Good Good Things – Issue 007

Enjoy a bit of fun in these absurdly stupid times.

Good Craic: “Dear Erin” Trailer

She was the Irish goodbye he never forgot.

The Irish Emigration Museum in Dublin, revealed it had made the trailer and that the film, titled Dear Erin, did not exist. The trailer was a stunt to lampoon the stereotyping of Ireland in Hollywood romcoms.”

I’m a proud Irish-American — my relatives in Ireland are lovely, I like Guinness quite a bit, and my daughter was born on March 17th — who does not embrace the faux weird Irish stuff in this country — Notre Dame fandom, weekend-long parade debauchery — so this fake movie trailer hit all the right notes with me. It’s (very bad Irish accent) brilliant!

Watch the trailer above and read the full story

You might also enjoy this fun Paul Mescal Plays ‘Irish or Not Irish’ video interview.

Snapshots of Kids Bike Jumping in the 1970s

Hop on your BMX and head over to the Flashbak site to view some totally rad pix of young Evel Knievel-inspired daredevils jumping over their brave friends.

Need more thrills? Take the Totally ‘Rad’ BMX Video Quiz with Chip and Jeff.

The Secrets Behind New York’s Best Bagel

Do not watch this video if you are hungry. Only watch it while you are drinking delicious coffee and eating the best bagel you can find. The closer you are to NYC, the better it will be.

Utopia Bagels co-owner Scott Spellman has been making fresh, New York-style bagels for over 40 years. He takes us through his bagel-making process and talks us through his philosophy on what makes an NYC bagel the one to beat.”

Are you a Montreal-style bagel fan? Check out this “How St Viateur Makes Its Iconic Montreal-Style Bagels” video.

Judge a Book by Its Cover

If I see a bottle of wine I know nothing about (99% of the wine I encounter) and it has an alluring label, I am picking it up to learn more. The same goes for a book with a stunning or subtly beautiful cover. Here are some quality links highlighting book cover art and design:

(Don’t) Call Mum by Matt Wesolowski; design by Luísa Dias (Wild Hunt Books / May 2025)

Slags by Emma Jane Unsworth; design by Sarah Foster; photo by Ed Templeton (HarperCollins / May 2025)

Immaculate Conception by Ling Ling Huang

What are some of your favorite covers? Comment below.

How John Legend Gives His All

Legend’s HumanLevel works with cities to address issues like affordable housing and a living wage. Eric Cash — Legend’s HumanLevel works with cities to address issues like affordable housing and a living wage. Photo by Eric Cash

Work hard, lead a good life, and help others.

Today, the bulk of his philanthropic work runs through two other initiatives: FreeAmerica, which focuses on criminal justice reform, and HumanLevel, which works with local governments to address inequality on the ground.”

Jumbotron Wholesomeness

This is delightful.

Pretty Good Thoughts

“Well well well, if it isn’t Neil Won’t Cut deGrasse Tyson,”
– his wife reminding him about the chores

You can lead a horse to water, it’s a really nice thing to do.

Madonna wrote “Ray of Light” about Ray Romano.

Hi, I’m your waiter Jeff, let me tell you about The Specials. The Specials are an English 2 Tone ska revival band from Coventry, England…

Sorry if my “26.2” bumper sticker bothers you. I trained hard and was very proud to eat that many veggie dogs.

Song Breakdown: “Everybody Wants To Rule The World” by Tears for Fears

“Jeff, give me a perfect song.”

This T4F (no one calls them this) jam should do. You should hear me and my youngest belt this out together. On second thought, maybe just listen to the original, then take my hand and we’ll geek out together as composer and producer Jon Mattox breaks down this all-time classic into its many parts, putting it all in layman’s terms. You will hear things you have not heard before!

Featured Pet: Adopt Ludwig!

Visit Street Tails Animal Rescue in Philly and meet your new best friend. Not in Philly, find a local shelter.

Movie Trailer: “It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley”

Man, “Grace” was such a good record. Excited to learn more about the guy.

Directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Amy Berg, the documentary covers the life of the rising young star with an otherworldly voice and boundary-pushing artistry, who left the ’90s music world reeling when he died suddenly, at age 30, after the release of his critically acclaimed debut album “Grace.”

Visit the website to see upcoming screenings >

Look at This Playlist
Don’t Look at This Playlist

Quick Hits

8 Minutes of Baby Animals in The Wild

Just hurt my jaw saying “Awwwwww” 50 times in a row.

Inside NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert Set

Despite getting a cease and desist from NPR for my “Huge Desk Concert” series, I enjoyed learning about their much smaller setup.

