1983, Islan del Alacran, Arica, with Pilar in my red Beetle, this is a buggy!
THE VERY SAD STORY OF MY LIFE
When I was a kid (1955-1968)
I was born in Santiago on January 6, 1955. I attended elementary school at the Rafael Sanhueza Lizardi School, the Valentín Letelier High School, and School No. 57, all free public schools. My parents separated when I was about 3 years old, around 1958, and got back together when I was 13, in 1968.
After a major earthquake in Santiago (1965, La Ligua) left us homeless, I lived in Poblacion Santiago, which we founded. It was one of the worst neighborhoods in the city, on the banks of the Zanjón de la Aguada river. During "Operation Sitio" when Eduardo Frei Montalva was president, heavy machinery rolled over some agricultural land and installed emergency storm drains.
Despite all that, I have the happiest memories of those years. Later, Corvi built houses on the same site. My childhood was very happy and normal in every other way, except for the money. In the village, we were all very close, like a large family.
I posted some memories from those wonderful years in When I Lived in Chuchunco City . A video of what the Santiago neighborhood, near Los Nogales, was like when we first arrived can be seen here.
My memory may be deceiving me, but the skinny man with his wife and several children, I think he was our neighbor Don Orlando, and the shack next door with precarious roof in kind of very rustic porch, I think, was ours. Don Manuel, my brother-in-law's father, built that.
Adolescent (1969-1973)
In 1969 I lived in Arica studying the first year of high school at the Scientific Humanistic High School, in that city. At the age of 14 my path of perversion began: I took my first sips of liquor, failed the course and became a rebel without a cause, which earned me a healthy stay in Ancud (Chiloé) for the next 4 years.
This photo is from Codpa in 1969, I am with my sister Mariana and my nephews Carolina and Rodrigo, when they were children.
The unforgettable Ancud Boys' High School: my birthplace. Next door is the glorious Fire Department, where I punctually got drunk every Saturday during my four years of secondary school (1970-1973). I don't think I missed a single Saturday.
For me, Ancud was a city of intense emotions, where I suffered the most and where I retained the fondest memories of my life. I've written quite a bit about those years that shaped my life and my personality. One of my favorite blog posts about that time is called " It's a Good Thing Favors Are Free ." That's exactly how it was.
I don't appear in the photo, but I was on that walk, to our friend Caupolican Ordoñez's field (maybe I took the photo?). I was on this class trip in 1973, but I didn't pose for the photo. Several of my classmates were like foster siblings during those difficult years.
In 1974, after completing my secondary education at the glorious Men's High School, I came to apply to the university in Arica, which saved me from certain death from cirrhosis.
Inacap (1974-1975)
But my score wasn't enough, and I wasn't accepted into the university. That's how I began studying electronics engineering at Inacap, a program offered in partnership with Federico Santa María University. Since I had been a good student in high school, I graduated without any major difficulties. I tell the amusing story of my time there in my blog post, "That Inacap of Before ." In the meantime, my father died, and we were left (once again) in absolute poverty.
Of course, in my time, Inacap was a little uglier. But you could drink beer in the cafeteria, and we addressed the professors as informal "tu." Very fond memories of my classmates and professors.
University (1978-1984)
After burning several televisions and experiencing several embarrassments for not being able to put together what I had taken apart, I realized I had no fingers for the piano, and my technical enthusiasm evaporated. So I took one of the few bold steps of my life and applied to university again, without a penny. This time I got an average score, but it put me in the mediocre group (I've always had trouble concentrating on long tests).
After burning several televisions and experiencing several embarrassments for not being able to put together what I had taken apart, I realized I had no fingers for the piano, and my technical enthusiasm evaporated. So I took one of the few bold steps of my life and applied to university again, without a penny. This time I got an average score, but it put me in the mediocre group (I've always had trouble concentrating on long tests).
At university, I also completed my degree without problems and was always among the best students, despite the fact that I had to work (and find jobs) to support my studies.
My time at INACAP was extremely beneficial because of the excellent math and electronics teachers I had, particularly Galleguillos in math and Benigno Cerviño in electronics. With what they taught me, I passed the math cycle and the basics of electronics with great ease.
