Winning Slowly

Warning: this episode touches on some very difficult topics, including both death in general and suicide in particular. If these are especially sensitive topics for you, we recommend you skip this episode. Maybe go back and listen to Superhero Movies! (http://www.winningslowly.org/2014/08/superhero-movies/) instead. Show Notes In which we talk about The Collection's new album, Ars Moriendi (“The Art of Dying”). We cover the musicality of the album itself, then dive into the way it wrestles with hard topics in a faithfully Christian way without either succumbing to despair or giving into the lure of trite and reductionistic answers. We talk about what good art is and does and how utilitarianism is a fundamental misstep in the making of good art, and we note that culture at large and evangelical subculture could do with a great deal more of this sort of thoughtful reflection on death. Chapters ◦ Intro (“The Gown of Green”) (0:30–3:09) ◦ This Is An Orchestra (3:09–12:03) ◦ “Broken Tether” (12:03–13:47) ◦ Those Lyrics (13:47–20:48) ◦ You Have to Go Through Death (20:48–28:33) ◦ Conclusion (28:33–29:48) ◦ Instrumental Break (29:48–30:01) Music ◦ “The Gown of Green” and “Broken Tether” from Ars Moriendi (http://thecollection.bandcamp.com/album/ars-moriendi) by The Collection: used by permission. ◦ “Winning Slowly Theme” by Chris Krycho: used because while it's not as wonderful as Ars Moriendi, it was written just for the show. Links ◦ Ars Moriendi (https://thecollection.bandcamp.com/album/ars-moriendi) on Bandcamp. Seriously, why haven't you gone and bought this album yet? ◦ Episode 0.06 – Romans: The Movie (http://www.winningslowly.org/2014/03/romans-the-movie/), in which Chris and Stephen talked at length about the question of good art. Follow/Subscribe ◦ iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/winning-slowly/id807603957?mt=2) ◦ Twitter (https://twitter.com/winningslowly) ◦ Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/winningslowlypodcast) ◦ App.net (https://alpha.app.net/winningslowly)

# Show Notes In which we talk about superhero movies as context for dealing well and poorly with success and failure. And geek out about superhero movies. (Honestly, we mostly just geek out about superhero movies.) But along the way, we do note that DC, Marvel, Sony, and Fox have dealt with their successes and failures in some radically different ways, and note some ways in which we might all learn from our superhero friends. Also, we unabashedly make mistakes ourselves, own them, and laugh at them. One of them might even be after the theme music at the end. ## Chapters ◦ Intro (1:23) ◦ Marvel/DC/Sony/Fox (1:23–5:22) ◦ Reboots (5:22–8:53) ◦ Copying the Other Guy (8:53–15:34) ◦ Not Learning From Failure (15:34–19:25) ◦ The Gold Standard (19:25–28:12) ◦ Conclusion (28:12–29:28) ◦ “You Just Forgot to Do the Other Half of That” (29:28–29:39) # Music ◦ “Break Away”, from A Million Miles Away, by Afterlife Parade. Used by permission. http://afterlifeparade.bandcamp.com/album/a-million-miles-away ◦ “Winning Slowly Theme”, by Chris Krycho. Used because he’s actually a superhero? https://soundcloud.com/chriskrycho/winning-slowly # Links ◦ X-Men on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-Men_(film_series) ◦ Kevin Feige’s master plan for the Marvel Universe: http://www.wired.com/2013/08/kevin-feige-marvel-dc-movies/all/ ◦ Star Wars trailer cut to the beats of the Guardians of the Galaxy trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLyNMSkTiGg ## Follow/Subscribe ◦ iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/winning-slowly/id807603957?mt=2 ◦ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/winningslowly ◦ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/winningslowlypodcast ◦ App.net: https://alpha.app.net/winningslowly ◦ RSS Feed: http://www.winningslowly.org/feed.xml

