- BREAKING NEWS - 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...

THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES…  By Bernard Bujold -  If I had to bet on who will be the next U.S. president in 2028 and succeed Donald Trump, I’d bet on JD Vance.  I took advantage of the weekend to read his recent book “COMMUNION,” especially since on Sunday his wife Usha gave birth to their fourth child, a boy the couple will name Alec Neel Vance. In a statement, the couple announced that “...the baby is doing well and their children are thrilled to meet their little brother...”  As for JD Vance’s new book, it’s a follow-up to his autobiography: *Hillbilly Elegy*. In *Communion*, JD recounts his departure from religious practice and his recent return to faith. Personally, I am not a practicing Catholic or a follower of any particular doctrine, but I enjoy reading or chatting with those who have religious beliefs.  SEE STORIES-  1- Birth of the baby  https://www.wsj.com/us-news/second-lady-usha-vance-gives-birth-to-baby-boy-1988bd1d?s...

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—  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

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 ...

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!

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/

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

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...

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