Iquique Free Trade Zone, as an employee (1981-1985)
Among the many miserable jobs I had to do, I was introduced to Gabriel Abusleme, manager of a firm that represented Casio Computer in the Iquique Free Trade Zone. The first microcomputers were arriving in Chile, and they needed someone to handle sales as a commission agent.
My time at INACAP was extremely beneficial because of the excellent math and electronics teachers I had, particularly Galleguillos in math and Benigno Cerviño in electronics. With what they taught me, I passed the math cycle and the basics of electronics with great ease.
Iquique Free Trade Zone, as an employee (1981-1985)
Among the many miserable jobs I had to do, I was introduced to Gabriel Abusleme, manager of a firm that represented Casio Computer in the Iquique Free Trade Zone. The first microcomputers were arriving in Chile, and they needed someone to handle sales as a commission agent.
I'd always been a great programmer, so the job suited me like a glove. It allowed me to earn a small commission on sales and also sell my programs. It was also convenient for the company because in 1980, there was no one better able to make commercial programs than me, and that was the only way to sell these exotic toys. Plus, I was working for free since I didn't have a salary.
After I was fired from that company—we'll get to that—we were angry with Abusleme for several years, but over the years we became better friends, and today he's one of my best friends.
After I was fired from that company—we'll get to that—we were angry with Abusleme for several years, but over the years we became better friends, and today he's one of my best friends.
I learned practically everything I know about business, social behavior, and the like from him and from Mr. Zvi Posner, the owner of the company, another extraordinary guy. Those years in the Free Trade Zone were like a second university; that was my true postgraduate degree.
Since that time, I proudly remember creating many commercial systems on an 8-bit computer with 32KB of total memory. Those programs ran for many years without problems and gave me a good professional reputation around here.
Around the World (1983)
As time went by, things started to go well for me and, in addition to sales, I also took charge of purchasing and managing marketing for the Japanese.
Since that time, I proudly remember creating many commercial systems on an 8-bit computer with 32KB of total memory. Those programs ran for many years without problems and gave me a good professional reputation around here.
My beloved Casio Fx-900P. The workhorse that fed me between 1981-1986
Around the World (1983)
As time went by, things started to go well for me and, in addition to sales, I also took charge of purchasing and managing marketing for the Japanese.
In Japan, marketing is understood more as business intelligence work than advertising, so I had to send them a daily telex report on gossip, trends, figures, etc. This way, I managed to improve my English significantly (self-taught, via "Penthouse") and developed friendships with almost all of Casio's area managers in Japan . I was almost shocked to death when we received this letter.
You can see some photos of my time in Tokyo here.
One of the few times in my life that I've worn a tie, with my good friends Satoh and Itoh at Keio Plaza. Tanifuji took the photo.
And in this blurry photo, I'm with Itoh and Tanifuji, my best friend and icebreaker at Casio. We took those photos just before leaving for lunch with one of the company's bigwigs.
Finally, an invitation they were giving away to the top salesperson sent me to Tokyo . By exchanging my first-class ticket for a "round-the-world" ticket, I was able to take the Miami-Los Angeles-Tokyo-Hong Kong-Macau-Bangkok-Deli-Frankfurt-Paris-London-New York-Miami route. In other words, the complete trip. From poverty to luxury in a couple of hours.
You can see some photos of my time in Tokyo here.
One of the few times in my life that I've worn a tie, with my good friends Satoh and Itoh at Keio Plaza. Tanifuji took the photo.
This was the Easter card that the guys from Casio sent me after I returned to Chile
"Spiderman, the scoundrel, who has a lot of courage to win love" I appear trying to climb the Casio building while they throw stones at me from the roof, a secretary with whom they made jokes with me and next to it a caricature that my good friend Carlos Tan made I
even had my own office in the company, I felt a bit like the King of the World in those years of wine and roses . In the background, my dear friend the Casio Fx-9000P watches me and seems to think "Careful Tomasito, look how good things always last a short time", Here you can see a few photos of my life as a worker in the Free Trade Zone
When Me desgracié (1984, it seems)
During those years (83-84, I think) I met Pilar, who was my first serious girlfriend and ended up being the only serious woman I've had to date, and until I kick the bucket, I hope. I hadn't thought about it before, but it's quite strange these days to have just one girlfriend.
