Almost a full year of classes here at Kearney. Gotta say, I never figured I’d be in Nebraska if you’d told me that two years ago. I’ve learned a decent amount—probably more than I probably will remember—throughout this semester’s duration.

When I was in high school, my teachers would constantly tell us, over and over

“If you think this is bad, just wait until college. Then you’ll really see what stress is like.”

I’ve never laughed more at a memory than that. “Real” college is fun. I enjoy the classes I’m taking. I don’t have community college teachers who show up late then tell students they should “Just take the C- and move on.” I’ve learned that real colleges actually care about their students. I’m not sure how other departments are, since I’m only taking journalism classes (and one film class but that hardly counts), but seemingly every teacher in this department really cares. I wish I had that back at SLCC.

Before the mass-quarantine, I was getting pretty involved with extracurricular activities. We were even going to revive The Coach’s Show, but alas.

I think the biggest drawback from online classes is the information.

I haven’t been able to retain information nearly was well as I would in class. I think that’s a damn shame, especially since I loved all of my classes this semester.

I should probably finish scheduling the rest of my classes…

I picked up a job at Menard’s to help my family in case of financial emergency, too. There are a lot of aspects of it I do not like, but $13/hr is $13/hr.

I’ve been brushing up on my German. For my bachelor’s, I need to take a language class. I’d love to meet native-speaking Germans (especially on-campus) to make it easier when I finally take that class.

I’ve been driving a lot more as well. At first, it used to be fun seeing the streets empty at night, but ever since COVID-19, it feels haunting seeing the roads deserted.

My roommate and I are trying to find a better place to move into, since the kitchen at my apartment has like 3 shelves and no counter space. Plus my room is less than 14’x15’… Sometimes I wonder if this is how sardines feel.

I’ve seen The Lighthouse (2019) over four times in the past week. Mostly because my ENG-373 class had me write a 9-10 page report on a Gothic film, but also because it’s a damn good movie.

Things are looking up for me, I’d say. As things start to turn into the “new normal,” I find it easier to accept and adjust to the new world we’re in.

What do you guys think will happen to us after the semester ends? I’d like to keep in contact with all of you. I’m glad I could make some friends already in a brand new place. I’ve always had trouble with friends.

If any of you guys play video games, feel free to add me on Nintendo or Steam. I’ve been using video games as a coping method for boredom as of recently.

Sometimes I get hit with a brick wall of feeling like…
I’m nowhere near home. I don’t know anything about this place. Most of my friends are still back home and I’m completely new.
It’s kinda surreal. That’s when I usually go out driving.

What am I going to do with this blog? I’m not sure, to be honest. Obviously I won’t be nearly as active during the break. Maybe this is my gateway to a new journalistic career? Who knows. But I do know one thing: this isn’t my last post.

I hope I’ll see you guys around campus, if anything. Hell, maybe I’ll see one of you when I take one of my impromptu drives (but make sure to stay inside if you can). Hopefully we can do something after the virus dies out as a final send-off.

So now, I guess all that’s left to say is

Do you know what they call a Quarter-Pounder with cheese in France?

Formed in 2010, Whirl was a rather popular San Francisco-born Shoegaze band. They were pretty well-known in the punk community and would establish a fanbase of devoted fans. Whirl’s online presence was the cause of their unfortunate demise.

What the hell is shoegaze?

It’s a sub-genre of punk and alternative music that was pretty prominent with bands like Catherine Wheel, Lush, and My Bloody Valentine in the late 80s and mid 90s. To sum it up in short, it’s a genre of music focused on the guitar and distorting it, making it sound fuzzy to accompany lyrics and vocal patterns you might hear from bands like The Cranberries.

But aren’t they called Whirr?

Yes. They were founded under the name Whirl, but a Black Sabbath cover band trademarked the name and threatened Whirr with a lawsuit if they didn’t change their name. Born from Nick Basset, a former undergound punk rocker, Whirr tried to keep their punk attitude while rebranding themselves.

Six different members, varying in gender and ethnicity came together to make Whirr. As their popularity spread as critics from Pitchfork gave Whirr’s most popular album, Pipe Dreams, a 7.5/10.

What’s so special about them?

