The Worm that Will Eat the World

"Superworms"

Not so much, actually, just a beetle larva that eats plastic, Bloomies, ‘Superworms’ Can Digest Styrofoam, Australian Scientists Find

Scientists in Australia have discovered that superworms can live and even grow on a diet of only polystyrene, also known colloquially as Styrofoam. Superworm is a common name for the larval stages of the darkling beetle (Zophobas morio). The researchers described their finding as a “first step” in discovering natural enzymes that could be used to recycle this type of plastic.

“We envision that polystyrene waste will be collected, mechanically shredded, and then degraded in bioreactors with an enzyme cocktail,” said Chris Rinke, a scientist at the University of Queensland and an author of a paper published on Thursday in the journal Microbial Genomics.

Every year the world produces upwards of 400 million tons of plastic, and the durable material has become a garbage nightmare. Plastics are filling up landfills but also spilling into the natural environment, where they breakdown and poison wildlife, and have been introduced into the water cycle and even human blood.

In recent years, scientists globally have been looking for microorganisms that can digest plastic, which is how natural materials like wood biodegrade. The idea is that some kind of enzyme engineered from the gut of an insect or bacteria could be used to digest difficult-to-recycle plastic so it could be made into new plastic products, which would reduce the need for virgin plastic.

Used for things such as coffee cups and packing peanuts, polystyrene is one of the most common plastics in production. It accounts for “up to 7–10% of the total non-fibre plastic production,” according to the paper.

Experimenters divided worms into three groups and fed each a different diet: bran, polystyrene or a starvation diet. The worms that lived on polystyrene were not as healthy as those eating bran, but they were able to eat the Styrofoam and gain weight and complete their life cycle.

However, the report also found that the diet had “negative impacts on host gut microbiome diversity and health” of the worms. In other words, they could eat plastics, but it had a cost to them.

It would theoretically be possible to keep thousands of worms in an industrial setting to digest plastics. But the researchers say their next goal is to identify and enhance the enzyme the worms use for future applications.

I fundamentally doubt one  "fact" asserted in the article, that the "superworms" can live and grow (if poorly) on a diet of only Styrofoam (polystyrene foam). Polystyrene contains only carbon and hydrogen, and while it might be an adequate source of calories for energy (it's pretty similar to solid gasoline), it lacks all the other essential elements of life, fixed nitrogen for proteins, phosphates for DNA and RNA (and more), and a host of minor and trace elements.

I suspect something happened between the scientists reporting, and the reporters story, where some aspects of the beetle larvae's diets were glossed over. I'm more inclined to blame the journalists than the scientists, although I don't doubt the scientists did a lot to push the story, and not talk about the complicated stuff to reporters.

Uhura Signs Off

WaPoo, Nichelle Nichols, who played Uhura in ‘Star Trek’ franchise, dies at 89

Nichelle Nichols, an actress whose role as the communications chief Uhura in the original “Star Trek” franchise in the 1960s helped break ground on TV by showing a Black woman in a position of authority and who shared with co-star William Shatner one of the first interracial kisses on American prime-time television, died July 30 in Silver City, N.M. She was 89.

Her son, Kyle Johnson, announced the death on Facebook. Her former agent Zachery McGinnis also confirmed the death but did not have further details. Ms. Nichols had a stroke in 2015.

Ms. Nichols, a statuesque dancer and nightclub chanteuse, had a few acting credits when she was cast in “Star Trek.” She said she viewed the TV series as a “nice steppingstone” to Broadway stardom, hardly anticipating that a low-tech science-fiction show would become a cultural touchstone and bring her enduring recognition.

Proving that it's better to be lucky than good. 

The Wombat has Late Night With Rule 5 Sunday: Komi Shuuko primed and powdered and ready for battle.

Biden Gets WuFlu Rebound, The No Recession Recession, the Recruitment Crisis

Stacy McCain informs us Joe Biden Has COVID — AGAIN!. "The White House is a circus and Joe’s the biggest clown." From the Peacock, after four or five days of testing negative,  Biden tests positive for Covid again, will restart isolation despite no new symptoms. Sundance at CTH is skeptical, Double Vaxxed, Double Boosted, Loaded with Paxlovid, Joe Biden Gets COVID Again, "Well, isn’t that convenient. Sorry folks, I can’t come out and take questions, I’ve got the Rona again." The thought occurred to me too. Matt Vespa at Town Hall thinks Biden's Latest COVID Diagnosis Nukes What's Left of the COVID Panic Regime. Naw, that panic regime gives them too many reasons for control to give up. Monkey Pox isn't threatening enough. Nick Arama at Red State, Reporters Nail Biden for Blowing off COVID Guidance in Another 'Rules for Thee' Moment. Biden appears to be undergoing a bout of post-Paxlovid rebound, where the virus starts reproducing again after treatment is discontinued. They claim it's rare, and if so, it is amusing that both President*** Biden and Tony Fauci suffered rebounds. My guess is it's more common than they admit. I think Paxlovid has been oversold, and there's no need to prescribe it unless someone is obviously developing a serious case of WuFlu. Let the immune system do it's job, and develop antibodies to parts of the virus that don't mutate as quickly as the spike proteins.

