Best Wishes for 2010

LeStudio1.com wish everyone a Happy New Year 2010. May the next year be a year of peace and happiness.
From all the team of LeStudio1.com

Predictions 2010 - LeStudio1.com

The future is unpredictable but one thing is certain: change and the unexpected are part of life. What will the next year be?
We have identified some changes that are expected in 2010 and we present them the official site LeStudio1.com.
See Prediction 2010 LeStudio1.com

Best Wishes - Merry Christmas to all...

LeStudio1.com and his team want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and lots of love!This time of year is sometimes very pleasant to some but many suffer deep loneliness while the family spirit is at its peak. Let's be generous and above all, remember that nothing is ever eternal. Fate sometimes transform lives for the better or for worse.
Only love and friendship are truly eternal riches!

See Christmas gifts list - LeStudio1.com

See Christmas decorations in the world

Barack Obama and his wars

The decision by Barack Obama to send 30 000 troops to Afghanistan is logic and it is clear that the United States must minimize the sources of terrorism that threaten the security of their country. To get there, as the president said, he must eliminate the enemy at the source.

But we must also ask: Is it possible to defeat terrorism by military force?

The United States is like the Rome of Julius Caesar and the power of the U.S. army is comparable to the one of the Roman army and its soldiers. It must be noted that Rome has lost the war and often the efforts of one individual are more percussive than a whole army.

This situation is not true only in war but in all areas of life. We questioned one days Bill Gates on his worst fears and he replied that it was not Apple, Google or Facebook but the single individual alone in his garage who will invent a new gadget that would become the new dominance of the world. The story of David against Goliath also demonstrated beyond any doubt that the efforts of giants can be defeated by those of a small solitary warrior.

For this reason there is no assurance that the actions of President Barack Obama will reach their target no more than George W. Bush had managed to achieve success. The terrorist is a sort of Don Quixote, who believes that the mills wind are dragons. It may be totally crazy, but his solo efforts destroyed all the mills in his way. It is like the small group of 16 people who have destroyed the World Trade Center in 2001.

How to fight terrorism? By individual actions. We must rethink the whole strategy of war and especially to ensure that each individual in our society is really concerned with peace. We must encourage respect for our organized society and our organized way of life. Currently, with all the crimes and all the disappointments of our models and leaders, from Bernard Madoff to Tiger Wood, the society is completely disillusioned and we no longer trust anyone. We respects no value and each individual is somehow an enemy of his own country. We must bring back the values of society and solidarity. If we do not do that, we will be at war for much longer, even for the next 2000 years, and there is no doubt that Don Quixote will win these wars ...
Bernard Bujold www.LeStudio1com
http://www.whitehouse.gov/

Photo 1: Barack Obama at West Point;

Photo 2: Julius Caesar;

Photo 3: Don Quixote

Tiger Woods and his woman

Several men, including myself, would give their souls to occupy the place of Tiger Woods and have the life he had before the accident with his Cadillac ...

A beautiful and intelligent wife as Elin Nordegren, two beautiful children and a personal fortune estimated at one billion dollars. This is not counting a career he loved and dominated as one of the best in the world.

Why after being so lucky in life, an individual risk everything in sexual adventures? We cannot say that Woods is a "gambler" in the sense that he loves poker and the risk for risk. If he cheated on his wife it is because he is searching for something that he do not find with Elin. What was he looking for?

The story of Tiger Woods is very similar to the one of another great champion, that of Andre Agassi. Both athletes have been created by a dominating father. Without their father, those two children would never have become the champion they became. However in the case of Andre, he broke from the dependency of his father and he realized that his life belonged to him. He was then very fortunate to meet Steffi Graff, who had lived much the same situation with his own father.

Tiger Woods lives in mourning for his father and it is clear that he search for himself on a personal level. In a sense, he is an orphan abandoned since the death of his father Earl in May 2006! This whole story is very sad because the world did not need to lose another model whose number becomes less and less. Unfortunately, whenever a legend is broken, it is also our trust in others which is diminishing.

The best thing for us would be to cease to believe in legends and appreciate people for who they are, nothing more. To believe that there are gods and superior beings is like believing in Santa Claus and everyone knows his story is pure legend ...

Regarding Tiger Woods, hopefully he will understand that the chance in life is not a talent but a privilege, as understood Andre Agassi. One must know when to stop and enjoy his winnings or he will risk of losing everything by believing himself infallible.
Bernard Bujold www.LeStudio.com

Note: For the gallery, I would like to add that I have been in love with a lookalike of Elin. Unfortunatly, contrary to Tiger story, she is the one that did not want me! Her name was Sunni as in Sunny Days!