Whirr performs with a lot of passion in their music. It’s not hard to see. Songs like “Ease” and their cover of Nirvana’s “Pennyroyal Tea” are fully of brilliant riffs and vocal tracks that mesh perfectly with the fuzzy instrumental accompaniment. I’ve been a fan of Whirr since right after their big breakup in 2015 (which I’ll elaborate on). My Instagram handle is directly inspired by them (“Free Whirl Forever,” their sort-of adopted saying). The guitar in almost any Whirr song sounds dreamlike—one of their most-compared traits with Shoegaze legends My Bloody Valentine.

A lot of their songs are about heartbreak or feeling disappointed or depressed. I like songs like that. Songs to listen to while I’m depressed or just feeling down to help me cope or whatever. Emotion aside, Whirr’s music is perfect to relax and unwind to.

Whirr’s downfall

As I mentioned earlier, Whirr was bred in the spirit of punk. Their attitude to critics, reviewers, and their own fans reflected their punk spirit. Very frequently they would get in arguments with people commenting their music “sucked.” Although I am a die-hard fan of Whirr, I will admit some things they said during their online presence did go a little too far. Of course in the era of early-to-mid 2010s, humor was a lot edgier and a lot less-refined than it is now, so Whirr did not catch as much backlash and I doubt they would’ve posted much if they did. Nick Basset, the founder and lead band member of Whirr had a very dry sense of humor, so often he would make offensive comments in a jesting way that would not land for some, and several of these jokes ended up costing Whirr everything.

Another, more hardcore punk band called G.L.O.S.S. was a target of Whirr’s usual antagonizing antics. However, on their Twitter, I would say they got carried away. On their twitter right now (@free_whirl) is an apology for the comments that many saw as transphobic. Whirr claimed that the Twitter account wasn’t run by any of the band members, but instead their merchandising director the night of Whirr’s tirade against the LGBT+ community.

It’s hard to say whether this apology is true or not, but regardless, I’d like to think they just got carried away with their own act. Trying to keep up the facade of being hyper-punk, they said some insensitive things they likely should’ve never tweeted.

Regardless of the fault, Whirr’s record label pulled out, essentially killing the band forever in 2015.

Feels Like You

In 2019, I received news that a new Whirr album had been released. I figured it was a hoax since they’ve been inactive on all social media since the one night. Sure enough, the band had gotten together and released Feels Like You, a new album almost completely without warning. Nearly a thousand vinyls were published with its release, and they all sold out the same day.

Whirr never said anything about the release other than on their bandcamp, where they said they had no plan of releasing it digitally, but it was leaked, so they might as well have.

The only post about it is in a now-deleted comment saying that all proceeds of the album go to various LGBT+ charities.

https://whirrband.bandcamp.com/album/feels-like-you

Fast food chains across the country are getting a lot more business than usual, I’m sure. Because of this sudden influx of customers, I would like to present you a comprehensive list of the best and worst chicken tenders in fast food.

Now I know what you’re thinking:
“Alexander, what the actual hell?”

Well, dear reader,

Cabin Fever is one helluva thing.

Last Place: Popeye’s

I hate Popeye’s with a passion. Their chicken has ALWAYS been dry whenever I ordered it back home. Now mind you, it was founded in New Orleans (hence the cringey slogan “Louisiana Fast”), but it was absolutely awful in the state it was made. How is this possible??? I am not sure, but I can assure you one thing: Popeye’s has never done well in either customer care or food tastiness.

On the tasty meter, I will give Popeyes 1/5 Yums.

KFC

I haven’t had too much experience with KFC, so I have to put it near the bottom of the list (or top, depending on your perspective). I’ve had it before like twice and it was pretty decent. A lot of my friends back home testify that it’s probably one of the best—if not the king—of fried chicken. That being said, this blog is about chicken tenders and the time I had a KFC chicken tender it was pretty okay. That’s all I’ve got to say about KFC to be honest. I’ll give it 3/5 Yums mostly due to friend acclaim.

McDonalds

I didn’t even know they served tenders.
?/5 Yums

Raising Canes

Another Louisiana-founded chain (see? I told you Louisiana was known for food), but this one doesn’t suck. The Cane’s here in town is pretty good, but the ones back home are probably the best in the country. The tenders are treated with such care and are cooked to absolute perfection. The tenders are pretty bland without some salt, but overall their tenderness (semi-pun intended) is perfect, making each bite satisfying, nearly justifying the $15 price tag for a Box Combo.
Cane’s used to be a sign of status in high school. If somebody bought Canes, they were the BMOC.

