Lemont High School 800 Porter Street Lemont, IL 60439 Tom Tom August 25, 2010 Issue 1 New at LHS: Forensic Science by Dylan Blaha News Editor Starting this fall semester, and ballistics labs.” He also stated that LHS students now have the anthropology labs, using bugs and opportunity to explore a new different types of invertebrates, will be The Tom Tom field of study: forensic science. performed. welcomes let- According to the LHS website, Case studies “This lab-based course allows ters to the editor students to explore a growing In addition to lab work, at least one field in the scientific community, case study will accompany each unit and encourages and incorporates techniques and covered in class, including Carlo Ferrier, concepts learned in Biology, Kirk Bloodsworth and The Atlanta Child submission of Physics and Chemistry.” Murders. Because of the diverse concepts, poems, essays, “I believe [forensic science] should the school requires all forensic be a fairly interesting class,” said senior articles and science students to complete Matt Lithgow. “It seems different Biology, Physics and Chemistry from the normal science classes you images. Sub- prior to signing up for the class. take here. Learning about things like LHS? No . . . CSI bloodspatter and gunshot residue seems missions may pretty cool.” During the semester-long be edited for class, science teacher Chris The future Hardy will teach pupils problem length, style In the future, Hardy has no hopes of solving skills and expose them making Forensic Science a year-long to simulated crime scenes and and content. class. “There were 240 students that factual case studies. Some topics signed up for forensics this year, and I covered include ballistics, DNA think a semester-long class gives more In this issue . . . fingerprinting, blood spatter, kids the opportunity to take it.” evidence collection and analysis, Sparknotes, Miley, anthropology and glass evidence. “I think student feedback this year Warped and Bears! will help make the class better for the “I think all the labs will be future,” said Hardy. interesting,” said Hardy. “But, I think kids will enjoy the The Lemont High School Tom Tom does not descriminate bloodspatter, fingerprinting on the basis of race, religion, gender or orientation. Editorials, p. 2 To Sparknote or not to Sparknote? Your favorite homework shortcuts might not be as useful in the longrun by Kelly Lyons Sparknotes.com are here to enlighten But in the long run, is just breez- Editorials writer lazy readers about exactly what they’re ing by tests and homework really missing. Although some people actually worth it? The Iliad, Ishmael, Pride and use these reference sites as a learning Declining test scores - connec- Prejudice: all titles many LHS aide, that isn’t always the case. tion to study aids/weighted students dread every summer. The websites are commonly abused, grades? Trust me; I was one of those now more than ever. Students have students. And when kids are too grown accustomed to having technology According to chicagobreaking- busy spending their summers such as this, systems like weighted grad- news.com, Illinois students who relaxing, working or maybe just ing and downright copying to keep their took the ACT in 2010 brought sleeping, there never seems to be grades up. down the state’s ACT aver- enough time in those short three age from past years’ increasing months to actually finish any Lazy! numbers. Even though refer- school work. ence websites are meant to be It seems as if these days there is used alongside actual work from But luckily (or not so luckily) always a way around actually doing students, they aren’t always used for these students, websites like real work in class. With so many short- for the right reasons. This could cuts out there, students can much more be just one factor one decreasing willingly slack off without dramatically test scores. falling behind in school. And getting by without putting in as much effort is Weighted grading scales obviously appealing to teenagers who could be another cause to this would rather be doing almost anything widespread laziness as well. than studying and doing homework. Let’s face it: kids in honors or AP classes can procrastinate just Unfortunately, this laziness will never as much as kids in academic be an effective substitute for actual level courses. If an honors stu- learning. As a busy high school student dent drops an entire letter grade myself, I understand how daunting some in a weighted class, he or she has assignments can be, especially when the mindset that he or she will there are clubs, friends, jobs and hun- still receive a decent grade in the dreds of other things to worry about. long run because of grade infla- Say you have a really long practice tion. or you work late one night. Typing in In no way do I think weighted ‘sparknotes.com’ and skimming a few grades are a bad thing, but chapter summaries seems a whole more appealing than reading the rest of book. Please see “Sparknotes,: p. 3 Editorials, p. 3 Sparknotes, cont. from p. 2 they certainly can contribute to this as a wake-up call. Will sparknotes. It may be just the beginning of school-related laziness. com alone get you through a master’s the school year, but you’ve got thesis one day? And will you be able to a whole future ahead of you that Senior Abbie Korte agrees that count on weighted grades beyond high can be made or broken by slack- students “most definitely have school? ing off today. too much of a cushion [to fall back on]” in terms of crutches such as weighted grading and student-help websites. However, she also believes that if that cushion were taken away, many students would dramatically suf- fer.

Less time studying

However, there are some non- school related factors to all of this laziness and procrastination. According to observant.com, “students spend less time study- ing. The decline started at least 20 years ago,” and continues to drop.