The future of Tiger Wood

Biography Earl Wood
Other article The New York Times

Photo 1: Tiger Wood and his family;

Photo 2: Elin Nordegren and Tiger Wood;

Photo 3: André Agassi and his family

Andre Agassi - The Art of Winning

The former tennis champion Andre Agassi is definitely a fighter and he has demonstrated it on numerous occasions on the tennis courts around the world. He just published his autobiography and if the media attention was first on his statement to have used soft drugs for a certain period during his career, the real attraction of the book lies in the life of Andre Agassi and in particular the description of his mind spirit over the obstacles of life.

I had the opportunity to see Agassi in person in Montreal during his many visits at the international tennis championships. My first championship (as a spectator) was in July 1995 when Agassi had long hair and he was going out with the actress Brooke Shields. Personally, I greatly admired his companion that I found very pretty ...

I vividly remember the game in the 1995 final against Pete Sampras in the old Jarry Stadium. The temperature on the court was scorching and Sampras could not dominate Agassi who seemed to enjoy the heat and whose performance increased more the game progressed. Definitely the hot sun was his ally. Another memory was her black stockings, which contrasted with his white suit. I tried to convince my girlfriend of the time it was the new fashion:wearing shorts and black socks, but she was never convinced. To conclude on the game, Andre had won and that victory made Pierre Péladeau so angry (founder of Quebecor) that he left before the end of the game, calling Agassi a bum and Sampras a lazy ...

After that day, I met Agassi every two years (as a journalist) and I photographed him on several occasions including some directly on the court in action. Agassi was always very polite and if he was tired, he still accepted to greet the journalists and meet them after games.

I also remember his defeat in 1999 in the semi final while nobody in Montreal did understand the reason for such weak Agassi in front of his opponent, Kafelnikov of Russia. In reading the autobiography we learn that he had just meet Steffi Graf and he was eager to join her at the U.S. Open in New York. He was madly in love ...

In a sense, I have known Andre Agassi, as a photographer and Montreal tennis fan during fifteen years. So I was very pleased to receive a copy of his autobiography and I was eager to read as if it was the one of a friend (OPEN An Autobiography / Andre Agassi). I was charmed by the book and above all I recognized the Andre Agassi thatI admired for nearly 15 years. I recommend his book to anyone looking for inspiration of courage and hope in front of the obstacles of life. In summary, in tennis as in life, you have to play every minute in actual time. You have to want to win every ball and never think about the previous ball neither the next one. You should also be able to endure the pain and fatigue and still continue your efforts to win and above all, never give up the killer instinct!

Have a good reading and Bravo Andre!

Bernard Bujold www.LeStudio1.com

Official website of the book
Pictures by Bernard Bujold - Andre Agassi

Foundation Andre Agassi

Picture 1 and 2: Andre Agassi

Picture 3: Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi

The Art of Party Crashing - The Salahis

The couple Michaele and Tareq Salahi has attracted media attention for having managed to enter an official reception held by the President Barack Obama. I was not surprised to learn that the White House had been the victim of "Party crashers" because for many, this way to attend events is a lifestyle. And I would add that many journalists practice this art with great skill ...

Curiously, the authors of "party crashing" are often people very rich. Robert Maxwell was a great lover of this kind of technique and he loved to crash cocktails on yachts of his competitors... His favorite technique was to arrive few minutes before the captain weighed anchor and shout to wait whilejumping on board. In the hubbub nobody asked him if he was invited. Ironically, he died by being thrown overboard from his own yacht.
The journalists are probably the most daring "party crasher" that I know but if you ask them, they will tell you they do that for inside information. This is true in many cases, but if you ask Serge Losique, President of the Montreal World Films Festival , he would probably answer that many are mere freeloaders who want a free lunch ...

Personally, I stopped being a "party crasher" many years ago. If not I am not invited, I am just stay at home and I rest in the comfort of my house. Note that there also reverse to the "party crashing" and those are the organizers who do not want to invite you but would like very much the journalists to talk about their event in the media. They send you news release and suggest that you to attend the red carpet to take pictures and then leave because they lack space to accommodate the press at the event itself. Again, I stopped running and I refuse any invitation to the red carpet unless I am also invited to the full event. Watch others eat and drink has never been my favorite sport ...

That said, one might wonder what is motivating to attend a party to which we are not invited. In my opinion, attending a reception is a way to socialize with friends and not impose himself on people that we do not really know! We only live once, and I prefer to live in reality

and amongst real friends!

Bernard Bujold www.LeStudio1.com

See story in The New York Times
See Biography of the Salahi
Picture 1: Barack Obama and the Salahis

Picture 2: Robert Maxwell

True Love...

Luck creates sometimes incredible events, close to the impossible! But the impossible can happen and we have daily proof of it all around us.