"Spiderman, the scoundrel, who has a lot of courage to win love" I appear trying to climb the Casio building while they throw stones at me from the roof, a secretary with whom they made jokes with me and next to it a caricature that my good friend Carlos Tan made I
even had my own office in the company, I felt a bit like the King of the World in those years of wine and roses . In the background, my dear friend the Casio Fx-9000P watches me and seems to think "Careful Tomasito, look how good things always last a short time", Here you can see a few photos of my life as a worker in the Free Trade Zone
When Me desgracié (1984, it seems)
During those years (83-84, I think) I met Pilar, who was my first serious girlfriend and ended up being the only serious woman I've had to date, and until I kick the bucket, I hope. I hadn't thought about it before, but it's quite strange these days to have just one girlfriend.
We are not married but it is just as if we were, we have a son, Tomás Jr.
Esta foto con la Pilar es de ese tiempo, la sacó mi amiguísima Marlene que era mi secretaria y ganaba un abultado sueldo solo por contarme chistes y subirme el ánimo, en la esquina derecha aparece su hija primogénita María Pilla, que cuando chica me confundía con Brad Pitt y ahora es toda una señorita. Qué buenos años...
All past time was before: my first car, my first crash, my first girlfriend. It was 1984 with Francis, Buche, Pilar, me, and Matute, in front of Juan Burro's legendary apartment.
Layoffs 1 and 2 (1986-1990)
After a few years, I was fired from that company for being lazy —a tendency that has always been with me—since I only worked one or two days a week. When they told me I had to keep to the schedule, I packed up my things and left outrageously.
I sat back until they offered me the job of opening another computer company in Arica, owned by a Bolivian-American.
Since I had to organize the Arica-Tacna business, I became an authority on smuggling and other strange businesses. After a year, things were getting tough, and I thought that if I continued with that job, I could end up in jail, so I left and ended up back on the streets , with my arms crossed. Friends and Partners (1984-present) At that time, I was providing consulting and maintenance for my programs at a company that represented Pioneer, which maintained a large staff of advisors. We formed a team of friends that I still maintain today, most of them from the Faculty of Administration and Economics at the University of Tarapacá, including the dean at that time and several professors.
That's how two of them and I created a consulting firm that, while never short of work, spent money much faster than it brought in. After two years, we politely disbanded it, and to this day we're still just as (or even more) friends than before.
Millionaire Project (1989-1992)
Then a millionaire cousin appeared and got me into a business venture in the Free Trade Zone, where after three years of entrepreneurial dolce vita, I emerged penniless, nervous, and with a mountain of debt the likes of which I'd never had in my life.
Millionaire Project (1989-1992)
Then a millionaire cousin appeared and got me into a business venture in the Free Trade Zone, where after three years of entrepreneurial dolce vita, I emerged penniless, nervous, and with a mountain of debt the likes of which I'd never had in my life.
Of course, I learned a lot from that experience. It was a post-doc in "life" that opened my eyes and helped me a lot in my future work. In this link, you can read about one of my hairiest adventures in Bolivia during those years when I was on the path to getting rich without doing anything.
Chile Joven and Women Heads of Household (around 1992)
After the disaster, I began taking classes in the Chile Joven and Women Heads of Household programs, the first programs created by Fosis. Although it proved financially devastating, the experience gave me enormous personal satisfaction.
After the disaster, I began taking classes in the Chile Joven and Women Heads of Household programs, the first programs created by Fosis. Although it proved financially devastating, the experience gave me enormous personal satisfaction.
Today I see with joy that many of my students who were then "vulnerable" - as the poor are called today - have developed very well personally and professionally; in fact, most are much better off than I am. That makes me feel well paid. A few photos of me as a teacher can be seen here .
Tribunals and Dolores Regiment (1992-2000)
In 1992, I began my current job, timidly carrying out the first investment projects for the Judiciary in Arica. I earned a pittance during the first three years, but in 1994, I "hit the jackpot" and began to earn money (it was about time). In those years, I saved enough for the best investment of my life.
Tribunals and Dolores Regiment (1992-2000)
In 1992, I began my current job, timidly carrying out the first investment projects for the Judiciary in Arica. I earned a pittance during the first three years, but in 1994, I "hit the jackpot" and began to earn money (it was about time). In those years, I saved enough for the best investment of my life.
