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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THE ART OF AGING WELL...

THE ART OF AGING WELL... 
By Bernard Bujold -
On Monday evening, I watched Julie Depardieu's interview on CNews (France) about her father Gérard. 
I agree with her statement, but I was especially impressed by the beauty of Julie's aging! If I admired her and found her beautiful 20 years ago, today in 2023 at the age of 50, Julie is even more beautiful and more of a woman than when I knew her... 
"A woman's beauty can't be explained, it has to be seen! 
SEE THE EXCERPT FROM THE INTERVIEW 
https://x.com/CNEWS/status/1736843001228341555?s=20

CHRISTMAS RAIN 2023...

CHRISTMAS RAIN 2023... 
By Bernard Bujold -
Elf friends are not impressed... Rain for Christmas! 
They want to warn Santa Claus to stay at the North Pole on the evening of December 24... https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=bernard.bujold&set=a.10168452506015541

STARS AND GLORY...

 

STARS AND GLORY... 

By Bernard Bujold -

I recently published a story about public stars. I wrote that I never admired someone for their financial wealth, professional titles, or medals of recognition. I admire someone based on instinct and, to begin with, I don't trust anyone... I've often written that honors are just anecdotes in life and that in the end, the real reality is always something else, for better or worse... Several people commented on my text (privately or publicly on my page) and one Facebook friend mentioned the three characters who inspired him in life. I found his comment very interesting and thought about my own inspirations... I've had hundreds of public figures inspire my life. The characters have changed over time. If I had to pick three out of my entire life, I'd say: 

 1. Bernard Derome for journalism; 

 2. Yousuf Karsh for photography; 

 3. Paul Desmarais for the totality of his work (business, society, and humanism). 

Let's never forget that life is a journey!

GERARD DEPARDIEU IN 2023

GÉRARD DEPARDIEU IN 2023... 
By Bernard Bujold -
I got to know Gérard Depardieu well during his years of association with Montreal, including the World Film Festival. I also knew his daughter, Julie, whom I adored, and for a brief moment, I even had the impossible dream that Gérard would be my father-in-law.... 
Gérard Depardieu is an actor with many personalities. Personally, I've always found him extremely polite and kind when I've met him. His daughter told me that her father was a difficult person to understand and deal with. 
Should society blacklist Gérard in 2023? I've often written that the reality of life is never what we perceive it to be. Life is a theater, but the real reality is behind the curtain, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse. If you want to know, you have to go behind the scenes. 
Gérard Depardieu's family issued a statement of defense on this Sunday in France. 
SEE TF1 INFO REPORT (French)

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING-

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING- 
By Bernard Bujold -
I drove my trusty Ulysses back to town with his Elves companions, who wanted to explore the stores. I accompanied them to the first merchant (Holt Ogilvy), but then left them to their own devices to come back and pick them up at the end of the day yesterday, Friday, December 15, 2023. 
The elves visited everything: luxury stores, bookshops, department stores and even a Dollarama... 
The day ended at the BIRKS hotel restaurant! 
In the end, the art of shopping is having a plan and knowing what you want... 
Happy shopping! 
SEE PHOTO ALBUM 
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