A CENTURY OF TONY BENNETT

I was on my way to completing Part 3 of the series on My Family, when I instead thought I would rather today tell the story of Tony Bennett.

• About that title, he actually passed away in 2023, but if he lived, he would have turned 100 last month.
• Was born Anthony Dominick Benedetto in New York City in 1926.  Father ailed, so the family grew up in poverty.
• Began singing at the age of 10, the year his father passed away.
• At 13 was a singing waiter in Italian restaurants in New York City.

• 
  Drafted into the army near end of World War II, and spent some time in the European front line he would later described as a front-row seat in hell.  Several times escaped death.  Left the military as a Private First Class.
• Pearl Bailey and Bob Hope helped Tony get started in 1949, with Hope suggesting a shortened name, Tony Bennett.
• At the age of 24, signed to Columbia Records in 1950, with Mitch Miller producing and Percy Faith providing the orchestral arrangement, released in 1951 was Because of You.  Hi #1 and stayed there for 10 weeks.
• Later that year covered Hank Williams' Cold, Cold Heart, doing Williams a favor, from country music was not too popular with the masses.
• 
  Three wives and four children.  In 2008 with third wife Susan Crow.
• Sold more than 50 million records, won 50 Grammys and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
• After those two hits, Rags to Riches followed in 1953, topping the charts for 8 weeks.
• Later that year, recorded Stranger in Paradise, which also became #1.
• The rock and roll era arrived in 1955, and he lost popularity.  Stayed active on TV shows.

• 
  His signature song, I Left My Hear in San Francisco, in 1962 was a 10-year old little known song.  Won him a Grammy for Record of the Year and Best Male Solo Performance.  Especially memorable for me because I graduated from Stanford that year and also left the Bay area.
• Was a firm believer in the Civil Right Movement, and participated in the 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches.  Performed in the rally the night before Martin Luther's Our God is Marching On speech in Alabama.
• 
  Never really stopped entertaining, but by the end of the 70s, had no recording contract, no manager, only now and then performances in Las Vegas and problems with the Internal Revenue Service.  
• Had a near-fatal cocaine overdose in 1979.
• Called his sons Danny and Dae for help.
• Danny became his manager and Dae served as recording engineer.  Later, daughter Antonia joined him in shows.

• 
  Successfully staged comebacks, and in 1999 had assets worth $15 to $20 million.  Quoted to say at 73 that he had no intention of retiring, indicating that Pablo Picasso, Jack Benny and Fred Astaire kept active until the day they died.  
• On tour at a rate of 100 shows per year by the end of the 1990s, making a point singing Fly Me to the Moon without microphone to demonstrate his skills at vocal projection.

• 
  Churned out albums and kept donating his time to charitable and Democratic political causes.  Gained a nickname, Tony Benefit.  Received a major United Nations Humanitarian Award.
• Turned 80 in 2006 and won a Grammy.  Tony Bennett:  An American Classic on NBC won multiple Emmys.
• Guest-mentored in season 6 of American Idol, and performed in the finale.

• 
  In 2008 made two appearances with Billy Joel in Shea Stadium, then a Christmas album with the Count Basie Big Band.
• In 2010, among other appearances, sand I Left My Heart in San Francisco at AT&T Park before Game 1 of the World Series, and sang God Bless America during the 7th inning stretch.

• 
  In 2011 at the age of 85 released his first collaborative albums with Aretha Franklin, Willie Nelson, Queen Latifah and Lady Gaga.  A duet with Amy Winehouse on Body and Soul, the last recording she made.  Charted on the Billboard Hot 100, an album debuting at  #1, making him the oldest living artist artist to appear there.
• Performed at SF City Hall commemorating the 2012 World Series victory by the San Francisco Giants.

• 
  In 2014 performed in Israel for the first time, and later that year, released an album with Lady Gaga, Cheek to Cheek that debuted at #1 on Billboard.  He was 88.   Went on tour with her.
• In 2015 again performed in the World Series.