The latest example happened to a friend of mine who was approached in the street near her home by an individual, very nice and polite, who stopped walking and told her that he find her very beautiful... He said that he felt like a thunderbolt and he did not want to miss the opportunity in front of him! He'd like to meet her again for a coffee and he confided he was working nearby.

My friend thanked the type for the compliment but she added that she was not one to go for coffee with someone she did not know and she wished him to joke, better luck next time! The type returned the comment by offering his business card and asked if, at least, she would take into account to think and perhaps write to him later by e-mail.

The story would have ended there and the card would be gone in the trash if once back in her apartment, my friend had not recognized a kind of familiarity in the name of the individual. A foreign sounding name which hold a vague resemblance to the name of a friend’s boyfriend who was going out with an immigrant boy. Note that she had never met the guy and had only heard his name. She saw her friend only from time to time.

In a final twist, the friend of my friend just phoned the next day to reconnect and take stock of the summer. She said for a start that she was still in love with her suitor: "It will soon be 18 months that we're together!"

My friend took the opportunity to ask her to recall the exact name of the boyfriend and surprise, it was exactly the one of the business card. After having told the story of the meeting from the previous day, both girls agreed that it was the same man and, scandal, the Prince Charming was anything but a womanizer…

The incredible side of this story is that there is very little chance that the type of street would have landed precisely on the friend of his lover and that this lover would just phoned the next day to the girl courted by the guy. If my friend had returned from her office 5 minutes later, she would not have crossed the guy who would have never made his love declaration nor presented his card. If the girl had not call the next day, the meeting of the street would probably have been forgotten and never the cheated woman would have known. One could say that the chances of such coincidences are like the lottery and in a sense that the guy won the jackpot. But rather than a gain, he won the loss of his girlfriend ...

Who said that the difference between good and bad luck was a single small wire? Answer: Woody Allen in his film "Match Point"! Except that the story I have just told you is true and it has recently happened on a day of the autumn 2009 in Montreal ...

Bernard Bujold - http://www.lestudio1.com/

Picture 1: Montreal's Ste-Catherine Street;

Picture 2: Match Point by Woody Allen ( (Scarlett Johansson)

The Art in Montreal - The future of its museums

Montreal has many museums, over thirty, and though some are local in scope, others are institutions whose reputation transcends borders and they are known all around the world.

It is the case of the Museum of Fine Arts in Montreal led by Nathalie Bondil which has actually up to six exhibitions created by her team and currently circulating around the world in major museums.

However for artists in Montreal, their favorite museum has long been the Museum of Contemporary Art, in particular because of its mandate towards the promotion of modern art. This appreciation was particularly true during the 80s while the Museum of Contemporary Art of Montréal was a real rallying point, a sort of cultural center.
But today in 2009, this institution is undergoing an identity crisis and many Montreal artists who defended and took pride in this institution are now at war and they attack it openly in the public place.

The conflict began immediately after the appointment of new CEO, Paulette Gagnon, replacing Marc Mayer, a rising star who was supposed to put the museum on the international map but abandoned the MACM to head a museum more prestigious, the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa.The situation did not improve last week when the Museum of Fine Arts of Montreal announced that it increased its exhibition space dedicated to contemporary art and has also announced that he has concluded an 5 years agreement with Loto Quebec to expose works from their collection, a project that normally should have been achieved at the Museum of Contemporary Art, given that the MACM is funded by the Government of Quebec!

Some artists have suggested that such action by Loto Quebec shows an intention from the Quebec Government of Jean Charest to dispose of the MAMC and to entrust the operation of its permanent collection to the Museum of Fine Arts in Montreal which it is already partially funded by the Government. It is only a rumor but no smoke without fire...

I do not believe in the logic of such a project, but after discussing the idea with several experts in contemporary art and have even raised the issue at the event "The MACM in question, I am convinced that this fusion is not impossible. The Museum of Fine Art in Montreal currently uses 1395 square meters for its contemporary art galleries while the galleries of the Museum of contemporary art are in total 2 826 square meters. A merger of the permanent collection of the MACM with the MBAM and the transfer of the building of St Catherine Street would give to the Museum of Contemporary Art the freedom to return to its true mandate which is the promotion of local modern artists, together with the local art centers which are located throughout Quebec. The MACM would then become a center of promotion rather than a showroom whose agenda has nothing to do with the mandate and mission of the institution.

A story to follow but one thing is certain: the world of the Montreal art has never been so moving and it is obvious that change is on the agenda!

