Is Chico Trujillo, Tad/Is Tad, Chico Trujillo?

The lead singer of the Chilean band Chico Trujillo:          

Tad, the lead singer of Boston-based Sidewalk Driver:

Chico Trujillo                                                                      Tad

As a little kid I used to think about how big the world is and how many people there are in it. I would then imagine how because there are so many people out there that my "same" has to exist somewhere else in the world, ie. there is some other little kid in some other country like England, Russia, or Japan who looks exactly like me (I now realize that Japan does not make too much sense), eats spaghetti for breakfast and ice cream for dinner, likes the same things, etc.. I am yet to come across my same but I think I may have found Tad's in the form of the lead singer of the Chilean music group Chico Trujillo. Both are musicians, wear the same sunglasses, have a fondness for flannel, and are performers at their heart. Basically, I need them to do a show together . . . or at the very least meet and share a hug like in Step Brothers.

Chico Trujillo in concert:


Sidewalk Driver in concert:

The meanest friendliest stray pitbull ever?

No man, woman, or, child is safe, or at least there umbrella isn't on a rainy day in Santiago. Apparently, he was at this for over two weeks and literally became a national sensation known as the "Pitbull, umbrella thief." I wouldn't be surprised if there was a nearby mastermind umbrella salesman who sent the pitbull out on this mission, especially given he has a camo jacket on.

If you were wondering about the fate of the umbrella bandit, it is a happy one. After his sudden rise to fame, the pitbull was adopted and named, Felipe, after the popular actor and host of "Good Morning, Chile," Felipe Camiroaga. (On a less happy note they cut off Felipe's manhood upon adoption). They also narrowed it down to two reasons as to why Felipe went after the umbrellas: 1) Felipe watched Mary Poppins too many times as a puppy and was afraid people were going to fly away when they opened their umbrellas or 2) he was trained with some type of pole, that was similar in shape to an umbrella, thus causing him to react so aggressively to the offending object.

Who had the better entrance to a Copa Sudamericana Final: Universidad de Chile in 2011 or Colo Colo in 2006 ?

U de Chile vs Liga de Quito, 2011:



Colo Colo vs. Pachuca, 2006:

Same annoucer, same network, and the same stadium for both Copa Sudamericana Championships.

After watching the two videos, if I conclude anything it is that I should move down to South America, become an aloe vera farmer, and open burn clinics across from the stadiums. I would have the busiest clinics in the world. With your season tickets you pay an additional nominal fee for burn services and I would douse you in my freshly farmed green goop and send you on your way.

Chilean food or what could loosely be termed food pic of the day: Ketchup Doritos

Wait, what?

That could be it. That could be the whole blog for any of the food posts. But no, Chilean food isn't one-dimensional . . Doritos Chile couldn't just stop with the creation of a condiment flavored chip. They had to go and make the chips heart shaped as well.

I really feel like I would fit in splendidly in the creative environment of a Chilean company. I've once been immortalized on a playbill with these words: "What's the difference between a visionary and a madman? A prophet and a pariah? An innocent soul and the heart of evil? We don't know, but it probably looks something like Stefan."

Similar to my ideas, there there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to the things they come up with sometimes in Chile. For example, in this instance, it would be one thing if ketchup was commonly used as a dip for chips but I don't think I've ever been to a party, reached for a chip, and grabbed the ketchup bottle.

No, in Chile it seems they come up with an idea and just run with it. I want to be at the table when the creative team walks up and presents the idea for ketchup flavored heart shaped Doritos and the Product Director asks them how long until they can be on shelves.

No word on what these gems taste like, need to find a local taste tester.

PS. I also remember pizza flavor and steak flavor. If anyone has a picture of either send it my way. If I ever were to host a dinner in Chile I think I would arrange a three course meal consisting solely of the different full meal Doritos flavors. And yes, I would expect you to show a little civility at the table and eat the steak Doritos with a fork and a knife.

At least in Chile they think the Patriots won the Super Bowl

Times like these you have to take whatever small victories you can get. Don't put it past me to go down to Chile and live in the glory of the legendary 2012 Super Bowl champion Patriots.

Damn, maybe not.

Next step getting Super Bowl XLVI Champs shirt from Calle Bandera.

Education: They're afraid of us because we're not afraid

"We do not want to improve the actual system: we want a profound change- to stop seeing education as a consumer good. To see education as a right where the state provides a guarantee. Why do we need education? To make profits. To make a business? Or to develop a country and have social integration and development? Those are the issues in dispute."

Camila Vallejo

"The broader issue in this struggle is that like so much of the system in Chile, it favors the wealthy. The richest 20% of households earn half the national income and the bottom 20% earn just 5% of the national income. The government insists that the economic growth of the country will have a trickle down effect and all will feel the benefits but it seems the rich are staying rich and the poor, poor."

