First Draft Theater

On this All Hallow's Eve Eve, I'm diving into the history of Halloween—specifically its ties to social inversion, political action, and contradictions—to investigate why it is that gay people seem to love Halloween so much.Also, holy bad audio, Batman. I got a new mixer and did a terrible job adjusting the levels. If I weren't trying to get this episode out in time for Halloween, I would've re-recorded to save your ears. So thanks for bearing with me on this one.Links mentioned:Get the full works cited at http://patreon.com/jacksonbirdOne of several wonderful obituaries of David J. Skal https://archive.ph/ADZm0David J. Skal's books https://www.librarything.com/author/skaldavidjMy latest appearance on Harry Potter and the Sacred Text https://www.harrypottersacredtext.com/episodes/every-once-in-a-while-we-like-to-take-step-back-Everything I've said to condemn Harry Potter https://www.jacksonbird.cool/single-post/almost-everything-i-ve-said-publicly-about-harry-potter-and-the-author-who-torched-her-legacyJoin my Stitch Streams on Mondays at 6 PM ET http://twitch.tv./jackisnotabirdMusic courtesy of Epidemic Sound. They're an amazing resource for creators. Want in? Use my referral link to sign up and I'll get a li'l kick back: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/37uu44 Get full access to First Draft Theater at firstdrafttheater.substack.com/subscribe

How to experience the joy of missing out.L I N K S M E N T I O N E DJOMO proliferations:- First book: https://bookshop.org/a/826/9780865717671- App: https://jomo.so/- Song by Eric Hutchinson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQFhOQHCaUM- Movement: https://experiencejomo.com/- Comic: https://www.leunig.com.au/works/recent-cartoons/769-jomoJOMO citations:- https://health.clevelandclinic.org/jomo-the-joy-of-missing-out- https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2024/01/04/fomo-jomo-joy-missing-out/- https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0033294120980970Other:- https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2024/08/same-sex-couples-geographic-variation.html- ‘How to Read a Book’: https://bookshop.org/p/books/how-to-read-a-book-revised-and-updated-mortimer-j-adler/1408400?ean=9780671212094&next=t&affiliate=826- ‘Into the Unknown: Making Frozen 2’ Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vQPPEka0ls- Type 2 Fun: https://www.rei.com/blog/climb/fun-scale- “What is Trans JOMO?” by Flint Del Sol: https://substack.com/@justflintisfine/p-160260900- Trans day of Staying In and Having a Nice Snack: https://www.instagram.com/p/CNEx3k1BHUl/?hl=enEnd Notes:- ‘The Sirens’ Call’ by Chris Hayes: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-sirens-call-how-attention-became-the-world-s-most-endangered-resource-chris-hayes/21744711?ean=9780593653111&next=t&affiliate=826- ‘Slow Productivity’ by Cal Newport: https://bookshop.org/p/books/slow-productivity-the-lost-art-of-accomplishment-without-burnout-cal-newport/20143790?ean=9780593544853&next=t&affiliate=826- ‘The Power of Ritual’ by Casper ter Kuile: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-power-of-ritual-turning-everyday-activities-into-soulful-practices-casper-ter-kuile/18996866?ean=9780062881823&next=t&affiliate=826- Many resources on tech shabbats by Tiffany Shlain: https://www.tiffanyshlain.com/tech-shabbat- “An Obituary for Reading the Internet” by Anne Helen Peterson: https://annehelen.substack.com/p/an-obituary-for-reading-the-internet- Mozilla’s announcement about shutting down Pocket: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/future-of-pocketJack of All Trades:- SciShow Tangents Poetry Collection’: **https://complexly.store/products/tangents-poetry-collection- My short video about what I learned my first winter in New England: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Xa851HYV3vc- My long video about why I left NYC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCtjoE7jAD0&feature=youtu.be- Get in touch with my speaking bureau: https://www.freshspeakers.com/speakers/jackson-bird/- Or email me directly at jacksonbirdbiz@gmail.comFollow me:- http://firstdrafttheater.substack.com- http://jacksonbird.cool- http://youtube.com/jackisnotabird- http://instagram.com/jackisnotabird- https://bsky.app/profile/jackisnotabird.cool- http://twitch.tv/jackisnotabird Get full access to First Draft Theater at firstdrafttheater.substack.com/subscribe