Bernard Bujold

Interview Nathalie Bondil - LeStudio1.com
Lien Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal

Lien Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal
Photo 1: Nathalie Bondil, Paulette Gagnon and view of Montréal

Photo 2: Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal

Photo 3: Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal

Personalities of the Year 2009 - LeStudio1.com

LeStudio1.com presents its selection of personalities who by us, have particularly distinguished themselves during 2009.
Our theme for the selection: "The greatest achievements begin always in the action and the thought of one individual! "
These appointments complete the other appointments weekly made during the year in the gallery The Best 2009.
Congratulations to all winners!
Bernard Bujold - Creator of LeStudio1.com
______________________________________

List of winners Personalities of the Year 2009
Personality of the Year in the World- Barack Obama
Politician of the Year - Régis Labeaume
Citizen of the Year - Ingrid Betancourt
Artist of the Year - Leonard Cohen
Musical Album of the Year - Sacrificum / Cecilia Bartoli
Cultural Promoter of the Year - Nathalie Bondil
Book of the Year - Over the notes ... / Helene Mercier
Photographer of the Year - Pete Souza
Media of the Year - Rue Frontenac
Mention LeStudio1.com - Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg
Mention the Editor - The Lost Symbol / Dan Brown

Link to the Official Presentation of the Personalities of the Year 2009

From Glory to Humiliation - Lise Thibault

It is sometimes surprising to see the turnaround in admiration that we have towards certain personalities. The case of Lise Thibault, former Lieutenant Governor of Quebec, is particularly instructive.

I have known Lise Thibault and I even went twice, at her residence in the Laurentians during her summer galas. These feasts were never intimate and could be counted by hundreds of personalities the media or various backgrounds who were all very honored to be hosted by the Lieutenant Governor.

Personally, I must confess that I was myself a little bored but I had great pleasure to observe everyone around me and particularly the bows that people were doing in greeting "Madame" who because of her disability was always seated. For this reason, it looked like the people were kissing hand to the Pope ...

I am totally in favor of equal justice for all and if dignitaries commit breaches of the law, they must suffer the consequences.

However, where I am ill at ease, at least in the specific case of Lise Thibault, it is knowing that she is accused of having squandered public funds and that those for who the money was spent are the first to criticize, including several of the guests attending the official celebrations. If you want to be fair, it should be that people who have benefited from the holidays, or who received gifts from the Lieutenant Governor, are also punished. Lise Thibault had the habit of buying works of Quebec artists that she then offered as official gifts ...

It should be noted in the behavior of the entourage of former Lieutenant Governor the vindictiveness of people. Several people are nice and bend the knee to the dignitaries, but if these dignitaries show signs of weakness, they will be attacked without pity by their own friends. Moreover, some of my sources tell me that even the most critical accusations toward Thibault come from her former employees. These people declared that they loved her but in her back, they hated Thibault deeply ... It reminds me of Marie Antoinette!

Conclusion: The people tolerate the monarchy and the idols but attention, Princes and Princesses, if fate become less favorable to you, people will leave you and you will be sent to the scaffold ...

Bernard Bujold www.LeStudio1.com

The Globe and Mail Story

Results of the 2009 Municipal Elections in Quebec

The debate is over about who is best able to properly manage Quebec municipalities. We now get to work. Some mayors have won a sweeping victory as Mayor Quebec, Regis Labeaume, who scored 80% of the votes cast! Others, like the mayor of Montreal, have hardly saved the day while Gerald Tremblay won only 37.5% of votes cast. However, voters have chosen and we must accept the leaders which have been choosen up for the next four years. LeStudio1.com wish good luck to all those elected!
Bernard Bujold - www.LeStudio1.com

Quebec's municipal elections in 2009

The 2009 municipal election campaign in Quebec has not been dull and if the action was at the “rendez-vous”, this situation has caused another problem.

Indeed, the disillusionment with several candidates and the many scandals raise the question: who to vote for?

It is well known in political science that we never vote for a candidate and his promises, but rather against others and their faults.

As an exemple, in the provincial election in Quebec (March 26, 2007), voters chose to vote for Jean Charest because they feared that the customs of the PQ candidate André Boisclair was not acceptable for a head of state. In a sense, it is the elimination of a candidate who obtained the victory of another. Several political experts think that if Bernard Landry has been head of the Parti Quebecois in the 2007 elections, he would have won because voters did not vote for Jean Charest, but against Andre Boiclair.

The same situation was experienced in the United States during the last presidential campaign in November 2008. Several voters have chosen to support Barack Obama in order not to elect John McCain and his running mate Sarah Palain, both considered too unpredictable. The choice was not easy for many Americans and to elect a black politician was close to sacrilege ... If McCain had another more experienced running mate, he would probably have gained the vote.

Citizens of several Quebec municipalities are currently facing this kind of question: which candidate should you choose? And what if, all the running candidates disappoint us?

Not voting is not an option as this would ultimately abandon our right as citizens.

Should you go by our emotions or by our good judgment?