Steps behind the scenes with Bobby Carter to tour the NPR Tiny Desk Concert set. What began in 2008 as a humble, stripped-back performance series for NPR’s blog has grown into a global phenomenon, with unforgettable sets from stars like Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny, Dua Lipa, and more.”

Ultra Marathon Pit Crews

Enjoy this Formula 1-style pit crew action of the people (mostly friends and family) who “crew” elite runners at the biggest ultra trail races, like this year’s Western States. It takes a village, a very speedy and efficient village, to get these runners in and out of the aid stations quickly while making sure they are hydrated, nourished, and iced down before they continue the arduous trek.

Disclaimer: This video is awesome, but it is also an advertisement for Precision Fuel & Hydration created by the folks at Precision Fuel & Hydration. I in no way endorse Precision Fuel & Hydration, but… if they would like to send me free nutrition, bring it on, all nutrition is stupid expensive.

“After supporting seven athletes at the 2025 Western States Endurance Run, including the Men’s Champ Caleb Olson, we’ve shared a behind the scenes look at the fueling strategies, pit stops, and cooling techniques of the some of the world’s best ultra-runners.

I volunteer at the aid stations of local ultras because it is very rewarding and good to give back to all of those people who have helped you through races, offering food and encouragement, while you are on the verge of throwing up or throwing in the towel.

Ace photographer, Justin Langston, followed me for a short bit on mile 13 of the 2023 Blues Cruise 50k Trail Race. You get to see some lovely single-track trails and how well-run and inspiring the aid stations are. Good people!

Video: “Hot Drunken Steps” by Sulynn Hago

Just when you thought you could not love Propagandhi shredder Sulynn Hago more, she drops this banger.

Celebs Wearing Hüsker Dü Shirts

More celebs wearing Hüsker Dü shirts

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— Jeff Lyons (@gojeffgo.com) February 6, 2025 at 2:58 PM

What’s Your Favorite Insanely Popular Song?

I loved “Iris” the first time I heard it and still do. It is not a guilty pleasure; it is simply a pleasure. Read more here and tell me: What’s your favorite insanely popular song?

RIP Ozzy

Elderly Reality TV Star Has Died… Sadly, Not That One

Ozzy is one of like 3 people in Decline of Western Civilization Part 2 that comes off as a decent human being and I always love the scene where Penelope Spheeris interviews him making breakfast while he explains the ups and downs of the business.

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— Chris Person (@papapishu.bsky.social) July 22, 2025 at 2:28 PM

Ozzy Osbourne visited my magic shop. He said he’d like to buy some stink bombs. How many? All of them. I had to go through drawers finding every last one. He bought 900 of them. To sign the credit card slip I handed him a shock pen, which he thought was hilarious and bought that too. RIP

— Rebecca Watson (@skepchick.org) July 22, 2025 at 2:29 PM

Good Things on Bluesky

Me: I’m bored
My refrigerator: here she comes

— MadHatterMommy (@madhattermommy.bsky.social) January 17, 2025 at 8:46 AM

It feels like an act of community service when parents let their kids wear a full Halloween costume in public. Thank you. I needed to see a tiny Spiderman today.

— Alicia Tobin (@aliciatobin.bsky.social) July 19, 2025 at 3:26 PM

YouTube thumbnail of someone making a React Face with a title of “First Time Hearing “On Top Of Spaghetti’!”

— Rob Wesley (@eastwes.bsky.social) July 20, 2025 at 8:58 PM

Hello, it’s us, the last untattooed family at the water park.

— Mitchell Nobis (@mitchnobis.bsky.social) July 17, 2025 at 12:37 PM

Going to start adding “famously” when discussing mundane things about myself to annoy people.
STARBUCKS EMPLOYEE: You want me to leave room for milk?
ME: No thank you, I famously don’t take milk in my coffee.

— Gourmet Spud (@gourmetspud.bsky.social) July 21, 2025 at 9:02 AM

It’s Friday, and if you haven’t read this towering stack of great literature, it’s new to you! This week, Ann mixes it up a bit and responds to an op-ed by David Brooks in the NYT. Is the novel really dead? Read the article, watch Ann’s take, and let us know what you think.

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— Parnassus Books (@parnassusbooks.bsky.social) July 18, 2025 at 11:47 AM

Every day I try to live with intention & grace & then I find myself on the sidewalk with a bunch of f***ing lollygaggers.

— Michael Jay McClure (@mjmimages.bsky.social) July 17, 2025 at 11:28 AM

I’ll tell you one thing: I’d rather be on the Kiss Cam at a Coldplay concert than the Coldplay Cam at a Kiss concert.

— Chip Chantry (@chipchantry.bsky.social) July 19, 2025 at 9:17 AM