In The Story of My House you can read a fascinating soap opera about what was once my castle and still shelters us despite the fact that it is quite dilapidated due to my violent financial ups and downs.
We were on the verge of having it auctioned off, but the bell range. Because of that trial, I aged about 10 years and lost half of my remaining hair in just a couple of months. But we got by, and everything's still going well... for now. Read the story of the house, it's entertaining.
During those same years (around 1994), I started selling my software to the glorious 6th Artillery Regiment "Dolores," where I spent many wonderful years maintaining the central purchasing software I had sold to them. I made many good friends and learned useful and interesting things about the military profession.
During those same years (around 1994), I started selling my software to the glorious 6th Artillery Regiment "Dolores," where I spent many wonderful years maintaining the central purchasing software I had sold to them. I made many good friends and learned useful and interesting things about the military profession.
In my Pop Wisdom post I posted some of the funniest and most useful things I learned in the regiment.
Unemployed 3 (1999-2001)
Years went by, and in 1999, local politicians discovered they could steal the money I was earning, and that's how I became unemployed - again. You can read the sad story HERE.
After a few tough years, I gradually became stable with consulting and private investment projects. I formed Santa Cruz Consultores with some friends and I also worked for a Santiago-based Internet services and consulting company.
Years went by, and in 1999, local politicians discovered they could steal the money I was earning, and that's how I became unemployed - again. You can read the sad story HERE.
After a few tough years, I gradually became stable with consulting and private investment projects. I formed Santa Cruz Consultores with some friends and I also worked for a Santiago-based Internet services and consulting company.
Sometimes I got very big deals, and other times I worked hard for nothing, but generally speaking, I lived by working little and earning enough, in other words, I had what I always wanted.
Although there were plenty of lean times, as with any independent job, I always had the resource of teaching, which I resort to when I start to struggle or when I get bored of doing nothing. I don't like teaching, but I'm well-respected as a teacher by my employers and students, so that sometimes helps me get by. Weird business (2000-2007) I spent the next 7 years involved in " weird business" until I became unemployed again at the end of 2007. More weird business (2008-2009) After that I lived off my savings for a while and when they ran out I went through a series of even weirder things that included a brief management stint at a sex bar (2008), a dangerous trip to the Peruvian Amazon (2008), and the only "real" job I've ever had in my life at the Municipality of Tacna (2008), where for the first time I had to submit a CV, sign a contract, and work to work hours.
Although there were plenty of lean times, as with any independent job, I always had the resource of teaching, which I resort to when I start to struggle or when I get bored of doing nothing. I don't like teaching, but I'm well-respected as a teacher by my employers and students, so that sometimes helps me get by. Weird business (2000-2007) I spent the next 7 years involved in " weird business" until I became unemployed again at the end of 2007. More weird business (2008-2009) After that I lived off my savings for a while and when they ran out I went through a series of even weirder things that included a brief management stint at a sex bar (2008), a dangerous trip to the Peruvian Amazon (2008), and the only "real" job I've ever had in my life at the Municipality of Tacna (2008), where for the first time I had to submit a CV, sign a contract, and work to work hours.
I lasted six months until December 2008, but I had a fabulous time, making many very good friends in Tacna that I still keep in touch with today.
Looking back, I think it was the most demanding and humiliating job I've ever had (because I did horrible things like becoming a damn office worker), but also one of the best I've ever had in my life because of how much fun I had. I had a great experience in Tacna, which I've considered my second home ever since.
Back to school (2009-2010)
In April 2009, when I was about to die of malnutrition, they remembered me at the Business School of the University of Tarapacá, where I worked as a part-time professor for three years (2009-2011). I took the opportunity to study for an MBA in business administration and management, but that job wasn't rewarding for me and I didn't like it very much, so I went back to semi-unemployment.
Back to school (2009-2010)
In April 2009, when I was about to die of malnutrition, they remembered me at the Business School of the University of Tarapacá, where I worked as a part-time professor for three years (2009-2011). I took the opportunity to study for an MBA in business administration and management, but that job wasn't rewarding for me and I didn't like it very much, so I went back to semi-unemployment.
That's how in 2011 I found a temporary sub-job, which allowed me to keep my head above water for almost 7 years, even having enough left over to buy a small car.
