Author Archives: The Reeders Block

The Murder of Ryan Thornton: A South Side Story

Ryan Thornton. Photo from Ryan Thornton’s Facebook Page If anybody has a Chicago story, it’s Ryan Thornton, who was murdered April 23, 2017, at the age of 30, a father of four. Ryan, AKA Fly, was a friend of mine. Later, he faced murder charges. Opposite of the serious charges he was facing, Ryan smiledContinueContinue reading “The Murder of Ryan Thornton: A South Side Story”

The Misunderstanding of Phoenix Jones, a Real-Life Superhero

Photo of Self-Proclaimed Superhero Phoenix Joes. Photo from NBC. Phoenix Jones, born Benjamin Fodor in 1988, was is symbolic of what a superhero is: misunderstood but well-intentioned. In case you don’t know, Phoenix Jones is the self-proclaimed real-life superhero from Seattle, Washington, who’s also a former daycare teacher and MMA fighter. He is the manContinueContinue reading “The Misunderstanding of Phoenix Jones, a Real-Life Superhero”

A Convicted Felon President Might be a Good Thing

Photo from Boston University. Recently, former president and hopeful 2024 GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump was convicted of 34 felonies, yet he remains on the campaign trail. While Democrats, including President Joe Biden, are using the label “convicted felon” to further degrade Trump’s image, something about a convicted felon president is as American as itContinueContinue reading “A Convicted Felon President Might be a Good Thing”

How to Write with Ai

Photo from FreePik.com You’ve probably had a report or essay due within a day, which happened to be the day after a hard night out. With a headache booming in your skull, you sat down at the computer, queued up the ChatGPT app and instructed it to write a paper. And then you saw theContinueContinue reading “How to Write with Ai”

Jonathan Majors Found Guilty

Actor Johnathan Majors was found guilty of assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Grace Jabbari. After attempting to or actually taking Majors’s phone from his hand after allegedly seeing a text from what she thought was another girl, Jabbari said he “pried her finger from the phone, grabbed her arm and right hand, twisted her forearm and struckContinueContinue reading “Jonathan Majors Found Guilty”

Philosophers Say Numbers Aren’t Real, but They’re Wrong

What exactly is the number 4? Yes, it can be written as 4 or four or anyway depending on the time or language, but what is it? What is a number? When you think about it, you might not know or be able to articulate the answer to these questions, like most people. Philosophers argueContinueContinue reading “Philosophers Say Numbers Aren’t Real, but They’re Wrong”

Get Your Copy of My Newest Book Now on Amazon

Buy your print or ebook copy of my newest nonfiction book about repairing male and female relationships by clicking here. With divorce at an all-time high and gender relations at an all-time low, it is time to address how social media is destroying today’s relationships. Increasingly, women and men have turned to Facebook, TikTok andContinueContinue reading “Get Your Copy of My Newest Book Now on Amazon”

How to Replenish Your Well of Peace

Imagine from Bahawear on Pinterest.com Replenishing Your Inner Well of Peace All too often, we see single people post on social about how they want somebody to “bring” them peace. When you say you want somebody to bring you peace, you’re also saying you don’t have peace of your own. Imagine somebody renting you aContinueContinue reading “How to Replenish Your Well of Peace”

4 Ways to Overcome Self-Doubt

Image from Freepik.com 4 Ways to Overcome Self-Doubt Self-doubt, that nagging voice of uncertainty and fear, is something everyone experiences at some point in their lives. It can keep us from doing the things we love and striving to become your best you. Overcoming self-doubt is essential for personal growth and success. In this article,ContinueContinue reading “4 Ways to Overcome Self-Doubt”

What is the Internet Apocalypse?

Image from EconomicTimes.com . What is the “Internet Apocalypse”, and how could it affect the daily lives of you and your loved ones? The Internet Apocalypse is a catastrophic solar event that is being predicted by scientists and conspiracy theorists alike. If scientists are right, it will happen when the Sun reaches the peak ofContinueContinue reading “What is the Internet Apocalypse?”

Women Need Men. Period.

Photo from Black is Beautiful on Pinterest. Women Need Men. Women need men. It’s baffling as to why that statement is controversial or offensive to some people, but it raises an interesting question. Why are some women, and “simps” as they are called, in denial of women’s needing men? Is it a pride thing, orContinueContinue reading “Women Need Men. Period.”

Chef Jay Voo: TikTok’s Greatest Chef and His Chef Jay Voo Crab Boil Recipe

Chef Jay Voo Image from ChefJayVoo.con Download the Chef Jay Voo Crab Boil Recipe below in PDF format. Chef Jay Voo Crab Boil Recipe Crawfish-Boil-Guide-1.pdfDownload If you don’t know Chef Jay Voo, you don’t know food or social media. Making his name off creating steaming seafood, this 24-year-chef hails from Louisiana. Since starting his TikTokContinueContinue reading “Chef Jay Voo: TikTok’s Greatest Chef and His Chef Jay Voo Crab Boil Recipe”

In Case You Feel Small

Image from Self.com Social media is an ocean of selfies and smiles on people sitting poolside sipping Mai Tais. Videos of friends partying in hotels you’d have to save two months’ paychecks to afford make you feel… behind. You’re a grain of sand on a beach that stretches coast to coast. Though you may notContinueContinue reading “In Case You Feel Small”

Online Dating: Getting the Girl Language

Man and woman on date. Photo from Pew Research Center. When you and a woman connect online, you have both already seen each other’s pictures, so you know there’s a physical attraction. But how do you go from screen to in-person? It comes down to how you say whatever you say not just what you’reContinueContinue reading “Online Dating: Getting the Girl Language”

“Beef” on Netflix: A Fresh Perspective on the American Dream

From left to right: Beef costars Ali Wong (as Amy Lau) and Steven Yeun (as Danny Cho). Image from Men’sHealth. Beef on Netflix stars Ali Wong as Amy Lau and Steven Yeun as Danny Cho. Both having bad days that turn out to be bad lives, the main characters Amy and Danny collide in aContinueContinue reading ““Beef” on Netflix: A Fresh Perspective on the American Dream”

Speak the Way You Write, She Said

“Jermaine,” Ms. Willard said, as she took the seat beside me. The other students elbowed each other on the way out the classroom. Looking me in the eyes, Ms. Willard asked, “Why don’t you speak the way you write?” I stayed up for nights on end… I tilted my head to the side. At theContinueContinue reading “Speak the Way You Write, She Said”

“Seinfeld” Reunion: “Something Has to Happen”

From Left to Right: Kramer (Michael Richards), George Costanza (Jason Alexander), Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and Jerry Seinfeld who portrayed a fictional version of himself on the show. Photo from IMDb *spoiler alert: Details of Curb Your Enthusiasm’s Seinfeld finale will be revealed Seinfeld, a show about nothing, ended with the cast being thrown inContinueContinue reading ““Seinfeld” Reunion: “Something Has to Happen””

Potential Chicago Mayor Paul Vallas is on a Warpath

Photo from PaulVallas2023.com With over 85% of votes in, Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot is in third place, grasping at the heels of Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson respectively. With the chances favoring Paul Vallas as the winner, the implications of his tenure as Chicago’s mayor could be polarizing. Although he seems like a good candidate,ContinueContinue reading “Potential Chicago Mayor Paul Vallas is on a Warpath”

Self-Care: Taking Care of You First

If you’ve ever been on an airplane, you’ve seen the attendants sashay along the aisles demonstrating what to do in the case of an emergency: secure yourself and oxygen mask first and then your children’s. The logic is, once you’re safe and secure, you can do the same for the little ones. Otherwise, you riskContinueContinue reading “Self-Care: Taking Care of You First”

Kanye’s WLM T-Shirt Controversy and Why All Dollars Matter

Above: Photo of Conservative Political Commentator Candace Owens and Rapper and Fashion Icon Ye. Photo from PageSix.com Reluctantly, I address the rapper and fashion icon Ye’s “White Lives Matter” t-shirt controversy. I’ve been hesitant to because, although I don’t know Ye personally, I’ve come to know his tactics. Right before he releases an album, aContinueContinue reading “Kanye’s WLM T-Shirt Controversy and Why All Dollars Matter”

Don’t Jump to Conclusions about Texas Nurse Who Allegedly Killed Six

Photo from DailyNews.com Traveling nurse from Texas Nicole Linton, 37, has been charged with six counts of murder and six counts of manslaughter after allegedly speeding through an intersection, leaving six dead. Citing a record of Nicole’s alleged thirteen previous wrecks, the prosecution claimed she was a danger. A judge gave Nicole a two-million-dollar bailContinueContinue reading “Don’t Jump to Conclusions about Texas Nurse Who Allegedly Killed Six”