Commentary |
Hey Taylor; love the music, but please park that private jet

Photo:Omid Armin/Unsplash

I spent a decade, like many parents, chauffeuring pre-teen and teenage girls around to a Taylor Swift soundtrack. I learned every Swift song as it was released and sang along to the chorus in the car. I even went to one of her first stadium concerts with my young Swifties.

Congrats, Taylor, for your talent and decades of consistently great songwriting. You deserve all the accolades and rewards. Here’s my one request: Give up your private jet.

Those young fans of yours that I used to shuttle around are now campaigning against climate change. They understand this is the critical decade to shift our trajectory away from fossil fuels and towards clean energy.

And they need you, once again, to sing a new song.

Chuck Collins

I know you’re dealing with a lot of crazy conspiracy theories in right-wing media. In their zeal to denounce you, you even succeeded in getting Fox News to admit that private jet travel contributes to climate change, which is no small feat!

They’ve said a lot of nonsense about you, but that part is true. Private jets emit 10 to 20 times more pollutants per passenger than commercial jets. You know it’s wrong — that’s why you cover your face with an umbrella when you’re disembarking.

Maybe it’s even why you’ve decided to sell one of your jets. Why not the other?

We all have that experience of wishing we could be two places at once. I’ve been on a work trip and wished I could zip home for my daughter’s soccer game. But your private flight from your tour in Tokyo to the Super Bowl burned more carbon than six entire average U.S. households will all year.

Like so many challenges in our country, private jet pollution is increasing alongside inequality. According to a report I co-authored for the Institute for Policy Studies, High Flyers 2023, the number of private jets has grown 133 percent over the last two decades. And just 1 percent of flyers now contribute half of all carbon emissions from aviation.

Should we set off a carbon bomb so the ultra-rich can fly to their vacation destinations? More and more Americans are answering no. In Massachusetts, a grassroots coalition called Stop Private Jet Expansion at Hanscom and Everywhere is calling on the governor to reject an airport expansion that would serve private jets. It could inspire similar fights nationally.

Banning or restricting private jet travel would be one of the easiest paths to reducing emissions if it weren’t a luxury consumed by the most wealthy and powerful people on the planet. But climate advocates are still working to find a way. In Congress, Senator Ed Markey and Rep. Nydia Velazquez have proposed hiking the tax on private jet fuel to make sure private jet users pay the real financial and ecological costs of their luxury travel.

There’s good news, Taylor: A generation of music stars toured without jets, taking the proverbial tour bus. And it sparked a lot of great songs about this amazing land.

Taylor, if you want to be green, stay on the ground. Your fans will love you and the future generations will thank you.

I believe there’s a song there.

About the author

Chuck Collins directs the Program on Inequality and co-edits the Inequality.org website at the Institute for Policy Studies. This op-ed was adapted from an earlier version at CommonDreams.org and distributed for syndication by OtherWords.org.

Editorial |
Green light to attack NATO

Khalil Bendib / OtherWords.org

Guest Commentary |
Can you do anything about America’s problems? Not really

by Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator

We are saturated with news in America. We know about the legal troubles of former President Donald Trump. Every day we are updated about the latest court proceedings and what is still to come. What can you do about it? Nothing. You didn’t loan Trump the money and he doesn’t owe you. Loan officers from lending institutions worked these deals with Trump. It’s between Trump and them it seems to me.

Every day you are bombarded with every detail of Trump’s legal issues from a woman he reportedly assaulted to a porn star who is dissatisfied with the hundred thousand dollars plus hush payment she reportedly received. What can you do about it? Nothing. Is all of this supposed to make you hate Trump and vote for someone else? It must be or we wouldn’t hear so much about what he has been accused of doing.

Almost every day we are reminded by some about the cognitive decline of President Joe Biden. Just like any President he is derided on a daily basis for his handling of our Southern border crisis, the economy, the decline of our military and much more. We care because it all impacts us, but what can you do about it? Nothing really. You can be mad and frustrated but that’s about all.

