a different kind of power broker—this time in Silicon Valley, China, and elsewhere. 
Will the Pope win his war? No one wins in a war... 
SEE THE ENCYCLICAL 

https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/encyclicals/documents/20260515-magnifica-humanitas.html 

SEE THE ANALYSIS 

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/25/world/europe/pope-leo-encyclical.html?unlocked_article_code=1.lFA.PE_K.ni37z23iLhKd&smid=url-share

MARTIN ST-LOUIS'S SECRET

MARTIN ST-LOUIS'S SECRET… 
For most retired National Hockey League players, coaching a pee-wee hockey team is a fun transition to civilian life. What St-Louis couldn’t have known at the time was that it would bring him right back to the NHL and lead him to the head coaching position with the Montreal Canadiens… 
It happened in 2022, and at the time, even the general manager, Kent Hughe, was not sure of his choice, and he was taking a pretty big leap of faith by offering the top job to a pee-wee coach… What if his St-Louis failed? The Canadiens would be laughed at by the fans and by the whole league for having hired a pee-wee coach. 
St-Louis’s recipe for winning in the Pee-Wee League was to make sure the players had fun. St-Louis has applied that same recipe with his NHL team—a recipe he learned with kids, players half the age of those on the Canadiens. However, part of St. Louis’s success may well stem from the Canadiens’ youth, as Montreal is one of the youngest teams in the NHL, with an average age of 25.8. You could call them big kids... 
In 2026, one could conclude that Martin St-Louis won his challenge, and the former pee-wee hockey coach could very well be the one to end Canada’s 33-year Stanley Cup drought. 
To be continued… 
READ FULL STORY IN THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 
https://www.wsj.com/sports/hockey/martin-st-louis-canadiens-nhl-77233472?st=xJm4Az&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink