Features – Page 9

6Dec

By Pima Post Editorial TeamNo Comments

Features

Spirituality could be a chemical within

By DANIEL VELASCO N,N-Dimethyltryptamine, or DMT, is a naturally occurring psychedelic that’s in plants, animals and quite possibly, our brains. This seemingly mystical and loud chemical has baffled and frustrated scientists for years sparking many theories as to why it exists. Some claim that it’s the chemical responsible for the dreams we experience at night, or it’s the light we see when dying, or the substance itself is our third eye. Mystical speculations aside, studies on DMT have been shown to offer more questions than answers. Psychological Medicine noted that in a study conducted on 122 recently admitted psychiatric patients and 20 normal subjects, DMT was detected in the urine of 47 percent of those diagnosed by their psychiatrists as schizophrenic. While DMT has been fo...

15Nov

By Pima Post Editorial TeamNo Comments

Features, Stomping Grounds

Anger Managed

BY PARKER BROCK Being a student is a lot; it’s the stress of having a job that determines your future without the incentive of a paycheck. With cramming for midterms, writing a 1000 paper every week on top of the already insurmountable mountain of homework, along with the social pressures that come along with being a student; it can be a lot. Some choose to internalize their stress, but it’s far from the healthiest way of dealing with it. Others choose to find forms of distraction such as movies, books or video games, but it still doesn't solve the problem. Located off Broadway Blvd and Campbell Rd it can be a little tricky to spot the building, aside from the moderately large sign indicating its presence. Upon entering the building you immediately notice almost every...

Will Marijuana be the future of Medicine?

15Nov

By Pima Post Editorial TeamNo Comments

Features

Will Marijuana be the future of Medicine?

By DANIEL VELASCO If you’ve been to any smoke shop, vitamin store or mall lately, chances are you’ve come across CBD oil. Often packaged in old-fashioned, red-tinted medicine bottles reminiscent of 19th Century medicine, CBD oil comes in many different brand names and with different claims. CBD, or “cannibidiol” oil, is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid. Cannabinoids are chemical compounds extracted from, found in, or made within marijuana. Recently, cannabinoids have received a lot of criticism due to the advent of K2 and Spice. However as new cannabinoids are being tested daily, these substances are not reflective of the potential surrounding these chemicals. In fact, cannabinoids have yielded plentiful pharmaceutical value. In a study conducted by The Hebrew University of Jerusa...

15Nov

By Pima Post Editorial TeamNo Comments

Features

Tips for homework success

By JOSEPH SIML Everyone dreads WRT 101 and 102, but what’s so difficult? It’s just a few papers and some research, right? We shouldn’t be afraid of a little work. For me, the hardest part of writing isn’t researching, learning MLA or even writing the paper. It’s staying focused. Distractions are everywhere. From our phones to our friends and even YouTube, finding ways to delay work and procrastinate have never been easier. The good news is that there are ways to overcome a procrastination addiction. Over the course of my writing classes, I found some techniques for staying focused. These techniques will help maximize your writing productivity, so you can get back to other exciting challenges ... like your chemistry homework. 1. Get out of your house. Home is one of the worst place...

1Nov

By Pima Post Editorial TeamNo Comments

Features

PATH Nurtures Agriculture Students

By DANIEL VELASCO Hidden behind a fenced wall decorated by cactus skeletons lies a secret garden home to Desert Vista Campus at Pima Community College. If you’ve ever bought produce from Desert Vista campus, chances are it was brought to you by Project PATH. “Project PATH (Plant, Assimilate, Till, Harvest) is intended to support students who are interested in various areas of agriculture-related fields, particularly those students interested in transferring to the University of Arizona College of Agriculture and Life Sciences,” said Kathleen Marks, a program manager who oversees the grant for Project PATH. “The program offers participants academic and career advising; trips to local and regional establishments and events; work experience in the Desert Vista farm garden, or gu...