It was a very pleasant job, being a tutor for master's and undergraduate theses. Something that didn't cost me anything because I love to read and, since I have a broad general knowledge base, I could help students write good theses. This last until December 2018.
Unemployed 4 (2019-????)
And from January 2019 onward, I began spending my meager savings, until June. That's when I began living under the high auspices of my wife and my beloved mother-in-law.
Unemployed 4 (2019-????)
And from January 2019 onward, I began spending my meager savings, until June. That's when I began living under the high auspices of my wife and my beloved mother-in-law.
Like biblical curses, it seems I have cycles of 7 years of good luck followed by 7 years of bad luck. They always came true for me, and since my last good year was 2007 - in theory - my lucky break should have come in 2014, but I'm still waiting. Something seems to be wrong with the cycles, buuuut...
Bradanovic or Bradanovich?
My last name is actually Bradanovich, but I spell it "Bradanovic." Out of a minor quirk, snobbery, or whatever, I prefer the name without the "h" at the end, so I spell it that way, which, incidentally, is the original and correct spelling .
Everything has a solution, except death, which is the solution to everything (2021-2022)
That's just how it is. When a long period of lean cows was approaching me, with the possibility of dying abandoned like a dog or living on the streets like a hobbo , I listened to some good advice that opened my eyes and allowed me to solve my financial problem. At least for now and without falling into the indignity of going out to look for a job.
That's just how it is. When a long period of lean cows was approaching me, with the possibility of dying abandoned like a dog or living on the streets like a hobbo , I listened to some good advice that opened my eyes and allowed me to solve my financial problem. At least for now and without falling into the indignity of going out to look for a job.
How did I do it? In Chile, we have a saying, "The miracle is told, but not the saint," so don't even think I'm going to give you the recipe, or even a clue. The thing is, I'm now in a position where I can live modestly without having to lift a finger, just as I've always dreamed. I just hope it lasts.
My friend Tom McDonnell
In December 2021, one of my best friends died of cancer at the age of 79. Tommy McDonnell died on december 29th and for the first time in my life I had to go to a funeral, which was very solemn because I was the only one in attendance.
In December 2021, one of my best friends died of cancer at the age of 79. Tommy McDonnell died on december 29th and for the first time in my life I had to go to a funeral, which was very solemn because I was the only one in attendance.
I didn't feel any sadness, but rather relief because neither Tom nor I am afraid of death. His illness gave me the privilege of helping him during the year or so that the whole thing lasted. I learned a lot, and I think all in all it was a great experience for me, not to mention the fact that he left me all his things as a legacy.
The joyful life of a retiree (2023-)
That's right, just like a low-budget George Smiley, I'm enjoying the modest and peaceful life of a retiree. At 70, I've gotten what I don't deserve : to wake up every day and be unemployed , spending all my time on hobbies and useless interests, such as reading novels or writing on the Internet. What more could you ask for?
What a restful life
that of the one who flees from the worldly noise,
and the hidden one continues
path, where they have gone
the few wise men that have been in the world;
My last name is actually Bradanovich, but I spell it "Bradanovic." Out of a minor quirk, snobbery, or whatever, I prefer the name without the "h" at the end, so I spell it that way, which, incidentally, is the original and correct spelling .
Well, that just goes to show that we all have our share of snobbies, right? In the story of my grandfather Tomo, there is information about the Bradanovic family that increases every day. Writing about my maternal family, the Pozos, where the cousins and relatives I love most are, is a pending and often postponed task. Update : I finally wrote it and you can see it on the blog A Very Normal Family . The RV (2000 - 2005) I lived for five years in an RV by the beach. Well, semi-living because I spent most of the day at my permanent home with my family. GENEALOGY This is the latest of my crazes. As I'm getting older, I've become more interested in discovering old family stories as well as those of my dead relatives.
This is how I created blogs about my maternal and paternal families, and the blog " Genealogical and Anecdotal Background of the Bradanovic Pozo Family," which you can see by clicking on the link. I came from Arab and Jewish ancestors around the time of Christ. Through my maternal family, I have direct descendants of figures of great historical significance. As my cousin Leo says, "we're as old as butter ."
