The beauty of the speed - Canadian Center of Architecture

The exhibition at the Canadian Center for Architecture in Montreal (20 May to 12 October 2009) on the subject of the speed is particularly well presented and we can even see a link with the new Star Trek movie.

Speed is a question of perception and it is often a mirage of the moment! One might add that the more quickly things go in one reality, the more slowly it is in another one...

A scene from Star Trek is particularly explanatory of speed. While the enemy spaceship go through a magnetic wall and then wait his opponent for 25 years, on the other side of the wall, the spaceship of the opponent live the same moment in a time frame of a few minutes only before joining the enemy. Time is perception is never the same for everyone!

The exhibition at the Canadian Center for Architecture does not explain the value of the speed versus slowness or neither give us all the possible definitions of speed but rather, it propose a profound reflection. When observing the demolition of skyscrapers that have been in their time the symbols of speed, we understand that nothing lasts and that the speed of today will be the slowness of tomorrow. The images of working spaces who were at the cutting edge and are now totally abandoned is another striking example of the speed becoming symbols of the slow. The last room of the exhibition shows athletes who are trying to exceed their speed limits. Does their success mean that they live more than the one who a slow? Does the person who take his time to cross the street lives less than the one who runs ? Visitors to the exhibition cannot fail to extend their thinking about the speed according to their own experiences. For this reason, the event is a success.

Personally my conclusion to the visit at the Canadian Center of Architecture is the famous Italian proverb: "Chi va piano, va sano e va lontano" Slowly but surely ... Enjoy your visit!

Bernard Bujold

www.LeStudio1.com

www.cca.qc.ca

Link to Star Trek

Picture 1: Exhibition Speed Limits (CCA)

Picture 2: Voyagers (Star Trek)

Pictures 3 et 4: Exhibition Speed Limits (CCA)

Memory of former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney

The former Prime Minister of Canada Brian Mulroney leaves no one indifferent. Either we love and admire him deeply or we hate and despise him.

I have personally worked with Brian Mulroney in 1984. So I am one of those who admire and regard this person as a respectable man, generous and faithful in friendship.

I never hesitated to state my opinion and to those who sometimes asked me to explain my thinking, I always replied that I had the chance to meet and know many great characters and this allows me to compare. Of all these people, Brian seems like the most honest and most true of the whole group.

The truth is a concept whose definition varies from person to person it is impossible to judge if one does not compare the actions by common rules. Of all the men of power in the world of business and politics that I have known, many if not most are predators whose only pleasure is the capture of prey. In this sense, their friendship is false because they want to attract you and then crush you. I could name several persons that are still very active in the business community and who cause serious damage to their environment by being predators. Instead I will mention a businessman who is dead: Pierre Péladeau.

I worked with this person and we liked each other a lot but it was dangerous to work with him and he confessed this situation himself. The man said to me in confidence towards the end of his life: "I am a predator and sometimes I do not control it. I can be mean to my enemies but sometimes also with my friends ... The worst is that I do not know why? It's like a second nature "

Brian Mulroney is not a predator within the meaning of Pierre Péladeau and he is rather an idealist. He wanted to be an international leader in the american style and influence the world by his success as head of state.

I see great similarities between Brian and U.S. President Bill Clinton. This politician was one of the most effective during his presidency but also one of the most criticized and ridiculed. Yet with the benefit of hindsight, we realize that it was a better president than George Bush who has destroyed, economically, everything Clinton had done.

Brian Mulroney was a great Prime Minister and he had at heart the country. He managed to Canada as a sort of fellow academics and the goal was never his personal enrichment, but rather how making history by his accomplishments and innovations. Unfortunately in politics there is the perception, image and rumor. False rumors can help to create false reputations and potentially kill a character. This is the case of Brian Mulruney who was a victim of the media even though initially he was their greatest admirer. Brian read up to 12 major newspapers every day. A incredible consumer of journalistic information. It is these same media that have caused his downfall ...

