The use of e-cigarettes among vaping youngsters at school has caused quite a stir this year.
Back in the day, students would be smoking behind the sheds. Now, so to speak, they're vaping behind the sheds.
They seem to think vaping is safer than smoking, without knowing the health risks.
Hunter School of the Performing Arts year 9 drama student Olivia Virtue has smoked out a few home truths about vaping. Good on her.
The school is known for producing talented actors, dancers and musicians, but it seems this talent isn't limited to the arts.
Olivia topped the state in the Mathematical Association of NSW "Investigating with Mathematics" competition.
Olivia, who is part of a mathematics elective class that focuses on creativity and problem-solving strategies, conducted research into vaping among teens.
Her project, titled "How Much Do Students Really Know about Vaping", anonymously surveyed Year 9 students. The study examined their vaping habits and what they know about the health impacts, addiction and chemicals in vaping products.
She found that those who vaped daily knew less about these factors, than those who vaped less regularly or never.
This result surprised her, as she expected those with the most regular habit would have the most knowledge about the product.
Her teacher and mentor in this project, Dr Ian Dunlop, said the competition was one of many STEM [science, technology, engineering and mathematics] opportunities offered to students at the Hunter School of the Performing Arts.
These activities promote critical and analytical thinking.
We're told that the skills the students learn in the performing arts often translate strongly into other areas. This can mean they have a knack for "creative and innovative solutions" to STEM problems.
Love Meat Tender
Port Stephens butcher Steve Barnett wonders how Elvis Presley would have handled lockdown.
Perhaps Elvis would have kept himself busy eating peanut butter, banana and bacon deep-fried sandwiches. Luckily for us, Steve has knocked out a few lyrics to suit this meaty topic.
Always on my mind, perhaps a little less conversation, a little more bacon rashers. I'm gonna rock around the wok tonight. Love meat tender love meat stew. You ain't nothing but a hot dog, keep me cravin' all the time.
I'm so hungry tonight, could you give me a bite, I'm sorry I need your sweet tart. It's one for the money, two for the dough, let's call the pizza man, go cat go. Viva los nachos, viva los nachos. A hunk of burnin' rump. I'm caught in a trap, I'm getting too fat because I'm in lockdown baby. We can't go on forever with lockdown lives and we can't live our dreams in locked down lives. Thank you, thank you very much.
No Steve, thank you.