Paul Bedard at WaEx, White House Report Card: Weak wins spun as big victories. When weak wins are all you have (besides WuFlu).

From Caleb Howe at  Mediaite, Trump Tells Podcast It Will Be ‘Very Hard’ For Him NOT to Run in 2024: ‘In My Mind I’ve Already Made That Decision’, but Capt. Ed at Haut Hair cites an anonymous Senate Republican: C'mon, Trump won't run in 2024, and that's fine. I'm OK with that too. At Newsweek cheers as Donald Trump Slammed by MAGA Supporters After Tudor Dixon Endorsement. The Duke at Red  State attempts to explain The Reaction to Donald Trump's Endorsement for Governor in Michigan Is Truly Confusing. It does seem like small ball.

From Twitchy, BOOM: Christina Pushaw explains to Politico’s Jack Shafer why Gov. DeSantis doesn’t give interviews to the liberal media. Why help them lie?

Bad news for those counting on the Dobbs decision to motive Democrats for the midterms. Spencer Brown at Town Hall, Womp-Womp: New Poll Is Bad News for the Baby Killers. Peter Baker@peterbakernyt, "Americans who look favorably on the decision overturning Roe are 18 percentage points more likely to vote in the midterms — 70% compared with 52% of those who see the decision as a loss for women. ⁦⁦@KnowlesHannah⁩ ⁦ @EmGusk⁩ ⁦@sfcpoll"

Hmm. From JTN, Los Angeles bans observers from watching county District Attorney Gascon recall effort count. What are they trying to hide? But the really weird thing is its from JTN's Foreign Desk Staff. Is LA a foreign country? I was born there!

NPR claims Jan. 6 hearings chip away at Trump's hold on GOP, as 2024 hopefuls circle. Maybe small chips around the edges. A contrary view from JB Shurk at Da Fed, Is The J6 Committee Trying To Get Trump Re-Elected? "This may come as a shocker to Washington, but Congress’s J6 obsession is not high on Americans’ list of critical issues." Jazz Shaw at Haut Hair sees Another J6 rioter goes to trial for "shoving" and "yelling". What, was he from New York? 

Just to put this in perspective, let’s close by taking a short walk down memory lane. Revisit this video taken during the BLM riots in Minneapolis during the “Summer of Love” in 2020. Look at what is happening to the police officers there as mobs destroy their police cruisers with the officers inside and attempt to drag them out into the streets. Look at the amount of “shoving” of police officers that’s going on as the cops are forced back toward the burning buildings set ablaze by the rioters. The faces of many of the rioters are clearly visible. They should not have been hard to identify. But as a follow-up report from those riots pointed out, not a single person from these incidents was ever charged. None of them were even arrested. Then ask yourself one question. Do you still think we live in a society where justice is applied equally under the law?

UPI is concerned that 1 in 4 say harassing health officials over COVID-19 closures is 'justified'. I suppose it depends on what harassing is used to cover. Demonstrations, yes, assault, no. 

Dan Chaitin at WaEx wants you to SEE IT: Supreme Court leak investigators 'narrowed it down,' Shannon Bream reports. Fox, Supreme Court probe into leak of draft opinion on abortion narrows list of suspects, "Individuals who may have had access to the draft opinion were asked to turn over their cellphones and sign affidavits."

At Da Wire, ‘Doesn’t Sound Like A Recession To Me’: Joe Biden Downplays Economic Woes As U.S. Enters Recession. Matt Margolis at PJ Media, Pelosi in 2008: Two Quarters of Negative Growth Is ‘Technical Definition of Recession', back when it was Bush. Spin, Strangness and Charm, Two stories about shameless lying liars: (1) a recession is “no recession”; (2) Arafat is seeking peace. Breitbart, Candidate Joe Biden Promised to ‘Pull This Country Out of a Recession’ in 2020, now causing one in 2022. At BPR, In a moment of sanity, Colbert shreds CNN, MSNBC over recession coverage: ‘Thank you cable news’. At Hollywood in Toto, It’s Official: Late Night TV Turned on Recession-Era Biden, "Colbert, Fallon pummel president after journalists give 'all clear' sign"

The Week In Pictures: Recession Deniers Edition - Power Line

Chuck Warren at Am Great, Wordplay Won’t Change Economic Reality, but it does provide work for the chattering class. For example the glass is more than half full at the Economist, The silver linings of a recession, "Lower inflation and greener energy are worth the price of a short downturn." At NYPo, Undocumented, underhoused chestfed kids are not in a recession, say Dems "Because re-naming things is one of the left’s favorite pastimes. If you cannot change the facts then you can at least change the language around the facts. By doing so you can massage the facts, make them less concerning and in the process wish reality away. For a time, at least." The occasionally sensible liberal Megan McArdle at WaPoo, Enough with the ‘is this a recession?’ blather. "Sure, you can’t really blame the Biden administration for trying to put a positive spin on things. But the rest of us — and Democrats especially — would be better off if the left spent less time looking for better phrasing and more time finding solutions." By the NR editors, (cited by Haut Hair), Stagflation by any other name. "It is almost comical how much work the Biden administration is putting into denying that the U.S. economy has entered a recession." Sundance at CTH, Keep in Mind, The Same Media and Financial Voices Denying the Current Recession, are The Same Media and Financial Voices Who Proclaimed Trump’s Tariffs Would Destroy Economy.  Ace, The Government, Media, Corporations and Institutions Constantly Lying to the Public Continue to Wonder Why The Public No Longer Trusts Them.