Minneapolis police officers were killed over the weekend. People were shot and one killed at at a Kansas City Chief’s citywide Superbowl party. Numerous people were shot. It makes us sick. We hurt for those whose lives were taken. We hurt for those families who lost loved ones.

We hurt every day and week in America as more and more mass shootings occur. So what? What can you do about it? Nothing really. We vote. Of course, that’s the one thing we can do, but that’s about all. We can protest, march and scream and holler but Congress doesn’t pay any attention to that. Marches in Washington, D.C. are common and seemingly ignored.

Every day we hear about the border crisis. It seems to be a commonsense fix but what are you going to do? Many of us would go to the Southern border and volunteer to complete the wall and fix the holes but our government would probably put us in jail for trying to protect America. Thousands are illegally pouring into our country and we hear about it every day, but what are you going to do about it? Nothing really.

Every day we hear about the crisis of the Middle East. Israel, Gaza, Russia, and Ukraine. We hear a lot about Ukraine needing more and more money. It doesn’t matter if you think they need more or less money, it’s out of your hands. What can you do about it? Call your Congressman? Call the President? Do you think they care about what you think? They care about one thing and that’s doing whatever it takes to be reelected.

All you can do is what you must do and that is vote and you already know almost for sure who your options are for this upcoming election. That’s the one thing we can do. Since you and I can’t really do anything about all of this mess we had better elect someone who will do something.

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He is the author of 13 books including Uncommon 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. 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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Don't toss that 'junk' out, it may be valuable

Photo: Margarita Marushevska/UnSplash

StatePoint - From baseball cards and sports equipment to postcards and photographs, is that “junk” in your attic or basement dusty treasure or just dusty? We’ve all heard of families getting rich from the sale of rare memorabilia they found when spring cleaning.

A little time spent determining if items are valuable and where to sell them can pay off in the long run.

“The sale of older sports cards, postcards and photographs can yield thousands of dollars, even tens of thousands or more for the right ones,” says Al Crisafulli, Auction Director at Love of the Game Auctions, an internet sports auction house that helps families identify and sell valuable sports cards and memorabilia.

Crisafulli has assisted people in selling tens of millions of dollars of baseball card collections, autographs, sports equipment and more. Such sales can be life changing. In one instance, he researched a family’s old baseball bat and proved it was game used by Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig. His Love of the Game Auctions sold it for almost half a million dollars, a figure which would top a million dollars today.

Here are some of his tips to determine if your sports collectibles are valuable:

The Older, the Better with Cards

Vintage sports cards from the early periods of sports are collectible, especially Hall of Famers. Do you have stars from the 1960s, 1950s or earlier? Look for names like Mickey Mantle, Jackie Robinson, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner or Ty Cobb. Even non-star cards can be valuable, especially in nice condition with sharp corners and no creases.

Really early cards from the 1880s through the 1930s are particularly desirable, such as those by tobacco, gum and candy brands, such as Old Judge, Piedmont, Sweet Caporal, American Caramel, Goudey or Diamond Stars.

When determining where to sell cards and memorabilia, focus on a specialty auction house, such as Love of the Game, which employs trained experts in researching sports ephemera, and maintains bidder lists of sports collectors. More information is available at loveofthegameauctions.com.

Don’t Overlook Memorabilia and Equipment

Cards aren’t the only potentially valuable things. Look for older promotional and advertising ephemera spotlighting sports stars, especially items that promote sporting goods, food or tobacco brands. Ads from magazines aren’t valuable, but store displays, signs and premiums can be pricey.

Old sporting goods and equipment, such as balls, bats, gloves and uniforms, can also be valuable, especially if you had a family member who played minor or major league sports. Note that items from before the 1960s are highly collected. Also look for equipment endorsed by star players. Condition matters, but game-used equipment from professionals can be valuable in almost any condition.

Save Postcards and Photographs

If you have old photographs, cabinet cards or postcards of sports stars or ballparks, they should be evaluated. Those from pre-1960 can be expensive. Look for early “real photo” postcards from the 1900s through the 1940s, which are photographs printed on postcard backs.