Post-election thoughts on coping and not waiting for permissionLinks:Transgender History: The Roots of Today's Revolution by Susan Stryker: https://bookshop.org/p/books/transgender-history-the-roots-of-today-s-revolution-susan-stryker/7605046?ean=9781580056892Loren Rex Cameron tribute service: https://vimeo.com/854714199Body Alchemy by Loren Rex Cameron https://archive.org/details/2023-07-24-64becdf-6d-94be-transsexualportraitsfull-compressedRecommendations:The reFRESH newsletter on Substack: https://refreshnewsletter.substack.com/FRESH Labs' The Green Room podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/freshlabsthegreenroom/episodes/Episode-3--Shannon-Watts---How-your-flaws-can-be-your-superpower-e2pi10fAhsante Bean's democracy video series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqUsmlaOefYShakespeare In a Divided America by James Shapiro: https://bookshop.org/p/books/shakespeare-in-a-divided-america-what-his-plays-tell-us-about-our-past-and-future-james-shapiro/12077112?ean=9780525522317Small excerpt of the chapter I mentioned: https://lithub.com/shakespeare-and-the-culture-wars-on-the-movement-for-color-blind-casting/What I've Been Up To:My latest video, about moving and big life changes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCtjoE7jAD0Selected short-form videos:- My 2023 Twilight phase (Instagram version)- The unexpected hobby I took up after the podcast ended (Instagram version)- This top-recommended Halloween destination is also one of my favorites to visit for Christmas (Instagram version)- A fun way to track the books you read in a year (Instagram version)- A 2-for-1 Ghostbusters travel recommendation (Instagram version) Get full access to First Draft Theater at firstdrafttheater.substack.com/subscribe

If you, like me, think my book ‘Sorted’ could use an update, I have a recommendation for you. Links:My first book, Sorted: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Sorted/Jackson-Bird/9781982130770Blog post about everything I've said about Harry Potter and the Author Who Torched Her Legacy: https://www.jacksonbird.cool/single-post/almost-everything-i-ve-said-publicly-about-harry-potter-and-the-author-who-torched-her-legacyThe episode of How do you like it so far? that I was on: https://www.howdoyoulikeitsofar.org/1325-2/Timestamps for How do you like it so far?:0:00 - Origin story10:45 - TERF Talk38:00 - HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series46:20 - What I’ve been up to in recent years, and what I think about making art for different mediums as well as on topics beyond HP / trans stuffRecommendations:Material Girls podcast: https://www.ohwitchplease.ca/material-girlsRachel Maddow on Seth Meyers: https://youtu.be/oNnyTqae-zM?si=pGzv-k6sjT0Hcg66&t=30Cher's new Christmas album: https://open.spotify.com/album/4Eeeg4yMb5qtMEm0lk6lDM?si=nnIE1aMHTCmztlHP97rpVwEarth, Wind, and Fire's 2014 Christmas album: https://open.spotify.com/album/2clJOOkMz707eU2OnHgS0z?si=9z3KliFmSoW9RM5KLFE55AChris Daily's latest Christmas album: https://chrisdaily.bandcamp.com/album/seasonal-soundsPaul DeGeorge's Christmas mixes: http://pauldegeorge.com/index.php/xmas-mixes/Resource document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZWq5PwfCMRd54Ovs61Jtr8Mxfhqp1tvaiu5sy1b_LsM/edit?usp=sharingWhat I've Been Up To:See me in The Infinite Wrench: https://www.nyneofuturists.org/tiwDonate to our 20th anniversary fundraiser: https://pages.donately.com/newyorkneofuturists/fundraiser/jack-s-ny-neo-futurist-20th-anniversary-fundraising-pageLatest episode of Harry Potter and the Sacred Text that I guest hosted: https://www.harrypottersacredtext.com/episodes/this-week-vanessa-and-jackson-bird-explore-the-theme-of-possibility-in-chapter-eighteen-of-harry-potter-and-the-order-of-the-phoenix-they-discuss-the-room-of-requirement-dobbys-newly-free-life-and-umbridges-stifling-oversight-throughout-the-episode-we-consider-the-question-how-do-we-discern-what-kinds-of-change-are-possible-in-our-current-stage-of-life--next-week-were-looking-at-the-entire-series-through-the-theme-of-intellectual-humilityMy latest YouTube video: https://youtu.be/H433bjjxR0A Get full access to First Draft Theater at firstdrafttheater.substack.com/subscribe