Three more from Sundance, Fed Preferred Inflation Index Jumps 6.8% in June, Largest Increase in Four Decades, The Biggest Problem and Shrinking the Economy is a Feature, Not a Flaw – Massive Layoffs and Unemployment Likely Hits in September. At Real Clear Energy, An Inconvenient Truth: ESG Is Fueling Inflation Woes. (Environmental, Social, and Governance, ESG). Quick Hits at Ace, The US debt will grow to double the country's gross domestic output in 30 years. This is "uncharted territory," economists warn. . . .I think it's well-charted territory, actually -- just look at South America. We're looking at collapse."

David Harsanyi at NYPo, Democrats’ high-spending ‘Inflation Reduction Act’ will do just the opposite. Even AllahPundit at Haut Hair, Oops: Manchin's new version of BBB designed to reduce inflation might ... increase inflation, study says. At Based Politics, ‘Statistically Indistinguishable From Zero’: Ivy League Analysis Shreds Biden’s ‘Inflation Reduction Act’. From Breitbart, Democrat Reconciliation Bill Relies on Extra Taxes, IRS Enforcement to Spend over $400B on Obamacare, ‘Climate Change’. Greg Byrnes at PJ Media has even More Build Back Better Baloney. Beverrly McKittrick on Da Hill claims Democrats are Destroying our economy, one sector at a time. Wrong, multiple sectors simultaneously. YaHoo fears Midterm Misery for Biden as Key Economy Gauge Flags 30-Seat Loss. 

Across da pond at Da Mail, Baby formula crisis WORSENS as out-of-stock levels hit 30%: Parents accuse Biden of forgetting about them and mom struggling to feed twins says 'I'm sure these politicians' babies eat.' Jazz Shaw wonders Why is the baby formula crisis still getting worse? Because, fundamentally, the administration doesn't care. And a final economic hit as NYPo informs us Hershey warns it won’t be able to meet demand for Halloween candy. Bummer. 

Switching to the culture war portion of our program, Summit News informs us the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine Advising Hospitals To Use Term ‘Father’s Milk’, "And “lactating person” instead of ‘nursing mother’ because it’s more “gender-inclusive” . . . "Even the word ‘breast’ doesn’t escape the newspeak diktat, being replaced with ‘mammary gland." At HE, Biden Is So Obsessed With Trans He's Demanding Coverage of Boob Jobs for Men At Am Think, Thomas Buckley thinks out loud about The Transgender Dichotomy. Matt Margolis at PJ Media, Controversial Transgender Clinic Shuts Down in U.K., Deemed ‘Not Safe’ for Children. At HE, Highway to Hell: Grace Church School Forced Students to Attend Drag Queen Worship Service. And at Da Wire, DeSantis Makes Move Against Florida Bar That Held ‘Sexually Explicit’ Drag Shows With Kids. WaEx, California school district paid $20K for 'Woke Kindergarten' consultant.

Teachers claims entire class of second grade students changed their pronouns and it’s being kept a secret from “unsafe” adults pic.twitter.com/Zn8sPHc2gc

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) July 21, 2022

Bounding into Comics finds 173 Corporations Including Disney, Sony, and Comcast Sign Letter Supporting Gay Marriage Act.  In North Carolina, After 5 incumbents jump ship, dozens file to run for school board in Wake County. Behind the Black  records how a Teacher wins victory against Rhode Island school district that tried to blacklist her for opposing CRT. Allie Beth Stuckey@conservmillen,
"Neutrality is a myth. Those who claim to fear Christian theocracy actually just want to implement their own. They want Christians to check their worldview at the door, so they can make sure they can control you with theirs." Christopher F. Rufo, "By the end of fifth grade, the curriculum explicitly asks students to become political activists make a “commitment to change,” according to the dictates of queer theory. Students receive a list of six commitments . . ." At Da Caller, House Republicans Introduce Resolution Declaring Critical Race Theory A Threat To US. At PM, Dems were fine enforcing Covid restrictions—now call Monkeypox measures 'homophobic'. "Now that restrictions are merely being suggested to curb the spread of Monkeypox, cries of homophobia and discrimination abound."

'Harpy' Daniels 

From This Ain't Hell, MN National Guard pays $77k to LGBTQ mag for recruiting efforts. Bob Spencer at PJ Media, says Priorities: U.S. Military Base Is Hosting a Drag Show. 'Harpy' Daniels'.  Stacey Matthews at LI notes Military Recruitment Crisis Underway as Biden Admin Continues Emphasis on Wokeness, Vaccine Mandates, “Defense Department officials have been sounding the alarm for months: the military is going to miss its enlisted recruiting goals this year, and the Army may be in the worst spot of any of the services.” WSJ opines What if They Gave a War and Everybody Was Woke? "The military’s embrace of faddish politics may make activists happy, but it’s driving away recruits."