Popular stars are key, meaning original images like Babe Ruth or early ballparks can be valuable, as opposed to images of your family members playing sports or of popular vacation destinations. When examining photographs, look for markings on the back, such as photographer, publication and date stamps. Also set aside cabinet cards, which are photographs from the 1880s through the 1930s adhered to cardboard stock.

“A good rule of thumb is that the older a sports item is, the more valuable it might be, especially from before the 1950s going back to the 1880s,” says Crisafulli.

This spring cleaning season, don’t rush to haul “junk” to the curb. Examine it first.

State Wrestling: Rocky's Marquez wins state title

CHAMPAIGN - Rock Island's Andrew Marquez celebrates his victory over Crystal Lake Central's Cayden Parks after their Class 2A 190-pound title match at the IHSA Individual Wrestling State Finals. Marquez dominated Parks on his way to a 9-2 decision on his way to the top of the podium Saturday evening. To make it to the title bout, the senior defeated Mt. Vernon's Mason Randall (34-12), Jack Paris (9-5) from Fenwick, and Niles Notre Dame senior Jim Amatore (36-10).

Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

2A Championship
Match Gallery

Andrew Marquez vs Cayden Parks

Recipe | Warm and wonderful, Pastrami-Spiced Veal Burgers

Photo: NAPSI

NAPSI - Whether you are feeding your family or entertaining guests, a delightful way to keep things cosy yet special during the cold weather season is with a delicious dish such as this one, made with Trusted Veal from Europe.

Pastrami-Spiced Veal Burgers

Yield: 6 servings

12 slices Smoked Gouda, sliced thinly
2 cups Sauerkraut, rinsed and drained
3/4 cup Mayonnaise
1 oz Fresh breadcrumbs
4 oz Milk
2 tsp Salt
2 lbs Ground veal
2 tsp Black peppercorns
2 tsp Coriander seeds
1/2tsp Mustard seeds
1 tsp Sweet paprika
1 tsp Onion powder
1/2 tsp Garlic powder
1 tsp Brown sugar
1/2 cup Whole grain mustard

How to make it

Place the breadcrumbs, milk, and salt in a bowl and soak the breadcrumbs until softened. Mix the veal with the breadcrumb mixture and combine to form six patties. Toast the peppercorns, coriander, and mustard seeds in a dry pan. Let cool and grind them with the paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and brown sugar. Coat the burgers with the spice mixture. Heat a grill on medium-high heat. Grill the burgers to desired doneness but at least 71°C (160°F) for food safety, adding a slice or two of cheese to each burger towards the end, to slightly melt. Spread the bottom of the bun with the mayonnaise, and top with whole grain mustard. Place the burger on the bottom, top with sauerkraut, and top with the bun.

As easy to make as they are enjoyable to eat, one reason these burgers are better is that they're made with genuine European veal. Desired for its light color and delicate taste and texture, European veal has long been held in high regard among chefs around the world. What's more, European Union (EU) Legislation means high animal welfare standards are practised and enforced so consumers worldwide can feel confident about Trusted Veal from Europe, considered simply the best in taste and tradition.Â

Fortunately, a wide selection of high-quality European veal is available throughout Canada. Ask your local retailer for European veal.

Learn More
For further facts about enjoying and purchasing Trusted Veal from Europe plus terrific recipes, visit www.trustedveal.com.

More Ways to Keep Cosy
In addition to cooking a comforting meal, there are other ways to keep your spirits up when the thermometer falls.

1. Exercise your option to keep moving. Try hot yoga. Or embrace the cold and go out and ski, skate or build a snowman. Youâ€™ll warm up while youâ€™re out and appreciate the heat indoors even more.

2. Love a lamp. If the dark days get you down, an LED full-spectrum light may cheer you up as well as warm you up.

Photo Gallery | Spartans' Emmitt Holt state title run halted

Champaign - St. Joseph-Ogden's Emmitt Hold wrestles Dakota's Brandon White during their Class 1A 106-pound wrestleback at the 2024 IHSA Individual Wrestling State Finals on Thursday. Holt gave his all but came up short 5-3. The senior closed his last year as Spartan wrestler with a 37-6 record. Below are more photos from the final match of his prep career.

Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks