Off The Markley

Redeye Blogs


First Ever Bears Game a Total Letdown

  I went to my first ever Bears game on Sunday when they played the Vikings, and it was a total letdown. Bill Simmons makes this point again and again on his podcast and column, but why–seriously–will anybody go to sports games in the future? I know: there are always die-hard fans who will say… Continue reading ‘First Ever Bears Game a Total Letdown’



Jesus, I’m the Worst: New York City Edition

Every once in a while life’s inscrutable plan reminds us that no matter our position in the world, our education, our relative successes, happinesses, and accomplishments, we may in fact still be the worst. Just the worst. For instance those high-frequency traders that have bullied into the financial markets and use computerized methods to make… Continue reading ‘Jesus, I’m the Worst: New York City Edition’



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On the Ground at Occupy Wall Street

Jesse LaGreca, 31 “I’m a nerd, I’m obsessed with politics. A camera overheard me having a conversation of Griff Jenkins of Fox News, and it didn’t go so well for him… I’m not such a fan of Fox News. I think they have a lovely international conspiracy going. But it’s fun. We have a little… Continue reading ‘On the Ground at Occupy Wall Street’



Check Out My Guest Appearance on CinemaJaw

An insane week in New York City that involved a friend’s wedding, hours and hours at Occupy Wall Street, a trip to the 9/11 Memorial, and a terrible 20-hour experience of losing most of my worldly possessions has led me to drop the ball. The ball is no longer in my hands, is what I’m… Continue reading ‘Check Out My Guest Appearance on CinemaJaw’



Infinite Essay: On David Foster Wallace’s ‘Infinite Jest’

A Preliminary Warning on Reading This Essay Let me say this: I love to read. It’s just about one of my favorite things in life, but I can also say that it took me about a decade to build up the inner steel to tackle David Foster Wallace’s magnum opus “Infinite Jest,” and it took,… Continue reading ‘Infinite Essay: On David Foster Wallace’s ‘Infinite Jest’’



I’m Going to Start Talking Like Ryan Gosling in ‘Drive’

We saw “Drive” the other day, which was a pretty good little noir flick about a stunt driver played by Ryan Gosling, who moonlights as a getaway driver and gets sucked into a bad situation with some Jewish gangsters played by Ron Perlman and Albert Brooks. Tense car chases ensue, people get bloodily dispatched, 80s… Continue reading ‘I’m Going to Start Talking Like Ryan Gosling in ‘Drive’’



Get in on the Ground Floor with the Lizzy Ross Band

I’ve got a recommendation, which is check out the Lizzy Ross Band and climb on the bandwagon before she takes off. This way when she’s super-famous and popular as all get-out, you can be one of those people who say, obnoxiously, “Oh, the first few albums were great but now that she’s all famous she’s… Continue reading ‘Get in on the Ground Floor with the Lizzy Ross Band’



Georgia Probably Just Executed an Innocent Man

The state of Georgia put Troy Davis to death last week despite years of mounting evidence that he was innocent of the 1989 murder of Savannah police officer Mark McPhail for which he’d been tried and convicted in ’91. With no forensic evidence tying him to the crime, the prosecution relied on the testimony of… Continue reading ‘Georgia Probably Just Executed an Innocent Man’



So the Entire Global Economy Really Could Meltdown…

You want to know what’s weird? The economic crisis in Europe is really actually scary as hell and really actually could throw the entire global economy into a deep and prolonged recession/depression if people don’t get their acts together. The term “dithering” comes to mind to describe the actions of the U.S., the U.K., and… Continue reading ‘So the Entire Global Economy Really Could Meltdown…’