click to read:
Let’s see how it unfolds, but let me bet on Trump and Bessent.
— Silvio Canto. Jr. (@silvio_canto) December 28, 2025
A good feeling about the economy? - American Thinker https://t.co/n9mJay9Ktx
Sunday, December 28, 2025
A good feeling about the economy?
A good feeling about the economy?: We finish 2025 with some good news about the US economy. It’s clearly a better feeling than we had when we started 2025. As Peter Navarro opined, we got some good numbers last week:
Happy # 79 Edgar Winter
Edgar Winter was born in Beaumont, Texas, on this day in 1946.
According to his official site, Edgar brought together Dan Hartman, Ronnie Montrose and Chuck Ruff to form The Edgar Winter Group in 1972. The band had hits like: "Frankenstein" and "Free Ride"
Back in the 1970's, he was quite a rocker.
P.S. You can listen to my show (Canto Talk). If you like our posts, click send drop a dime here.
We remember President Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924)
Before The White House, Mr. Wilson was a college professor, university president and governor of New Jersey.
Mr. Wilson got 42% of the popular vote in 1912 but carried most of the states in a 3-way race. His reelection in 1916 was very close: 277-254.
A few months ago, I watched the movie "Wilson" released in 1944. It is a very favorable movie of Mr. Wilson and his presidency. We also leaned a lot about Mrs. Wilson, who died during his first term, and the second Mrs. Wilson, who was a rather controversial figure.
Overall, a good movie that takes you back to a time when men wore hats and ladies dressed rather elegantly.
P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
Remember Pearl Harbor 1941 and World War II with Barry Jacobsen
Pearl Harbor 1941 and World War II with Barry Jacobsen......click to listen:
Listen to "Pearl Harbor 1941 and World War II with Barry Jacobsen" on Spreaker.
No 'chinos' in Havana's Chinatown
Like many other Cuban-Americans, we grew up listening to stories of pre-Castro Cuba. It was our daily bread if you know what I mean. I found them so interesting because the beautiful and charming place they described was nothing compared to the hell 90 miles from Key West. As my mother used to say, it wasn't perfect but no one thought of leaving and pursuing your life elsewhere. She also added often that communists destroy countries and then rewrite the history to lie about everything.
My father was born in a small town in central Cuba called Sagua La Grande. As I learned, the first Canto moved there from Spain in the 1850's wanting to raise horses but ended up involved in the war against Spain. Eventually, his great-great grandson, or my father, went to Jesuit schools, became a banker in the 1950's, and met my mom who was the daughter of Spanish immigrants too. He prospered as a young banker and was promoted to a large branch in Havana. He worked "downtown," as we would say here.
One of my favorite stories was about the Chinese in Cuba and the well known "barrio chino," or, loosely translated, Chinatown.
It turns out that there was an important population of Chinese immigrants in pre-Castro Cuba. They came to work in the first 30 years of the 20th century. Like other bank customers, they would drop by my dad's branch to make deposits and do banking business. Some even sent money back to their families in China and later Taiwan. These people had a reputation for working hard, and their word was as good as gold, as my father used to say. "Never lost a centavo [a cent] with my Chinese clients," added my father. My father always loved their work ethic and how strong their families were.
My father died in 2015. He would have mixed feelings reading this story about the old Chinatown in Havana:
"The barrio chino? Not even the Chinese go there."
In Havana's barrio chino, or Chinatown district, this is not an uncommon phrase.
One of Latin America's oldest Chinatowns is a shadow of its former self: the stone Paifang gate and a few waitresses in red cheongsam (or qipao), all that distinguish it from the rest of the city.
Yet Cuba itself is awash in Chinese tourists and, increasingly, investors. China has become the main export destination for Cuban goods, as well as the main importer on the island.
Yutong buses carry tourists and locals alike, and Huawei is set to be the main provider for the country's growing internet ventures.
Yet the capitol's barrio chino is noticeably lacking in Chinese diaspora, most of whom fled the island soon after Fidel Castro nationalized businesses in 1959. Those that remain have long since scattered into other districts or left Havana altogether.
Why aren't there any chinos in Havana's Chinatown? The answer is simply communism. You may run into them in those Cuban Chinese restaurants in New York City or Miami. It was a hilarious experience for me to walk into a Chinese restaurant and everyone in the kitchen had escaped communism like my family. It's a small world.
Most of those chinos were hardworking entrepreneurs who literally got to Cuba with nothing and worked their way into prosperity.
My father told me he'd walk by the Chinese section once or twice a week. He would often eat lunch in one of the many restaurants there. There were shops, medical clinics, grocery stores, and all of the businesses you would see in a capitalist economy.
Cuba's Chinatown? Los chinos are not there, but China is expanding its influence 90 miles from the U.S.
Who would have believed any of that when my father was having lunch with some of his Cuban Chinese customers many years ago?
Another sad chapter of the communist story.
P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos.
Saturday, December 27, 2025
Obama Care "temporary subsidies" and the economy in 2026.
Obama Care "temporary subsidies", feeling positive about the 2026 economy, too many judges writing opinions plus George Harrison 1970.
Power to the judges, right on
Power to the judges, right on: A lot of judges lately are desperately making noise with their decisions in the first year of Trump 47. Maybe they got John Lennon’s “Power to the people” ringing in their heads.
click to read:
My good guess is that most of these judges know that they will be reversed, but write these opinions anyway. Why? Writing an opinion against President Trump is the easiest way to get your name on X, or to have people talk about you on MS NOW. These people get publicity by…
— Silvio Canto. Jr. (@silvio_canto) December 27, 2025
December 1970: "My sweet Lord" by George Harrison is # 1
P.S. You can listen to my show (Canto Talk). If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column.
Friday, December 26, 2025
Gas prices down and a few thoughts about Latin American elections
Merry Christmas and Boxing Day. Latin American political changes. Out of control judges. We remember President Ford (2006) and President Truman (1972).
A little cheap gas for Christmas
A little cheap gas for Christmas: Ho ho ho. Merry Christmas. We got some great GDP news as well as some nice inflation figures. My guess is that cheap gasoline is the one bringing joy and cheer for most Americans. I mean that feeling when you fill your tank for $30 rather than $45.
click to read:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)