Commentary |Clicks, Cash & Consequences: The Cost of social media fame

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I once read, "If you’re getting a free product, then you are the product." That line stuck with me.

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by Rashmi Rekha Das

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Facebook launched its Creator Program in November 2017 with the goal of competing with platforms like YouTube and Twitch by supporting video creators with tools, insights, and monetization options. Through this program, creators can earn money based on their content’s engagement, with payments deposited directly into their accounts.

To get started, a creator must either create a Facebook Page or switch their profile to professional mode. Success hinges on consistency, quality content, audience interaction, and effective use of Facebook’s tools. Facebook issues weekly challenges, and creators must complete them to qualify for rewards.

Popular Content Types

Video content dominates the platform. Among the most popular formats are live streams, 30- to 60-second videos, and user-generated clips, which attract the most attention globally. Other content types include polls, static posts, and text-based updates, though they generally see less engagement.

Videos with eye-catching visuals or graphics tend to perform well. Controversial or emotionally charged content also drives traffic and comments. Posts that ask questions or encourage interactions—likes, shares, and comments—often go viral.

The Pros and Cons for Creators and Consumers

I once read, “If you’re getting a free product, then you are the product.” That line stuck with me. Is this still true today? Every time we scroll through social media, we’re bombarded with content—it feels like it’s raining videos.

Every coin has two sides. On the plus side, the Creator Program gives users a way to showcase their skills while earning money. Live videos and interactive content let creators build deeper, more personal connections with their audience.

But here’s the twist: Not every creator gets paid. To qualify, they must meet specific performance goals and complete challenging tasks. In trying to meet those targets, many creators start posting low-quality or even harmful content just to stay relevant or boost engagement.

Some resort to sharing overly personal moments, including private family matters. It’s not uncommon to see people uploading emotional videos about deceased relatives or revealing too much about their daily lives. Nudity, violence, and clickbait have also become common. The pressure to perform can lead to poor decisions and exploitative behavior. Some content creators overshare personal details, including sensitive family matters, for engagement. Emotional videos about deceased relatives, personal disputes, and even nudity, violence, and clickbait have become commonplace. Many content creators have also faced excessive trolling, which can negatively impact their mental health.

Extreme Incidents for Engagement

Here are some incidents where Facebook users went to extremes to gain engagement:

1. Fatal Stunt on Purvanchal Expressway

In October 2022, a tragic accident occurred on the Purvanchal Expressway in India. Occupants of a BMW sedan livestreamed themselves speeding at more than 200 km/h on Facebook. Moments later, the vehicle crashed, killing all four passengers. The incident highlighted the dangers of reckless driving behaviors promoted on social media platforms.

2. Photographer’s Murder Livestreamed

In Sanford, Florida, photographer Lauren Ashley Martin was allegedly shot and killed by Savon Chantay Tyler following a dispute over photographs. Tyler’s girlfriend, Lakevia Davonna Pringle, reportedly livestreamed the aftermath on social media. Both suspects faced serious charges, underscoring the misuse of social media to broadcast violent acts.

3. Dangerous Bridge Jumping Stunt

A group of individuals recorded themselves jumping from the 30-meter-high Dickabram Bridge into the Mary River in Queensland, Australia. The video, posted on Facebook, garnered significant attention. Authorities warned that such dangerous stunts could lead to severe injuries or fatalities and indicated potential legal consequences for those involved.

The Privacy Risk: Data Breaches

Data breaches can expose sensitive personal information, including names, email addresses, locations, and even financial details. In 2019, data from more than 530 million Facebook users—including phone numbers and other private information—was leaked online. The breach did not result from hacking but from scraping public profiles.

In another case, a third-party app accessed users’ photos, including unpublished ones. The real danger isn’t just data collection but its potential misuse, whether through leaks, sales, or unauthorized access. Social media platforms like Facebook have blurred the line between creator and consumer, offering monetization opportunities while also pressuring users to trade privacy for engagement. Consumers must stay mindful of what they watch and share, and creators should carefully consider the cost of exposing their personal lives for clicks and revenue.

Brain Rotting and Its Impact on Mental Health

Excessive social media use is often linked to cognitive decline, commonly referred to as “brain rotting.” It promotes passive consumption, shortens attention spans, and weakens problem-solving abilities. Additionally, it contributes to anxiety and depression due to constant comparisons, cyberbullying, and dopamine-driven addiction. The endless scrolling encouraged by these platforms disrupts sleep, fuels FOMO (fear of missing out), and leaves users feeling unfulfilled.