I CONFESS THAT I HAVE SINNED
A summary of other strange jobs I have done in my already long life can be found in my blog post I Confess That I Have Sinned . I find it shameful to have dedicated so much of my life to that shameful and plebeian activity called "work."
VITAL STATISTICS
With Abdullah Omnivar . Adventurer, filmmaker, entertainer, traveler, documentary filmmaker, philanthropist, one-man band—one of the best we have.
I took this photo with Dr. Arnold Harberger , who was Director of the University of Chicago Graduate School of Economics and trained the Chicago Boys, during a conference he gave in Arica. Great, guru, hero. Modern Chile owes him a lot; he was the beginning of it all.
And as luck would have it, I also met the most brilliant of Chileans , José Piñera , with whom I share not only his political vision but also his philosophy of life. This photo is a souvenir of a very good conference he gave in the city of Iquique.
Bonus : Look at the bald girl! One more year and I'll be head on my knees.
I grew old! I'm already 64 years old.
I CONFESS THAT I HAVE SINNED
A summary of other strange jobs I have done in my already long life can be found in my blog post I Confess That I Have Sinned . I find it shameful to have dedicated so much of my life to that shameful and plebeian activity called "work."
VITAL STATISTICS
- Full name: Juan Tomas Bradanovich Pozo
- Curriculum Vitae (Resume)
- Date of birth: January 6, 1955
- Height: 1.71m Weight: 78 kg
- Marital status: Single, but as if married, one child
- Education: Electronic technician (1977 Federico Santa Maria Technical University), electronic execution engineer (1986 Tarapaca University), Master in Business Administration and Management - MBA (2010 Tarapaca University)
- First job: Commission salesman
- Pets: a German Shepherd dog (Beppy) update: RIP
- Trips: three to the USA, several to Peru, two to Bolivia, one to Argentina, and one round-the-world trip (various countries)
- Sports: None, never, only when I learned to swim (around 30) I had a two-year flirtation with swimming.
- Last interesting book: The Road to Serfdom (F. Hayek)
- Favorite newspapers and magazines: El Mercurio, Esquire, Scientific American, Mampato, Reader's Digest
- Favorite website: http://www.marqueze.net, for its interesting computer material
- Newsgroups listed: chile.soc.politica, chile.comp.pc, chile.rec.sexo, rec.travel.latinamerica, microsoft.public.es.vb, microsoft.public.outlook, microsoft.public.ie5
- Favorite music: Jazz-blues, boleros, tropical, 70s rock
- Favorite song: Me and Bobby Mc Gee (J. Joplin), Paladar (S. Roriguez), Stormy Weather (Billy Holiday)
- Favorite movie: We Had Loved Each Other So Much, The Family, La Dolce Vita, almost all of Ettore Scola's films, Fellini, etc.
- Favorite saying: "Many hands kill the baby"
- Member of: Arica Radio Club, IEEE, IEEE Computer Society, Arica Chamber of Commerce
- Annual income: between US$2,700 (bad year) and $18,000 (good year)
- Assets in my name: US$ 3,000 approx.
- Cash savings: US$ 3,000
- Debts $0 I don't owe a cent anymore!
- Shoe size: 40 (normal for height)
- Favorite programming language: Visual Basic for Applications
- Second language: English (poor, especially spoken)
- Favorite places: Arica (Chile), Putre (Chile), Hong Kong, Santa Cruz de la Sierra (Bolivia), Mendoza (Argentina)
- Favorite nationality: Italians, I love them
- Favorite food: Cheese, pasta
- Alcoholic beverage: Beer, Rum Rico
- Vehicles: Toyota Vitz (Yaris Sport) 1999,
Honda CRX HF, Volkswagen Beetle 1978, Chevrolet Cheyenne 1500,Mitsubishi Colt GLX, Discovery Motorhome 1999, - Dream Car: VW Beetle Cabriolet, 1960
With Abdullah Omnivar . Adventurer, filmmaker, entertainer, traveler, documentary filmmaker, philanthropist, one-man band—one of the best we have.
I took this photo with Dr. Arnold Harberger , who was Director of the University of Chicago Graduate School of Economics and trained the Chicago Boys, during a conference he gave in Arica. Great, guru, hero. Modern Chile owes him a lot; he was the beginning of it all.
