There was genuine soul in the Changing of the Guard ceremony Friday at Buckingham Palace. The Band of the Welsh Guards rendered “Respect” in honour of the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin. It coincided with her funeral in Detroit. A salute from one majestic lady to another.

This is a live stream of Aretha Franklin’s funeral underway Friday in Detoit. Family and friends gather at Greater Grace Temple for the service. Former President Bill Clinton, Smokey Robinson, and the Rev. Jesse Jackson will be among the speakers, with musical tributes by Ariana Grande, Faith Hill, Jennifer Hudson, The Clark Sisters, and others.

https://twitter.com/_VictoriaGibson/status/1035525943039877120

The US says Canada has made no concessions on the matter of dairy access as talks grind on towards Friday’s deadline to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement. In a written statement, the US says the talks with Canada continue but “there have been no concessions by Canada on agriculture.” Information leaking out of the talks suggest that both the long-standing issue of the dispute mechanism, Chapter 19, and Canada’s highly-protected dairy industry, are stalling an agreement.

• Canada, U.S. scramble to meet U.S.-imposed deadline of Friday for NAFTA deal
• NAFTA talks to resume Friday as Trump’s deadline looms
• Why NAFTA’s Chapter 19 may not be the right hill to die on

Alize Cornet

Arya Ouskouian

David Yeomans

Our recurring gaze into faces making news begins with the silly mug of sexism. The US Open Tennis Championship has issued an apology to Alize Cornet (left) after a referee scolded her for changing her shirt on court. It was a quick switch done because she had the thing on backwards. Not proper said the ref as he totally overlooked men players who strip half-naked and never hear a word of about it. Then, the curious and youthful face of Arya Ouskouian (centre) a 23-year-old college student who has been passing himself off as a doctor at the Children’s Hospital of Orange County.  Lastly, the face of David Yeomans (right). Mr. Yeomans apparently refused to let another motorist merge. It led to an out-on-the-asphalt confrontation ending with Yeomans clinging to the hood of a speeding car on the 404. People, for heaven’s sake.

The Federal Court of Appeal dealt the Trans Mountain expansion project a major setback Thursday, finding that the government of Canada had not fulfilled its duty to consult with First Nations on the pipeline from Alberta to British Columbia. The court also scored Ottawa for not providing analysis and explanation on how whales might die from possible spills. It is a kick into outer space for the plan to sell Alberta oil to China (and others). The decision means the National Energy Board will have to redo its review of Kinder Morgan Canada’s project. In a written decision, the court says the energy board’s review was so flawed that the federal government could not rely on it as a basis for its decision to approve the expansion. With a condition set by the court that there be not just consultation, but meaningful discussions, with aboriginal parties the pipeline seems to  be in limbo. This vague requirement may or may not mean that indigenous objectors have to agree with a plan to build. But either way, the concept of Canadian oil to the coast seems years away.

ABC has reprised with a little more detail the visit made by Duchess Meghan to the Moore Park home of Ben and Jessica Mulroney. “Meghan spent three days holed up at Jessica Mulroney and her husband Ben’s home in Toronto,” said Omid Scobie, ABC News royal contributor. “They spent their days catching up, cooking together and, of course, playing with Jessica’s children, who love their ‘Auntie Meg.’” ABC  Meghan in City, hinted stay with Mulroneys of Moore Park

The so-called sex doll brothel scheduled to open on Yonge St in Willowdale has been found to fit the definition of an adult entertainment parlour. No such thing is allowed by City bylaw in that neighborhood. Both the property owner and the doll entrepreneur, Aura Dolls, were warned they would be charged. The story appeared on City News  Comments on City’s YouTube site reveal much good humour. “They should do a delivery service like Dominos 30 minutes or less,” said one. “There goes my weekend,” said another. There is also a streak of sentiment common to a loose association known as Men Going Their Own Way or MGTOW. It is described as a “mostly pseudonymous online community of men supported by websites and social media presences cautioning men against serious romantic relationships with women, especially marriage.”  Wikipedia

TD Bank Group is reporting strong growth in its retail business in Canada and the US, where it has the largest presence of any Canadian bank. Retail business at home saw its profit grow seven per cent compared with a year ago, while its U.S. retail business profit grew 27 per cent.  TD earned nearly $3.11 billion in its latest quarter, up from $2.77 billion in the same quarter last year because of the US business. On an adjusted basis, TD says it earned $1.66 per diluted share, up from an adjusted profit of $1.51 per diluted share a year ago.

Some City News takes we like begin with sour grapes in the subway. That’s what we think is behind the decision of Bell, Rogers and Telus to sit out service on tunnel platforms. Then, a boy falls 40 feet at supervised wall climbing. What went wrong? Below that, an amusing effort to explain why people give up exercising for reasons other than sloth. “Lift the dumbbells until your muscles ache please.” And finally, a man has wired up an old rotary wall phone and hung it out on Bloor St. West. We assume that you can’t call Paraguay prepaid. Very amusing.

Canadian negotiators are engaged in “extremely intense” discussion with the US in Washington Wednesday. They have Donald Trump’s gun to their heads on numerous issues related to the take-it-or- leave-it deal struck with Mexico. Ottawa is in a corner. US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross says “the Canadian economy can’t survive very well without a deal with the U.S. They’re too dependent on us.” And so, the dispute mechanism by which Canada has won countless disputes over softwood lumber is set to be tossed.

BOSOM BUDDIES? FORGET IT

Protection for dairy farmers (which many Canadians consider excessive) is under intense pressure. It’s the apparent end of a nearly 75-year road in which we’ve become used to thinking of ourselves as bosom buddies with the Americans. Forget it. In fact, we are apparently now expendable. Although Canada can make it tough for some US customers, the retaliation will be excruciating. The prime minister says that no deal is preferable to a bad deal. That has to be bluff because no deal will be very bad indeed. CBC

At major malls

Online flyer

Town Shoes will close its 38 stores across Canada within six months. Some 400 people are expected to be out of work although the owners of Town, DSW Inc. of Ohio, have promised to try to find other work for them. The reasons for the closure are said to be a fall-off in business. The chain is running at a loss. Town Shoes was founded in the 1950s by Toronto retailer Leonard Simpson and has changed hands several times since. Town was purchased by Designer Shoe Warehouse in 2014. from the Alberta Investment Management Corp. and minority owners.

Lane at right seems to dead end

Now registering

Why not?

Dog Show new this year

Always fun

Good idea

Staying hot

The corner of O’Connor Dr. and Woodbine Ave. is finished and weekend closures are over, the City reports. Above is a shot of the new intersection minus the municipally-condemned Yield lane and other changes. The lane at the right which previously permitted a quick slide onto Woodbine now dead-ends, so watch out for that. Then a gang of posters to remind you of entertaining and useful things coming up. We especially like seminars that teach kids about money. What a good idea. At bottom, a preview of our hot late-summer temperatures through next week.  A link to South Leaside Monday Group here.