Good Good Things – Issue 008
Hi friends, this is Issue #8, and as you might expect based on the previous issues, it is overflowing with things that are fun and cool and never bad. Please read, please share, please clap.
Reviving the Soapbox Derby at McLaren Park
‘Duct Tape and Dreams’ captures the essence of SFMOMA’s first artist Soapbox Derby in more than forty years: the creativity, collaboration, and exuberance of everyone who participated — and, of course, all that exciting downhill action!”
This is a sweet and inspiring film. Watching talented people coming together and creating joy and silliness for art’s sake always gives me hope.
New Baby Hippo has Dropped
I’ve been following this little potato on the Tanganyika Wildlife Park Instagram for a while now; you should, too. Mars is quite a rascal.
View this post on Instagram
Danym Kwon’s “Dear Moments”
Get to know Korean-American artist Danym Kwon and her exquisite artwork.
Danym Kwon offers a tender and introspective body of work shaped by the emotional landscapes of home, motherhood and migration. After over a decade in California, the artist returned to her native Seoul in 2022, only to realize how deeply the Bay Area had shaped her sense of place and belonging. Through painting and a new series of sculpture, Kwon explores the quiet, fleeting moments that fill everyday life.”
10 Chefs From 10 Countries Make Coffee
I think I speak for everyone on the planet when I say, “Hell yeah, coffee!”
From a classic French press to a rich Turkish roast, explore how each culture reinvents the humble cup of coffee in its own mouthwatering way.”
Some Thoughts
I can’t exactly pinpoint why but people really hate my ska version of “Hurt.”
I don’t post all activities on Strava. Some outings are personal and just for me, and not for the authorities who could use the data to place me at the scene of many crimes.
The final scene of the movie when Seabiscut is old and in horspice care was really sad.
“Hobbit” is a portmanteau of hobo and rabbit.
How Giant Animatronic Props Are Made
Huge props to these fellas.
Distortions Unlimited in Greely, Colorado, shows how they make their bespoke animatronic props, “Sleeping Giant” and his smarter cousin “Colossus” from a single mold. They explain how the molds are made, the length of time it takes to build their giants, and the origins of the design.”
Read more at Laughing Squid >
Follow: Jennifer Lichter
The professional trail running athletes I keep tabs on are a confident and highly motivated bunch who train extremely hard and often. They prepare for every race with a keen focus and nutrition, fitness, and science to gain every advantage they can to compete in this highly competitive sport. They also seem very chill. Maybe it’s because they’re always exhausted from running 100 miles a week with a ton of vert?
Jennifer Lichter checks all these boxes. She is a stone-cold crusher on the trails with a very friendly and fun demeanor on her YouTube channel, where she mixes in her training, race recaps, cooking, and daily life hanging with her partner and the coolest and cutest dog in Montana.
She recently won and set the course record for one of the hardest races in the U.S., The Speedgoat 50K in Utah, and will be representing the USA in the World Mountain and Trail Championships in Spain this September with a stacked team.
Follow Jennifer on Insta and YouTube.
Featured Pet: Philly!
Beloved comedian Nate Bargatze just became more beloved in the City of Brotherly Love by adopting a pup from PSPCA and naming her Philly!
The performer brought the sweet pup onstage during his Wells Fargo Center show to share the story and introduce her to the audience. What a good dude. Read more >
Speaking of good Philly dogs, this sweet Baby would like to meet you!
Summer Jams
Little Simz – Enough feat. Yukimi
Astronauts, etc. featuring Tanukichan- To What End
God: “I now give life to the ant! A small yet powerful creature, crucial to the balance of nature.”
ant (appears): “Hell yeah, thanks God!”
God: “Next up… the anteater.”
ant: “What the fuck?”
Good Cry
I usually avoid all forms of entertainment that involve sadness. The world is sad enough, declares this emotionally-stifled old man! But every so often, I’ll come across something that is both sad and beautiful, and I’m glad I partook. I highly recommend “While Your Wife is at a Memorial Service” by Roblin Meeks. It is short and poignant and tear-inducing. I also recommend following Roblin on Bluesky. So smart, so funny.
Speaking of a good cry, what songs bring you to tears. Here are mine. Some sad, some not, punk & alt songs (or just one line) that hit me hard.
Entomologist Dr. Jessica Ware Answers Insect Questions
Are cockroaches so resilient that they’d survive a nuclear war? Why do praying mantis behead their partners after mating? Why do crickets chirp? Are tarantulas dangerous? Answers to these questions and many more await on Insect Support.”
The Tony Hawk Video Game Documentary
I have not played a video game since I dominated Lady Bug on ColecoVision many decades ago.
