Linkee-poo Monday is just like last week only more so

"On land, in the seas, in the sky, the devastating impact of humans on nature is laid bare in a compelling UN report… One million animal and plant species are now threatened with extinction." Yeah, but most of them are really small. [/sarcasm] This is actually worse than specified in the report, because as the planet warms and the climate changes, we will need to exploit areas that are now considered "safe" because we'll need stable crop growing areas. This is like how we build houses in swamps, on the sides of cliffs, or next to the highway; places that were once considered "no desirable" or "unbuildable" because there's no where else to build housing (except farmland, which we're already doing). We're boned.

"To kill bacteria in the blood, our immune system relies on nanomachines that can open deadly holes in their targets. UCL scientists have now filmed these nanomachines in action, discovering a key bottleneck in the process which helps to protect our own cells." Kewl.

How go the Trade Wars? "Wall Street kicked off the week with a sharp sell-off on Monday after President Donald Trump said that the U.S. will hike tariffs on goods imported from China, casting doubt on recent optimism that the world’s two largest economies were close to a resolution to their trade battle." As I write this down, the Dow is only 276 points down after starting off over 400 points down.

But don't worry… "Two US warships sailed near islands claimed by China in the South China Sea on Monday, the US military said, in a move condemned by Beijing at a time of tense relations between the world's two biggest economies." Okay, maybe worry a little.

"The black box flight recorders of an Aeroflot passenger jet that caught fire as it made a bumpy emergency landing at a Moscow airport have been recovered, Russian officials said Monday." Oh my Russian friends.

"Pilots operating a chartered Boeing 737 that slid off a runway into the St. Johns River while landing at Naval Air Station Jacksonville Friday night requested and were granted a last-minute runway change, CBS Jacksonville affiliate WJAX-TV reports. The National Transportation Safety Board said the original plan was for the plane to land to the west, on runway 28."

"Boeing knew that there was a problem with one of the safety features on its 737 Max planes back in 2017 – well before the Lion Air crash in October 2018 and the Ethiopian Airlines crash in March. But it did not disclose the issue to airlines or safety regulators until after the Lion Air plane crashed off the Indonesian coast, killing all 189 aboard." Welcome to liability 101. Oopsie.

"John Oliver discusses the lethal injection process, which is definitely not as pleasant as talking about a squeaking frog."

"The United States is deploying a carrier strike group and a bomber task force to the Middle East to send a clear message to Iran that any attack on US interests or its allies will be met with 'unrelenting force'." Men trying to display their manliness, and the president's ego isn't what it used to be.

"Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday confirmed that the Trump administration is making contingency plans for U.S. military intervention in Venezuela, but he refused to say whether the administration would seek congressional authorization first." Yes, it's called the War Powers Resolution, and it's time Congress rescinded it. Oh, and you have to at least inform the Gang of 7, Mikey. And you only get a few months. Also, that he doesn't know it's the WPR is both scary and pathetic. (Grokked from Joy Reid)

"To deal with a surge of migrants crossing into the United States, the White House is asking Congress for billions of dollars in emergency funds. But House Democrats are in no mood to simply hand over the cash after condemning Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies over the last two years." Gee, I thought the president had declared an emergency and was taking cash from other Pentagon projects to help with this?

"President Trump has named Mark Morgan, a former FBI agent and veteran of the Obama administration, as the new head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement." End ICE. Also I'm just going to remark that since 9/11 spending on border protection has increased several fold, including the number of CBP and ICE agents… and while there is a surge of migrants coming to our borders it's still nowhere near the numbers of the 80s and 90s. The composition of those migrants has also changed (no longer majority Mexican, no long majority single-men).

"Donald Trump -- warning that his presidency is being stolen -- sure seems threatened by Robert Mueller, especially considering his declaration that the special counsel handed him 'complete and total exoneration.'" The wheels are coming off this bus.

"Lapel pins, exclusive retreats, private conference calls with party leaders, special invitations to leadership dinners. Those are just a few of the perks that President Trump's re-election campaign is offering to supporters who help gather donations from others, a practice known as bundling." This time Trump is going after the big donors, and will then syphon that money into his personal accounts (just watch how many events are at Trump properties or use Trump company support).