It is interesting to note that Brian Mulroney's lawyer, Guy Pratte, has close ties with the situation of the former Prime Minister of Canada. Guy's father, Yves Pratte was a great lawyer and even Supreme Court Judge at the time of Pierre Trudeau (1975). However, he saw his reputation destroyed following a scandal when he was the president of Air Canada. A story for which he was fired from his job after a Commission of Inquiry which broke his career irreparably. Yves Pratte never recovery his former life after his firing from Air Canada. Guy admits in his biography that he often has to mind the memory of the sadness of his father whose life was destroyed by false accusations against him. In a sense, he probably thinks about his father when he defended Brian Mulroney.

In conclusion, I would say that whatever happens, Brian Mulroney will always have my admiration and that of all the leaders that I have come to know, he is the one who was most pleasant to work with.

The 1984 period was one of the best times of my life!

Bernard Bujold

http://www.lestudio1.com/MulroneyMemoires.html
http://www.canadianlawyermag.com/index.php/Pratte-a-porter.html
http://www.clintonfoundation.org/
http://www.lestudio1.com/EmpireQuebecor.html
Picture 1: Brian Mulroney (Ottawa - May 2009)

Picture 2: Bill Clinton

Picture 3: Guy Pratte (Ottawa)

Picture 4: Bernard Bujold (Ottawa September 1984)

Trahison and ther scandals (Guy Lafleur)

The scandals have never been so much in media than today, but the betrayal and lies always been a major part in everyday life of society, regardless of the period in time. The story of Judas who betrayed Jesus is probably the best known ...

Closer to home, the most shattering disappointment during the last month was without a doubt the one of Bernard Madoff. The style of his betrayal was surprising as well as incredible in the magnitude of its consequences.

On a more local scale, residents of Montreal could compare Zampino case to the one of Judas. An apostle (municipal counselor) betrays its Chief and accepts secret favors (travel on a yacht belonging to asupplier of the city). He claims he paid his expenses but there is an apparent conflict of interest. The mayor of Montreal, Gérald Tremblay, however, does not yield to the betrayal of his former political partner and he recently received a standing ovation from the delegates of the Association of Quebec economists during their annual congress. All the guests applauded the mayor and some have even said on the stand that they wanted him to be reelected. These are mainly journalists who want his resignation while the public seems to support the mayor, at least again his opponent in the election of the next November 1.

Another debate in the media which is connected to honesty is about the former hockey player Guy Lafleur who was convicted of lying to the Tribunal and who will receive his sentence on 18 June. Unlike the situation experienced by Mayor Tremblay, the journalists are the one who defend the sports figure and the citizens are the ones who want a severe punishment. The comments in the blogs are most unanimous: "This is not because he is a hockey star hockey that he is above the law."

The case of Guy Lafleur is similar to the one of the impresario Guy Cloutier because they are two big stars in their career but they have violated the law in their personal lives. Cloutier was charged to have sex with a underage girl (Nathalie Simard). This had upset the world of popular song as Guy Cloutier was a pillar of the music industry in Quebec and he was equally important and known as Guy Lafleur. Cloutier was regarded as the best manager of artist after René Angélil. Unlike the Lafleur case, very few people had taken positions publicly in favor of Cloutier as he had pleaded guilty and accepted a prison sentence. This reaction of his had cut short the debate, but if few people have stated it openly, several admit in private conversations that theyconsider Cloutier not entirely guilty and Nathalie Simard had its share of responsibility. Several, among his friends, would have wanted Cloutier explains its actions to the judge but he did not want to do it. Guy Lafleur acted differently as he even take action to prosecute the police for damage to his reputation because they have issued an warrant arrest against him. If Guy Cloutier had defended his action in front of the court, the judge might have decided differently but we will never know.

In the case of Guy Lafleur, the debate is very divided and it takes place on the public square. Some observers are deeply offended that we dare to attack the hockey player while others would like the judge to send himdirectly to jail ... The decision will be known next June.

You can add another person in the group of superstars who do not respect the law and this is the actor Keif Sutherland (Jack Bauer). Is an exceptional talent in one area may excuse illegal actions in another? That is the essence of the debate surrounding Guy Lafleur.

