THE JOYS OF DEATH

THE JOYS OF DEATH

By Bernard Bujold

I am surprised every time by how cruel human beings can be to one another.

From what I’ve observed, humans are more violent than animals, which attack to survive or feed themselves, whereas humans attack for the pure pleasure of domination.

Recently, one of my neighbors and friends in my city condo building passed away from cancer. He was 74 years old. His illness lasted only six weeks...

My neighbor was deeply committed to ensuring the building was well managed, and he didn’t hesitate to ask the members of the board of directors questions regarding the proper stewardship of the building and the spending of funds. Obviously, this did not sit well with the board members or their friends.

In a condo building, it’s a carbon copy of every other form of government out there—whether municipal, provincial, or federal—with partisan polarization in decision-making. There are always two factions, if not more, when it comes time to choose the color of the entryway rugs and the wallpaper in the hallways... 

Since my neighbor passed away, at least a dozen residents—among those who support the board’s decisions—have confided to me in person that they’re glad he’s dead and that he’ll finally stop asking his troublesome questions…

How can a human being rejoice at the death of his neighbor?

It saddens me to know that human society harbors such malice in its soul!

I also tell myself that if I ever die, some of my neighbors will rejoice because I was a friend of the deceased neighbor…

www.lestudio1.com

HUMAN WEALTH

HUMAN WEALTH... 
By Bernard Bujold - 
I haven’t been practicing any religion for several years, but I enjoy chatting with the local pastor. We always have interesting discussions, though they’re often controversial and can get heated. My friend, the pastor, likes to point out that he admires my neighbors’ financial wealth, whereas I never judge anyone based on their financial possessions. In my view, what matters is a person’s soul and their human kindness. So I always challenge the good pastor when we bring up the topic of human wealth. In the end, we always wrap up our conversation by looking out at the lake... If you ask me why I stopped going to church, here’s your answer... But I do like my neighbor, the good pastor… 
This Sunday, July 26, was the last Sunday of the month! Next weekend, August will be upon us! 

www.lestudio1.com

DINNER WITH THE FAMILY

DINNER WITH THE FAMILY - 
By Bernard Bujold - 
President Donald Trump enjoyed dinner with the journalists on Friday night, July 24 … It was like a family dinner where everyone is respectful and, for the duration of a meal, sets aside differences of opinion and family conflicts. It must be acknowledged that Donald Trump and the journalists are from the same family, whose culture is the art of communication. Ultimately, politicians and journalists are all actors with a message… 
SEE FULL STORY WSJ 
https://www.wsj.com/us-news/white-house-press-gathers-for-do-over-with-trump-at-smaller-high-security-gala-cf371875?st=UKwKpP&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

THE CATHEDRAL OF LIFE

THE CATHEDRAL OF LIFE -

By Bernard Bujold - 
Ever since I was a teenager, I’ve always gone to the gym—sometimes using highly specialized machines, sometimes homemade ones… My routine has evolved over the years, and while I used to push myself with intense workouts when I was younger, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve slowed down the pace. To stick with a gym routine, you have to enjoy the experience; otherwise, you’ll give up after just a few visits… 

At one point, I used to work out for an average of two hours per session, but today it’s 30 minutes on the treadmill and 15 minutes of weight training. For me, my gym session is also a form of daily meditation every morning at 8 a.m., before my coffee. The gym is like a cathedral. I’m alone in my own little world with my headphones on, listening to music, and for over a year now, my gym music has been Hildegard von Bingen. It’s cathedral music… 
Have a great weekend—the last one of July in the summer of 2026! 
SEE VIDEO GYMNASE
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Hx4WDrNPnH2AxgCLMDpzM_ER5gND0PPB/view?usp=sharing

CIVILIZATION IN 2026

CIVILIZATION IN 2026 - 

By Bernard Bujold - 

I had some fun asking artificial intelligence how society will evolve over the next few years. If there’s one thing we can be certain of, it’s that 100 years in the 1950s is equivalent to 10 years today—that’s how rapidly evolution and change are occurring. 