Short-form content conditions the brain for instant gratification, making deep focus and sustained attention more difficult. However, social media also has positive aspects—it raises mental health awareness, provides support networks, offers educational content, and fosters creativity.

To counteract its negative effects, users can set screen time limits, curate positive content, take regular social media detoxes, engage in offline activities, and practice mindful usage. Striking a healthy balance between the digital and real world is key to preventing cognitive decline while still benefiting from social media’s advantages.

After all, when something is free, the real cost might be hidden in plain sight.

About the Author: Rashmi Rekha Das is a digital marketer with extensive experience in startups based in Bangalore. Passionate about digital trends, she writes to create awareness about the effects of social media and online monetization.

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Hands Off! mass moblizations this Saturday in Central Illinois

CHAMPAIGN – Hands Off! is organizing a national day of action on April 5 across the country. Local rallies will occur in Charleston, Bloomington, Springfield, and Peoria, in addition to the main protest in Washington, D.C.

Champaign-Urbana's protest will be at West Side Park on Saturday from noon until 2 p.m. Last week, despite persistent rain, more than 300 demonstrators gathered at the Champaign County Courthouse to protest the policies and actions of President Donald Trump's second administration.

Partnering with the AFL-CIO, the ACLU, Patriotic Millionaires, the National Education Association, and more than two dozen organizations, the objective is for people across the country to take action. They hope thousands of people will march, rally, disrupt, and demand an end to this billionaire power grab.

"We’ll show up at state capitals, federal buildings, congressional offices, and city centers—anywhere we can make sure they hear us," it says on the organization's website.

They believe America is undergoing a hostile takeover by billionaires with policies affecting voting rights, the Social Security system, and the gutting of laws protecting against predatory financial practices in consumer banking.

"We are facing a national crisis. Our democracy, our livelihoods, and our rights are all on the line as Trump and Musk execute their illegal takeover."

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Interesting articles:

• Illinois governor moves to slash cover crop funds despite rising demand
• Don't toss that 'junk' out, it may be valuable
• Not in your head; protecting yourself from lazy medical diagnoses
• National Labor Relations Board issues new rule that is hailed a win for workers

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Illinois governor moves to slash cover crop funds despite rising demand

by Jennifer Bamberg
Investigate Midwest

 

When Steve Stierwalt studied agriculture at the University of Illinois in the 1970s, soil health wasn’t commonly taught or discussed. Faculty often told their young farming students to put all their faith in commercial fertilizers. 

But over his 40 years as a corn and soybean farmer in Champaign County, Stierwalt said soil erosion, which can cause fertilizer and manure runoff to end up in nearby rivers and streams, has become an increasingly serious problem.

“When we plowed, we plowed pretty much everything,” except for a row near the fence line, Stierwalt said. “The grass near the fence row kept getting taller, it seemed to me. I came to understand that it wasn’t the fence row getting taller, it was the soil in the fields that was getting shorter.”

In the early 2010s, Stierwalt started experimenting with cover crops, which can help hold soil in place and reduce runoff pollution.

“This valuable resource that we take for granted, we were letting it get away,” Stierwalt said. “We have some of the best soil in the world here, and we have to protect it.” 

Six years ago, Illinois became the second state in the nation to offer subsidies to farmers for planting cover crops in the fall, an effort to reverse its status as one of the worst states for agriculture runoff. Demand for the Fall Cover for Spring Savings program — which offers a $5 per acre discount on the following year’s crop insurance premiums — has outpaced state funding every year since. 

However, despite the program’s popularity and calls from environmentalists and farmers for its funding to increase, Gov. JB Pritzker has proposed a 31% funding cut.

Pritzker, a Democrat, recently proposed an overall $2 billion increase to next year’s state budget. But he also recommended cuts to several programs, including reducing the cover crop insurance credit budget from $960,000 to $660,000. 

Pritzker’s office did not respond to a request for comment but the governor referenced program cuts in a recent address.

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Photo: Jennifer Bamberg/Investigate Midwest

Kristopher Reynolds, Midwest Director for American Farmland Trust and a fifth generation farmer in Nokomis, is pictured at the Illinois State Capitol on March 12, 2025. He works with farmers and landowners on conservation cropping practices to meet the goals of Illinois’ Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy.

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“I have made difficult decisions — including to programs I have championed, which is hard for me,” Pritzker said during his State of the State and budget address in February.  