1Nov

By Pima Post Editorial TeamNo Comments

Features

MDMA offers potential to help PTSD

By DANIEL VELASCO MDMA, Ecstasy or Molly is a synthetic stimulant that causes hallucinogenic effects. Initially synthesized by the chemist Anton Kollisch in 1912, MDMA has become a popular party drug among youth. MDMA affects three neurotransmitters within the brain: serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. Serotonin has an array of different effects such as sleep, pain and hunger. However, it’s most famous for its effect on mood. Someone with healthy levels of serotonin can experience a balanced mood with considerably less anxiety and depression. Dopamine helps regulate the brain’s emotional response. It also controls our brain’s relationship with rewards. When you accomplish something, the feeling you have afterward involves a boost of dopamine within your brain. Norepine...

1Nov

By Pima Post Editorial TeamNo Comments

Features

The Word

What’s the dumbest thing you have done? Dennis Lemmon Using the wifi 67 That would be something dangerous I tried to cliff dive like those acopoco divers into the ocean and I banged my head now I’m on the disability. Eron Scarbrough Chilling 18 I threw a rock and I thought it was going to go over the ledge and it did but I guess someone threw it back because it hit me in the head Hunter Bailey Psychology 21 When I was 13 i broke into a construction site a bunch of people showed up and brandished guns and chased us around this site Paloma McKenna Psychology 21 Not wear a belt I went to the movies and i needed to used the restroom and I jumped the guard rail and because my pants were loose and I wasn’t wearing a...

Testing, Testing 1 2 3. Is this thing on?

1Nov

By Pima Post Editorial TeamNo Comments

Features

Testing, Testing 1 2 3. Is this thing on?

By JOE GIDDENS Kim Stevens has been working for Pima Community College since 2000 in registration and admission seasonally. Later, she became full time in 2003, and has been at the West Campus Testing Center and Testing Center as a student service technician ever since. We sat down with Stevens for an interview about the West Campus. Q: About how many people use the testing center? A: “It varies … sometimes we have 100 or more. During the midterms and finals, we could have 300, 400.” Q: Are there any outside groups that have your proctor their tests? A: “We do have other community colleges and universities that do use our campus because there’s a lot of online courses nowadays.” Q: So, online courses for like the University of Arizona might have you proctor an exam? A: “Yeah,...

23Oct

By Pima Post Editorial TeamNo Comments

Features

Kratom vs. opiate addiction

By: DANIEL VELASCO Deep in the rainforests of Southeast Asia lies an infamous plant. With yellow flowers and evergreen leaves, kratom induces stimulant-like effects to its users, while causing opiate-like side effects to people who use it in high doses. Kratom is primarily put into capsules and made into extracts and pills, but dried kratom leaves can be brewed into a tea. Traditionally, kratom is chewed, or in some cases eaten in food. Its side effects are where this plant gets interesting. When kratom is ingested, the chemical compounds (Mitragynine and 7-a-hydroxymitragynine) affect the brain’s four opiate receptors. These brain receptors control an array of different behavioral aspects including pain, depression, anxiety and addiction. The most famous side effects are pleasur...

18Oct

By Pima Post Editorial TeamNo Comments

Stomping Grounds

Donuts fit for a king

On the outskirts of town, near Old Tucson, lies a cleverly hidden little donut shop. A donut you may say is fit for a king, Queen Donuts. It’s basically your local ma-and-pa-owned donut shop. There’re no bells and whistles, no crazy outside decoration to flag you down. Just a yellow sign with their name that sits atop the coffee shop. You walk inside the bell rings and notice it’s appearance is nothing special. The décor is plain, but that in itself gives it a homely feel. The walls are plain white, aside from a couple paintings of Angkor Wat, a John Deere clock and a wall by the register covered with plaques. On the counter lie some American flags and a Cambodian riel (money). Then you’re greeted by Queen Donuts owner Sal Oum, a quiet, humble man who the community adores. Oum is a Cambod...