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The Great Dictator: More Than Machinery, We Need Humanity - You Are Not Machines!
[DISCLAIMER] *The Great Dictator (1940) spoilers contained herein. Photo credit, property of United Artists, fair use When listening to an electronic dance music (EDM) DJ set by Alythia Kwan, I heard her spin the song “Sauce (Redspace Remix)” (2026) by Juan Vazquez, Maximo Gambini, and Martin Di Sciascio. It has an audio sample of The Great Dictator (1940), about which one source states: The Great Dictator is a 1940 American political satire black comedy film written, d

Deric Hollings
Apr 2711 min read


Sick of All, You Had Enough
[DISCLAIMER] When listening to an electronic dance music (EDM) DJ set by Celiá, I heard her spin the track “Before My Eyes” (2025) by Goom Gum and Dancing on Lego. In part, the lyrics state “sick of all, you had enough” and “pick up all you have in love.” When used flexibly, the phrases “sick of all” and “had enough” infer that an individual is tremendously frustrated, annoyed, disappointed, etc. with a situation. However, when used rigidly, the same inference applies tho

Deric Hollings
Apr 275 min read


Impulse
[DISCLAIMER] When listening to an electronic dance music (EDM) DJ set by Che Jose, I heard him spin his own track “Impulse” (2025) in collaboration with Andrewboy. I then thought of a psychoeducational lesson on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). For context, the American Psychological Association (APA) defines impulse as “a sudden and compelling urge to act, often resulting in action without deliberation,” also called impulsion, and “the expression of psychic ener

Deric Hollings
Apr 266 min read


Negative, but Healthy Anger and Aggression
[DISCLAIMER] In 2024, progressive house supergroup Swedish House Mafia released the song “Lioness” that featured Swedish indietronica duo Niki & the Dove. It’s a subjectively phenomenal track! For the sake of familiarity, the refrain states: You can’t keep me down, I am done, I am furious Fear the lioness, paint her face black and golden [x2] The term “furious” is defined as exhibiting or goaded by anger, indicative of or proceeding from anger. Herein, I’ll make a case

Deric Hollings
Apr 2617 min read


Gratitude: Awu Wemadoda
[DISCLAIMER] When eating breakfast after conducting physical training today, I listened to an electronic dance music (EDM) DJ set by Lexa Raballo during which she spun “Awu Wemadoda [(Extended Club Mix)]” (2023) by Spencer Brown, Wilt Claybourne, and Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Regarding the afro house track, one source claims that the South African lyrics translate to “men, please catch that dog, it bites.” As I have no way of verifying the translation, I’ll presume it’s ac

Deric Hollings
Apr 244 min read


It Better Take a Week
[DISCLAIMER] When providing psychoeducational lessons on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I teach people about the ABC model of self-disturbance (how people upset themselves through use of irrational beliefs). Now, I’ll address a finer point of this psychotherapeutic model of wellness. For context, REBT uses the ABC model to illustrate how when an undesirable Action occurs and you Believe an unhelpful narrative about the event, it’s your unfavorable assumption, n

Deric Hollings
Apr 227 min read


Inhibition: You've Got to Give It up Till You Can't Get Enough
[ DISCLAIMER ] When providing psychoeducational lessons on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I teach people about the ABC model of self-disturbance (how people upset themselves through use of irrational beliefs ). Now, I’ll address a finer point of this psychotherapeutic model of wellness . For context, REBT uses the ABC model to illustrate how when an undesirable A ction occurs and you B elieve an unhelpful narrative about the event, it’s your unfavorable a

Deric Hollings
Apr 219 min read


You Give Me Such a Vibe: It Feels So Good
[ DISCLAIMER ] Imagine that I told you about an electronic dance music (EDM) track to which I often danced when in South America, as I said “it was such a vibe … it felt so good,” do you think you could identify the error in that expression? If not, you aren’t alone. Many people wouldn’t be able to! As such, I invite you to consider a psychoeducational lesson on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) so that you may separate yourself from a crowd of ignorance (lacki

Deric Hollings
Apr 2110 min read


If You Might Be Everything I Need in My Life
[ DISCLAIMER ] When providing psychoeducational lessons on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I teach people about the ABC model of self-disturbance (how people upset themselves through use of irrational beliefs ). Now, I’ll address a finer point of this psychotherapeutic model of wellness . For context, REBT uses the ABC model to illustrate how when an undesirable A ction occurs and you B elieve an unhelpful narrative about the event, it’s your unfavorable a

Deric Hollings
Apr 199 min read


Place to Hide
[ DISCLAIMER ] I thought of a psychoeducational lesson on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) when listening to an electronic dance music (EDM) DJ set by the talented Roksana . As an aside, it would’ve been nice to have been able to dance to a Roksana set during my raving days. She goes hard! In any event, during the DJ set in focus, Roksana played the song “ Place to Hide ” by Mark Dekoda and Droplex . In repetition, the lyrics state: Tell me what you want f

Deric Hollings
Apr 147 min read


Intolerance: There's No Way That I Can Take This
[ DISCLAIMER ] I listened to a recent electronic dance music (EDM) DJ set by Aneya Rose during which she spun the track “ Right Now ” (2022) by James Hurr . In part, the lyrics state, “Tell me, baby, ‘cause I want to break it down. There’s no way that I can take this no more.” With a double negative , the singer uses an unaccommodating belief that indicates intolerance—the quality or state of being intolerant—unable or unwilling to endure. Now, I’ll provide a psychoed

Deric Hollings
Apr 148 min read


PLUR: Addressing Sexual Assault and Rape
[ DISCLAIMER ] Employing the psychotherapeutic technique known as professional use of self , I recently spoke with client X about my past attendance at electronic dance music (EDM) concerts , music festivals , and raves . This individual, significantly younger than I, also attends similar events. Perhaps it’s comprehensible for a current younger raver to dismiss the lived experience of an older person who used to rave in the ‘90s and ‘00s as being passé or even unbeliev

Deric Hollings
Apr 1313 min read


The Future's Not What It Used to Be
[ DISCLAIMER ] When listening to an electronic dance music (EDM) DJ set by Allia Sounds and Dimitri Aless , I heard the duo open with the song “ The Future ” (2025) by Ankhoï and Luch . In repetitious order, the lyrics states: We hold hands, as if nothing has changed I go forward, you come back to me We don’t have long to rearrange The future’s not what it used to be While viewing these lyrics through the proverbial lens of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT),

Deric Hollings
Apr 135 min read


You're Not a Real DJ
[ DISCLAIMER ] Photo credit , fair use When listening to and watching an electronic dance music (EDM) DJ set by DjMixfe , I observed her using what appears to be a Pioneer DJ DJM-700 DJ Mixer, another piece of sampling equipment which is unfamiliar to me, a plug-in host port, and a laptop. Yet, I saw no DJ decks. Immediately, I was reminded of a phrase I heard throughout my relatively short-lived time as a hobbyist DJ. For context, a “DJ” is a disc jockey. Regarding this

Deric Hollings
Apr 1014 min read


You'll Always Be the Place I Belong, but I'm Letting Go
[ DISCLAIMER ] When listening to an electronic dance music (EDM) DJ set by Xenia Torino (UA) , I heard her spin the track “ After Love ” by Anyma , from his album Genesys II (2024), featuring vocals by Delilah Montagu . The second verse states: Where does the feeling go when it’s gone? Will it reappear? When it finds its storm ? You’ll always be the place I belong, But I’m letting go . I’m not that strong. When contemplating these lyrics, I can relate from both a per

Deric Hollings
Apr 87 min read


Coming on Strong: You Can Get It Wrong
[ DISCLAIMER ] When providing psychoeducational lessons on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I teach people about the ABC model of self-disturbance (how people upset themselves through use of irrational beliefs ). Now, I’ll address a finer point of this psychotherapeutic model of wellness . For context, REBT uses the ABC model to illustrate how when an undesirable A ction occurs and you B elieve an unhelpful narrative about the event, it’s your unfavorable a

Deric Hollings
Apr 68 min read


9 PM (Till I Come): Accepting What Once Was
[ DISCLAIMER ] When listening to an electronic dance music (EDM) DJ set by Mila Rubio , I heard her spin the track “ 9 PM (Till I Come) ” by trance music German DJ and producer ATB from his debut studio album Movin’ Melodies (1999). That track brought back a lot of pleasant memories! Hearing one of the EDM tracks I spun when DJing in the ‘90s and ‘00s, I thought of a relatively brief psychoeducational lesson on Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT). Now, I invi

Deric Hollings
Apr 56 min read


FUBAR vs. a Pragmatic, Instead of the Moralistic, Approach to Wealth
[ DISCLAIMER ] When assigned to the Marine Security Guard (MSG) detachment in Lima, Peru (2000-2001), I attended a United States (U.S.) Marine Corps Birthday ball without a date. A fellow MSG, who often expressed disdain for me, took as a date someone to whom I’ll refer as “Chaparrita.” Regarding how I met her, I stated in Non-Monogamous Desires that “there was the matter of another Marine’s date in Lima, Peru who liked me more than him, and who became my rave partner wh

Deric Hollings
Apr 412 min read


Gotta Figure This Shit Out
[ DISCLAIMER ] When providing psychoeducational lessons on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I teach people about the ABC model of self-disturbance (how people upset themselves through use of irrational beliefs ). Now, I’ll address a finer point of this psychotherapeutic model of wellness . For context, REBT uses the ABC model to illustrate how when an undesirable A ction occurs and you B elieve an unhelpful narrative about the event, it’s your unfavorable a

Deric Hollings
Apr 17 min read


Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice: I Guess We Had a Good Run
[ DISCLAIMER ] * Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice (2026) spoilers contained herein. Photo credit , property of 20th Century Studios, Hulu, and Disney+, fair use I often share my opinions on movies, expressing psychoeducational lessons on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) about how I tolerate and accept outcomes of frustration, annoyance, and disappointment which stem from my beliefs. For clarity, one REBT source states (page 71): REBT conceptualizes [ distress ]

Deric Hollings
Mar 319 min read
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