Two state lawmakers introduced bills this legislative session to increase the program’s annual funding to $6.1 million. They say it's crucial to support the practice, which will benefit communities in Illinois and beyond.

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It's an investment because you know you're doing right by the environment. You know you're doing right by your land, and long term, you're going to build your soil health, and that will impact your bottom line.

Ed Dubrick
small pasture poultry farmer
Cissna Park Illinois

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The bills did not clear a recent committee deadline. However, lawmakers can still negotiate funding for the program as they continue to work to pass a budget by the end of May. 

Illinois is one of the leading states for farm fertilizer runoff and one of the top contributors to the Gulf of Mexico’s dead zone, a barren area of around 4,500 square miles of coastal waters deadly to fish, shrimp and other marine life. It costs the region’s fishing and tourism industry millions annually. 

Runoff from Illinois farms has only worsened, according to a 2023 state study. Between 2017 and 2021, average nitrate-nitrogen loads increased by 4.8%, and total phosphorus loads increased by 35%, compared to the 1980-1996 baseline. 

Nutrient levels were highest between 2016 and 2020 before declining slightly. The improvement was attributed to regulatory permits on wastewater treatment plants, which also pollute waterways. 

However, nitrate levels remain well above the state’s reduction goals.

Less than 6% of Illinois farmland uses cover crops

The soil in Illinois is famously fertile and much of the land is flat. The soil isn’t highly erodible like soil on a slope or a hill might be. But when fields are left bare after harvest, the soil can easily blow away in the wind or wash away in storms, depositing fertilizers and chemicals into waterways. 

Cover crops, which include winter wheat, crimson clover, cereal rye, oats or radish, are planted after harvest and before winter. The crops can reduce soil erosion, break up compacted soil, provide a habitat for beneficial insects and wildlife, and prevent latent fertilizer from leaching into rivers and streams. 

Since the Fall Cover for Spring Savings program began in 2019, the Illinois Department of Agriculture has received more applications than the program can fund. 

This year, the program sold out in two hours. 

Under current funding levels, only 200,000 acres are available, which advocates say is too small.

 

“At the rate conservation is being invested in right now for agriculture, it would take 200 years to hit the goals under the Nutrient Reduction Strategy. And that’s assuming … there would be new adopters,” said Eliot Clay, executive director of the statewide Association of Soil and Water Conservation District. 

The Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS) is a statewide, multi-agency effort to reduce the amount of nutrients in Illinois waterways and the Gulf of Mexico. The policy working group’s latest report, produced in 2023, found that to meet just half of its goals of reducing runoff, nearly all of Illinois’ corn and soybean farmers would need to adopt cover crops. 

“It doesn’t mean the state won’t meet the goal,” a spokesperson for the NLRS team at University of Illinois Extension said in an emailed statement to Investigate Midwest. “There is quite a bit of variability of riverine nutrient loads at watershed scales for nitrogen and phosphorus.” 

However, the spokesperson added that more research, data acquisition, and planning are needed at watershed scales. 

Out of the state’s 26.3 million acres of farmland, an estimated 3% to 6% grew cover crops in 2022, according to USDA data. 

Kristopher Reynolds, Midwest director for American Farmland Trust and a fifth-generation farmer in Nokomis, said Illinois needs to see cover crop adoption of at least 15% and more state and federal incentives are needed. 

The Gulf Hypoxia Task Force, a federally funded program through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, has provided additional funding to supplement the cover crop program. However, the Trump administration’s freeze of some federal grants might put those funds at risk. 

Earlier this year, the Illinois Department of Agriculture was awarded a $25 million grant from the EPA to support conservation practices for the next three years. 

“We don't know the status (of the grant),” said Jerry Costello II, director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture, while speaking to the House Appropriations Committee on March 12. “Last that we've heard, things looked good. But that's been a while." 

“We've got two and a half months left in this process in Illinois, right?” added Costello, citing the time the state has to finalize its 2026 budget, which begins in July 2025. “Two and a half months plus or minus. So surely we'll have some guidance … we certainly hope so.” 

Because of the sheer scale of the agriculture industry, government regulations requiring conservation practices can be difficult to carry out, said Clay, the executive director of the Soil and Water Conservation District. 

Farmland covers 75% of the entire state of Illinois, and even if all farmers employed precision sensors to track runoff points, it would cost billions, Clay said.  

There would also need to be an army of workers to track and enforce regulations. 