One thing is certain, our leaders and our stars are very rarely symbols of the truth! Someone once said: What we see in public represents only 10% truth and 90% is an interpretation as at the theater. In this sense, the true reality of life is behind the curtain ...

Bernard Bujold

www.LeStudio1.com
Link Ordre du Québec (Guy Lafleur)
Link Mayor of Montréal (Gérald Tremblay)

Link Letter of Guy Cloutier to his friends
Link to Jack Bauer (Keif Sutherland)

Photo 1: Guy Lafleur
Photo 2: Ville de Montréal
Photo 3: Gérald Tremblay, Guy Cloutier, Keif Sutherland et Bernard Madoff

Dan Brown is back!

The successful author Dan Brown will return to the forefront next September 15 when his new book: The Lost Symbol will be available in bookstores.

The effects in the world of literature will be very important for both merchants and for the career of the writer.

First, will Dan Brown be at the height of his colleagues JK Rowling and Stephenie Meyer and will he be able to deliver a best-selling better than Da Vinci Code. Rowling and Meyer have both managed to exceed the first volume of their series. They repeated their initial success and firmly dominated the best sellers list for several months, sometimes years. The Da Vinci Code book is without a doubt a success of modern literature with over 81 million copies sold, but the question which arose all observers: Does Dan Brown can repeat his success or was it a stroke of chance in his career?

The subject of his new book is about the brotherhood of the Freemasons and his secrecy. The action takes place in Washington and the character featured in Da Vinci Code, Robert Langdon, is back. An item to remember, the scenario would be play on a period of 12 consecutive hours. This type of canvas is very popular for thrillers and the formula was developed in the TV series 24H with Jack Bauer. Paulo Koelho also uses this formula in his latest book: The Winner stands alone.

Brown took 5 years to fine tune the search for The Lost Symbol but he was scheduled to deliver the book in 2005, which was not done.

Another upheaval surrounding the launch of the Dan Brown new book is the financial implications for the industry. The first printing is estimated at 5 million copies (in English) and several translations are planned. But will the operation be profitable? Already 6 months before the event, large libraries have begun to announce discounts between 30 and 40% if you buy a copy now. It is also anticipated that other discount will be offered at the launch. This approach did not appeal to small booksellers who can not offer reduced price because their profit margin is not on volume but on each unit.

Autumn promises to be the one of Dan Brown and we will live a global success or an abysmal failure ... Stay tuned!

Bernard Bujold www.LeStudio1.com/Magazine206
Lien site officiel Dan Brown
Lien site officiel J.K. Rowling

Lien site officiel Stephenie Meyer

Lien critique The New York Times

Canadian Centre for Architecture - 20 Years in 2009

The Canadian Center for Architecture (CCA) celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2009.
An open day was held during "20 hours" on Saturday May 4 and several activities were organized to involve the public.
The buildings of the Canadian Center for Architecture are to join the modern and the old. The CCA park is unique and has been fitted with giant sculptures which appear to meet the earth, the passage of time and the space in heaven. The construction of the park was a huge challenge because of the proximity of the Ville-Marie Highway and Montreal railroads. The architectural success of this park is to have managed to maintain calmness and beauty of space and isolate from the noise, the harsh urban and speed of the city, which are a fact of life all around.
One could qualify the CCA and its park as an oasis in the city ...
The park is really worth visiting and Bernard Bujold photographed this unique place in Montreal.
Link reportage photos Canadian Center of Architecture

Mention of Honour to Natasha Richardson - Dancing on the Lake

The editor of LeStudio1.com has chosen to dedicate the series of his favorite photos in career: "Dancing on the Lake", in tribute to the memory of Natasha Richardson.This series of 11 photographs was made in June 1994 before the Lake Mont Tremblant. Both dancers are children of Bernard Bujold, David (1 May 1982) and Stephanie (23 October 1983) and their dance represents the beauty, hope and life.

Natasha Richardson died on March 16 after a fall while skiing at Mont Tremblant.

Bernard Bujold

Link to pictures Dancing on the Lake