Canes is nearly perfect. Earning a 4/5 Yums only because it isn’t heavenly at every chain.

Sonic Drive-Thru

While I had no clue they made chicken tenders, Sonic makes a clear competitor for 1st place among the higher-ranked tenders. While not as tender as Canes, Sonic delivers some pretty solid, warm, and comfy chicken (in fried variety). While I would easily rate their slushes a 5/5 Yums, I’m not in the Slushie business, my job lies within chicken. Their chicken is pretty decent, though my only complaint, once again, is the seasoning. That being said, I would never decline some Sonic if a buddy offered.
Also, if you guys know the bellhop named Sheldon, make sure to thank him for working so hard. That guy’s always there when I go and manages to keep a upbeat and friendly attitude. I respect his hustle.
Anyways Sonic Drive-Thru gets a solid 3.5/5 on the Yums scale.

Dairy Queen

Now HERE is a king of fried chicken tenders. Tender, crisp, seasoned—it’s ALL THERE! DQ chicken tenders manage to remain super tasty without sacrificing tenderness or the breading used to fry it. The tenders come as a full meal even, fries and a drink (optional) included. DQ knows what the people want, and what they want is good tenders. I have had DQ for three nights in a row now. Mostly out of desperation and avoidance of big stores like Hy-Vee and Walmart, but also because chicken tenders from DQ are so comforting after working hard or just relaxing.
Dairy Queen earns a well-deserved 5/5 Yums.

If Chick-Fil-A’s chicken were tenders they’d also make a 5/5 but alas.

One genre that has almost become somewhat of a niche now is Jazz. Jazz itself used to be one of the largest—if not THE largest—genre of music. Where did it go? What became of it? How many jazz songs am I going to shamelessly put into this blog? Find out here.

Jazz most notably peaked in the late 30s and most of the 40s. The genre gave way to the sub-genres of Big Band and Swing. Headliners like Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw became household names for their distinct conducting and style. West and East coast big bands had their own sound entirely. West coast took inspiration from a lot of Latin instruments, often incorporating them into their songs. The West Coast sound was slower and more romantic compared to its East Coast counterpart.

East Coast Jazz was the most popular of the type. Musical giants would come out of New York especially to revolutionize the Jazz sound. Duke Ellington, fresh out of the Cotton Club, would become one of the greatest African-American Jazz players in history of the genre. One of his most popular songs, “Take the ‘A’ Train,” sounds busy, like the bustling streets of New York or the crowded tunnels of the subway. Eventually, America would move on from the lyric-less instrumentals of composers-turned-jazzists. Not long after Big Band reached popularity, the Rat Pack broke new ground in Jazz history.

Creating what is now Pop, artists like Frank Sinatra and Bobby Darin would combine jazz backings with crooning. Referred to many as “Easy Listening,” one could put on a Sinatra record (or any other member of the Rat Pack, my favorite being Dean Martin) and kick back in a lounge bar and enjoy the atmosphere. These pop singers would eventually bring with them the downfall of the genre of Jazz.

Rock n’ Roll is the most pointed-to reason for the death of Jazz. Artists like Roy Brown made the transition from Jazz musician to Rock singer in the mid-to-early 50s .Of course the most popular Rocker of the era was…

Buddy Holly.

Bet you thought I would say Elvis.

While Elvis’s hips single-handedly destroyed American broadcasting stations, it was Holly who made the genre as popular as it was. Elvis would sing, but never play any of his instruments live—without a backup group, that is. Presley also did not write his own songs (not to discredit The King in any way, though). Holly, however, brought his clean-cut look to the stage and played live what he himself wrote on paper. With Holly and Elvis headlining both the Television and the Newspapers, the death of the Jazz musician was at hand.

Jazz was still alive in spirit, however. Combining Rock n’ Roll and Jazz, artists like Edwin Starr and Marvin Gaye would create some of the most famous examples of Rhythm and Blues. The rife-with-controversy Vietnam War would give way to songs like “WAR!” and “What’s Going On” which helped shape both modern Rock and post-modern Jazz.

History lesson aside, what’s left of Jazz in the 21st Century?

Aside from being used in soundtracks like in David Lynch’s “Twin Peaks” (you should watch that, by the way) and Cowboy Bebop (you ABSOLUTELY should watch that one), Jazz has seen another resurgence in a much more modern way.