However, “industry self-regulating usually doesn't work, and it hasn't worked in ag, because that's basically what they've been doing for the most part,” Clay said. What’s needed, he added, is more public-private partnerships. 

Stierwalt, the farmer in Champaign County, helped develop STAR, or Saving Tomorrow’s Agricultural Resources, which gives farmers a five-star score based on their conservation practices. 

The state adopted the framework in 2023 to support the state's nutrient loss reduction goals. 

Stierwalt said the ultimate goal is to get companies to purchase agricultural commodities based on the rating system. 

If the public and industries that rely on agricultural goods for ethanol or food products want sustainably raised crops, then the farmers will grow them, he said.

Cover crop barriers include both cost and culture

Cover crops have long-term benefits but can be expensive and require extra work. Crop yields may even decrease during the first few years.  

Cover crops cost roughly $35 to $40 an acre, and farmers don’t make a direct profit from it. The crops are planted in the fall and aren’t harvested. Instead, as the plants die and decompose, they provide nutrients back into the soil for the new commodity crop. Some farmers terminate the crops with chemical herbicides. 

But the $5 an acre from the Fall Cover for Spring Savings program acts as an incentive for doing the right thing, which will pay off later, said Ed Dubrick, a small pasture poultry farmer in Cissna Park who also farms vegetables with his wife. 

“It's an investment because you know you're doing right by the environment,” Dubrick said. “You know you're doing right by your land, and long term, you're going to build your soil health, and that will impact your bottom line.” 

There are also cultural barriers to planting cover crops. Row crop farmers often pride themselves on tidy, neat rows, and cover cropping and no-till can leave fields looking messy. 

Walter Lynn, a retired certified public accountant and farmer in Springfield, said farmers sometimes only cover crop fields that are out of sight from their neighbors or the road because they’re afraid they’ll be judged. 

At a recent soil health conference in Omaha, Lynn said he met a farmer who believes he can’t openly discuss his practices with his equipment dealer, saying, “There's a vulnerability that ag doesn't deal well with.” But at the conference, Lynn said the farmer found a welcoming atmosphere: “It's so good to come to this space at this meeting … I feel like I'm a member of the cover crop witness protection.” 

This article first appeared on Investigate Midwest and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Unity Jr. High 3nd Quarter High Honor Roll announced

Unity Junior High School announced the names of students who achieved high honor roll status during the third quarter of the 2024-25 academic year. Congratulations to all the students who earned the requisite grade point to qualify for recognition during this period.

6th Grade High Honor Roll

William Terrance Bieser
Jace Boyett
Rachel Elaine Sharples Brooks
Mila Marie Lynn Brown
Connor John Chesnut
Brielle Mun-Yee Chin
Madisen Diane Coy
Wyatt Michael Deakin
Finley Douglas
Reid William Edwards
Ashlyn Elizabeth Estes
Hunter Byron Estes
Shirley Arianna Garcier
Liam Thomas Grussing
Aneela Joy Hagerman
Aubrey Lou Hartman
Ezekiel Makai Hastings
Asher Jett
Pyper Rayne Jones
Zaylee Elaine Kohlenberg
Elijiah Cole Lambert
Avalee Susan Little
Landon Robert Little
Lucas James Michels
Brielle Raine Molina
Peyton Elizabeth Neighbors
Charlotte Rose Ocasio
Autumn Polaczek
Olivia Ann Ruggieri
Zachary David Ruhter
Mallory Mya Schmid
Jayceon Simmons
Brody Lee Skibbe
Blake Robert Stierwalt
Giselle Ann Thomas
Jase William Kenneth Wierman
Conor William Zumbahlen

7th Grade High Honor Roll

Maylie Rose Bates
Brailey Marie Cain
Viola Ayame Carman
Lydia Grace Crowe
Kylee Paulette Cunningham
Elizabeth Irene Davidson
Bronson Edwin Davis
Savannah Jo Drewes
Quentin Xavier Dykeman
Collin Daniel Eckstein
Beau Richard Eisenmenger
Cooper Alexander Fairbanks
Nadia Grace Fairbanks
Hayden Marie Gabbard
Libbey Marlene Ethel Griffin
Dylan Paul Holladay
Mason James Holladay
Aaron Joseph Hood
Gabriel Heinrich Jahnel
Allie Rose Kamradt
Molly Kathryn Lydia Kleiss
John Isaac "Isaac" Leaman
Adelyn Jolene Maxwell
Graham Charles Moore
Ashley Ann Mumm
Nicole Nava Palomares
Caylynn Josie Parker
Raelyn Marie Prosser
Jordan William Pruitt
Avery Elizabeth Remole
Matias Alberto Rios Toro
Camdon Levi Schmid
Layla Marie Scott
Drake Alan Siuts
Kataryna Sperry
Colby Aaron Weaver
William Ross Wetherell
Kadence Ryleigh Wiese
Alexis LeAnn Wolken
Alivia RaeLyn Wolken
Brendan Kurtis Zerrusen