You: “Good lord, man, you are ancient! And why no video games since then?”
I am a website developer, and the last thing I want or need to do is stare at another screen when I’m done with work. That said, this is a very rad documentary about a game that changed the face of skateboarding, video games, video game soundtracks, and the life of the legend himself, Tony Hawk.
Fun Fact: The Birdman is a grandfather! His son, Riley Hawk, and wife Frances Bean Cobain (yup, Kurt’s daughter) had a baby named Ronin back in November 2024.
Pretending I’m a Superman is the untold story of how a group of visionary game developers and world-class skaters—including Tony Hawk himself—revolutionized pop culture with one of the most iconic video game franchises of all time: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater.”
All The Dogs, Explained
I am 100% here for the dogsplaining.
The canine family is a hugely diverse group of foxes, wolves, and –yes– doggos that have spread all over the world. MinuteEarth explains who they are and how they’re related.”
The First Perfect Game of Tetris Just Happened
Me (on the couch watching YouTube): “Hon, the first perfect game of Tetris just happened!”
My wife (in the other room reading a book): “That’s nice, Dear.”
Want more edge-of-your-seat Tetris action? Watch The History of Tetris World Records.
Quick Hits
- Brian Eno announces Together for Palestine Benefit at London’s Wembley Arena
- The Only Time Prince & Miles Davis Jammed Together Onstage
- Spinal Tap – Stonehenge ft. Elton John
- 10 Of The Most Sophisticated Movies Ever Made, According To Film Bros
- Brittany Howard Never Set Out to Be a Star
- Epic Song Intros
- World’s longest suspension bridge may finally link Sicily to mainland Italy
- This Man Kept a Meticulous List of All 3,599 Books He’d Read Since 1962
- Urban NYC backyard ultra makes headlines for a unique twist
Behold: A Very Large Pigeon!
Introducing Iván Argote’s “Dinosaur.” The meticulously hand-painted, humorous sculpture challenges the grandeur of traditional monuments celebrating significant historical figures, instead choosing to canonize the familiar New York City street bird. Posed on a concrete plinth that resembles the sidewalks and buildings that New York’s pigeons call home, Dinosaur reverses the typical power dynamic between bird and human, towering 21 feet above the Spur.”
Good Things on Bluesky
The heat has gotten so bad on the East Coast that it’s now routine to see large men wiping their brows with slightly smaller, drier men.
I’m thinking about becoming a freight inspector- it’s a job that checks all the boxes
— Steven W Skinner (@skinnersteven.bsky.social) July 28, 2025 at 10:13 AM
[telling someone about a thing I worked hard on and care deeply about] it’s stupid
— Mr. Exhausted (@lettuce.bsky.social) July 31, 2025 at 1:07 PM
(walking in to the Apple Store) good evening dorks my mail isn’t on my laptop. I can’t find my mail
— Audrey Farnsworth (@audipenny.bsky.social) August 6, 2025 at 2:26 AM
Pour syrup on me like one of your French toasts
— Thanks For Sharing, Jerk (@thx4sharingjerk.bsky.social) July 27, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Worst part of wedding photography is reminding people that not every Charlie’s Angel had a gun
— Mike Schuster (@mcs212.bsky.social) December 4, 2024 at 3:11 PM
Scotland
— Adam Parkhomenko (@adamparkhomenko.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 9:27 AM
I have played about 8 hours of fetch with this new foster on day 1. So much fetch we had to swap tennis balls a few hours ago because I refuse to touch it until it dries out.
— Emily Farris (@emayfarris.bsky.social) July 28, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Among the greatest promotional photos of all time are these for the 1990 television movie of IT, where it looks like a prestige legal drama about a firm of hot young lawyers and one associate who likes to dress up like a clown.
— Nat Cassidy (@natcassidy.bsky.social) July 24, 2025 at 2:14 PM
I keep a small printout of this in my wallet and look at it anytime I’m feeling down in the dumps.
— Christian Alsis (@christianalsis.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Pants Playing Cards are ready to preorder! 52 card deck (+ 4 jokers) all with fresh art
theartofpants.com
— Mr. Joshua (@pantspants.bsky.social) August 12, 2025 at 12:31 PM
I bet it feels so good to turn zombie, no more bosses or bullshit you’re just running around with a big group of friends
— Lostcatdog (@lostcatdog.bsky.social) August 10, 2025 at 8:31 AM
We are so close to Andrew Cuomo doing a rap. I can’t wait.
— Mike Scollins (@mikescollins.bsky.social) August 9, 2025 at 3:08 PM
She loves art!
— Travis (@bakesale.bsky.social) August 9, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Take care of each other
FDT forever. See you soon with more…
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