Students are studying and doing homework an average of less than five hours a week, while students in the 90’s would spend upwards of 20 hours a week doing schoolwork. Maybe that sounds crazy, but then again teenagers didn’t always have Facebook and Twitter to waste all of their time.

Time to wake up!

As a whole, high school stu- dents seem to have gotten a lot lazier in past years. This is any- thing but a good thing consider- ing the fact that college is right around the corner. Just think of Images, unless noted otherwise, courtesy of Google Features, p. 4 The Last…Miley Cyrus Movie I’ll Ever Watch by Andrea Earnest Features writer If you’ve turned on a TV in thought, “Why not?” the last few months, you’ve probably seen a preview for The I actually had a little Last Song. Based on the novel by hope for Miley Cyrus’ Nicholas Sparks, it’s what you performance since I had would expect of a chick flick. heard some positive Seventeen-year old Veronica reviews. However, I (Ronnie) Miller, played by was sorely disappointed. Miley Cyrus, is forced to spend Her acting was awful, the summer with her estranged the dialogue was father in a small Southern town. choppy and I felt like I Liam Hemsworth plays Will was watching a really Blakely in the other lead role. bad Hannah Montana episode. Do I even need to tell you what happens next? Girl meets boy; Moments that girl plays hard to get; boy won’t were supposed to be go away and then girl and boy funny were awkward, fall in love. However, I’ve read dramatic scenes made a couple of Sparks novels, and you want to laugh, and I’ve liked them. So on Saturday the “falling-in-love” morning, I turned on the TV, and montage was just plain cheesy. It included shots of them frolicking on the beach and shamelessly manipulative as any writing sentiments of love on Ronnie’s Nicholas Sparks production, The Converse shoes. That was the point of Last Song is done no favors by the movie where I logged on Facebook its miscast and overmatched star, and checked my notifications. Miley Cyrus.” The only redeeming qualities of Sophomore Rachel Kasperski the movie were Greg Kinnear, who agrees saying, “It was really plays Steve Miller, and scenes where predictable. I didn’t like Miley Liam Hemsworth took his shirt off. Cyrus, she’s definitely not a Kinnear actually pulled off a decent good actress.” performance, despite most of the cast dragging him down. So for any of you might have high hopes for this movie; The movie received a 19% on the you’ve been officially warned. Tomatometer at rottentomatoes.com. The consensus of reviewers is, “As Features, p. 5Warped Warped Tour 2010, The Perfect End To Your Summer by Annie Fox Guest Features writer It was 1994 when the idea was born. went something like this. “Let’s Punk was a young twenty-something get a bunch of really awesome I walked over to the Altec delinquent, climbing to fame as a musicians and some hard stage to check out Emmure, ya new generation turned away from the core guys together and drive know, to get my hard core fix mainstream, running full speed into the around the country all summer. for the day. The guitars and the arms of an angry subculture. Kids were Showering? Unnecessary. growling stopped, the crowd blasting The Casualties and Anti-Flag, Money? We’ll figure that out cheered and Emmure front Gwen Stefani was earning respect from later.” man Frankie Palmeri opened the boys. This angry generation skated Summer of ‘94 rolled around his mouth. Red in the face, he their problems away, punching their and Kevin Lyman took the screamed to the crowd “Make pillows at night, with Bad Religion show on the road with only 16 some noise if you’re sick of all blaring from the stereo. bands, (CIV, Deftones, Face to the [expletive] bands you’re Face, Fluff, L7, No Doubt, No hearing.” I growled back, Kevin Lyman was just a guy. Then Use for a Name, Orange 9mm, mocking his bad attitude. Kevin Lyman came up with the idea to start Warped Tour. I wasn’t there, Quicksand, Seaweed, Sick of What’s this all about anyway? heck, I was just a baby, but I imagine it it All, Sublime, Supernova,