8th Grade High Honor Roll

Adcock, Kelsey Marie
Adcock, Kenny Wayne
Bailes, Lilly Annabelle
Bates, Brooklyn Blair
Benedict, Ty Craig
Bent, Ethan Earl
Berkey, Elizabeth Joanne
Berkey, Katherine Elaine
Bletscher, Konnor Lewis
Cowan, Kale Boden
Coy, Trevor Daniel
Daly, Alec Joseph
Deakin, McKenzie Lynn
Denney, Emma Nicole
DiBello, Giulietta
Gambill, Steven
Glad, Jaxson Edward
Good, Amelia Marie
Grussing, Hayden Bradley
Gumm, Aubrie Paige
Hamilton, Jordan Elizabeth
Hoel, Kynedy Ashlynn
Krall, Alivia
Leonard, Cora Dee
Lisanby, Jauniyah Rosemarie
Logsdon, Liam Hayes
Marinelli, Adeline Marie
Meharry, Lilly Madelyn
Meharry, Tatum Faith
Millsap-Moore, Baeden Edward
ONeill, Holden William
Parks, Marley Rae
Popovics, Carolina Maria Pagaduan
Popovics, Luc Sandor Marcelo
Pugh, Makaylin
Rawdin, Maya Alexis
Robbins, Bella Rose
Roth-Robertson, Madelyn Olivia
Savona, Skylar Grace
Schuckman, Sophia Isabella
Shunk, Vivian Rosalie
Smith, Hayden Dale
Spomer, Abigail Elise
Stierwalt, Dylan Robert
Styan, Olivia Jane
Terven, Jack Christopher
Thomas, Nicholas James
Thompson, Hayley Olivia
Thweatt, Cassandra Pearl
Watson, Charles Reider
Webber, Quentin Stephen
Weber Patterson, Hallee Ann
Williams, Bryson Matthew
Wishall, Ethan Matthew
Wolf, Ashton Jace
Wolken, Adam Scott

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Unity Jr. High 3rd Quarter Honor Roll

Unity Junior High School announced the names of students who achieved honor roll status during the third quarter. Congratulations to all the students who earned the requisite grade point to qualify for recognition during this period.

6th Grade Honor Roll

Molly Margrethe Bailes
Madelyn JoAnn Bear
Lylla Lorene Bennett
Journie Elizabeth Castle
Liberty Cenzano
Gersey Marie Cler
Avery Brooks Curry
Dominic Dees
Hayven Corrine Douglas
Kennedy Phoenix Dykeman
Jackson Carter Elam
Odin Jeffrey Evans
Megan Elizabeth Gumbel-Paeth
Emilia Hibbs
Luke Raymond Hottman
Christian Timothy Vincent Johnson
Khloe Nikita Kellogg
Jerzey Lawler
Bentley Michael Mcduffie
Hunter Reed McIntosh
Logan Alexander Nasser
Tucker Lee Pruiett
Brantley Hunter Pugh
Josephine Jane Pulleyblank
Emory Grace Renfroe
Jace Alek Revell
Felix Richard Runyan
Nolan Dwight Seidlitz
Paige Elizabeth Siuts
Lila Rose Souza
Elizabeth Ann Stewart
Haven Marie Thomas
Jaylynn Whiteside
Jordan Lily Zoch

7th Grade Honor Roll

Ashlyn Nicole Alt
Rya Jolee Bialeschki
Kaylee Jo Black
Nora Kristina Blanchard
Liam Aeron Blom
Bradley Roger Bruhn
Gorian Martin Cler
Raeann Loucille Cozad
Raymond Curtsinger
Greyson Zachary DeHart
Tinsley Layne Elliott
Alarik Byrum Ellison
Kenzlee Rae Evans
Natalie May Gumbel-Paeth
Jessica Marie Hamilton
Harper Quinn Harris
Addilynn Mae Hatfield
Benjamin Isaac Hoewing
Finnegan Samuel Bowie Isberg
Matthew Stephen Kroes
Azaria Christianne Lisanby
Adeliah June Little
Jack Thomas Ludwinski
Maxwell Tyler Pound
Riker Alan Rogers
Kyle Sean Roosevelt
Smilemarino Mulanga Sardo
Jonah Ryan Schriefer
Ezra Alan Schultze
Cashtyn Ryder Sutherland
Jaycob David Tatman
Dylan Dean Thompson
Owen Robert Vasey
Lucy Jeane Weaver
Levi Nelson White
Phoebe Ashlynn Witheft