• 
  In 2016 was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, but he continued performing.
• On 1August2016, at 90 was honored by the unveiling of an 8-foot statue in his likeness in front of the Fairmont Hotel In SFO.  Performed I Left My Heart in San Francisco, for this is where he first sang that song, in 1961.

• 
  His final album, again with Lady Gaga, Love for Sale, in 2021.  Final live performance with her at the Radio City Music Hall on August 3 and 5, 2021.  He sang his signature song.
• 
  Retired on 12August2021, nine days after his 95th birthday.  However, a final TV appearance with Lady Gaga on 16December2021.
• Continued to rehearse three time/week into 2022.
• Had some success as painter Anthony Benedetto.
• Passed away 21July2023.
• A rare 2018 interview, only published last week.

Well, now to some current events.  The United Nations has been hopeless about engendering World Peace.  However, this is the only organization capable of making a difference.  However, President Donald Trump addressed the General Assembly in New York City this morning.  Reported TIME magazine:

On Tuesday, Trump delivered his fifth speech to UNGA. The tone of humility and the invitations for collaboration were long gone. In its place were Trump’s dark worldview about the U.N. itself, and questionable boasts about his domestic poll numbers.

Over the course of 56 meandering minutes, Trump nursed grievances large and small, with complaints that he had to walk up to the hall because the escalator was broken and barbs for Joe Biden aplenty.

The remarks, his longest ever to the global confab and going well beyond his allocated time, stood as a sharp reminder that Trump sees his turn on these stages as a chance for self-promotion. He cast the United Nations as a passive observer of global affairs that would be lost without him, as he continued his shameless campaign for a Nobel Peace Prize for ending, by his count, seven wars.

In this speech, he also said he is deciding whether to annihilate Iran.....or make a deal.  In other words, same old, same old.  But getting worse is Trump's popularity:

CNN political director David Chalian on Tuesday highlighted a brand-new poll from the network on President Donald Trump and his ongoing war on Iran, arguing that voter confidence in Trump's handling of the conflict marks "the worst number" for him across the entire survey.

"CNN has a brand-new poll out this morning that finds just 29% of Americans approve of how the president is handling foreign affairs," "The Situation Room" co-host Pamela Brown explained. "This is a new low in CNN polling across both of his terms as president."

42 days to the mid-term elections.  If he doesn't postpone it.

To close, another major hurricane in the Pacific Ocean.  Hurricane Polo is now a super-hurricane.

• Yesterday, at 40 MPH, 0300 GMT
•                      85 MPH, 2100 GMT
• Today       165 MPH, 1800 GMT
• Off Mexico, on a path west of Baha.

Rather unusual, but Tropical Storm Odalys was heading towards Hawaii, but today will make a sudden right turn, become a hurricane, and head for Baha.

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HIGHEST RATED 2026 FILMS NOW AVAILABLE ON STREAMING CHANNELS

Before getting into streaming, one editorial on the horror of war.  I asked Google AI, how many have died from the Russia vs Ukraine War, and the USA/Israel vs Iran War?

Combined Russian and Ukrainian casualties in the war have topped 2 million, with estimates of up to 500,000 Russian troops and up to 150,000 Ukrainian troops killed. Additionally, the UN has verified over 16,000 civilian deaths in Ukraine, though the actual toll is likely much higher. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

The ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, which escalated in late February 2026, has resulted in a staggering human toll, with nearly 5,000 casualties reported across more than a dozen countries. While the vast majority of fatalities have occurred in Iran and Lebanon, the digital landscape has also faced its own crisis. Google AI Overviews have come under intense scrutiny for supercharging misinformation and hoaxes regarding the war's devastation. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Any death is awful, and two more American soldiers died, these in an Iranian strike in Jordan.  Total U.S. deaths?  16.  More than 50 Iranian leaders have been killed, and maybe up to 6000 total in that country by this Day 140 of the Iran War.  Amazing that no organized Iranian revenge incident has occurred in the U.S.