If we take the case of Montreal, it is obvious that the best candidate, according to a logical evaluation is Gérald Tremblay who has experience and who claims to have begun to correct abuses and financial fraud. By cons, emotionally, because he failed to do so completely during his last two terms as mayor, one might be tempted to offer a chance for a new candidate who has little experience but who shows great honesty is like a Richard Bergeron. Unfortunately, the citizens of Montreal are not lucky to have a candidate as have those of Quebec City with their Régis Labeaume. But as the saying goes: "We must make do with what we have in our kitchen."

The choice belongs to all citizens but it is essential for everyone to vote. Thus, democracy will have spoken and we might get, as a group, the best choice. Happy voting!

Bernard Bujold www.LeStudio1.com
Lien site Élections Québec

Picture 1: City Hall in Québec city;

Picture 2: Richard Bergeron, Mayor candidate in Montréal.

Municipal politics and the journalists

Municipal politics in Quebec has never been very popular with the population and sometimes the mayors and their teams are even re-elected without opposition.

This does not mean that municipal politics is irrelevant and that there is no advantage to being a municipal politician. One may also note that conflicts of interest and abuses of power occur often in municipal rather than provincial or federal precisely because of the lack control mechanism and the opportunities for personal gain.

The mayoral campaign in 2009 is not different from those of previous years. The population shows little interest and only the candidates are really enthusiastic and motivated as they are hoping to get a little local fame.

Precisely because of this situation it becomes important for media to be interested in the sector of public administration and to scrutinize the actions of elected officials or those who wish to become one.

The investigative work conducted by journalist Fabrice de Pierrebourg and the website Rue Frontenac deserves the praise and public recognition. Politicians involved in this investigation have denied any impropriety and it is only after all other media became interested in the case, in the traces of Rue Frontenac, that wrongdoers have reacted and resigned.

In conclusion, the site Rue Frontenac demonstrated that it has become a must information source in Quebec and Montreal in particular.

Congratulations and long life to this team!

Bernard Bujold www.LeStudio1.com
Lien reportage Fabrice de Pierrebourg - Rue Frontenac

Lien reportage Régis Labeaume - La Presse
Lien reportage Jean-René Dufort - Le Soleil
Lien blogue Patrick Lagacé - La Presse

Photo 1: Montréal City Hall and Rue Frontenac's logo;

Photo 2: Jean-René Dufort and Québec's Mayor Régis Labeaume.

The popularity of the large women

More and more fashion magazines publish reports highlighting women of high weight at the expense of sizes small. Is the beauty of women is now defined in terms of its curves and its large size?

According to many, including Miss X, editor of LeStudio1.com, this is a fashion trend and the popularity of curves have often been recurrent since the past 40 years, but each time, for a short period of time only. Thin women have always remained and still remain, the ultimate criterion of feminine beauty and health.

What to make of this current popularity of women with curves? We must remember the message that women must be comfortable in her skin and be especially healthy.
The interview published in the Glamour magazine with the large size model Lizzie Miller (September 2009) clearly highlights the health aspect. The model weighs 180 pounds and is 5 feet 11 inches but she is athletic, eats very balanced and her doctor considers her in excellent health.

Where it is necessary to correct the situation and there is ugliness is if a person is obese or too thin because of poor diet. If the large size or thinness are a natural result, there is every reason to admire these people.

Personally I like to watch as much a round woman as a thin one. I always said that beauty is not to be explained, but to be look at.

The most beautiful woman I had the chance to meet in my life was not thin but her eyes, her energy and smile shone a thousand fire. I still remember the air kiss that we exchanged. She was to me, and she still is, the most beautiful woman in the world! Her name: Cecilia Bartoli ...

Bernard Bujold www.LeStudio1.com

Lien reportage Lizzie Miller - Glamour
Lien Fashion week of Montréal

Photo 1: Models from Glamour;

Photo 2: Model Lizzie Miller (Glamour);

Photo 3: Cecilia Bartoli

Barack Obama and the Nobel Peace Prize 2009

The award of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009 to Barack Obama is proof that the President of the United States managed to reach the whole world in his mission as a statesman.

Barack Obama is the best demonstration that a single man with his ideas and determination can change the world.

Some say he has still done nothing, if not to attract attention and create hope for a better and fairer society. That is precisely what must accomplish real leaders, whether religious, economic or political? Inspire and persuade others to act and perform. Barack Obama is a huge source of inspiration as there is currently no other comparable on the planet.

For this reason, the decision of the Selection Committee of the Nobel Prize for Peace is quite appropriate and visionary. The sages at the Nobel realized the importance of Barack Obama and they wanted to encourage him to continue. LeStudio1.com congratulate the President of the United States for the honor granted to him. We also recently offered him a mention in the gallery The Best 2009.