8th Grade Honor Roll

Sawyer Michael Abrahamson
Grace Bailey
Ella Addyson Bromley
Sylvia Lola Cahill
Ryker Cenzano
Hadley Marie Cler
Hayden Curtsinger
Katelyn Dhom
Evan Matthew Donaldson
Jase Charles Eisenmenger
Skippy Followell
Samuel Bentley Hollett
Owen Dean Hottman
Holly Marie Howey
Russell Patrick McCabe
Scarlet Rosemary McCann
Lane Lucas Meharry
Ellery Merkle
Emma Grace Mohr
Lillian Calen Mohr
Jacklynn Kay Alexandra Moore
Logan Harvey Reimer Couch
Connor Allen Schwartz-Rouse
Jaylan Serczyk
Austin David Shafer
Trevor James Shallenberger
Jasper Lee Souza
Tucker Douglas Stierwalt
Cade Robert Styan
Jayden Michael Terven
Deklyn James Thomas
Lucas Neal Williams
Olivia Lynn Wilson

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Guest Commentary |Go have a good day

by Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator

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A Catholic Priest, A Jewish Rabbi and a Baptist minister were discussing the beginning of life.

The Priest said, “Life begins at conception. The Rabbi said he believe at birth. The Baptist minister thought for a minute and said, “I believe life begins when the last child leaves home and the dog dies.”

While there are different opinions about when life begins, what is the answer to the question, “When does life end?” Most of us would agree when we breath our last breath is when it’s over for us. However, too often the ending of life is even more grim than us fighting for a breath of air and then we are nothing but a body of flesh and bone for some else to dispose.

Too often life for many ends months or maybe even years before our final physical moment. Actually, possibly it has already happened to you and you haven’t even realized that you are already dead. You died and you didn’t even know it. You’ve been starring at your television, scrolling through social media and maybe even walking around the aisle of the grocery store just as dead as old King Tut, but not physically, just mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

It happens to the best of people. You lose all interest in life. You have nothing that you look forward to. There is nothing you particularly want to do. No place you really want to go and nobody you want to be around. You’re dying, because you’ve given up.

There are several scenarios that can bring us to this motionless zombie stage of life. Losing a spouse, losing a job, losing a child, a business failure, financial failure, a major sickness or just outliving all your family and your friends. Too often people detach themselves from everyone or anything going on which limits their activity and interest even more.

No doubt crippling disease changers our personalities and our interests. Battling cancer, diabetes, a neurological disease or take your pick of many more, changes our attitude about wanting to be out and about and doing what we use to do. Going to church, the local Kiwanis

Meeting, or singing in the community choir may not have the same appeal.

Regardless of what you or a loved one has going on it’s well to take notice of this stage of life and not be too hard on your friend or yourself. Here is what you must try:

1. Keep moving. Move whatever you can. Even if you are wheel chair bound, move your mind and whatever part of your body that you can move.

2. Keep doing. Do something. Read, pray, exercise, go to church, walk. Clean your house. Work a job, mentor people. Be a friend to others. Use your imagination.

3. Keep trying. As long as you can breathe, don’t quit.

4. Have something to look forward to. This can be anything. Someone’s birthday. A trip to the store. Moving the yard. A family gathering. A weekend trip, a movie, church, it can be most anything.

5. Enjoy whatever you do. Laugh and have a good time.

The only person who can keep you down is yourself. Your number one obstacle is usually yourself. If we can overcome what we mentally put ourselves through then we have a good chance of a good day. A good thought to add here, is the scripture, “If God be for us who can be against us?” Romans 8:21 Another one is “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

Now, go and have a good day!

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About the author ~

Glen Mollett is the author of 13 books including Uncommom Sense, the Spiritual Chocolate series, Grandpa's Store, Minister's Guidebook insights from a fellow minister. His column is published weekly in over 600 publications in all 50 states.