Personally, I remember the days from my childhood when cows grazed in front of my parents' house… 

Later, I witnessed the advent of black-and-white television and the telephone with a shared line between our neighbors. Television introduced me to the fictional world of *Star Trek* and the magic of teleportation. It was my mother who, around the same time, introduced me to photography—first in black and white, then on color film. My mother was a sort of precursor to Photoshop because she would use a pencil to correct flaws in the paper photos, like adding hair to my father’s head. Yousuf Karsh did the same thing in his studio with his creations… 

By 2026, Photoshop had become a sort of super magician—a technology that, when combined with cell phones and artificial intelligence, made images completely virtual and pushed the boundaries of the imagination. 

Furthermore, in politics—having known several U.S. presidents over the years—I can conclude that none of them achieved the accomplishments they promised. This is also true for all other politicians, whether they’re Canadian, Québécois, or municipal. 

What does the future hold for us with artificial intelligence? Will we leave Earth for Mars, as proposed by the visionary and the richest man on the planet, Elon Musk? Anything is possible, though it’s likely that none of us will live to see it, since humans are still mortal and cannot live beyond 100 years! But 100 years in today's world is like 1000 years in the time of Ulysses...

And as the AI told me, I will have lived through an era of profound change: from the down-to-earth beginnings to the current, elusive universe of our humanity. 

The rest of the story is yet to come...   

www.lestudio1.com 

THE 2026 SOCCER CHAMPIONS

THE 2026 SOCCER CHAMPIONS … 
By Bernard Bujold - 
Spain is the winner of the 2026 soccer World Cup, defeating Argentina 1–0 in extra time on July 19, 2026. Substitute Ferran Torres scored the historic game-winning goal in the 106th minute at New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium) to capture Spain's second men's World Cup title in their history. Personally, I was cheering for Spain as I am a great fan of the Spanish Rafael Nadal... President Donald Trump presented the Cup to the winner, and the Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney, was on the stage. SEE STORY THE WSJ 
https://www.wsj.com/sports/soccer/spain-sinks-argentina-to-win-its-second-ever-world-cup-4abb3c4d?st=qxp6NB&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

GARAGE SALE

GARAGE SALE— 
I wanted to clean out the shed, and at a friend’s suggestion, I tried selling a few items on Marketplace… It was a total surprise! As soon as I listed the few items on the site, I received dozens of responses, all with the same message: “I’m very interested in your item and will pay you right away via bank transfer. ” The buyers hadn’t even seen the items… After running a check through artificial intelligence, it seems this is a favorite tactic of scammers—offering an immediate bank transfer to gain access to your bank account. In my case, I didn’t follow through, and my few items will stay in the shed for a while longer… AI’s advice for online sales: always insist on cash and collect payment upon in-person delivery in a public place. 
Have a great weekend and stay safe! 
www.lestudio1.com

THE ODYSSEY ACCORDING TO ULYSSES...

STORIES FROM MY CHILDHOOD - 
By Bernard Bujold - 
One of the first novels I read as a child was *The Iliad and the Odyssey*, a book given to me by my aunt, who was the housekeeper for the village priest. It was a beautiful edition, with a white hardcover and gold-colored bands, published by *The Reader’s Digest*, a magazine to which the good priest subscribed. I reread *The Iliad and the Odyssey* a second time during my teenage years. I’ve always loved the romance of the book and its many adventures. In fact, two of the mascots on my social media accounts and my website have names inspired by this novel: Ulysses and Argos. Gus is inspired by the famous American dinosaur, the T. rex… 
Memories of my childhood readings will resurface this weekend with the theatrical release of Christopher Nolan’s famous film starring Matt Damon, “The Odyssey.” We’ll have to see if the film is as romantic as the book. Personally, I never go to movie theaters, preferring more private viewing experiences like Netflix, but I’ll have to make an exception if I want to see the work that captivated my childhood brought to life on screen… 
Have a great weekend and enjoy the movie if you’re a romantic who’s passionate about the adventures of Ulysses! 
Visit the movie’s website 
https://www.odysseymovie.com/

THE FRENCH NATIONAL DAY 2026

HAPPY FRENCH NATIONAL DAY -

By Bernard Bujold -

France’s National Day on July 14 commemorates two founding events: the storming of the Bastille in 1789 (symbolizing the end of absolute monarchy) and the Fête de la Fédération in 1790 (symbolizing national unity). Established in 1880, it is celebrated with military parades, public dances, and fireworks. Personally, I am of French descent, and my ancestors set sail from the port of La Rochelle bound for Port-Royal in Acadia (Nova Scotia). That was in 1690. ​Happy French National Day, 2026 edition!