LoFi is a new type of genre which borrows heavily from Jazz. Using more synthetic, electric beats, LoFi borrows a lot of instruments from Jazz classics and often rips samples from past Jazz songs, much like the early days of rap. While not nearly as frenetic as most classical forms of Jazz, LoFi is just as relaxing—if not more than relaxing—as the classic Rat Pack songs of the mid 20th Century.

Of course I could bore you for hours if I wanted to go into even more detail on the history of rock and jazz, as those were my best two performing classes at the community college I graduated. But if you want to know more, feel free to send me a DM. Just don’t get me started on Cool Jazz.

Since the published article was released on Thursday (where literally nobody could read it), I’ve decided to share it here for all of you to enjoy.

Sitting down with my buddy Cesar, whose birthday treat was to come with me to see Onward, I was met with something unusual. 

As most of you are aware, Pixar films are usually met with a short film beforehand. Most of these shorts are made by the Pixar team and tell stories worthy of their own slot in the theater. 

This short, however, was likely best left out.

Instead of a Pixar-based short, we were greeted with The Simpsons. The short had no inspiration from Pixar and honestly my buddy and I felt robbed as we watched the five-ish minute crawl of the story play out. 

It was overall incredibly forgetful and did not bode well for the feature presentation.

My apprehensions were quickly dispelled within the first 10 minutes of the film. Onward follows the story of two young elves in their quest to find out if magic still exists in the modern age. The film sets up a world where several species existed in a very Dungeons and Dragons-inspired way. But as technology advanced, magic faded. After discovering a note from their late father, Ian (played by Tom Holland) and his brother Barley (played by Chris Pratt) set out on a journey to find magic in the modern world.

Onward showcases some excellent voice acting. Both Tom Holland and Chris Pratt do an excellent job carrying the film. 

Pratt’s voice work does a good job of adding a humorous side to Holland’s more serious point of view. Some of the other, more minor characters, do a pretty decent job of adding character to the creatures in the movie. 

One aspect of the film, however, does fall flat in the grand scope of the film.

Pixar is known for having beautiful and unique characters. Onward’s character design seems flat in comparison to Pixar’s previous works. Tom Holland’s character, Ian, especially feels more generic compared to other characters in the film as well. 

Moving past this flaw, the animation is truly stunning throughout the film. It seems with every production, Pixar’s animation gets better and better. Tiny details included in the film always seem to get more and more impressive.

Building off the animation, the emotion in Onward is excellent,

They do a very good job with story building. The film’s premise is relatively simple, but the execution is what makes it effective. Several of the characters have been given life and heart through writing executives and the voice actors themselves. 

The humor in Onward is also pretty great, it does a good job of providing laughs for both children and older viewers (such as myself) alike. 

Overall, Onward is a great film worth seeing in theaters (or, with current events, wait until it hits digital). The voice acting, animation, and characters all blend together to make an entertaining and well-done animated movie. Although not Pixar’s best work, Onward is easily a 7.7/10 Lopers.

Hope you’re all staying safe this weekend, either from sickness or from the snow.

By now I’m sure you all have gathered that I have a variety of favorite genres when it comes to music. While trying to expand my horizons in the rock/alternative genre, I found a band that you have to listen to. Their name is Teenage Wrist.

It is very infrequent that I find an album that I can listen through entirely. It is even more uncommon to find an artist whose entire discography I can listen to. Teenage Wrist is the only band where I can listen to any of their songs and never get tired.

Bordering the Shoegaze sub-genre of rock, Teenage Wrist is the closest thing to a grunge revival as I’m sure most of us will see. Featuring heavy guitars and melodic vocals, Teenage Wrist creates a unique and fuzzy sound that leaves a lasting mark on the listener.

There’s something about the sound of songs like “Waitress” and “Afterglow” that sticks with me. For me, Teenage Wrist came around at a pretty awful point in time. I was feeling pretty low, but their sound made me appreciate the power of music. I’ll never forget the first time I heard them; I had to furiously scramble down the artist before the song faded off of the airwaves, never to be played again. Even two years from then, I still feel giddy listening to some of their tracks for the 400th time.