Please see “Warped, p. 6 Features, p. 6Warped Warped, cont. from p. 5

Swinging Utters, Tilt, Wilzo) This is now The younger Warped Tour a sponsor and some adrenaline goers headed elsewhere to see junkies. Warped Tour 2010 came to Chicago the new faces of the music or Tinley Park rather, July 31. People business, Mayday Parade Lyman started this tour from all over the state and even the serenaded the crowd with to bring the things he loved region headed to the First Midwest Bank familiar melodies off their together, good music and Amphitheater. Traffic was horrible, first two albums. Kelsey and extreme sports. People like him the parking lot was flooded and the the Chaos, Hey Monday, and all over the country supported sky looked a bit threatening, but the Versa Emerge all rocked with his idea. It was about the music. enthusiasm over flowed every car stuck female vocalists. When the Summer after summer Warped in traffic on I-80. The gates opened at sun went down it was time for Tour’s numbers grew; more fans, eleven and the crowds scattered, cars two pop stars that dominate more bands, more stops, higher continued to pour into the parking lot for the pop music scene right ticket sales. Day after day bands the next few hours. The music started now The Rocket Summer would drive, unload the van quickly after the doors opened. and NeverShoutNever had or tour bus, set up their merch Fans of all genres walked through teenyboppers screaming for booths and find out the line the young heartthrobs. up and designated stage. Fans rows of merch booths, past music flocked to the wall to see when coming from any of the seven stages, The show featured several and where their favorites were ranging from pop, to death metal, to local boys, making the music playing. math core, to grind core, to acousi-pop, scene proud. The Frantic old school ska and classic punk. played for an audience of As the tour grew and more There were new faces to the tour, familiar faces and Mojoe’s bands were added to the mix, natives Breathe Electric more genres were represented some seemed out of place, but the crowd didn’t mind. Mike Posner got the crowd played some promising new and the bands playing catered songs for longtime fans and to a larger audience. This was moving with his hit single “Cooler than Me.” brand new fans. They closed cause for some criticism, like with a few oldies, leaving the most changes seem to be. Many Although things have changed around crowd with a warm sense of original Warped Tour fans saw Warped Tour, some things were the nostalgia. the expansion as selling out, in same. Reel Big Fish kept alive the exchange for seemingly “bad” ska feel from 1994. Pennywise, who Hard core thrived as well bands, Warped Tour and their played Warped Tour ‘95, kept the punk this year, White Chapel, sponsors could make an extra feel alive with songs expressing age Suicide Silence, Alesana and buck. old anger, a hatred for society and big Emmure fans opened up circle businesses thriving from greed. They pit after circle pit. I Wrestled a The truth of that statement Bear Once screamer/vocalist, is questionable. Sure, it’s an told the crowd punk rock was a family, which it is, has been and always will be. Krysta Cameron, called for a opinion but Kevin Lyman made “wall of death” and I watched a statement that sums up his Vocalist Jim Lindberg asked the crowd “Who here is a true punk rocker?” and as fans walked away, with reasoning, “Punk is the root split lips and black eyes, of this. Everything else is an the crowd went wild. Alkaline Trio carried on the present day punk with sweaty and disheveled, but offshoot. Some of it sticks and smiling. some of it doesn’t. The best an incredible set to their dedicated, bands rise to the top.” somewhat cult like, fans. Please see Warped, p. 7 Features/Sports, p. 7Warped Tour 2010, The Perfect Ending To Your Summer Warped, cont. from p. 6 This is what it’s all about As I walked through the parking lot to my car I smiled thinking about what Frankie Palmeri had said hours earlier. I, along with thousands of other people, had seen some really awesome bands over a period of nine hours. I was sweaty and sore from battling crowds and conquering the heat. I was hungry and tired, my shoes were ruined, my money spent. But I was smiling. Where else in the world will you ever find such a diverse mix of people? Where else will you ever see your favorite band enjoying their favorite bands’ set? Its one day a year. Its one day a year that it doesn’t matter who you are. NFL Season It isn’t about if you belong Begins there, or what genre you follow. by Jamie Wiatr It’s about bringing music lovers Sports writer together with beloved bands. It’s The Chicago Bears have certainly had a consistently putting pressure about pushing through a crowd rough start, losing the first two games in on Raiders quarterback Jason of sweaty people to get a good their pre-season. However, there may be a Campbell. According to suntimes. spot. It’s about belting out every glimpse of hope in their future, thanks to com, Bears Coach Lovie Smith lyric with everything you’ve got. key players such as Matt Forte and Julius was hopeful after two turnovers in It’s about hearing and seeing Peppers. the Bears’ favor. the bands you love live before The Bears have certainly had difficulties “Two screen passes really put us your eyes. Its about the way you with their offensive line, but during the on our heels. I feel we settled in feel when the familiar melody Oakland Raiders game on Saturday, Matt after that, and the turnovers kept surrounds you like a warm hug. Forte broke the barriers and made an 89- us in it,” Smith said. It’s about the songs that got you yard touchdown run in the end of the first It still wasn’t enough to pull off through a hard time. It’s feeling quarter. Things seemed to be looking up a win. While some seem to give like you are a part of something for the Bears, but that would be the first up on the Bears, there are some bigger. and last of ray of hope for the game. that still believe. Senior Austin Chicago suffered a 32-17 loss, but Morlock said, “The Bears may be When it’s all over and done for Bears rookie Julius Peppers the rest off to a bad start, but I think they with, the bands pack up and of the season offers an opportunity to can still work some magic and move on to the next state, and accomplish great things. He made his have a great season.” it’s all pretty bittersweet. presence known against the Raiders,