And as luck would have it, I also met the most brilliant of Chileans , José Piñera , with whom I share not only his political vision but also his philosophy of life. This photo is a souvenir of a very good conference he gave in the city of Iquique.
Dr. Piñera—in my opinion—has the best combination of creativity, intelligence, and practicality, things that are very difficult to find in one person.
Here I am with Don Tomás Moulian , a great Chilean intellectual, during a visit to Arica many years ago. Moulian has leftist sympathies, close to communism. Remove the opposite of my ideas, but I am still a great admirer of his work.
Now I need one with Hermogenes Perez de Arce, whom I also admire a lot, let's see if he appears around here.
Talking with Sheikh Suhail Assad , an Islamic theologian, I learned many interesting things about the East, its history, and its customs. The level of our ignorance and prejudice regarding the Eastern world is incredible. It was also a great blessing to have met him.
I've always considered myself lucky to have met some extraordinary people, including Héctor Vera , PhD in Social Communication. I don't think I've ever met anyone with such an interesting life, such clarity of thought, and such simplicity. Greetings, Héctor, from my page.
I have many artist friends and a great affinity with them despite not having (unfortunately) any special talent. Here I am with the extraordinary Finnish painter Anna Maija Saukonnen on behalf of all my artist friends. Long live art!
My personal preferences.
Despite appearances, I am very unsociable, and my hobbies are mostly individual: I love reading. Since I was a child, I have read an impressive number of books, magazines, and even commercial brochures. I have the habit of eating alone, lying down and reading. My favorite books, with a brief review, appear at this link.
I also like visual arts, and at one time I was quite decent at illustrations. My great idol as a visual artist is Picasso, and my house is full of his reproductions. Music is another thing I enjoy, although I don't have the knowledge of classical music, at least I enjoy it audibly.
I've always considered myself lucky to have met some extraordinary people, including Héctor Vera , PhD in Social Communication. I don't think I've ever met anyone with such an interesting life, such clarity of thought, and such simplicity. Greetings, Héctor, from my page.
I have many artist friends and a great affinity with them despite not having (unfortunately) any special talent. Here I am with the extraordinary Finnish painter Anna Maija Saukonnen on behalf of all my artist friends. Long live art!
My personal preferences.
Despite appearances, I am very unsociable, and my hobbies are mostly individual: I love reading. Since I was a child, I have read an impressive number of books, magazines, and even commercial brochures. I have the habit of eating alone, lying down and reading. My favorite books, with a brief review, appear at this link.
I also like visual arts, and at one time I was quite decent at illustrations. My great idol as a visual artist is Picasso, and my house is full of his reproductions. Music is another thing I enjoy, although I don't have the knowledge of classical music, at least I enjoy it audibly.
In this field, what I like most is opera, especially Mozart's "Don Giovanni." Lately, I'm learning photography and getting into the commercial aspects of this art form, which I see as a very exciting and under-explored field.
When it comes to popular music, I have diverse tastes: blues, jazz, and music from the 20s-50s (Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Halliday, Bing Crosby, Cole Porter). I'm passionate about Mexican corridos norteños, boleros, and Peruvian waltzes. I also enjoy salsa and Caribbean music in general, cumbias, and some urban folk music (Soza, Silvio Rodriguez).
When it comes to popular music, I have diverse tastes: blues, jazz, and music from the 20s-50s (Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Halliday, Bing Crosby, Cole Porter). I'm passionate about Mexican corridos norteños, boleros, and Peruvian waltzes. I also enjoy salsa and Caribbean music in general, cumbias, and some urban folk music (Soza, Silvio Rodriguez).
I never learned to dance and I feel extremely ridiculous when I do. When I go to a club I get angry, and no one gets me out of my chair unless I'm completely drunk (which happens once or twice a year). Then I'll dance to everything.
I'm repelled by "traditional Chilean folklore," Andean music, all kinds of "ambient" music, and Peruvian "chicha" music.
The beach, beers while chatting with old friends , and all the other normal tastes of the common person; I also share them. Except for television, which I hate. I'll never buy a TV in my life.
And that´s all folks!
By the way, you can read the history of my house by clicking on the link. Websites and Blogs I pride myself on being a true Arica native and I have a great love for my city. Much of what I do on the web has been with a community interest, with no other aim than to help people better understand this paradise called Arica.