For the record, from Google AI:

• Throughout history, 150 million to well over 1 billion deaths from armed conflict.
• Worst?
• WW2 (1939-1945)  70-85 million
• Taiping (China) Rebellion (1850-1864)  20-70 million
• Mongol Invasions/Conquests (1206-1368)  60 million
• Taking the higher number and translating to our current world population of 8.3 billion, the number of deaths today would be:
• WW2  253 million
• Taiping Rebellion  2.9 billion
• Mongol Invasion  1.3 billion

I've lately been watching a lot of films and series on my television.  I asked Google AI what are the highest rated Rotten Tomatoes 2026 films now available on your streaming channels.  I insert my quick review, without, I hope, giving away much, for those I saw.

• 
  Paul McCartney:  Man on the Run -- 100% critics, 84% audience, Prime
• A 2025 documentary about the life of Paul McCartney, beginning with his departure from The Beatles in 1969 through the 1970s.  
• Mostly about his second group, Wings.  
• First marriage to Linda Eastman in 1969, and they were together until 1998, when she passed away.  Movie did not get into his marriages to Heather Mills (2002 to 2008) and Nancy Shevell (2011 to present).  
• Not in documentary, but he has had a remarkable career, which deserves another production.
• At the age of 83, was the star of Stephen Colbert's final show on 21May2026.
• Now 84, has plans for a new album and world tour.
• About this documentary.  Don't know how it got a 100% rating.

• Obsession – 95% critics, 95% audience, Peacock from July 17
• The Sheep Detectives – 94% critic score, 96% audience, Prime
• The film features an ensemble cast including  Hugh Jackman, Nicholas Braun, Nicholas Galitzine, Molly Gordon, Hong Chau, and Emma Thompson, with the voices of Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Chris O'Dowd, Regina Hall, Patrick Stewart, Bella Ramsey, and Brett Goldstein. The film follows a flock of sheep who try to solve the murder of their shepherd.
• Has so far earned $131 million worldwide.
• Released on Prime on 24June2026.  Became #1 on Prime streaming worldwide.

• 
  Project Hail Mary – 94% critics, 95% audience, Netflix
• From Wikipedia:  Project Hail Mary premiered in London on March 9, 2026, and was released in the United States by Amazon MGM Studios on March 20, with Sony Pictures Releasing International releasing in other territories. The film received near universal critical acclaim, with praise for Lord and Miller's direction, Gosling's performance, the character of Rocky, as well as the humor, themes and visuals.^[6] It was also a commercial success, grossing $684 million worldwide, becoming the fifth-highest-grossing film of 2026.
• Ryan Gosling plays a middle school teacher, a PhD molecular biologist, who was shamed out of his field, for contradicting conventional thought on astrophage (a microbe), which now turns out to become an existential and extraterrestrial threat to all things in the Universe.
• Thus the creation of Project Hail Mary to solve this mystery.
• Gosling decided he did not want to go on this mission to planet Tau Ceti e, but was kidnapped to go anyway.
• He meets his counterpart, a rocklike creature, and they solve the problem.
• The end is interesting as to the future of Gosling.
• Great film, with a lot of science, unexpected humor and totally unlike Star Wars.
• 156 minutes long.
• So far, has earned $684 million worldwide.

• Hoppers – 94% critics, 93% audience, Disney+, is animated
• Send Help – 93% critics, 87% audience, Disney+and Hulu,  with Rachel McAdams
• From Wikipedia:

Send Help is a 2026 American survival horror thriller film^[5]directed and co-produced by Sam Raimi and written by Damian Shannon and Mark Swift. The film stars Rachel McAdams and Dylan O'Brien as an employee and her boss, respectively, who become stranded on a desert island after a plane crash and attempt to survive while tension rises between them.

• This is, again, one of those production where someone gets away with murder.  
• Plot twists and turns and, no, I'm not giving away what happens, but does end with an interview on a golf course.  
• I almost stop watching several times, but made it to the end.
• And, yes, it is a horror flick.  From Disney.

• Leviticus -- 92% critics, 82% audience, not FREE, on Disney+, Hulu and Fandango, but should be available for FREE on Hulu at the end of the year
• 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple – 92% critics, 88% audience, Netflix
• Hokum – 89% critics, 82% audience, not FREE, Prime and Apple TV, but should be available on Hulu in September
• 
  Crime 101 – 88% critics, 84% audience, Prime, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo and Halle Berry, Prime
•       Won't say much.  An okay film with a happy ending.  Sorry.
• Nick Nolte makes a couple of appearances.

