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THE ODYSSEY ACCORDING TO ULYSSES...

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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 ...
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THE FRENCH NATIONAL DAY 2026

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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!
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JACQUES NADEAU - PHOTOGRAPHER

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JACQUES NADEAU, PHOTOGRAPHER…  By Bernard Bujold - I knew Jacques Nadeau, the photographer for the newspaper Le Devoir, quite well. His photos were journalism in its purest form. Jacques sadly passed away in December 2025 (at the age of 72), but he would be proud if he could see the two outdoor exhibitions dedicated to him this summer of 2026 in the streets of Old Montreal. The first exhibition, showcasing his entire body of work, is set up near Château Ramezay, and the second, which highlights his latest book project on the elderly, is on display on Rue de la Commune in front of the Old Port silos.  Don’t miss it!  https://www.chateauramezay.qc.ca/fr/expositions/expositions-temporaires/hommage-jacques-nadeau/
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LINDSEY GRAHAM (1955-2026)

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LINDSEY GRAHAM (1955-2026) - Lindsey Graham, a longtime Republican senator, former presidential candidate, a close supporter of President Donald Trump, and most recently a hawkish advocate of the war on Iran, has died, his office said early Sunday morning. He was 71. Emergency personnel responded to a medical emergency from cardiac arrest at Graham’s address on Capitol Hill on Saturday evening.  SEE STORY  https://www.wsj.com/politics/lindsey-graham-longtime-republican-senator-dies-of-brief-and-sudden-illness-bd02a353?st=NxuyXq&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
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THE OCTOBER 2026 ELECTIONS

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THE OCTOBER 2026 ELECTIONS -   By Bernard Bujold —   As Quebec’s October 5 election approaches, one question that arises is: What role will artificial intelligence play?   I recently watched a news report on DIELLA, a female politician who is nothing more than an artificial chatbot. It was in September 2025 that this world first took place in Albania, where a virtual minister generated by AI was introduced to Parliament. An initiative that ultimately resembles the science fiction novel *The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress*, in which a computer dictates human actions. The AI-generated virtual minister is named Diella, and she is officially in charge of Albanian public procurement and the awarding of government contracts. The concept is designed to eliminate corruption among politicians and civil servants.   Of course, we won’t see this kind of robotic politician during the October 5 election in Quebec, but in theory, this scenario could become a reality w...
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LIFE AT THE TOP

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LIFE AT THE TOP…  By Bernard Bujold -  I didn’t know Marc Messier (1947-2026) personally, but his story really resonates with me! I was briefly a neighbor of his close friend Michel Côté (1950-2023) during the last year of his life. Côté told his loved ones he was sad to be dying. He had become rich but couldn't enjoy it… The fundamental question: Is it harder to die when you’re at the top of the mountain? Having to leave behind wealth and glory is more painful than if you were just an ordinary person! I imagine…  I, too, have known power and wealth in another life, but today I’m just an ordinary old man. Sometimes I tell myself that I’ll experience two deaths: the first, when I began my life as an ordinary person, and my eventual final death. I imagine it will be less painful than if I were still at the top…  To be continued!  www.lestudio1.com
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THE FEAR OF LIFE

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THE FEAR OF LIFE…  By Bernard Bujold - The worst obstacle in life is the fear of obstacles! I recently rewatched a 2022 military action movie: TOP GUN: MAVERICK, starring Tom Cruise. The star of the film, who plays a jet pilot, utters a line that’s central to the film’s action: DON’T THINK. JUST ACT! When we think too much, fear sets in. When faced with challenges that sometimes seem insurmountable, it’s better to act on reflex and instinct!  That’s my philosophy on life...  VOIR VIDEO https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QLCJPequYbnJ9c0Op72zx4imB9My8ZiC/view?usp=sharing TOP GUN SITE https://tv.apple.com/ca/movie/top-gun-maverick/umc.cmc.670544bajp6s4pysx4rvctczz
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LET'S PLAY SOCCER

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LET'S PLAY SOCCER -  The United States Men's National Team (USMNT) faces Belgium tonight at 8:00 PM ET (5:00 PM PT) in a highly anticipated World Cup Round of 16 knockout match. The American star player, Folarin Balogun, will be on the starting line tonight since FIFA has reversed the red card.  The winner of tonight's match will face Spain in the quarterfinals on Friday, July 10, at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Spain advanced earlier today by eliminating Portugal in a tight 1-0 victory. The large TV screen is fixed over the fireplace at the camp, and the three mascots of LeStudio1.com are ready for the game!  SEE the official website for the tournament: https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/scores-fixtures?country=CA&wtw-filter=ALL
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THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED STATES IN 2026 -

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  THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED STATES IN 2026 -  By Bernard Bujold- Every year, July 4th—commonly known as Independence Day—is the National Day of the United States. It commemorates a pivotal moment in global history: July 4, 1776, the day the Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence. By July 1776, the thirteen American colonies, at the time. had been at war with Great Britain for over a year. While the actual vote to separate from Britain occurred on July 2nd, the final text of the Declaration—primarily penned by Thomas Jefferson—was approved on July 4th. This document officially severed political ties with the British Empire and gave birth to the United States of America. It was 250 years ago…  In 2026, as the United States continues past its 250-year mark, it remains shaped by the very same forces that animated its creation: a continuous, often turbulent debate over the reach of federal power, the definition of citizenship, and the...
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MODERN ENTREPRENEURS IN 2026...

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MODERN ENTREPRENEURS IN 2026…  By Bernard Bujold -  Just recently, the management of the city condo where I live decided to have the parking garage floor washed. To make the job easier, they hired a valet service to move the cars while the garage was being washed.  Like many of my neighbors in the condo building, I was hesitant and apprehensive about handing over my car keys to a valet service. I had discussed this with several neighbors, and they all told me they, too, felt uneasy and afraid. Furthermore, because I’m not comfortable with the property manager’s management style, I was worried about entrusting my car to her service provider.  On the Friday morning before the car wash, however, I ran into the director of the valet company—LUXE VALET—at the building’s reception desk, a man named Benny Prince, and he put my mind at ease right away. He wasn’t arrogant at all; he listened to my concerns, and within a few minutes, he managed to show me that he knew his vale...
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CANADA DAY - 2026 EDITION

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CANADA DAY 2026—  By Bernard Bujold-  Canada Day has evolved alongside the country’s identity. It all began on July 1, 1867, with the coming into force of the British North America Act. This law united the first four provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec, and Ontario) to form the Dominion of Canada. The annual holiday on July 1 was then called Dominion Day...  With the repatriation of the Canadian Constitution in 1982, by the government of Pierre Elliott Trudeau, Canada severed its last major legislative ties with London, and on October 27, 1982, a law officially designated July 1 as Canada Day.  In Quebec, July 1 is also traditionally known as “National Moving Day,” a tradition that dates back to an old law setting the end of residential leases on that specific date.  Personally, on this July 1, I’m going to hang on a wall in my living room the birthday gift Mark Carney gave me on June 28—a 5-pound (£5) note from the Bank of London featuring Winston C...
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