Palm Sunday

Featuring yesterday's Rule 5 winner Sabina Gadecki posing with palms in various places. Yes, I'm that lazy:

Linked at Pirate's Cove in the weekly Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup and links. The Wombat has Late Night With Rule 5 Sunday: Komi Shuuko primed and powdered and ready for battle.

A Good Year for Oxygen in the Bay

 So far. Maryland DNR: June 2022 Chesapeake Bay Hypoxia Report

Data collected by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Old Dominion University show that dissolved oxygen conditions in the Chesapeake Bay mainstem of Maryland and Virginia were better than average in June 2022. The hypoxic water volume — waters with less than 2 mg/l oxygen — was 0.51 and 0.98 cubic miles during early and late June monitoring cruises, compared to historical early and late June averages (1985-2021) of 0.87 and 1.31 cubic miles.

During their respective time periods, the early June volume ranks as the 8th best on record and late June was 12th best. Additionally, a small volume of less than 0.1 cubic miles of anoxia – waters with less than 0.2 mg/l oxygen – was observed during the late June cruise. Hypoxia was essentially zero (0.0002 cubic miles) in May.

So, yeah, it may be a little lower than the long-term average, but not enormously. Whatever progress the Bay Diet has achieved, it appears to only have had a minimal effect of what is thought to be one of the Bays great problems, summertime hypoxia in the bottom water. For what it's worth, it's been a fairly mild year in the region, without the large freshets that set up the conditions for hypoxia. I don't think that Bay's problems will be even close to solved by the 2025 target date (not that I ever really expected them to be). So the good news is that the "Bay Industry" of federal, state and local governmental managers, NGO lobbyists, and private business that serve them will likely continue to be needed.

It's The Water!

This one has been sitting in my tabs for quite a while waiting for me to get excited enough about it to say something, from Tristan Justice at Da Fed, After Nixing 50-Million-Gallon-A-Day Desalination Plant, California Demands Residents Use Less Water

California residents were slapped with tighter water restrictions Tuesday two weeks after state officials spiked plans for a $1.4 billion saltwater desalination plant in Orange County amid a season of historic drought.

The State Water Resources Control Board unanimously voted to implement a statewide watering ban for ornamental lawns at businesses and commercial properties as residents brace for a prolonged drought, the driest drought of its length in 1,200 years. Local government will also be required to reduce water use by up to 20 percent.

“California is facing a drought crisis and every local water agency and Californian needs to step up on conservation efforts,” said California Gov. Gavin Newsom in a press release upon adoption of the new restrictions. “These conservation measures are increasingly important as we enter the summer months. I’m asking all Californians to step up, because every single drop counts.”
. . .
Despite the dire drought conditions also placing an increasingly unreliable power grid in jeopardy of periodic blackouts, the California Coastal Commission rejected the latest proposal from a major water developer to construct a desalination plant in Huntington Beach. If built, the company behind the project, Poseidon Water, says the plant would make 50 million gallons of drinking water available to residents on a daily basis by next year. After a more than two-decade effort to appease public officials for a green light on construction, the state Coastal Commission unanimously turned it down based on routine concerns over risks to marine habitat and “environmental justice.” The commission argued the energy-intensive process of desalination presented too much of a coastal hazard while raising local water prices.

I suppose the "concern for marine habitat" involves the intake of salty water, and the release of a some what lower volume of slightly more salty water, and injuring and killing some plankton along the way. I proper engineering ought to be be able to mitigate that, but copepods before people, I guess. The "environmental justice" issue has to be that the project would benefit too many rich white people, Huntington Beach being a fairly wealthy coastal community.

But what really tipped me into posting was this article this reader suggestion in the AZ Desert Sun, An idea for solving West's drought: Let's divert Mississippi River water to the Colorado

Janet Wilson's article on federal officials floating drastic measures to stanch California's water crisis was great.

Instead of just conservation, what about a Tennessee Water Authority-like project to divert the Mississippi River and build a canal with reservoirs along the way, to pipe it into the Colorado River? Kill two birds with two stones — not so farfetched when you see the type of projects being built in the Middle East and China! It’s about will.

Talk about a great works project and a fantastic way to usher in a new decade for the Southwest.

Yeah, I don't see any concern for habitat or environmental justice in that, do you? 

Biden Too Old to Support

Grim news for AllahPundit at Haut Hair indeed, Grim milestone: Biden has worst job approval at this stage of any modern elected president. At CNS News, WH Press Secretary ‘Not Worried About Poll’ Showing 75% of Democrats Want Party to Nominate Someone Other Than Biden. Capt. Ed (also Haut Hair) finds a House Dem: I won't support a too-old Biden in 2024, Dan Phillips (MN-03). But there's always Politico, Wait, Is Biden a Better President Than People Thought?  No, He is not. AllahPundit whines about Dems who support Roe: Eh, we might not vote this fall. "This new WaPo poll is circumstantial evidence for the “paper tiger” theory. If there were a ferocious backlash to Dobbs brewing, pro-choicers should be a little more amped to vote than they are, no?"