• GOAT – 84% critics, 93% audience, Netflix, not FREE, Apple TV and Prime, animated
• Disclosure Day -- 80% critics, 70% audience, directed by Steven Spielberg, Peacock will make it to Peacock in September or October, and debut on Netflix around March 2027, with Emily Blunt, Colin Firth, etc
• The Devil Wears Prada 2 – 78% critic score, 85% audience score, Disney+ from July 29, Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci return.

Of course, Fandango at Home (formerly Vudu) makes available new films 45 to 90 days after initial release, for a cost around $20 to $30.  Of course, you don't need to drive, can have microwave popcorn and your favorite drinks for almost free and not get mugged getting to and from your car.  I've pretty much stopped going to movie theaters.  My last presence was for the Barbenheimer weekend for both films.

In the world of sports:

• The Tour de France is still led by favorite Tadeg Pogačar.  The race has one more week, concluding on the Champs-Élsées on July 26,
• The Open at Royal Birkdale saw Sam Burns surging into the lead, at -10, now ahead by two strokes.  Seven within four shots, with Bryson DeChambeau lurking at -6.  Final day tomorrow.  USA covers from 4AM to 7AM tonight, picked up at 7AM to 2PM on NBC.

• 
  The FIFA World Cup Championship.
• Spain vs Argentina.
• Sunday, July 19 at 3PM EDT on FOX.
• Halftime show begins at 3:50PM or so, as soon as the first half ends.
• Prediction by six chatbots:  all say Spain over Argentina, 2-1.

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SHIKATA GA NAI (Title of a Film)

I was born in Honolulu, grew up in Kakaako, went away to college and returned to work in the sugar industry for C. Brewer at the Hutchinson Sugar Company in Naalehu, Kau, Big Island of Hawaii.  So I spoke Pidgin English, referred to by some as Hawaii Creole.  Being away for four years at Stanford changed me so that I almost forgot local slang, but spoke English far better.  Working in the sugar industry on the Big Island and Kauai infused in me a different kind of Pidgin, which I retain today.

According to Google AI, the three most popular Hawaiian pidgin words blending Hawaiian, English, Portuguese Japanese, Chinese and Filipino are:

Da Kine: A universal placeholder word used to describe literally any object, action, or idea whose name you can't remember (similar to "whatchamacallit"). [1, 2, 3]

Broke da Mouth: The ultimate compliment for a meal that is incredibly delicious. [1, 2, 3]

Bumbai (or Bumbye): Translates to "by and by" or "later on." It is frequently used as a mild warning (e.g., "Don't do that, bumbye you get in trouble") . [1]

I was born in September of 1940, and my mother, holding me in her arms, told me that she pointed to the smoke in the far background coming from Pearl Harbor in 7December1941. 

•  The Japanese population of Hawaii then was 158,000, as much as 40% (it was 43% in 1920 and only 12% today, although the part-Japanese percentage is 22%) of the territory.  
• Those of Japanese ethnicity living along the Pacific Coast, numbering 158,000, were sent to 10 internment camps.  Less than 1% of Japanese in Hawaii were sent there, perhaps up to 1500.

• 
  There was thus this mistrust of Japanese, and about 5000 Nisei (those Japanese born in the U.S.) already in the Army were reclassified as enemy aliens.
• But those Ñisei were U.S. citizens.
• Because virtually every Japanese in the continental U.S. were in internment camps, the attitude of service eligible men was far different from those Japanese young men in Hawaii.

• 
  Finally, on 12June1942, the 100th Infantry Battalion (later named the Purple Heart Battalion) was activated, composed of about 1400 Nisei already serving in the Hawaii National Guard's 298th and 299th Infantry Regiments.  They were sent to the mainland for training.

