[ DISCLAIMER ] Photo credit (edited), fair use   In childhood, I enjoyed playing UNO  (a shedding-type card game derived from the crazy eights family of card games). Notably, there was a “reverse” card that, in effect when played from the hand, switched the order of play directions (i.e., clockwise to counterclockwise, or vice versa).   As well, in effect as the first discard, the dealer played first while play then proceeded counterclockwise. Later in life, the UNO reverse

[ 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

[ DISCLAIMER ]   * Zootopia 2  spoilers contained herein. Photo credit , property of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, fair use   As I enjoyed the animated buddy cop comedy film Zootopia  (2016) when it was first released, I recently watched Zootopia 2  (2025). Unlike the 2016 movie that I watched without much critical thought , I paid closer attention to one scene in particular regarding the 2025 film.   To provide a relatively brief synopsis, consider that animal detecti

[ 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

[ DISCLAIMER ]   As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy  (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy , this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding a book entitled The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living  by Ryan Holiday  and Stephen Hanselman .   The authors quote ancient Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius  who stated, “What is your vocation? To be a good person” (page 171). Regarding this perspective, I stated in

[ DISCLAIMER ]   Years ago, when employed in the field of nuclear security, I often participated in firearms training with a buddy who was my coworker. Having gone through the same Security Police Officer training class, we enjoyed plinking (recreational shooting of improvised metal targets).   While we also engaged paper targets, metal silhouettes provided instant audible feedback. That was our “why” for using metal targets which sometimes resulted in injury when bullet frag

[ 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

[ DISCLAIMER ]   Earlier, when listening to the album Bandana  (2019), the second collaborative studio album by lyricist Freddie Gibbs  and record producer Madlib , I thought of a psychoeducational lesson on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy  (REBT) as I heard the track “ Fake Names ”.   Before I go any further, it’s worth an honorable mention regarding Madlib about how he switched up the beat midway through the track. The producer sampled The Sylvers ’ song “ Cry of a Dream

[ DISCLAIMER ] Photo credit , fair use   When living in San Diego, California, I met person X whose dad purchased a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro for his son. Apparently, person X’s dad enjoyed muscle cars in his younger years and wanted a father-son project to work on during person X’s high school years.   Person X was an adult when we met, so I saw the completed project. It was a blue Camaro with bold white racing stripes. Although the artificial intelligence image above doesn’t qu

[ DISCLAIMER ]   The most advanced firearms training I’ve ever had occurred when I was subcontracted to the Department of Energy while working in the field of nuclear security. Regrettably, photos of that training environment weren’t allowed. Thus, I have no evidence to offer in the form of a photo.   Similarly, the second best firearms training I received was when I was under contract with the Department of Defense while affiliated with the Department of State in the field o

[ DISCLAIMER ]   The above picture represents one of my many life transitions (a significant change or shift in one’s life stage, role, or circumstances, requiring adaptation to new routines, relationships, and a different sense of self). It was taken after returning from military service in South America.   Several years before the photo was captured, I stood at the proverbial precipice of high school graduation and early adulthood. Not long before then, I was faced with a c

[ DISCLAIMER ]   Throughout my life, I’ve frequented Palo Duro Canyon (PDC) which is a canyon system of the Caprock Escarpment located in the Texas Panhandle near the cities of Amarillo and Canyon, and is the second largest canyon system in the United States. According to one source :   The canyon was formed by the Prairie Dog Town Fork Red River, which initially winds along the level surface of the Llano Estacado of West Texas, then suddenly and dramatically runs off the Cap

[ 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

[ DISCLAIMER ]   Throughout my life, my behavior has shifted back and forth regarding the hair above my neckline (i.e., on my face and head). This issue represents a changing opinion  (a view, judgment , or appraisal formed in the mind about a particular matter), about which I stated in Nightshift :   When I was young, my thick and naturally curly hair grew relatively quickly. Because hairstyling was considered an unaffordable luxury, my mom favored inexpensive buzz cuts (a

[ 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

[ 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

[ DISCLAIMER ]   I served in the United States (U.S.) Marine Corps from 1996 to 2007, with my primary billet as military police  (MP). During that time, men and women were held to different standards of physical fitness. Regarding this matter, one source claims:   While they are gaining seniority in the US military, women continue to face discrimination. As women were forging paths into the military, men sought ways to differentiate themselves and maintain their dominance in

[ DISCLAIMER ]   REBT   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 unfavo