From Breitbart, ‘I’ve Never Spoken to My Son About His Overseas Business Dealings’: 17 Times Joe Biden Got Involved in the Family Business. Matt Vespa at Town Hall thinks There's a Serious Problem With the DOJ Investigation Into Hunter Biden. "Delaware's US Attorney's Office isn't big enough to handle the investigation." As Ace notes, The Honest Straight-Shooters at the FBI Not Only Improperly Closed the Hunter Biden Laptop Case Without Cause, They Then Deliberately Buried Information In Hidden Sub-Folders So That No Other Analysts Could Find It. "Margot Cleveland at The Federalist writes that this is worse than we initially thought." Also, Lee Smith: The Washington Post and New York Times Only Admitted that Hunter Biden's Laptop Had Been "Partially" Verified In Order to Discredit The Bombshells They Feared Were Coming, "Girls. Young girls." John Solomon at JTN reports a DOJ official named in FBI politicization allegations played role in Lois Lerner IRS scandal, "Richard Pilger pushed idea of criminal prosecution of Tea Party groups' political speech, congressional evidence shows." It's a small, dirty world at the top of the DOJ. Capt. Ed, Barr to Garland: Time for a special counsel to investigate Hunter Biden -- and maybe Joe. Long past time. In my world, each President would come with his own special counsel, dedicated to finding dirt on the new guy. At least it would be honest and fair to both sides.

At the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 07.29.22 Da Tech Guy makes The Best Argument For Trump I’ve Ever Heard (an 18 minute video),  American Power, They Can’t Let Him Back In and Transterrestrial Musings muses about Another Trump Presidency and Das Lid, For Party’s Sake, Trump Must Wait Until After Midterms To Declare Intentions.

At Politico, 'Alarm bell': Oz’s struggles have GOP pitching alternate path to Senate takeover "The path to capturing the Senate, as it was laid out privately by NRSC officials in one of the calls, includes holding Ohio, North Carolina and Wisconsin’s seats, flipping Nevada, and then ousting Democrats in either Georgia, Arizona or both states, according to a source who heard the pitch." Basically, drawing an inside straight. At Wa Free Bee, his opponent, Dem Senate Candidate Would Worsen Pennsylvania’s Crime Spike, Sheriffs Fear, "John Fetterman supports drug legalization, shortening prison sentences for murder." Paul Bedard at WaEx observes Trump Four in Arizona all leading: Lake, Masters, Finchem, Hamadeh. In the primary. The key is beating Kelly in November. Stacy Lennox at PJ Media on Why Wealthy Coastal Elites Should Mind Their Own Business, with special reference to Stacy Abrams 

At the Slantic, How Six States Could Overturn the 2024 Election, "The Supreme Court may let state legislatures decide the presidency." You mean, following the constitution?  Via the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 07.29.22 Shawn Fleetwood at Da Fed, Youngkin-Era Law Forces Election Integrity Group To Take Down Its List Of Virginia Voter Rolls. Sundance at CTH observes U.S. Postal Service Opens Permanent Political Division, Dedicated to the Delivery and Return of Mail-in Election Ballots, DNC Lawyer Mark Elias is Very Happy. I don't trust my post office. Do you trust yours? In Wisconsin at the Journal Times, DOJ investigating illegal absentee ballot requests in Racine County.

A conservative activist typically focused on government transparency, Harry Wait, who lives in the Town of Dover, has publicly admitted to multiple journalists and elected officials that he used MyVote.Wi.gov early Wednesday morning to illegally request the absentee ballots of two prominent elected officials, Racine Mayor Cory Mason and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, to prove he could without needing to provide voter ID.

John Sexton at Haut Hair reports on a Russian indicted for influence over socialist activists in Florida. They knew he was working for Russia, and just didn't care.

At TNP, Jan 6th Committee Producer Posted About Assaulting Trump Supporters With a Car, As AntiFa Rioted Through D.C.  Ed Brodow at Front Page discourses on Pelosi’s January 6th Committee and the Death of American Justice. AllahPundit is still spinning conspiracy theories about missing texts at the Secret Service, Turns out it's not just the Secret Service's text messages from January 6 that have gone missing. At the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 07.29.22  Tristan Justice at Da Fed calls it A ‘Farce’: Here’s What Wyoming Voters Really Think Of Liz Cheney And Her Sham J6 Committee.

At the Wa Free Bee, Kavanaugh’s Would-Be Killer Googled ‘Quietest Semi Auto Rifle’ and ‘Most Effective Place To Stab Someone.’ From Da Wire, DOJ Tells Congress It Hasn’t Prosecuted Anyone For SCOTUS Protests, But Is Still Going After Parents. Who is more of a threat to Democrats? 

Rule 5 Saturday - Sabina Gadecki

No ceremony today:  

Sabina Gadecki (born September 28, 1983) is an American actress and fashion model.