"Chile is a profoundly unequal country. The opportunities people have depend on what positions their parents have in society. The student movement seeks to level the playing field and expand opportunities."

- Patricio Navia, Chilean Political Scientist at NYU.

On January 4th the Chilean Senate took a vote on a bill that would end for-profit educational institutions from receiving state funding. The bill came as a direct result of the lengthy and ongoing student protests and won approval by a vote of 22-12. The bill still has a number of hurdles to overcome in the legislative process but it is a notable concrete step in the right direction to bringing change to education in Chile.

Unfortunately for the students, but fortunately for me, as this post never materialized in a timely manner, not too much earth shattering changes have come about yet due to the protests. However, the wheels are in motion.

In addition to the bill which is expected to be hotly contested and brought in front of a Constitutional Committee due to questions of constituionality, the government has agreed to an increase of 7.2% for education spending in 2012. Not the sweeping dramatic changes that the students have hoped to instill, but the message and mission remains strong and there seem to be chinks in the armour of the educational establishment that has served as the norm since the Pinochet Dictatorship. Heads within the government are still rolling, a sign that the pressure is building to institute change.

Joaquin Lavin, served as the Minister of Education for a little over a year before resigning in July due to pressures from the protests.

 "I'm Cheating you"

Lavin attended the University of Chicago where he got a masters in economics. He also wrote a book "Una Revolucion Silenciosa" "A Quiet Revolution" in support of the Dictator Augusto Pinochet's policies. Clearly he wasn't going to jive with the students.

Felipe Bulnes, lasted from July to December as Minister of Education.

"Finland is the country with the highest rated educational system and it is 99% state funded. In Chile, this would be a great step backwards"- Felipe Bulnes. (Not an actual quote, but a satirical portrayal of the students' view of Bulnes' policies.)

Bulnes has a Masters from Harvard.

And public enemy number one and still standing, billionare businessman, President Pinera.

He also got a Masters from Harvard in Economics. A little strange how the ruling elite, the good old boys, all seem to study at the most prestigious universities in the United States . . . But there is no problem with the educational system in the country.

Harald Beyer is the newest Minister of Education, he was appointed on December 29th.

Oh and Beyer also studied in the U.S., he got a Doctorate in Economics from UCLA.

Many see Beyer as an expert in education with little political experience, which can be both a positive and negative. He has served as a consultant on educational matters for President Pinera and the previous president, as well as, working on the educational committee for a think tank, which personally does not install a lot of confidence in me because Joe and I used to call our room "the think tank" when we watched youtube videos under the knife mobile instead of doing homework, I hope theirs was different than ours (except for the knife mobile, all think tanks should have a knife mobile). The students see him as potentially being the right man for the job with important educational expertise but are afraid he may be easily handled by experienced politicians and not be able to institute the desired changes.


In light of the Occupy Protests in the U.S. I think it is important to compare and contrast it with the student movement in Chile. The most evident similarity is the fact that they both appeal to almost all demographics and all people. However, I see two important differences. The first, taking into consideration an observation of Patricio Navia, a Chilean political scientist who has voiced the fear that the student movement is going to lose momentum:

"It will be remembered as being ideologically pure, but not very effective. Looking for the revolution, it will lose the ability to influence gradual concrete change in the right direction."

I believe that in Chile, thus far, they have avoided this. The clear cut goal of the student protests is still to make quality and free education available to all Chileans. Keeping that in mind and driving toward that tangible goal is what has enabled a dialogue with the government and actual change to be possible.

In contrast, this is exactly how the Occupy Movement has come to be remembered. Occupy came to deal largely in the abstract, instead of keeping with a tangible goal, like that of the original Occupy Wall Street which was to bring Wall Street under greater public scrutiny and bring those who acted criminally, to justice. I personally could have seen a lot of good in channeling the protests to create funding to establish an independent watch dog group to keep an eye on the Wall Street establishment, but that is difficult to do without coordinated action. In the end the movement became a hodgepodge of causes across the U.S. and the camps came to be perceived as cauldrons of discontents and whiners who were envious of those who have more than them.

I think this video speaks for itself and is conveniently topical.

Somebody write this kid a check! (I knew he was in trouble when the one source he cited for his facts was the internet.)

The second observation, which I think is strongly connected to why the Occupy movement fizzled out was the refusal to define a leader. Clearly, one of the strongest aspects of the student movement in Chile is the strong and dynamic leadership. This leadership has been able to create a two day national strike and has opened a dialogue with regular meetings between students and the government. The movement has a voice and actions can be directed and coordinated.

Closing Notes:
- According to a nationwide standardized test administered to seniors, the test results between public and private schools has increased each year since 2004. The max score is 850 and in 2004 the average gap between public and private school kids was 118 points and as of last year private school kids were outscoring their public school counterparts by an average of 157 points.