# Show Notes In which we look (rather critically) at the tech sphere’s tendency to assume everything not only can but should be disrupted. Snarky asides on smartwatches and smartshoes segue into a discussion of the necessity of humility and the importance of recognizing what technology *cannot* do and what it *should* not do. Note: by “disruption” we are focused not on the particular concept developed by Clay Christensen, but on the popular view of the word. We are aware of the distinction, but decided to set it aside for the purposes of this particular episode. • MOOCs: Massively Open Online Courses (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massive_open_online_course) ## Chapters • Intro (2:09) • MOOCs! Watches! Shoes! (2:09–9:06) • The Cult of Disruption (9:06–15:32) • Technological Imperialism (15:32–21:22) • Recognizing Tech’s Limitations (21:22–27:36) • Conclusion (27:36–28:36) # Music • “Cado Año (Version Two)”, from For Tomorrow Will Worry About Itself (http://fierycrash.bandcamp.com/album/for-tomorrow-will-worry-about-itself-ep), by Fiery Crash. Used by permission. • “Winning Slowly Theme” (https://soundcloud.com/chriskrycho/winning-slowly), by Chris Krycho. Used by dint of being written the show. # Links • Chris’ friend Kyle West, now self-publishing successfully: ◦ website (http://kylewestwriter.wordpress.com/) ◦ Twitter (https://twitter.com/kylewestwriter) ◦ Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/kyledangerwest/about) ## Follow/Subscribe • iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/winning-slowly/id807603957?mt=2) • Twitter (https://www.twitter.com/winningslowly) • Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/winningslowlypodcast) • App.net (https://alpha.app.net/winningslowly) • RSS Feed (http://www.winningslowly.org/feed.xml)

# Show Notes In which we talk about one of the *longest* views: family. In particular, we look at the ways that all our pursuits—especially those having to do with family—force us to make choices about what we value most and to allocate our time accordingly. After all, one's impact on one's family is far more long-lasting than nearly anything else we do. We also spend some time thinking about the responsibilities of corporations to develop expectations that support families as genuinely valuable to culture ## Chapters • Intro (2:43) • You Can't Have It All (2:43–11:55) • Singleness Not a Disaster (11:55–16:32) • Family, Work, Innovation, and the Long View (16:32–28:50) • Conclusion (28:50–32:09) # Music • “Walls For The Wind” (http://theparmesans.bandcamp.com), from Nature's Burrito, by The Parmesans. Used by permission. • “Winning Slowly Theme” (https://soundcloud.com/chriskrycho/winning-slowly), by Chris Krycho. Used by dint of being written the show. Not too bad for a digitally voiced piano.

# Show Notes We talk about Facebook’s much-discussed study of user responses to variations in their News Feed: what did Facebook do, exactly? Was it ethical? What responsibilities do users and consumers of different media (social included) have? What reponsibilities do companies have to their users? ## Chapters • Intro (1:08) • Facebook’s Social (Network) Science (1:08–12:02) • User Responsibility (12:02–17:46) • Corporate Ethics (17:46–27:00) • Conclusion (27:00–30:00) # Music • “Summerooms Social” (http://summerooms.bandcamp.com/track/summerooms-social), from Summerooms [original master] by Summerooms. Used by permission. • “Winning Slowly Theme” (https://soundcloud.com/chriskrycho/winning-slowly), by Chris Krycho. Used by dint of being written the show. Also: it’s sweeeet. # Links • Facebook tinkered with users’ feeds for a massive psychology experiment (http://www.avclub.com/article/facebook-tinkered-users-feeds-massive-psychology-e-206324), by William Hughes • In Defense of Facebook (http://www.talyarkoni.org/blog/2014/06/28/in-defense-of-facebook/), by Tal Yarkoni (and see the comments for a helpful back-and-forth)

# Show Notes In which we talk about how watching companies like Google, Apple, and Facebook try to “pivot”—that is, attempting (and usually failing) to do something outside their core areas of competency—highlights the difficulty of institutional change in general. We apply this idea to everything from the strengths and weaknesses of different Christian denominations to the way structural change occurs in the government. A few explanatory comments: • Yes, we’re fully aware that the PCA (to which Stephen belongs) has *lots* of missionaries on the field, and that Southern Baptists’ (of which Chris is one) views on alcohol are a great deal more complicated than just generic grumpiness. But those details are less important to the particular discussion we were having today. • “The most open of [the Creative Commons licenses]” (from when Stephen's mind blanked trying to refer to it at the end of the show) is the Attribution 4.0 license. Read more about it here: http://www.winningslowly.org/licenses.html. ## Chapters • Intro (1:32) • Tech Companies (1:32–8:16) • Denominations Don't Change Fast Either (8:16–14:26) • Dealing in Institutional Realities (14:26–23:06) • Conclusion (23:06–24:24) # Music • “Sandbridge” (http://willcopps.bandcamp.com), from Places, by Brittany Jean and Will Copps. Used by permission. • “Winning Slowly Theme” (https://soundcloud.com/chriskrycho/winning-slowly), by Chris Krycho. Used because it’s awesome! (You know it’s true.) # Links Things we mentioned in the show—news, books, articles, etc. • Report: Google to end forced G+ integration, drastically cut division resources (http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2014/04/report-google-to-end-forced-g-integration-drastically-cut-division-resources/) • Facebook buying Oculus VR for $2 billion (http://www.theverge.com/2014/3/25/5547456/facebook-buying-oculus-for-2-billion) • Apple reportedly nearing $3.2B acquisition of Beats Electronics (http://appleinsider.com/articles/14/05/08/apple-reportedly-nearing-32-billion-buy-for-beats-electronics) • Culture Making (http://www.amazon.com/Culture-Making-Recovering-Creative-Calling-ebook/dp/B001IDYIMY/), Andy Crouch • To Change the World (http://www.amazon.com/Change-World-Tragedy-Possibility-Christianity-ebook/dp/B003TWNDVY/), James Davison Hunter