She was born on September 28, 1983 in Boston, Massachusetts to Polish parents, Irena and Richard Gadecki. She is a graduate of Chicopee High School and Holyoke Community College.

She studied International Business and Communications at Fordham University, while pursuing a career in modeling and acting in New York. She studied acting at William Esper Studio continuously for four years before moving to Los Angeles.

In 2007, she gained attention as the host of World Poker Tour on The Travel Channel, and she went on to sign with Ford Models. Gadecki has modeled for several brands, including Saks Fifth Avenue, Oil of Olay, Banana Republic and Jimmy Choo. She is a former Miss Polonia America and Miss Polonia World. She is currently signed to Wilhelmina Models in Los Angeles. 

Gadecki has had major recurring roles in TV shows such as L.A.'s Finest starring Gabrielle Union and Jessica Alba, and also appeared in Narcos: Mexico, The Affair and House of Lies. She played Melanie in the comedy film Entourage (2015) alongside Jeremy Piven and Adrian Grenier.

Gadecki dated her Entourage co-star Kevin Connolly from 2015 to 2016. Gadecki began dating country music singer Tyler Rich, after meeting at Stagecoach Festival in 2016.  The couple married in Murfreesboro, Tennessee in September 2019.  The couple appeared on the Winter/Spring 2020 cover of Southern Bride magazine.  Rich wrote the song, "Leave Her Wild" for Gadecki.

Minor NSFW

Linked at Pirate's Cove in the weekly Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup and links. The Wombat has Late Night With Rule 5 Sunday: Olga Alberti and FMJRA 2.0: Velvet Voyage out on time. Linked at Proof Positive in the weekly Best of the Web** and at The Right Way in the weekly Rule 5 Saturday LinkOrama.

Oregon, My Oregon

 At City Journal, In Portland, the Sexual Revolution Starts in Kindergarten

Portland Public Schools has launched a war against the “gender binary” and adopted a radical new curriculum teaching students to subvert the sexuality of “white colonizers” and begin exploring “the infinite gender spectrum.”

I have obtained a cache of documents from a source inside Portland Public Schools that exposes the nature of this curriculum. The lessons seek to turn the principles of academic queer theory into an identity-formation program for elementary school students; it has been adopted in many of the district's K-5 classrooms.

The premise is simple: privileged white heterosexuals have created an oppressive gender system in order to dominate racial and sexual minorities. As the curriculum explains, “gender is colonized,” and Western societies have used language to erase alternative sexualities. “When white European people colonized different places, they brought their own ideas about gender and sexuality,” the curriculum reads. “When the United States was colonized by white settlers, their views around gender were forced upon the people already living here. Hundreds of years later, how we think and talk about gender are still impacted by this shift.” (When reached for comment, Portland Public Schools wrote: “We make certain that our curriculum is LGBTQ+ inclusive for students who identify as transgender, gender non-conforming, gender-queer, and queer to create a safe and inclusive environment for all of our students.”)

The curriculum begins in kindergarten with an anatomy lesson featuring graphic drawings of children’s genitalia. The lesson avoids the terms “boy” and “girl” in favor of the gender-neutral variants “person with a penis” and “person with a vulva,” because, according to the curriculum, some girls can have penises and some boys can have vulvas. “Any gender and kid can have any type of body,” a related presentation reads.

In first and second grade, students are introduced to the key tenets of gender-identity theory. “Gender is something adults came up with to sort people into groups,” the curriculum states. “Many people think there are only two genders, girls and boys, but this is not true. There are many ways to be a boy, a girl, both or neither. Gender identity is about how you feel about yourself inside.” Next, students work through a lesson called “Our Names, Genders, and Pronouns.” The lesson tells them that “gender is like outer space because there are as many ways to be different genders as there are stars in the sky.” Students, the curriculum explains, can “change their name to match who they are, like their gender, culture, or just what they like better.” They can be “boys,” “girls,” “cisgender,” “transgender,” or “nonbinary,” and experiment with pronouns such as “they/them” and “ze/zir,” according to their personal preferences. “Only you can know what your gender is,” they are told.

In third through fifth grade, the district begins lessons on “LGBTQIA2S+” activism. The curriculum presents the categories of “man” and “woman” as manifestations of the “dominant culture” that has used sexual norms to oppress minorities. “The culture, systems, and assumptions that everyone is straight is called heteronormative. The culture, systems, and assumptions that everyone is cisgender is called cisnormative,” the curriculum claims. “Therefore, the culture, systems, and assumptions that everyone is straight and cis is called cisheteronormativity.” This system, according to the lesson plan, is a form of “oppression” designed to benefit “white straight cis boys” and to punish “LGBTQIA2S+” people.

The solution, according to Portland Public Schools, is to obliterate the “white colonizer” conception of sexuality, with its rigid male-female binary, and encourage students to inhabit “the infinite gender spectrum.” This means destroying the system of “cisheteronormativity” and promoting “queer” and “trans” identities. Teachers are told to eliminate the terms “girls and boys,” “ladies and gentlemen,” “mom and dad,” “Mrs. Mr., Miss,” and “boyfriend, girlfriend,” in favor of terms such as “people,” “folx,” “guardians,” “Mx.,” and “themfriend.” Students are shown photographs of “gender non-conforming” individuals and encouraged to celebrate the flags for “nonbinary,” “genderqueer,” “gender fluid,” and “Two-Spirit” identities. For some students, the subversion of the gender binary might also involve a gender transition. The curriculum provides a detailed explanation of how to “pause puberty” through “hormones and/or surgeries” and advice on adopting a “nonbinary” identity and set of pronouns.

