On Thu, 20 Jun 2002, Jesse Sheidlower wrote: #I believe the locus classicus for this phrase is _1066 and All That,_ the #1930 history parody. I don't recall "It's a good thing" in that terrific book. I do recall various things and events being classified as "a Good Thing" or "a Bad Thing", which is not the same. (Also Good Kings and Bad Kings.) -- Mark A. Mandel