Comprised of just three band members, the group takes inspiration from Shoegaze founders like Lush and My Bloody Valentine. While their breakout song, “Stoned, Alone” has reached nearly 3 million streams on Spotify, most of their songs (sadly) haven’t even peaked the 500k listeners mark. My biggest hope is for that to change. I want them to keep making music so that they can reach out to more people like they did to me.

I hope that you, dear reader, can take some time out of your day—or night—to give them a listen. Trust me, it’s worth it.

Bands like Nothing, Whirr, and Teenage Wrist are leading the new era of grunge and alternative rock. If musicians like them are the future for the genre, I think we’re in good hands.

Where to find Teenage Wrist:
Spotify
YouTube
iTunes
Their Homepage

• Policy Claim: Citizens of Lincoln should approve of the Mental Health Court proposal to help later benefit the rest of Nebraska
  • There are no mental health courts in the state of Nebraska (factual)
  • Those with mental health issues are not treated the same in standard court and after sentencing (definitional)
  • Allowing the introduction of mental health courts will lead to better treatment for those who are disregarded by the law due to their mental health (causal)
  • The treatment they will receive will be better than throwing them into a prison untreated and un-cared for (definitional)
    • Treating those who suffer from mental health disorders makes them more well-adjusted to life without the same punishment normal court would provide (value)
  • It is unfair for those with mental health issues to be tried the same as those without (value)
  • Paying for an individual to go through court is cheaper than sending them to jail (factual)
  • The people of Lincoln should embrace this new bill to spread courts across the state (value)

Before Born in the USA, there was Nebraska, a harrowing album depicting struggles of the American people.

So I will focus on three main points from now on for my music reviews: theme, sound, and legacy.

Theme

Springsteen’s 1982 album proceeds the singer’s (arguably) most notable song “Born in the USA.” That being said, Nebraska captures more hardships and struggles of the average American than his most famous album. The first track, “Nebraska” is about the serial killer Charles Starkweather from Lincoln, Nebraska. Another song tells the tale of Joe Roberts and his troubled Vietnam war veteran brother Johnny. In “Highway Patrolman,” Springsteen channels the energy from “Born in the USA” and talks about the importance of taking care of family and dealing with a post-industrial American world. Each song is a different story, some sad, others uplifting, about the average American.

Nebraska is truly an aptly-named album for Springsteen’s collection of stories. Being near the direct heart of America, most of the stories told in the album can be seen all occurring in the Midwest in small town America.

My favorite track on the album is “My Father’s House” where a solemn Springsteen talks about revisiting memories in his past to right the wrongs. Springsteen’s father was abusive and an alcoholic. In this song, Springsteen refers back to the times he would drive past his father’s house coming home every night. In the song, he dreams of how he could change the past and become close with his father. In the end of the song, he visits his father’s house to find that he no longer lives there, unable to reconcile and repair his relationship with his father.

Sound

Nebraska is an entirely folk/country album. Harmonicas and guitars are the main instruments of the album. In many of the songs, drums aren’t needed and the guitar fills its place. The way Springsteen plays the guitar can change the mood entirely. From the melancholy “My Father’s House” and “Nebraska,” to the fast-paced “Atlantic City” and “Open All Night,” the musical variety is prevalent. The only two instruments—the guitar and harmonica—are utilized in such a variety that the album doesn’t drag listening to. Many albums the instruments can be compared to another track with little difference, but Springsteen’s simple use of different chords changes the variety and mood of each song in Nebraska.

Legacy

Nebraska has been heralded by many to be Springsteen’s most critically-underrated album. Many of the songs have been covered by several other famous country musicians. The most notable covers were done by country music legend Johnny Cash, covering “Highway Patrolman” and “Johnny 99.” Sean Penn, famous actor and director had been a longtime Springsteen fan. In 1991, the movie The Indian Runner was released. The film is directly inspired by “Highway Patrolman,” even taking the names of the characters and plot directly from the song.

While not the most-known Springsteen album, Nebraska has made a lasting landmark on culture and country music alike. Nebraska is easily one of my favorite albums ever, and a very well-deserved 10/10. I cannot recommend this album enough.

Where to find Nebraska:

On:
iTunes
Spotify
YouTube
A Map

“To the eight of you on the list at the top of this editorial: Is this why you ran for the school board — to allow others to neuter your opinions in the name of faux unity?”