Bernard Bujold - editor www.LeStudio1.com
Link Les Meilleurs 2009 - LeStudio1.com
Link to the White House in Washington
Link to the story of The New York Times

Link to the official Website of Nobel Prizel

Picture 1: Barack Obama in his White House's Office
Picture 2: Barack Obama and Nicolas Sarkozy
Picutre 3: Barack Obama (Picture by Pete Souza)

The future of Media... from Pierre Péladeau to Conrad Black

Montreal has contributed to the creation of several media tycoons.

Among them, everyone knows Pierre Péladeau, the founder of the Journal de Montreal and the Quebecor empire. There is also Conrad Black who grew up in the city and launched his empire from the small weekly The Sherbrooke Record.

I was lucky to know these two magnates.

My relationship with Conrad Black was that of an admirer and when I met him (three or four times) it was as a guest at his book launch. In the case of Pierre Péladeau, I have known him intimately since I was his personal assistant from 1991 until his death in December 1997. (See biography on page LeStudio1.com)

If there is a common point that emerges in the behavior of these two individuals (Black and Péladeau) is their deep passion for paper journals. Conrad Black is in fact a journalist at heart and he had built his newspaper empire largely to be able to publish his opinions across the world. He likes to share ideas ...

Pierre Péladeau was less international but he had a very keen sense of the news. He saw it, however, always at the local level while Black is international. Their empire was also the image of their founder. When Pierre Péladeau was at the helm of Quebecor, he ensured that the Journal de Montreal was primarily bringing local news to Montrealers and he has always kept out from major international debates.

Peladeau , who died in 1997, loved newspapers and he leafed them continuously. One of his hobbies was to count the ads in a newspaper and compare to another and check if advertisers buy ads in his own newspapers. He had also made check each day by the editor of the Journal de Montreal, death notices in the newspaper La Presse. If a death was not in his journal, he wanted to know why ...

To the opposite, Conrad Black is very much a wordly person and one of his greatest achievement in life was his membershi at the House of Lords in London ...

I am very sad today to see that the media of these two major builders are in turmoil.

The National Post, the creation of Conrad Black, is under the protection of the law of bankruptcy because of Canwest and Le Journal de Montreal, the creation of Pierre Péladeau, is experiencing a labor lockout.

What is the future?

I do not think we will never know a comeback of these newspapers, as they existed during the 1990s. The times changed and people up too. We must accept this situation.

Pierre Péladeau died and his empire Quebecor went from paper to Internet. Le Journal de Montreal is not the newspaper of the future! For his part, Conrad Black has been sent to prison and when it will come back, it will be to write his memoirs and other books on history. He will never create a major newspaper like The National Post.

But as Pierre Péladeau repeated: "You lose a deal, you get a deal! "Some media will disappear but others will replace them. It has always been the case in the past and it will be the same in the future. Nobody and nothing is ever irreplaceable!

Bernard Bujold

www.LeStudio1.com

Biography of Pierre Péladeau and Quebecor

Picture 1: Pierre Péladeau and Conrad Black
Picture 2: Conrad Black in Chicago
Picture 3: Pierre Péladeau in front of his pool in Ste-Adèle (Québec)

The visit of Dalaï Lama in Montreal

I've never had any prejudice against any religious leaders of the world even if I am personally more of an atheist. Characters like the Pope or the Dalai Lama have always inspired me a certain respect and I had planned to photograph the religious leader of Tibet during his visit to Montreal. Unfortunately, the organizers did not want to give me a media accreditation ...

I was very frustrated by this refusal because I was in contact with officials in Montreal for several months and they always told me that everything was wonderful. The conference of the Dalai Lama would be a great event and they were very happy that I was interested in them.

I was most surprised, a few days before the Dalai Lama's visit to Montreal, when the press officer in charge contacted me to tell me that my request for accreditation was denied. The reason: They lacked space in the Bell Center...

I was very upset and I felt cheated especially since I opened the page of the magazine LeStudio1.com to organizers in recent months and they'd closed their door after the publication of many articles, by me about them, and when their event became really interesting.

My first reaction was to check with my fellow journalists whether they had been accepted. Well no! None of my entourage has been accredited. Some have not even received an acknowledgement note to their application.

I searched a little more on Internet and started to trace many negative news articles from several journalists who criticize the Dalai Lama. One article was particularly aggressive and signed by Richard Martineau. (See link on the web site Pictures Page LeStudio1.com)

I even read that the Dalai Lama said that he is considering the Internet technology as a threat to world peace... May be this is the reason why the microphones did not work properly during the first 10 minutes of the conference. At one point, the Dalaï Lama was so upset that he almost left his chair on the stage!

