Good Good Things - Issue 20

My wife and I saw The Beths live in Philly on a recent Sunday night. Venturing out on the least-fun night of the weekend can be a bit rough, but we got enough rest during the day and downed some caffeine before we headed out. We were ready for the trip to the big city to rock out and were not disappointed.

The pride of New Zealand put on one of the best shows I’ve seen in a long time: melodic, sonic, beautiful, funny, and exactly what I hoped for (your boy even teared up a few times). We arrived early enough to secure a prime standing spot on the floor (no giants in front of us) and catch the opening act, Phoebe Rings, who were stellar and the perfect complement to the headliner. The place was packed (the second of two nights in Philly), and the vibe was joyous.

Here’s a video of their show in Boston.

Alright, time’s a-wasting, let’s start this holly jolly list of Good Good Things with some bangers.

Pee-wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special

This Christmas special captures Pee-wee at his best: sweet, funny, manic, and slightly deranged. It’s perfect for the whole family and is free on YouTube.

Beautifully restored, remastered and in high definition! Pee-wee gets into the spirit of the season with lots of singing, dancing and other holiday fun with his Playhouse pals and more than a dozen celebrity guest stars as you’ve never seen them before.

Jon Solomon’s 37th-annual 25-Hour Holiday Radio Show

Jon Solomon’s 37th-annual 25-Hour Holiday Radio Show on 103.3 FM WPRB will take place on Christmas Eve at 5:00 pm ET, and you should tune in while doing last-minute holiday shopping, wrapping presents, roasting chestnuts, or zoning out during midnight mass. You’ll say things like, “What a cool version of that song,” and “What the hell was that?” A festive time guaranteed for all.

Visit the Official Event Page >

Tune In to WPRB >

Chip Chantry and Low Cut Connie Bring Holiday Cheer and Drinks to Studio 2 WHYY

Get a load of Craft Cocktail Chantry over here…

It’s our live holiday party special! We’re hosting some of our favorite locals, including social media star Betsey Kenny a.k.a. Philly ASMR, comedian Chip Chantry, and live music from Low Cut Connie’s Adam Weiner.

Air: Tiny Desk Concert

Air is a gift. They are eternal, and they reside on a cloud hovering above Versailles, where they sip tiny coffees and craft magical music intended for gods, demigods, and humans alike.

Geordie and Hamish

I enjoy many things about New Zealand:

Flight of The Concords
Anna Paquin
Flying Nun Records
Splitz Enz
The Beths
Ruth Croft, Daniel Jones, and Caitlin Fielder
They have hobbits for pets…

And let’s add Geordie Beamish & Hamish Kerr, who crushed it at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this past summer.

Scott’s Pizza Tours

Scoot pizza Tour — The Scott’s Pizza Tours team

I took Scott’s Pizza Tours a few years back with fellow pizza fan Jon Solomon (mentioned above, pictured below), and we had a lovely day out in NYC, sampling the best slices in the city. You will too. In addition to providing tours, Scott posts lots of tasty videos where he drops knowledge and visits some awesome pizza shops in the greater NYC area.

Our mission is to welcome you into the fold of NYC’s storied pizza culture. We do that by having great relationships with the best pizzerias in New York City. Our tours support small businesses by purchasing their food and sharing the stories they don’t have time to tell. When that story gets complicated, we do the research to separate fact from fiction. You may think pizza is just the world’s most delicious food, but it’s really science, history, culture, people…and also cheese.

Pizza day — Jon Solomon enjoying Scott’s Pizza Tours

‘How I Library’ Podcast with Brian Baker

Minor Threat. Dag Nasty. The Meatmen, Bad Religion. Fake Names. Let’s hear from the legend about his new book.

In episode 28 of the “How I Library” podcast, show host and I Love Libraries editor Phil Morehart speaks with musician Brian Baker from legendary punk bands Minor Threat, Bad Religion, and more about his new book of photography, “The Road” (Akashic Books, 2025).

This AI Vending Machine Was Tricked Into Giving Away Everything

Good!

Songs Performed at My Kid’s Non-Denominational Holiday Concert

“The Magic Snow Shovel”
“It’s That Time of Year”
“Bells are Ringing”
“The Twelve Days of Vacation”
“O Merry Mittens!”
“There’s a Tree in the House”
“Here Comes Carol”

Watch Travis Verkaik Do Parkour

During COVID, I started watching British parkour videos. Don’t judge me. It’s a lot of fun. Travis “Verky” Verkaik is one of the best and most beloved athletes in the sport. Be warned, it’s extremely dangerous, and I mutter “Please be careful!” constantly while watching these videos.

The 2025 Kottke Holiday Gift Guide

Need some fun gift ideas? Check out The 2025 Kottke Holiday Gift Guide and put some cool things under the tree this year, like these Richard Scarry Temporary Tattoos…

Talking Favorite and Least Favorite Christmas Songs with Chip and Jeff

Chip and Jeff are back on the mics and are super excited to chat about their favorite and least favorite Christmas songs! They also discuss Brady Bunch, Hawaii, R.E.M. tribute band, Mama’s Family, Nat King Cole, Bruce, David Bowie, Ted Leo and Aimee Mann, The Kinks, The Pretenders, Chip does improv, Sequels to Popular Christmas Carols, Pee-wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special, Chip’s “Deck the Hall & Oates” video, and lots more festive chat.