Some notes on Substack Notes, a few (unintentionally queer) recommendations, and updates from my projects.Links:The first episode of Techmeme Ride Home I guest hosted this week, which includes more on the Substack vs. Twitter beef https://art19.com/shows/techmeme-ridehome/episodes/e7ac2988-631f-4ddb-a848-02837c8dbaaaEverything to know about using Notes https://on.substack.com/p/notes-faqWhy I'm ehhhh on Substack generally https://mashable.com/article/substack-writers-leaving-misinformationFraming Agnes trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYnzUodIl14Sharing Space from The Trevor Project, episode one featuring Daniel Radcliffe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBFvppAL48UThe Northern Boys' "Give It To Me" music video (audio NSFW) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zljDDcTnTG0My Cool Stuff Ride Home segment on the Northern Boys https://art19.com/shows/coronavirus-daily-briefing/episodes/ece9b8a8-dbd4-4181-96a8-84841991f629The Gender Friend by Oakley Rae Phoenix https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-gender-friend-a-102-guide-to-gender-identity-oakley-phoenix/18491568?ean=9781839973574Tickets for The Infinite Wrench https://www.nyneofuturists.org/tiw Get full access to First Draft Theater at firstdrafttheater.substack.com/subscribe

Plus corn cob crust pizza and an update on the Internet Archive.Links I mentioned:Kate Erbland's review of A Good Person https://www.indiewire.com/2023/03/a-good-person-zach-braff-manic-pixie-dream-girl-1234821853/Nathan Rabin's review of Elizabethtown https://www.avclub.com/the-bataan-death-march-of-whimsy-case-file-1-elizabet-1798210595Joseph Goron-Levitt addressing 500 Days of Summer https://www.teenvogue.com/story/joseph-gordon-levitt-tweets-500-days-of-summerJohn Green addressing Looking for Alaska https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r4S9iTje0sCool Stuff Ride Home episode about "goblin mode" being the OED's 2022 Word of the Year https://www.ridehome.info/show/kottke-ride-home/mon-1205-will-sherlock-holmes-go-goblin-mode/My "Manic Pixie Dream Wannabe" play https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7e2Iz0Fcs4sLady Charles' "Manic Pixie Dream Boy" music video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5Ayoo8yiT0Lady Charles' "Godx" music video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7icDShiwoewLittle Caesars' Corncob crust pizza https://www.dexerto.com/entertainment/little-caesars-new-corncob-pizza-crust-has-the-internet-split-2092465/Pretzel crust announcement https://www.tiktok.com/@littlecaesarspizza/video/7215210227950636334Trans Legislation Tracker https://translegislation.com/The Trans Week project https://www.trans-week.com/The Gender Friend by Oakley Phoenix* https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-gender-friend-a-102-guide-to-gender-identity-oakley-phoenix/18491568?ean=9781839973574Oakley's book launch https://events.willamette.edu/event/memoir-writing-workshop--book-launch-party-1/The Infinite Wrench https://www.nyneofuturists.org/tiwOnline registration for the Moving Trans History Forward conference https://www.uvic.ca/mthf2023/registration/index.phpUniversity of Victoria's Trans Archive https://www.uvic.ca/transgenderarchives/*If you use this Bookshop.org link, I'll get a little kickback Get full access to First Draft Theater at firstdrafttheater.substack.com/subscribe