-Mark Mahoney, Keeping the school board zipped up: OUR VIEW: Silencing of board members violates first amendment rights

Mahoney’s December 10, 2008 editorial covers the silence members of the school board are seemingly forced into. Within his editorial, he writes about the ridiculous situation regarding the silence of the school board. Since the board members use taxpayer money, shouldn’t they answer to the citizens? Mahoney believes so.

Within the first few paragraphs, Mahoney establishes the issue at hand while also conveying the oddity of the silence. For the first half of the editorial, it would seem that Mahoney is speaking directly to the reader. However, in the latter half of the writing, he makes a direct question to the members of the board who remain silent (shown above). He is unabashedly calling out those who are unwilling to speak about the school board. The article has then shifted from a mass-communication style to a direct, interpersonal interrogation.

Near the very end of the editorial, Mahoney makes a critical claim: there is nothing that prevents board members from discussing any matter they have ruled on or against. Public officials can comment on any form of negotiation during closed door sessions, according to Mahoney.

Members are also elected by the public, so they cannot be removed by fellow board members. These points all help Mahoney sell the fishy behavior displayed by the board members, hinting at possible 1st Amendment suppression by other members of the board.

“If you don’t exercise your rights yourselves, if you don’t show the government that you value those rights, eventually you will lose them.”

Mark Mahoney, Use your rights…or lose them: OUR VIEW: Getting information from your government is easy — and here’s how

Mahoney’s June 15, 2008 editorial is a combination of informative and persuasive. He claims that citizens need to seek out information on their own to show the government that they do care about government matters. Along with showing you care, it shows the government that the citizens have a need to know what is happening in their community. If the government knows this, they are, according to Mahoney, less likely to hold secretive meetings and abuse their own power.

Combining both persuasion and information, Mahoney instructs citizens/readers on how to request records from their government through a step-by-step process. By doing this, it is clear Mahoney wants to make sure that citizens keep their government in check by constantly keeping tabs on their records. While being a clear call to action, Mahoney raises fair points in his editorial.

If citizens do not care or do not show care about their government, it is very likely for said government to abuse their powers or leave the people out of it, Mahoney claims. Obviously secrets being held from the public is neither right nor wanted, so Mahoney presents a solution to prevent that from happening. Near the end of the editorial, Mahoney also claims he will personally help out any citizen in the process of obtaining or translating a record if they want.

Mahoney’s dedication to 1st Amendment protection is admirable as he writes informative, yet persuasive reports on how citizens can be weary of their rights and what they can do to protect them. Very passionate, Mahoney clearly writes for the benefit of the people, and he is rewarded because of it. Mahoney won 10 Pulitzer Prizes for his work in 2008.

Budgeting has always been a problem with Louisiana’s state government. Even now after my departure from the state it seems that the problem has not been solved. In this piece from The Daily Advertiser, there is an explicit emphasis put on the importance of early education and the lack of funding it has.

The main policy claim in the article is that Louisiana government needs to help make early education accessible and affordable. The article features several key points of factual information to back up the policy claim of the article as well. In the piece, the following data is shown to help emphasize the importance of the policy claim:

“Currently, 94 percent of 4-year-old children in need have access to quality early learning, yet fewer than 7 percent of in-need children birth to age 2 and fewer than 33 percent of in-need 3-year-old children do.”

– The Daily Advertiser

Louisiana has never been top of the charts for quality education. In fact, they are usually near the bottom of the list, ranking 48 out of 51 in education, and 50 of 51 in nearly every other statistic. Using this knowledge, the article claims the way to change these abysmal statistics would be to make early education easier to access and much cheaper than it already is. The article uses both personal experiences and logical appeals to fuel the claims made.

The article itself uses plenty of factual statistics to back up its claims and to help push the narrative that early education is essential to Louisianans. The report has several points about how Louisiana is actively losing money and misplacing the money spent on education (no surprise).

The ending of the article is more of a call to action for Louisianans to be prepared and educated on the matter so they too can fight for more affordable education for their children. With the amount of money spent on education already in the state, some serious work would have to be accomplished by the people to motivate lawmakers to do something. I would not doubt if the writer knew this, since the appeal is mainly towards the citizens and less towards the lawmakers.

Overall the article presents some solid claims and backs them up with valid and legitimate evidence that helps their narrative without focusing on anything outside of the main idea. I would argue that it was effective in its objective and did a very effective job accomplishing its goal of making the public aware of its concern.