I had no prejudice before but now I have to question the actions of people around the Dalai Lama. If individuals who preach compassion may act as cavalier as they did towards me, well I'd rather stick away as I have nothing to share with them.
The local organizers offered me a free ticket to watch the speeches of the Dalai Lama among the crowd. A technique taken from McDonald's Restaurant who offer a free meal to customer when they are unhappy with the service. That does not excuse the selection of certain media and the elimination of several at their press conference. I call that "Media Manipulation". The press secretary even said to me that with this kindness from them (the free ticket), I should be very happy, to show compassion and write a favorable article!

Unfortunately the "free ticket" did nothing to calme my anger, nor to excuse the actions of arbitrary control of media. They criticized China for stifling the press during the Olympics. How should we describe the elimination of several journalists from the press conference of the Dalai Lama?

My presence in the crowd had not either enhanced the image of the Dalai Lama in my opinion. He is ultimately a poor orator when compared to Barack Obama or even Ingrid Betancourt. The Bell Center crowd was faithful to his Holiness, but we could see in some people present a certain coldness. Conclusion, I will not become a Buddhist monk by tomorrow morning ...

If a positive consequence could be found to this whole story it is the discovery, in my case, of the talented translator monk Mathieu Ricard, a learned man, brilliant, polyglot and who has an outstanding personality. He will go far in the future of the Buddhist's organization.

Bernard Bujold www.LeStudio1.com

Link Pictures of the Dalaï Lama - LeStudio1.com
Photo 1: The Dalaï Lama;

Photo 2: The Dalaï Lama at Bell Cehter in Montreal;

Photo 3: Bernard Bujold at the Dalaï Lama's conference

Guilty or not - Roman Polanski

Roman Polanski’s story is very similar to the one of Guy Cloutier. We have in one side a filmmaker of great talent and in the other side one of the greatest impresarios of Quebec.

When Guy Cloutier pleaded guilty to charges of sex with a minor and that he had accepted a prison sentence, I was saddened because, even if I disagree with his actions towards Nathalie Simard, I consider him as one of the builders of the cultural industry in Quebec. He has an incomparable talent to discover and manage artists and the only one who is better and who has done more than Guy is René Angélil.

But the Justice chose to punish Guy Cloutier and to lose his talent as promoter. Does the situation should be different with Roman Polanski, one of the greatest filmmakers of our time?

The answer is obvious! He must be punished for his crime, especially since he had drugged and raped his victim, 30 years ago.

LeStudio1.com received several emails regarding the crimes of Vincent Lacroix and Earl Jones. We experienced the same situation with Guy Cloutier and we received many comments. None of the emails asked for leniency and all of them suggested prison. Even some of them wanted to stone the guilty on the public place...

I hope that you will be consistent with your previous comments and that no one will write to me to suggest that Justice should be more lenient towards Roman Polanski ...

Bernard Bujold www.lestudio1.com

Link Roman Polanski Los Angeles Times
Link Roman Polanski The New York Times

Photo 1: Roman Polanski and Guy Cloutier;

Photo 2: Roman Polanski in Marrakech - 2008

Alive or dead - From Vincent Lacroix to Nelly Arcan

The statement by fraudster Vincent Lacroix to the effect that he is mentally dead although physically he is still alive leads us to the following reflection: "Why does he cling to this life of his which is difficult and cruel? " In contrast, there are others like the writer Nelly Arcan, who despite her youth, her fame and popularity in society decides to take action to commit suicide?

Why are some people who have lost everything or who are sick cling to life while others that seem to own everything and are healthy, they decide to leave before the end?

Several philosophies exist about what life is about; several are purely imaginary, many are religious and some are rational and materialistic whereas life comes down only to time spent on earth with no life after death.

It is impossible to determine what really happens after death but it is possible to see and understand that life on earth is like a trip. Every steps are unpredictable and if some are happiness and joyce, others are real torture. Unfortunately we did not really decide events of our life and it is the chance that determines the fate of each, which is in perpetual flux. Our only personal decision is the reaction we have to deal with events that are presented to us!

The current situation of Vincent Lacroix is an example of bad times in the destiny as well as the life of other like the former Lieutenant-Governor Lise Thibault or Micheline Charest at the time of the bankruptcy of Cinar. These leaders of society have experienced the fame and life of luxury but they suddenly find themselves outcasts and stoned (figuratively) on the public square. They have gone at the top to return then to the lowest of society! Their situation is very painful, close to torture, but they cling to life.

Some readers of LeStudio1.com have written to suggest to send to the electric chair financial fraudsters or sentencing them to prison at perpetuity?

I do not think Lacroix, Thibault or Charest deserve the same treatment as child abusers, rapists, murderers or terrorists. The Vincent Lacroix, Lise Thibault and Micheline Charest (before his accidental death) continue to cling to their life and hope for a slim glimmer of happiness at the horizon. In a sense, their courage is very commendable, the other option being death by suicide and this solution is leading nowhere!