I'm repelled by "traditional Chilean folklore," Andean music, all kinds of "ambient" music, and Peruvian "chicha" music.
The beach, beers while chatting with old friends , and all the other normal tastes of the common person; I also share them. Except for television, which I hate. I'll never buy a TV in my life.
And that´s all folks!
By the way, you can read the history of my house by clicking on the link. Websites and Blogs I pride myself on being a true Arica native and I have a great love for my city. Much of what I do on the web has been with a community interest, with no other aim than to help people better understand this paradise called Arica.
A few years ago, I was commissioned to create the website for the Arica Municipality. I lasted about two years in that stupid job, and when they finally fired me, I created the community website INFOARICA .
I also created the Guia Alternativa de Arica and Arica, the Alternative Guide (Spanish and English versions, respectively), which have brought me much satisfaction and better friendships.
I have my blog in Spanish and another one called Facts and Fictions in English. I don't like the name, but what the heck, I already added it. And from 2003 until recently, I wrote my weblog on Blurty, which you can see by clicking here. And now, yes, that would be it... or almost everything.
Before and Now (I'm getting old).
Five bold guys, 31 years later: Matute, Medalla boy, Bilingual Duck, Macana and yours truly
My oldest photo, 1 year, with my sister (1956)
Year 1960. I'm probably the fourth from left to right sitting in the front row. I have no way of knowing because I don't remember what it looked like. Rafael Sanhueza Lizardi School, Santiago, Chile
Year 1963 or 1964, maybe I'm the last one on the right of the second row, looking up, there's no way of knowing, 4th year C of the Valentín Letelier High School in Santiago, the teacher Mr. Fariña
1979 with Matute, an old dog and faithful friend. 24 years old. Our first trip to Las Peñas
1980 with my old friend and companion, the Bilingual Duck. 25 years old, at the Morro de Arica.
1990 three bold guys: Matute (Mario Sanhueza), me and Macana (Manuel Espinoza) in Iquique City
"Time passes, you say? Oh no! Time remains, we pass."
29 years old, 1983 in Asakusa Cannon, Tokyo (the monster face is the fault of the AI I used to fix the photo, I'm ugly but not that much)
1983, 29 years old, Paris, France (idem)
When I became old, I made this comparison.
57 years old 2012
My worst photo: March 17, 2012 (St. Patrick's Day)
60 years 2015
One of the tailors, small of build, round of face, bad beard and worse deeds,
He kept saying:
-What could I have stolen, if I was always dying of hunger?
(Francisco Quevedo, Dream of the Last Judgment)
61 years old 2016
Among the old clothes, I found a military shirt I "got" when I was selling my programs at the Dolores Regiment, and I took this photo of myself dressed as a fake terrorist with my fake Glock in my hand. How ridiculous . I've actually never fired a firearm—never in my life—I'm terribly afraid of them. It was just a joke.
62 years old, 2017.
With the Guinness jockey my crooked-eyed friend gave me, do I look like a golfer or a bit thin? I'm not quite sure.
62 years old, 2017.
With the Guinness jockey my crooked-eyed friend gave me, do I look like a golfer or a bit thin? I'm not quite sure.
63 years old 2018
It'll probably be the last or second-to-last photo I take while I have hair left on my head, so I set up a whole lighting setup to show off wrinkles, chubby cheeks, and so on. The decline is coming...
Correction , I came out TOO ugly, so I better changed it for another one from the same series haha!
64 years old, 2019
When life gives you lemons, make the best of it. A long layoff is more bearable if you can get a beer. No evil lasts a hundred years, nor a huemul that can harden it.
I am happy, I am a happy man and I want
forgive me,
For this day the dead of my happiness
Good song, huh?
Bonus : Look at the bald girl! One more year and I'll be head on my knees.
I grew old! I'm already 64 years old.
The baldness advances relentlessly! 2021. 66 years old
January 6, 2023: 68 years old! (I brushed my hair back to show the progress of my baldness)January 6, 2024: 69 years old! **The year we didn't see each other**
January 6, 2025: SEVENTY YEARS! "The roads are old, but they still collect dust ." With my lifelong friends and college classmates, Oscarini Ahumada and Lucho Rucha Ortega.