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The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily representative of any other group or organization. We welcome comments and views from our readers. Submit your letters to the editor or commentary on a current event 24/7 to editor@oursentinel.com.

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Potential NOAA cuts spell trouble for IL weather warnings

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This weekend, a violent storm cell producing a tornado that raced along a 12 mile track just south of Champaign-Urbana. Fortunately, nobody was injured, but area saw damage to buildings and powerlines. Without NOAA warnings preceeding major storms like this, many will suffer without the warnings of severe weather.

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Photo: NOAA/Unsplash

In addition to short-term storm predictions, like for the storm passing through Central Illinois on Sunday, data from NOAA helps farmers understand what to plant and when to harvest.

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by Judith Ruiz-Branch
Illinois News Connection

CHICAGO - One of many federal agencies facing cuts by the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and in states like Illinois with plenty of extreme weather events, scientists said the cuts could threaten people's safety.

NOAA employees are bracing for expected layoffs of up to 20%, or more than 1,000 jobs. Among other roles, NOAA's National Weather Service provides data used by most weather forecasters, including for warnings and advisories.

Bernadette Woods Placky, chief meteorologist and vice president of engagement for Climate Central, explained why NOAA data is critical.

"Because of NOAA data, we know when to evacuate ahead of storms, fires," Woods Placky outlined. "We know when not to evacuate, which is also really critical, because that saves a lot of money and a lot of time."

Just this week, Illinois saw severe rain and snowstorms, high winds and tornado and fire warnings. Woods Placky added beyond short-term predictions, data from NOAA helps farmers understand what to plant and when to harvest, especially as crop hardiness zones shift due to climate change.

NOAA's climate and storm data dates back to 1950 and goes beyond U.S. borders. Woods Placky emphasized unstable governments can interrupt data gathering.

"When you get that gap in the data, it invalidates the long-term datasets," Woods Placky pointed out. "You can't carry it with the same weight to tease out longer-term trends to keep people safe and prepared on longer-term shifts that we're seeing."

She added global groups also use NOAA's data, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the United Nations.

Some argued services NOAA offers can instead be privatized.

David Dickson, TV engagement coordinator for the nonprofit Covering Climate Now, said it shows a misunderstanding.

"To argue against NOAA not being useful because we have private companies offering weather apps would be to argue against farmers because we have grocery stores," Dickson underscored. "It really does fund the invisible backbone of virtually everything we consume."

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Other interesting articles:

• Which one is right for your pain? Choosing between ibuprofen and acetaminophen
• Vaccination is key to ending a resurgence of measles and stopping a preventable disease from spreading
• Illinois lawmakers seek full decriminalization of sex work
• Illinois farmers await proposed Trump tariffs, questioning how they will affect their agribusiness operations

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Unity relay squad finishes 5th at indoor championships

Photo: Dan Chamness for the Sentinel

BLOOMINGTON - Members of Unity's 4x400 relay team pose after running their race at the Illinois Top Times Indoor Championships on Saturday. Running in the Class 2A race, the squad finished two seconds behind Normal U-High and Mt. Zion at 4:12.04 in fifth place. The quartet is composed with Josie Cler, Ashlyn Denney, Grace Wherely, and MacKenzie Pound. Cler, Denny, and Pound also ran in the 4x800 race taking the meet title.

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Decker breaks school record at Illinois Top Times Championships

Photo: Dan Chamness for the Sentinel

BLOOMINGTON - Unity's Emily Decker keeps a steady pace in the 3200-meter run at the Illinois Top Times Indoor Championships on Saturday. The Ball State signee set a school record with a time of 10:57.37, placing fourth. She also finished fifth in the mile run.

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Supercharge your brain, 20 foods that will boost your brain health

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Ultra-processed foods have been trending lately, with health experts giving them more attention than usual because of their negative effects on people’s health.

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Photo: David J. Boozer/Unsplash

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by Matt Sheehan
OSF Healthcare

Dr. Tiffini Franada

PEORIA - Pondering what cooking options are best for your brain? Here’s some food for thought.

Tiffani Franada, DO, is a neurologist with OSF HealthCare who specializes in Multiple Sclerosis. Part of her passion is working with patients choosing brain-healthy diets and lifestyle, which prevents neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Multiple Sclerosis.

The MIND diet

"The MIND diet is a combination of the Mediterranean diet, which is healthy fats, olive oils, fish, fruits and vegetables. And the DASH diet, which is a low-sodium diet,” Dr. Franada says. “It's particularly helpful for patients who live with hypertension (high blood pressure). The two of those combined seem to be very effective at preventing the development of Alzheimer's."