Listen Now >

Quick Hits

Macaulay Culkin Answers The Web’s Most Searched Questions

It’s Macaulay Culkin Season and he seems like a good dude.

Macaulay Culkin visits WIRED to answer his most searched for questions on Google. Who is Macaulay Culkin named after? What happens at the Home Alone movie tour? Can Macaulay Culkin sing? When did he host Saturday Night Live? Is Macaulay Culkin a nice guy?

Not Sure Why I Made These…

Gift Idea: A Nice Shirt

Do you like R.E.M., napping, pizza, arcades, or running alone in the woods? Well, I have the shirt for you. Get a couple for your friends and family, and please, make sure to (Tom Haverford voice) treat yo self to a quality tee. Your support is greatly appreciated.

View shirts here >

View and Download 1300 Still Images from the Films of Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli

Totoro Still — Animation still from “My Neighbor Totoro” courtesy of Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli

What a wonderful gift for the fans of Studio Ghibli.

“Please feel free to use them within the bounds of common sense.”

Enter the archive of still images here >

More Amazing Music Fun Facts!

You loved the first batch of music fun facts, so I baked up another tray of shareable bite-sized nuggets. For example:

Five actors who sang their own TV theme songs:

“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” – Will Smith
“The Fall Guy” – Lee Majors (“The Unknown Stuntman”)
“Alice” – Linda Lavin (“There’s a New Girl in Town”)
“Gimme a Break!” – Nell Carter
“Walker, Texas Ranger” – Chuck Norris (“Eyes of a Ranger”)

Slayer’s Kerry King played the guitar solos on the Beastie Boys’ hits “No Sleep till Brooklyn” and “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)” in 1986. Regrettably, he took a cash payment instead of royalties.

View Many More >

Merry Big Nick Christmas

This takes a wild turn.

Ted Travelstead’s Vlog

Hey guys, you deserve 5 minutes of pure hilarity.

Colossally Good Gifts

So many cool gifts at the Colossal Shop >

Follow: Dumb Runner on Bluesky

More great running tips at @dumbrunner.bsky.social

Merry Christmas from The Greedies

I was not aware members of Thin Lizzy and the Sex Pistols were a thing at one time. This is pretty fun, also, “Greedies” is short for “The Greedy Bastards.” LOL.

Bluesky

Does anybody have cardboard boxes to spare? I’m helping my dad move and he luvs 2 breakdance.

— Allison Tanenhaus (@atanenhaus.bsky.social) November 22, 2024 at 4:15 PM

I’m a single issue voter and my issue is that those busses that bend in the middle should make accordion noises

— dan mentos (@danmentos.com) December 11, 2025 at 2:57 PM

In the meadow we can build a snowman.
We have the technology.
We can make him better than he was.
Better, rounder, colder.

— Rudolph’s Manager (@dorsalstream.bsky.social) December 2, 2024 at 4:52 PM

The way Santa behaves in the Rudolph story is shameful. Rare L for the big man.

— Christian Alsis (@christianalsis.bsky.social) December 13, 2025 at 8:17 PM

Dreamed I invented something called ‘Hot Pepsi’ and the lawyer I hired to trademark it stole the idea from me.

— Justin Bryant (@justinwriter.bsky.social) December 6, 2025 at 7:03 PM

I thought about saving “stolen squalor” to use in a novel featuring someone who grew up comfortably middle-class but claims hardscrabble working-class roots, but then I remembered I’d have to write the whole novel first, so I’m just posting it.

— Howard Mittelmark (@howardm.bsky.social) December 14, 2025 at 5:46 AM

I had a friend who got a flat tire near my place & she came over to wait & I seamlessly chatted while putting together a brie, Gruyère, almond, grape platter with some white Burgundy like I’m an actual person who eats food & buys supplies & not a robot who lives on fashion & coffee. Proud of me!

— Michael Jay McClure (@mjmimages.bsky.social) December 14, 2025 at 7:18 PM

My dad is 81 so it would be nice if my mom didn’t send me pictures of him napping that say things like ‘he looks so peaceful’

— hot dogs are charcuterie sandwiches (@riothobbit.bsky.social) December 15, 2025 at 11:01 AM

“Wait, hold up, did they just leave him home alone?” (Me, recording my first time watching react video for Home Alone)

— Rob Wesley (@eastwes.bsky.social) December 14, 2025 at 7:50 PM

rain or shine, my windshield wipers are always on full speed as a threat display

— Ygrene (@ygrene.bsky.social) December 12, 2025 at 1:46 PM

“do you want anything from McDonald’s”
me: round egg please

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— Audrey Farnsworth (@audipenny.bsky.social) December 5, 2025 at 5:41 PM

This holiday season, gather the family around the TV and watch this crap. patreon.com/BrianMcFadden

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— Brian McFadden (@mcfadden.bsky.social) December 17, 2025 at 2:21 PM

Attended a small gathering today in which I introduced my family to my moustache for the first time, which was a delightful way to learn dozens of brand new insults about my face.

— Steven (with a PH) (@sjksalisbury.bsky.social) December 17, 2025 at 4:28 PM