• 
  On 1February1943, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team (later called the Go For Broke Unit), was created of 4000 Nisei volunteers, mostly from Hawaii.
• The 100th Battalion was first sent to Europe in 1943, then later the 442nd, after completing training in Camp Shelby, Mississippi, was sent to Italy in June 1944.  The two units were combined later that year.
• They successfully liberated French cities from Nazi occupation, then drove German forces out of northern Italy.

• 
  In late October of 1944, 275 members of what became known as the Texas Lost Battalion got trapped and surrounded by 6000 German troops.
• The 442nd had just liberated Bruyeres and Biffontaine, but was asked to rescue the Texans.
• In five days of fighting, the 442nd rescued 211 trapped soldiers of the Lost Battalion, but suffered 800 casualties.
• Totalling 18,000 men, the 442nd won 4,000 Purple Hearts, 4,000 Bronze Stars, 560 Silver Stars. 21 Medals of Honor and seven Presidential Unit Citations.

• 
  The 442nd and 100th became the Army's most decorated units. Governor of Texas John Connally made these veterans honorary Texans.
• From the National WWII Museum:  Against the odds, the men of the 100th “go for broke.” Despite the years of suspicion and racism that prevailed at home, these Nisei men fought for their country and their ideals of freedom and democracy. They fought heroically, leaving behind a record that is still untouched today.

All the above serves as background to my posting today, emphasizing the point that growing up Hawaii introduces you to a variety of communication techniques highly dependent on your ethnicity.  My roots go back to Japan, so Japanese terms are liberally laced into daily conversation.  For example, the term, shikata ga nai, or sometimes abbreviated to shoganai, means it can't be helped or there's nothing that can be done or it is what it is.

So yesterday, there was a showing of the film, Shikata Ga Nai, at 15 Craigside.

The 2024 film was written and directed by Eric Nemoto.

Byrnes Yamashita talking to David of 15 Craigside.

Joy with actor Alan Okubo.

Excerpts from Better Hawaii:

Inspired by the true life tendencies of many 442 veterans who have never told their families of their war experiences, “Shikata Ga Nai” tells of the battles that these now declining heroes have faced on their own without no one else knowing.

The film is set in 1999 Honolulu. Tatsuo is a World War II veteran who served in the 442 Regimental Combat Team. He lives with his daughter Lynn, a single mother, and teenage grandson Ryan, and spends time with his army friend Seichi. His life seems peaceful, but he relives the war every day – and he doesn’t want to share his war experiences with his family.

You can listen to an interview with Eric Nemoto and Allan Okuboon Lance Motogawa’s radio show, the Motogawa Music Entertainment Show,

I should add that there was a short documentary, released in 2019, also titled Shikata Ga Nai;  An Inconvenient American.  Here is a video explaining the meaning of Shikata Ga Nai.

What is the format of the World Cup knockouts?

The top two teams in each of the 12 groups, along with the eight best third-place finishers, advance to the knockouts.

The knockout phase begins with the round of 32, introduced at the World Cup following the tournament’s expansion from 32 to 48 teams. One loss and you're out!

Then comes the round of 16, followed by the quarterfinals, semifinals and a playoff for third place. The final is on July 19.

The stage-wise breakdown of the tournament’s knockout schedule is:

Round of 32: June 28 to July 3

Round of 16: July 4–7

Quarterfinals: July 9–11

Semifinals: July 14–15

Bronze medal match: July 18

Final: July 19

About yesterday:

• Lionel Messi became the first player to score in seven consecutive World Cup games when he drilled a free kick during Argentina’s 3-1 win over Jordan.
• Portugal’s scoreless draw with Colombia means that Portugal (and Cristiano Ronaldo) will not face Messi and Argentina in the quarterfinals.

The round of 32 is now set.

• The first match today:  Canada 1 vs South Africa 0.
• Tomorrow:

Brazil vs Japan, 1PM on Fox

Germany vs Paraguay, 4:30PM on Fox

Netherlands vs Morocco, 10PM on Fox

• 
  Team USA plays Bosnia/Herzegovina in San Francisco on Wednesday, July 1, at 8PM EDT.
• If USA wins, then  they play the winner of Belgium vs Senegal in Seattle on Monday, July 6, 8PM EDT.

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