About Those New Moon Suits… Plus, soapy chicken, Blackberry, and SUPER BLOOM.Links I mentioned:Axiom/NASA moonsuit announcement livestream https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KnOtI4fS3UNYT fashion critic on the moon suits https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/15/style/nasa-axiom-new-spacesuit.htmlAstounding by Alec-Nevala Lee https://bookshop.org/a/826/9780062571953Moonrise podcast https://www.washingtonpost.com/podcasts/moonrise/introducing-moonrise/Paul Rudd asks NASA about the quantum realm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZp5-TFTlIYThe For All Mankind companion podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/for-all-mankind-the-official-podcast/id1552072013More on the NYT's irresponsible and sloppy reporting on trans issues https://www.glaad.org/new-york-times-sign-on-letter-from-lgtbq-allied-leaders-and-organizationsThe video I shot of the Super Bloom https://youtube.com/shorts/nL0EXEiBRiE?feature=shareThe CIA's old policy of not hiring gay people https://www.muckrock.com/news/archives/2018/may/11/cia-polygraph/The CIA now cruises at SXSW https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/what-is-the-cia-doing-at-sxsw/Blackberry trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXL_HDzBQsMOne of my favorite ProZD videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUrRsx-F_bsSoapy Costco chicken https://www.bonappetit.com/story/why-costco-rotisserie-chicken-taste-soapyManhunt by Gretchen Felker-Martin https://bookshop.org/a/826/9781250794642The Gender Friend by Oakley Phoenix https://bookshop.org/a/826/9781839973574Oakley's book launch that I'll be at https://events.willamette.edu/event/memoir-writing-workshop--book-launch-party-1/The Infinite Wrench, which I'll be performing in this spring https://www.nyneofuturists.org/tiwFollow me on YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok at jackisnotabirdIf you use the above links to purchase any of the books I mentioned, I'll get a little kickback. Get full access to First Draft Theater at firstdrafttheater.substack.com/subscribe

In this introductory episode, I explain the meaning behind the name of this newsletter and give the podcasting feature a test drive.Subscribe on Substack: http://firstdrafttheater.substack.comWatch on YouTube: http://youtube.com/jackisnotabirdLinks I mentioned:Please Report Your Bug Here by Josh Riedel* https://bookshop.org/p/books/please-report-your-bug-here-josh-riedel/18396148?ean=9781250813794Almond milk is milk! https://apnews.com/article/us-food-and-drug-administration-business-health-nutrition-ed2acef14a014eef30a0fd24f98be07bDavid Bowie impersonating other popular musicians https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrtXFTw2icoWhich generation controls the Senate? https://www.wcd.fyi/features/senate-generations/My guest spot on Harry Potter and the Sacred Text https://www.harrypottersacredtext.com/episodes/vulnerability-the-house-elf-liberation-front-bookThe summer camp-style retreat hosted by Not Sorry https://notsorryworks.com/calling-all-magnificent-people Everything I've said about JKR https://www.jacksonbird.cool/single-post/almost-everything-i-ve-said-publicly-about-harry-potter-and-the-author-who-torched-her-legacyTickets for The Infinite Wrench https://www.nyneofuturists.org/tiwThe Neo-Futurists’ Instagram to check for show updates https://www.instagram.com/nyneofuturists/ The music you heard was “Trumpet Man” by Timothy Infinite, available on Epidemic Sound. Want access to tons of really great tracks? Use my ambassador link: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/37uu44*If you use this Bookshop.Org link, I’ll get a little kickback Get full access to First Draft Theater at firstdrafttheater.substack.com/subscribe