By CJ Tiernan I am a man (I promise I think it’s relevant). Like so many green-grass observers before me, I covet that which I cannot have. Cling though I may to my falsetto-imbued youth, I simply can’t hit the high notes. In fact, given my lack of musical talent and know-how, I cannot be reliably entrusted to hit a single selected note along the open maw of a baby grand. I am, therefore, left to gape in awe at those who can. To surrender to their sonic beauty and envelop m

By CJ Tiernan The 90s were a decade full of sweeping change and living life on the go. We coated the world in denim and flannel and dared our neighbor to look more disheveled than us. Our heads were protected from the sun in full, 360º fashion courtesy of bucket hats. Between Doc Martens and Timberland boots, our feet were ready for combat. Businesses still broke bread and spilled tea at the watercooler. It was, with the benefit of hindsight, a simpler time. This is my list

By CJ Tiernan Every single person has a name. It’s famously a common way of telling one another apart (along with finger prints, dental records, and whether you’re Team Edward or Team Jacob) and used to gather attention when shouted across a room. If it’s supposed to be a unique designation, why do we end up with so many people named John or Jack or Bort? Names, to make a long story short, need to be more adventurous. We need to normalize having names crazy enough that aski

By CJ Tiernan A mockumentary is a film that is crafted like a documentary in almost every way. It is telling a story with talking heads, wherein the characters are interviewed. They may break the fourth wall and the camera work will often utilize techniques like “shaky cam” that mimic a handheld, improvisational style. The difference is, the story and the characters (almost always) aren’t real. It is a small, but important difference, allowing what is otherwise an often sto

By CJ Tiernan We’ve all heard of the one-hit wonder. A band has a huge hit that everyone loves and follows that single up with…nothing. They never recapture the glory of that one hit. It must be an odd existence to dedicate an entire career to music and only be known for one hit. Meanwhile, John Williams is out here getting nominated for an Oscar every year or two (seriously, he’s been nominated 54 times for scoring films). Well, this list is dedicated to the music artists

By CJ Tiernan Over the years, my vernacular has become heavily populated with movie lines. There are certain circumstances that arise that you can more or less set your timepiece to me delivering a line from a movie, like Woody with a pull string. Off the dome, I’m remembering “Reach for the sky,” “This town ain’t big enough for the two of us,” “There’s a snake in my boot,” and “Somebody poisoned the waterhole.” In that sense, I'm a walking if-then statement. One’s youth is

By CJ Tiernan Nicknames of historical figures are curious. Did all of the members of his cabinet refer to Abraham Lincoln as “Honest Abe?” Did he even like that nickname? Did they just whisper it in halls of the parliament building or whatever it is or did they say it to his face? Did that nickname even exist or was it manufactured after he, so to speak, bit the bullet? I don’t know whether some of these nicknames were crafted by contemporaries or issued by historical arbit

By CJ Tiernan A song has the power to hit you in the face; to bowl you over. It can strike an emotional chord that plucks your heartstrings like a harp. Or, sometimes it’s just really funny. Either way, when you hear a song like that, you will often seek that song out to discover more songs by the artist. Unfortunately, sometimes that song is by an artist that doesn’t exist. They have no sprawling oeuvre because they are simply a character in a TV Show or Movie. Alas, you can

By CJ Tiernan Formed in Chicago in the early '70s, Styx is an American rock band with maximum style. They deliver positive vibes and hope through the power of sound. Comprised of original members Dennis DeYoung, James "J.Y." Young (no relation), John "J.C." Curulewski, Chuck Panozzo, and John Panozzo (brothers), these guys rocked through the '70s and '80s with long hair and musical attitude (Tommy Shaw would go on to shred in place of J.C. by 1976). I love Styx. They are my g

By CJ Tiernan This list, as most lists are (at least on this site), is pretty arbitrary. Left Field Alert! I have selected celebrities with varied histories and put them up against one another without really revealing my criteria. They're just people whose names and/or bodies of work I enjoy or respect. Heck, I might just be digging on their vibes. Anyway, here is a list of my 11 favorite celebrities that have an animal in their name. 1. Robin Williams Birth Name: Robin McLau