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What Dies, Kids? Everything, and That’s No Hokum.
[DISCLAIMER] *Hokum (2026) spoilers contained herein. Photo credit, property of Image Nation Abu Dhabi, Neon, et al., fair use I recently watched the supernatural horror film Hokum (2026). Succinctly summarizing the plot, one source states, “A horror writer visits an Irish inn to scatter his parents’ ashes, unaware the property is said to be haunted by a witch.” Before I continue any further, I’ll note that this was my first time seeing Irish actor Florence Ordesh in a
Deric Hollings
10 hours ago19 min read
What Song You Gonna Play When the Hearses Bump?
[DISCLAIMER] On the 2014 album The Tortoise and the Crow, by talented hip hop producers and lyricists The Grouch and Eligh, is the melodic track “So Complicated”. Noteworthy, I stated in a blogpost entitled Complex Systems vs. Complicated Systems: The term “complex” relates to a group of obviously related units of which the degree and nature of the relationship is imperfectly known. As an example, my cellphone is a complex system of components. Also, the American Psycholo
Deric Hollings
3 days ago7 min read
I Don't Care: Ambivalence vs. Apathy
[DISCLAIMER] Realizing that the Electronic Daisy Carnival (EDC) recently took place in its home of Las Vegas, Nevada, I took to YouTube so that I could watch and listen to DJ sets from the largest electronic dance music (EDM) festival in North America, as I saw one of my favorite modern DJs perform. During his DJ set, French EDM producer and DJ going by the name of I Hate Models spun the track “4 by 4 Beats (I Don’t Care)” by Belgian EDM producer and DJ going by the name
Deric Hollings
4 days ago17 min read
Let Freedom Ring, and Then Go Rest High on That Mountain
[DISCLAIMER] While serving in the United States (U.S.) Marine Corps, one of my military police (MP) buddies who knew I mainly listened to hip hop music discovered that I also enjoyed country music. Apparently, he shared appreciation for both musical genres, as well. Additionally, my MP friend was surprised to learn that although I was baptized into the Churches of Christ faith during my freshman year of high school, I also hung out with gang members after a family with wh
Deric Hollings
May 3115 min read
It Is What It Is
[DISCLAIMER] “Son,” my dad told me when I was a child, “I don’t know why I brought children into this world when it’s so wicked [morally very bad; evil],” per 1 John 5:19. He went on to explain that anyone with knowledge of the Bible would do well to reconsider the desire to have kids. This was a revelation to me, as my dad had four children! Furthermore, his admission was contrary to what my late stepmom told me when saying it was an “abomination” not to abide by the bib
Deric Hollings
May 299 min read
Step to My Girl: But Ask Yourself, Homeboy, Why Is That?
[DISCLAIMER] I’m a fan of Oakland, California-based underground hip hop collective Hieroglyphics, also known as the Hieroglyphics Crew and Hiero, consisting of lyricists Del the Funky Homosapien, Casual, Pep Love, and all four members of the group Souls of Mischief (lyricists Phesto, A-Plus, Opio, and Tajai), as well as DJ Touré and producer/manager Domino. In 2001, Hiero released the album Hiero Oldies Vol 1 that contained the 1990 track “Step to My Girl” by Souls of Mis
Deric Hollings
May 2812 min read
Back in the Day
[DISCLAIMER] I was born and, with exception of about two years, raised in Amarillo, Texas—colloquially known as Bomb City. From my sophomore to senior years of high school, I attended Amarillo High School (AHS)—home of the Sandies (mascot name, short for the “Golden Sandstorm”). During my junior year, when he was only 18-years-old, rapper Ahmad released his album Ahmad (1994) which contained the track “Back in the Day”, featuring a sample of the Teddy Pendergrass song “Lo
Deric Hollings
May 276 min read
Idealistic Versus Realistic: Welcome Home
[DISCLAIMER] In Existentialism: Meaning Versus Meaninglessness, I discussed a fellow military police (MP) patrolman from the United States Marine Corps, when assigned to Camp Kinser (1997-1999), to whom I referred as “Jugador.” He and I were fairly close when stationed in Okinawa, Japan. Jugador and I wound up again being stationed together when I was assigned to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar (2001-2003). Unfortunately, he and I lost touch around the time when I experi
Deric Hollings
May 266 min read
Take Me Back
[DISCLAIMER] On the intro of “Take Me Back”, from the album Tha Truth, Pt. 3 (2017), Houston, Texas rapper Trae tha Truth states, “Say, you remember that shit? Talmbout them days, nigga. We pull up, nigga. Sta-Flo, starched down!” If you’re unfamiliar with Texas hip hop, then you may be lost. The phrase “talmbout” is a conjunction of the words “talking” and “about.” Also, Sta-Flo is a potent liquid starch which people from the South use when pressing (i.e., ironing) creas
Deric Hollings
May 256 min read
The Thrill of Victory and the Agony of Defeat: Veneration of the Dead
[DISCLAIMER] I’m a fan of Wu-Tang Clan, a hip hop collective consisting of lyricist RZA, lyricist GZA, lyricist Method Man, lyricist Raekwon, lyricist Ghostface Killah, lyricist Inspectah Deck, rapper U-God, rapper Masta Killa, and, until his death in 2004, rapper Ol’ Dirty Bastard. Therefore, when enlisted in the United States (U.S.) Marine Corps, serving in Okinawa, Japan (1997-1999), I purchased the group’s second studio album Wu-Tang Forever (1997). It contained the t