Bernard Bujold - www.LeStudio1.com
Link Letter of Vincent Lacroix

Photo 1: Vincent Lacroix, Micheline Charest and Lise Thibault;
Photo 2: Nelly Arcan;
Photo 3: Mademoiselle X and the mascots at Père Lachaise Cimetary in Paris

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown - The Power of the mind!

The new Dan Brown, The Lost Symbol is a perfect book in its composition as a literary thriller and each of the 133 chapters begins and ends with suspense. It is clear that it qualifies as an excellent "page turner".

The story is not unique in itself but it is a fascinating read, which according to me, is as interesting as was the famous best-seller The Da Vinci Code. I am convinced that the publisher and the author will succeed in sales that already exceed the millions of copies. Note that to do better than The Da Vinci Code it will have to sell over 81 million copies ...

But where the book is different and new is at the level of its scientific reflections on the power of the human mind. You can make a direct connection with the book The Secret. However, if the work of Rhonda Byrne was closer to the theories of "Positive Thinking" of Dale Carnegie, the one of Dan Brown is making his conclusions on scientific research. You can consult the website of the organization from whom Brown supported the theories of his novel: The Institute of Noetic Sciences, which is located in Northern California and which specializes in research on the power of the human brain. (See web link below)

The book by Dan Brown suggests the conclusion that the human mind is infinitely powerful, but that its possibilities are still largely unknown and unused by the general public. However, organizations like the Freemasons knew that power and they exchanged on the topic among members of the secret brotherhood. The same situation existed and still exists in religious organizations, like in Roman Catholic.

Dan Brown comes to define God as the human spirit in all of us. We are God and he exists in our mind. The author also describes the magic (real magic ...) as a knowledge of science and its possibilities. To describe the unknown aspects of the human brain, Dan Brown has consulted with the Research Institute of Noetic. We can believe the theories he advances.

For this reason, the conclusion of his book is encouraging. According to the novel by Dan Brown, there is hope for the future of humanity because the human mind is in fact God and, therefore, that spirit will be responsible for the future of humanity.We are the master of our destiny!

Bernard Bujold - www.LeStudio1.com

Lien site officiel Dan Brown
Lien vers Les Meilleurs 2009 - LeStudio1.com
Lien site The Institute of Noetic Sciences

Photo 1: Cover of The Lost Symbol and Dan Brown;

Photo 2: Dan Brown ;

Photo 3: Bernard Bujold and his copy of "The Lost Symbol"

The courage of Barack Obama

The President of the United States Barack Obama is probably the most popular man around the world except in his own country ...

In fact, Obama would receive up to 30 death threats daily and a American religious pastor from Arizona (white - married with five young children) has even publicly called from his pulpit faithful to pray with him so that Obama dies and goes to hell! (See newspaper article link below)

This unpopularity may be explained by the fact that if the President's rating is almost unanimous in most countries, in the United States it is mathematically only 25%. Indeed, it must be remembered that in the last presidential election, Republicans and Democrats were nose to nose (50% -50%). If we count only in the Democratic Party, Obama was also face to face with Hillary Clinton. Result, it gives him only 25% support against 75% opposition.

Barack Obama is the most fascinating politician that we currently have on the planet. His leadership style reminds me of Commander Jean-Luc Picard of the Star Trek series.

In practical terms, when compared with U.S. adversaries, whether Hillary Clinton or John McCain, he emerges as the truest and most devoted to the betterment of his countrymen. Elsewhere in the world, no Head of state does its level of dedication either in Canada (all parties), in Quebec or even in France with Nicolas Sarkozy, who was nevertheless very promising during its election.

Barack Obama said he did not want to retreat, even to the risk of offending and making enemies. He defends its programs, including health care, and he is ready to assume the damage this will have on his political popularity. The question which arises: Does the Americans will support him or they will abandon in favor of more traditional politicians? Do not forget that the American people are very conservative and very far from the social democratic values advocated by Barack Obama.

You can make a connection between Obama and former President John F. Kennedy. Besides the friendship between Ted Kennedy and Barack was a sign of bending to the left of these three politicians. Americans mourned John F. Kennedy but it remains that he was murdered ...

It is hoped that President Obama succeed in imposing his ideas for reform. It is also hoped that violence does not take the place of democracy. On this plan, fortunately, the U.S. security services are efficient and alert. (See book "In the President's Secret Service")

LeStudio1.com supports the U.S. President and we offer him a mention of excellence in the gallery The Best 2009.

Bernard Bujold

Link Pastor's story

Link to article from Washington Post on Obama popularity

Link to the book on security of the President

Link to The White House
Photo 1: Barack Obama in front of the Congress

Photo 2: Book cover on the security of the President

Photo 3: Commandant Jean-Luc Picard from Star Trek