By the end of fifth grade, the curriculum explicitly asks students to make a “commitment to change,” according to the dictates of gender ideology. Students receive a list of six commitments, including: “I commit to learning more about what LGBTQIA2S+ words mean and how they have changed over time”; “I commit to learning about the history and leadership of Black trans women”; “I commit to practicing pronouns and correcting myself EVERY time”; “I commit to attending QSA/GSA and being a leader at my school”; and “I commit to watching and reading books, movies, and TV shows that have LGBTQIA+ characters.” In other words, they commit to becoming political activists for queer theory and the broader sexual revolution.

They voted poorly. Fortunately, they're not reproducing at a great rate,  Trend continues: Fewer babies being born in Oregon

Manchin Caves, Recession Arrives

Just coincidentally. Ace hears Joe Manchin Agrees to Tax Hikes, Spending Increases, Green New Deal Agenda Items, "Joe Manchin announced he reached an "expansive" deal with Chuck Schumer on Build Back Brandon." Breitbart, Chuck Schumer, Joe Manchin Strike Deal on Obamacare, Climate Change Bill. NYPo calls it Biden’s plan to boost inflation. Proving her ignorance, Sen. Warren says ‘I Believe the Biden Administration Will Have Brought Down the National Debt’. Will Sinema sink it? Plotico worries about Silent Sinema stresses Dems as they race to pass Manchin-blessed deal. At HuffPoo, Susan Collins: Democrats’ Climate Deal May Doom Bipartisan Efforts On Same-Sex Marriage, "The GOP senator said the surprise move by Democrats could make it harder to convince fellow Republicans to get on board."

The Peacock tries to avoid the obvious, GDP fell 0.9% in the second quarter, the second straight decline and a strong recession signal. Ace, GDP Contracts by 0.9%, The Second Quarter in a Row, as America Enters a Funcession LEFTWING MONOPOLY FACEBOOK BEGINS CENSORING STATEMENTS THAT BIDEN HAS CHANGED THE DEFINITION OF A RECESSION. From Fox, WaPo, NY Times, CNN, Associated Press and more frame second quarter GDP numbers as fueling 'recession fears', "The U.S. economy entered a technical recession on Thursday after GDP shrank for a second straight quarter."  The Center Square, Recession? GDP shows 2nd consecutive quarter of negative growth. Sundance at CTH calls it, FUBAR, Second Quarter GDP Contracts 0.9%, The U.S. Economy is Officially in Recession and  Pretending Continues, However El Erian Admits U.S. Economy Weakening Faster Than Expected. At the The Blaze,  The GDP numbers are out: The Great Reset-sion, "We are unofficially in a recession, based on today’s -0.9% GDP reading." Capt. Ed at Haut Hair, Welcome to the "sentiment recession": Q2 GDP -0.9%. Athena Thorne at PJ Media, Another Telltale Sign That the Recession Has Arrived.

A collection via the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 07.28.22: Da Tech Guy:  Answer: The Results were always “Unexpected” by the Media/Elites, First Street Journal, Recession! The Biden Administration won’t admit it, but people know it, STUMP: On recessions: definitions, Humpty Dumpty, and out-sourcing decision-making and The Federalist, The Dems’ New Proposal Does Nothing To Lower Inflation and Don Surber: The Biden depression.

Stacy McCain, Magical Thinking as Economic Policy  "Joe Biden evidently believes that recession can be avoided by pretending there is no recession, and that inflationary spending proposals can be enacted by dubbing them “The Inflation Reduction Act.”"  Capt. Ed at Haut Hair, Incredible! KJP insists that GDP report shows "we're in a transition" "True enough … but from what and to what?" Also, Biden goes full Chip Diller: Economy "on the right path."  At the Center Square, Biden denies recession after GDP decline, but economists say otherwise. Washington Business Journal, Pacific Research Institute fellow: 'Whether a recession is ultimately declared or not, this is a very difficult economy for too many families'. David Harsanyi, Call It Whatever You Want, The Economy Sucks. Insty, at his gig at NYPo, Team Biden’s refusal to admit we’re in a recession is just another reason Americans don’t trust our institutions

Capt. Ed, BREAKING: Fed gauge on inflation hits 40-year high. The Business Insider, The Federal Reserve just moved to make your credit cards, mortgages, and car loans more expensive in hopes you'll spend less and help cool inflation. Well yes, that's how Reagan/Volker broke inflation last time. At Am Think, Monty Pelerin thinks (sarcastically) that The Church of the Federal Reserve is Here to Save Us. "The Federal Reserve is a fraud and has been from its inception. Its creation was via dubious means in 1913. That year was arguably the worst in U.S. history for freedom lovers -- 1913 was during the “Progressive Era” and also saw the passage of a permanent income tax."