-  This is the biggest movement in Chile since the end of the Dictatorship and people do not have the same fear of the government that existed before. "We don't have the fear our parents did because we never lived in the dictatorship," - Student leader Camila Vallejo.

- Older generations that previously held their tongues because of the memories of the cruely of the dictatorship are also being inspired by the students and finding their voice.

- The dynamic young leader, Camila Vallejo lost reelection of the University of Chile's student federation, the largest in the country (FECh).

Camila and used tear gas canister peace sign

She is now the vicepresident behind Gabriel Boric, a 23 year old law student. Boric is not politically affiliated like Camila Vallejo was to the Communist Party and seeks to keep the arenas separate with the focus staying on education.

- The movement is slowing down for the summer break, the Universidad de Chile is not being occupied by the students for the first time in more than 6 months. However, around 70 schools/universities will remain occupied.

This is where things stand today with the student movement, it will be interested to see where the movement goes with the new Minister of Education and the new president of the University of Chile student federation. The movement seems to be at a fragile point where momentum can be lost and it will fizzle out, like the Occupy protests but I have a feeling that the passion of the students, the decades of building discontent, and the progress that has already been made will keep things moving forward.

For those interested, I've put together a playlist on youtube with videos that cover all aspects of the movement. Different scenes from the protest, violence between protesters and the police, the interruption of government meetings by students, the President of Chile being asked about the movement during a visit to Harvard and an interview with Camila Vallejo, and if you are very ambitious a 30 minute documentary on the movement that is subtitled in English (you have to press the CC button), I've only watched the beginning which opens with a massive dance to Thriller in front of the Presidential Palace, La Moneda.
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL76AE10B8E116984D

For now, I leave you with this:

Education: The Heart of the Issue

From personal experience it seems that education in Chile is in a fragile state. Before leaving to study abroad you are warned that there is always a chance for strikes.
As the semester starts up, one of the strangest things you will notice walking down the street, apart from the freshman covered in fish, paint, and condiments (picture on the right) begging for change to get their shoes back from the upperclassmen, are the droves of university employees accosting you with pamphlets. These pamphlets offer deals on admission and the various courses they offer. It almost feels like walking down a street populated by bars and bar promoters trying to get you to come in for a drink special . . . Except in this case, you are not just going to get a buzz on, it's for your education and future.


Another aspect of the education system that drew my attention and is distinct from the United States is that you pay depending on what major you select. For example, to study engineering or biology, the tuition per semester is much higher than to study a noble but largely useless subject, like Political Science.


How did it end up like this?

The public universities are for-profit institutions. Wait, what? Yes, the universities are designed to bring in the $$. During the Pinochet dictatorship, he introduced many neoliberal policies to all industries, including to education with the idea that competition between universities would improve the quality of education and as a result public universities were converted into for-profit institutions. In addition, Pinochet transferred funds that were previously used to subsidize the public universities into a voucher system that parents could use to enroll their children in private schools and universities. As a result private universities sprung up that could cash in on the voucher system and continued to appear in the early 1990's and 2000's after the Dictatorship ended.

Part of the problem with so many small private universities is the lack of uniformity in the curriculum and inability to control the quality of the education. As I said, it feels like a bit of a crap shoot walking down the street and being handed a pamphlet from 10 different universities advertising what they have to offer and recruiting you to enroll . . . If I remember correctly when I applied to college I had to fill out a dozen applications, interview, and in the end beg a college to take me.

These policies seem to have had mixed results. Middle classes moved their students out of public schools as the quality deteriorated and poorer students who have stayed in the public schools tend not to test as well and are forced into attending private universities that can be more expensive and have a dubious quality of education. More students than ever are attending college, 7 out of 10 are the first in their family, but with funds redirected to the voucher system and similar initiatives, the available resources to help students attend the public universities have dwindled. Students are leaving with massive debts up to $45-50,000, which in a country that has the highest average wages relative to the rest of Latin America, is still an astronomical sum. (The price of education leads to some awkward moments in Chile when a Chilean student would ask how much you pay, a.k.a. that amount per semester but it is so much and sounds so ridiculous that the only way to respond was "a lot" and mention The Simpsons or that you have been to New York as a quick way out of the subject.)

Facts that don're reflect to well on the system:

- Minimal funding is put into higher education- about 2.2% of GDP and just over 0.5% of GDP go toward public universities.

- In 1986, 63% if students were enrolled in public schools. In 2008 about 43%

- 80% of students are in private universities. Loans for private universities have higher interest rates and students are leaving with higher debts.

- Students are using as much as 18% of their salaries over 15 years to pay off debts.- According to a study by the World Bank

That is my best attempt to explain what is going on and what has joined students and teachers, young and old and has dropped the President's approval rating to 26% as they attempt to reform the education system through a massive movement that has been felt by everyone in Chile, but has not been so much as a blip on the radar in these parts.