We have just finished up with another two weeks of summer, with mostly very warm temps. Today it is cool and windy, and we had over 2.5" of rain on Friday and overnight Friday into Saturday. So far we have needed no heat turned on, and other than the furnace test on September 22nd, our system is resting up for the big winter job. Thursday Deb had a dentist appointment in Windsor, near the main riverfront trail. I went for a very warm walk (it was 82 F) while she had her smile cleaned. I didn't see any ships, but one was docked at the Detroit terminal. The bridge was heavy with trucks.
Geese on the Detroit River, seen from my riverfront walk Thursday. 
Looking towards downtown Detroit from Windsor's riverwalk. It was a summery day. Three of the four ships I have been watching all this year are now on the upper Great Lakes. I am watching two lake freighters, one Canadian and one American, and two salties, both registered under the flag of Marshall Islands. One of the salties recently stopped in Detroit, coming from Rotterdam. It is now way up the lakes somewhere, and I will watch for its return. The other salty is currently in Vera Cruz, Mexico, and I'm hoping it makes at least one more passage past the Homestead before the season ends. Though it's been a busy shipping season, it is about to get a whole lot busier, as grain shipments from recent harvests make their way past us on their way across the world. With our trees properly trimmed, I now have an excellent view of the river again from home.
There are three recent films seen to mention briefly. First, the Fassbinder project continues, this time with Satan's Brew, from 1976. It's an avant garde comedy, and one that has some serious problems. Despite the problems, it still has some very funny moments, including the physical appearance of Margit Carstensen, looking hilarious in short, curly hair, thick eye glasses making her eyes look gigantic, and a long, tight skirt and jacket that emphasizes her thinness. It reminds me of some of the Richard Lester movies I have seen. Though Deb quit watching early on, I persevered. The two main problems is that his usual actors have little or no sense of how to act in comedy. However, they get better as the story goes along, and by the end appear to be enjoying themselves in their bizarre roles. The second problem is the on-going overt sexism, which is amazing in its outrageousness from today's standpoint. Worth viewing? Probably, but mostly for Fassbinder fans who want to see everything he has done.
Red-Headed Woman stars Jean Harlow, and is from 1932. Especially in period Hollywood films, one is used to seeing bad guys and bad gals get their comeuppence at the end of the movie. Well, Jean is a bad one, out to get a rich man away from his wife no matter what it takes. She is a truly revolting gold digger who knows exactly how to tempt a man. But no comeuppance. She gets away with everything, including attempted murder. I guess some girls are lucky that way. Not a great film, but Una Merkel plays her part well, as Jean's loyal girlfriend.
Lastly came Across The Pacific, a 1942 wartime adventure film starring Bogart, Greenstreet, and Mary Astor. The action takes places just prior to Pearl Harbour, when the Japanese were trying to time their assault with a crippling explosion along the Panama Canal. Luck for us that Bogart is ready to tackle the problem head on, despite first getting beat up so badly he would be in the hospital for a month. No problem for our hero, who grabs a gattling gun and saves the western world. Too bad he wasn't at Pearl Harbour, too. Most of the adventure takes place aboard a small ship, which Bogart calls a boat. Mary Astor has a great role with some very fun lines as the romantic interest, as well as having some private business to attend in Panama. Greenstreet is perfect as the evil enabler of the Japanese.
Suited to today's weather, and the beginning of dangerous fall gale season on the Great Lakes, is this print by Claude Gellee in the DIA.
Mapman Mike
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