On the Summit, Videos: Biden Energy Secretary Admits Being “Obsessed” With Green Transition, "It’s not a recession, it’s a “transition.” Speaking of transitions HE catches the World Economic Forum Saying It Is 'Time to Look Beyond' Private Vehicle Ownership

Election BS:

Biden allies: Where the hell is Absent Joe? – HotAir
Manchin: I can't commit to supporting Biden over the Republican nominee in 2024 – HotAir
Did Biden Really Have COVID-19? - American Greatness
Press Declares Joe Biden Is 'Back in the Game,' Reality Slaps Them in the Face – RedState
DOJ Insiders: Delaware US Attorney Inadequate To Investigate Biden Corruption
Ace of Spades HQ Miranda Divine: Whistleblower Has Given Congressional Investigators Emails From Hunter Biden's Business Partner In Which That Partner Directly Calls Joe Biden "The Big Guy"Hunter Biden scandal may lead right back to Joe
Hmmm: Biden met with 14 Hunter business prospects while VP? – HotAir
Joe Biden met with at least 14 of Hunter’s business associates while vice president | Fox News
DOJ May Have Impeded Biden Probes Out Of Pittsburgh, Delaware
Kamala Can't
Trump Threatens Lawsuit Over CNN’s ‘Defamatory Statements’ About 2020 › American Greatness
Pence Kicks Off Battle for 2024 With Campaign Speech - The American Spectator - USA News and Politics
The Left Can't Meme: Stacey Abrams Edition – PJ Media
Stacey Abrams Can’t Find a Georgia Cop Who Supports Her
Stacey Abrams' cop problem – HotAir
Georgia DA Has Been Struck Down By Two Courts. It's Not Enough
‘I’m Disgusted’: Dems Turn On Their Own Party For Interfering In GOP Primaries - The Daily Caller
Dr. Oz Trolled In PA Senate Race By New Jersey Native Steven Van Zandt – Deadline
Fox News Poll: Oz supporters lack enthusiasm in Pennsylvania Senate race - Fox News
Surprise! The ‘Republican’ Group Supporting an Arizona Democrat Isn’t Very Republican
Former GOP, Dems Team Up with Andrew Yang to Launch New ‘Forward’ Party
Most third parties have failed. Here’s why ours won’t. – HotAir
Jared Kushner claims John Kelly shoved wife Ivanka Trump - Washington Examiner
In Response to '2000 Mules,' Arizona Republican Party Offers $50,000 Reward for Evidence of Vote Buying in 2022 Election - The Star News Network
Democrats Close To Changing Laws On Popular Vote
Big Tech’s Plot to Stop a Red Wave in 2022 - Geller Report

Jan 6 and Other Political Violence

Biden DOJ Official Smears Pregnancy Centers Amid Wave of Attacks
The Steve Bannon Treatment - The American Spectator - USA News and Politics
Longest J6 Jail Sentence Levied Thus Far Goes To … A Black Guy - The Daily Caller
Newt Gingrich: House Jan. 6 hearings are 'Stalinist show trial' that won't impact midterms - Just The News
EXCLUSIVE: Capitol Police Use of Force Reports Expose Brutality of Unprovoked Attacks Against Jan. 6 Protesters
January 6th Defendant Says Judge Who Sentenced Her Once Asked Her Out on a Date, and She Refused - Tennessee Star
Jan. 6 hearings a dud, most see riot as one-time event - Washington Examiner
Jan. 6 texts missing for Trump Homeland Security secretary and deputy - The Washington Post
As Jan. 6 probe expands, officials worry DOJ resources are at a breaking point
Hmmm: Trump cabinet members beginning to cooperate with January 6 committee – HotAir
Today’s blacklisted American: January 6th rally attendee commits suicide – Behind The Black – Robert Zimmerman
Brandon Straka gave FBI 'significant information' in plea deal | wusa9.com
Ace of Spades HQ Republican Congressmen Accuse FBI Director Wray: Whistleblowers Tell Us the FBI Is Inflating "Domestic Terrorism" Cases According to Biden's Propaganda Demands, and Conditioning Promotions Based on How Many Fake "Domestic Terrorism" Cases They Fabricate
DOJ has multiple possible paths to Trump indictment: Here’s what it could look like - The Hill
Althouse: "For all its posturing as a rule-of-law pillar, the Biden Justice Department, like the Biden administration broadly, is cowed by the Democrats’ hard-left base..."
Most demand Biden condemn protests of judges and prosecute violence - Washington Examiner
Nicholas Roske googled stabbing methods before Brett Kavanaugh murder attempt
Nicholas Roske Used Reddit and Discord To Plan Assassination of Kavanaugh And Potentially Two Other Justices
FBI search warrant application shows chilling online postings from Kavanaugh assassination suspect | Fox News
Failed Kavanaugh Assassin Wanted to Kill 3 Justices, Alter the Political Makeup of the Court 'for Decades' - The Truth About Guns

Linked at Pirate's Cove in the weekly Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup and links.