Deric Hollings
May 259 min read
Empowerment vs. Disempowerment: Just Doing It for the Love of the Game
[DISCLAIMER] When assigned to the Marine Security Guard (MSG) detachment (det) in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil (1999-2000), my Brasilian Portuguese tutor gave me advice which she’d plausibly have given to those about whom she cared. “Xuxu,” she said, “Stay away from piranhas!” For context, “xuxu” (pronounced “shoo-shoo”) is a Brasilian Portuguese slang term that, in my case, was used endearingly to mean “cutie.” As for “piranhas,” the tutor wasn’t referencing fish. Rather, it’s
Deric Hollings
May 2311 min read
Objective Reasoning: Truth About the Reality of Suicide
[DISCLAIMER] Personal Ownership I recently listened to an episode of Joe Rogan’s podcast in which he discussed Theo Von’s purported issues with mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “mental health”), as I thought of a psychoeducational lesson on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). Before elaborating, it’s worth noting that when practicing REBT I use personal responsibility and accountability (collectively “ownership”). For better understanding, re
Deric Hollings
May 2122 min read
Existentialism: Meaning Versus Meaninglessness
[DISCLAIMER] When serving as military police (MP) while in the United States Marine Corps, assigned to Camp Kinser (1997-1999), I befriended a fellow Texan to whom I’ll refer as “Jugador.” He and I were fairly close when stationed in Okinawa, Japan. However, so went the familiar phrase when I served in the military, Jugador was an “out of sight, out of mind” type of friend. This expression is used to mean that a person stops thinking about something or someone if he or sh
Deric Hollings
May 1916 min read
Displeasing: Choose How You Will Suffer
[DISCLAIMER] The American Psychological Association defines the term suffering as “the experience of pain or acute distress, either physical or psychological, in response to a physical trauma or a significant event, particularly one that is threatening or involves loss (e.g., the death of a loved one).” When providing psychoeducational lessons on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I differentiate between physical and psychological trauma, as well as separating disp
Deric Hollings
May 1811 min read
When Things Are Screwed Up, Change What You Can, and Accept Everything Else
[DISCLAIMER] In common parlance, suggesting that something is “screwed up” means that someone or something is acting or functioning in an erratic, confused, or otherwise undesirable way. A grittier version of this phrase is to say that something is “fucked up,” also “messed up.” In hip hop, the expression “screwed up” may also reflect music of the late and legendary Houston, Texas pioneer DJ Screw, who’s best known as the creator of the chopped and screwed DJ technique. I
Deric Hollings
May 176 min read
I'm Finding It Hard to Believe We're in Heaven or Hell: Agnostic
[DISCLAIMER] In 2002, I was romantically involved with a woman who shared my appreciation for electronic dance music (EDM). During that year, Louie DeVito released his album Dance Factory which contained the DJ Sammy track “Heaven”, featuring Yanou and the vocals of Do. From his album Heaven (2002), DJ Sammy’s song “Heaven” served as a cover to Bryan Adams’ song “Heaven” from the romantic drama film A Night in Heaven (1983), later released on Adams’ album Reckless (1984).
Deric Hollings
May 168 min read
Another Night, Another Dream, but Always You
[DISCLAIMER] Regarding professional care for mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “mental health”), there are many psychotherapeutic modalities available. My preferred model is Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) which aims to help people get better, not merely feel better. For instance, the American Psychological Association (APA) defines catharsis as “in psychoanalytic theory, the discharge of previously repressed affects connected to traumatic ev
Deric Hollings
May 1310 min read
Separating the Art From the Artist: Shamone, Hee Hee
[DISCLAIMER] Earlier, when listening to 2010 A.D. (2015) by lyricist Planet Asia and producer DirtyDiggs, I heard the track “Love Hell or Right” on which the lyricist states, “Second grade, I started playin’ soccer. Michael Jackson [MJ] was the shit!” This event spawned a psychoeducational lesson. Before I discuss the psychotherapeutic modality that I favor, Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I thank you for bearing with me as I discuss my own perspective on MJ and
Deric Hollings
May 1217 min read
What's Love Got to Do With It?
[DISCLAIMER] *What’s Love Got to Do With It (1993) spoilers contained herein. Photo credit, Property of Touchstone Pictures and Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, fair use My now-deceased mom was a fan of the late Tina Turner (born Anna Mae Bullock). As such, my mother owned a vinyl record of Private Dancer (1984) and played the song “What’s Love Got to Do with It” loudly from a stereo when cleaning our home. The chorus states: What’s love got to do, got to do with it?
Deric Hollings
May 1117 min read
Focus On What You Can Control
[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. Regarding Stoicism, I invite you to consider that REBT uses unconditional acceptance (UA) to relieve self-induced suffering. This is accomplished through use of unconditional self-acceptance (USA)
Deric Hollings
May 116 min read
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