Patients on the Mediterranean diet often have lower levels of inflammatory markers in their spinal fluid. Higher levels are suggestive of Alzheimer's. Patients also perform better on cognitive testing, Dr. Franada adds.

Fiber-rich foods

"In regard to carbs, whole grains are probably best, and they have really good fiber in them. As well as things like legumes and beans which have good fiber levels, which make you feel full for longer," Dr. Franada says.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) lists many high-fiber foods here. Lentils, vegetable soups, whole-wheat bread and pasta make the list. As well as fruits and vegetables like apples, apricots, broccoli and Brussels sprouts.

Berries and antioxidant production

"Blueberries are great, really berries of all kinds. They really help that antioxidant production," Dr. Franada says. "For vegetables, leafy greens are really helpful. They have a good amount of folic acid, which helps to reduce homocysteine (amino acid) in the brain. Homocysteine promotes inflammation and shrinkage in the brain, and we want to reduce that."

“Fats are not the enemy”

The word “fat” oftentimes has a negative connotation to it. Dr. Franada says there are healthy fats out there that offer benefits to brain health.

"Fats are not the enemy. Healthy fats are good for the brain. Your brain requires them, like fatty fish (salmon), which have good Omega-3s in them. If you don't eat fish, flax seed is a great alternative," Dr. Franada says. "Walnuts also have great, healthy fat in them. As well as olive oil, which has monounsaturated fatty acids which protects against inflammation in the brain."

Lean meats, like chicken and turkey, can be good for brain health because there’s healthy amounts of protein and fiber in them, Dr. Franada says.

Don’t dismiss dark chocolate!

"Dark chocolate is great. Dark chocolate has good amounts of antioxidants. Of course, all things in moderation. But a dark chocolate square once a night, not a bad thing," Dr. Franada says. "Also, caffeine! Believe it or not, a cup of caffeine, like coffee or tea, can help with focus, attention and is helpful for the brain."

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Photo: Elena Leya/Unsplash

Dark chocolate benefits brain health by providing antioxidants that protect against oxidative stress and improve cognitive function. Its flavonoids enhance blood flow to the brain, while compounds like phenylethylamine and serotonin precursors help boost mood and reduce stress. Regular consumption in moderation may support memory, focus, and long-term neuroprotection.

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Dr. Franada recommends having your caffeinated drink of choice early in the morning, right when you wake up, instead of later in the day. Having it later in the day can give you a lot of energy, which leads to you not sleeping well at night. Sleep is also extremely important for brain health.

Foods to avoid

Ultra-processed foods have been trending lately, with health experts giving them more attention than usual because of their negative effects on people’s health. High sodium, added sugars and excessive amounts of bad fat headline are the reasons why we should avoid them, with these elements being linked to diabetes, obesity and cancer.

Obesity is typically part of a metabolic syndrome, where a person has elevated blood sugars, blood pressure and cholesterol. This puts patients at risk for stroke, sleep apnea, Alzheimer's and many other health issues. Those risk factors can put someone at risk for neurological disease.

"Heavily processed foods are not great for the brain or the heart. Excess sugars, like added sugars, should be avoided as well. If you're going to have sugar, have something with natural sugar in it," Dr. Franada says. "Berries are much preferred to things with added sugars. Also, white bread and processed carbs should be avoided, too."

Effect on white brain matter

"There's some real-world data showing that the Mediterranean diet can prevent white matter changes on the brain, which are little white spots that develop on patients’ brains as they get older. It's also seen in patients with vascular risk factors," Dr. Franada says. "If you follow the Mediterranean diet pretty strictly, you can prevent getting those white spots. They also found people who adhere to that diet have better structural integrity. The left and right sides of the brain talk better to one another."

What about cheat days?

If you exercise five or six days a week and give yourself a “cheat day” where you splurge a bit, evaluate how the food feels in your body. Instead of packing on the calories and going bananas, Dr. Franada recommends reeling it in a bit and focusing on moderation.

"You'll probably start to recognize it doesn't feel so great," Dr. Franada says. "Maybe it's a chocolate dessert at night, or something smaller that you can do to still stay with your healthy diet, just in smaller quantities."

Dr. Franada cautions against super rigid diets that make you "fall off the wagon" after a few weeks. "You have to find something that's sustainable for you," Dr. Franada adds.

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