# Show Notes In which we talk about App.net closing down, how even good business models do not guarantee successful businesses, and the future of paying for things on the internet—especially whether social media will ever be the kind of thing people are willing to pay for. ## Chapters • Intro (0:53) • Follow-up: Fixed and Marginal Costs (0:53–1:44) • What Happened to ADN? (1:44–7:26) • Paying to Socialize (7:26–17:41) • Free or Not Free (17:41–23:00) • Conclusion (23:00–24:47) # Music • “Mountain Song” (http://little-chief.bandcamp.com/album/lions-den), from Lion's Den by Little Chief. Used by permission. • “Winning Slowly Theme” (https://soundcloud.com/chriskrycho/winning-slowly), by Chris Krycho. Used because we don't need permission to use our own stuff! # Links • [App.Net State of the Union](http://blog.app.net/2014/05/06/app-net-state-of-the-union/) – in which Dalton Caldwell (founder of App.net) announced publicly the layoffs and future of the service.

# Show Notes In which we talk about headline-writing in general, click-bait headlines in particular, and why we don't think that click-bait headlines are a “best practice”—or really a good thing at all. How these realities shape all sorts of discourse, not just headline-writing, including political stances. Note: Chris kept talking about Slate when he meant *not* Slate (and specifically "Pajiba.com"). *His bad.* ## Chapters • Intro (1:26) • Headline-Writing (1:26–6:58) • Whether Ends Justify Means (6:58–12:30) • Means Shape Ends (12:30–16:47) • Truthy, or Truly? (16:47–21:07) • Conclusion (21:07–22:10) # Music • “Nightingale Movement I” (http://thedukeofnorfolk.bandcamp.com/album/birds-fly-south), from Birds… Fly South!, by The Duke of Norfolk – used by permission. • “Winning Slowly Theme” (https://soundcloud.com/chriskrycho/winning-slowly), by Chris Krycho. Used because it was written just so you could hear it at the end of every show! # Links • “How Salon.com Rewrote My Headline and Turned Me Into an Internet Troll” (http://www.pajiba.com/think_pieces/how-saloncom-rewrote-my-headline-and-turned-me-into-an-internet-troll.php)

# Show Notes In which we tackle copyright (or left, as you like), barely touch on patents, and generally try to think about how to handle questions of intellectual property as consumers and creators thereof in the brave new world of digital economics and cheap copies of everything (even Nike shoes). ## Chapters • Intro (1:02) • The Reason for Copyright (1:02–8:22) • Valuing Products in Different Ways (8:22–19:55) • "Pay Me For This Thing" (19:55–26:55) • Conclusion (28:10) # Music We know. Pretty sweet sounds. Even if we do say so ourselves. • “New Life” (http://themidnightsons.bandcamp.com), from the album New Life, by Stephen Carradini. Used because we can do whatever we want with our own music! (Turns out, in this case, so can you…) • “Winning Slowly Theme” (https://soundcloud.com/chriskrycho/winning-slowly), by Chris Krycho. See above! # Links Things we talked about in the show you might want to read some more about. We give them to you for free! • Spreadable Media: Creating Value and Meaning in a Networked Culture (http://www.amazon.com/Spreadable-Media-Creating-Networked-Postmillennial/dp/0814743501/), by Henry Jenkins • Stratechery.fm Episode 02: Fat as a Service (http://stratechery.fm/episode-002-fat-as-a-service-faas/) • CCLI (http://us.ccli.com/licenses-and-services/church-copyright-license/) – church copyright licenses, designed to allow churches to use music in their services without paying exorbitant fees

# Show Notes In which we talk about how anyone with a camera can be a "photographer," anyone with a laptop can be a "musician," anyone with a SquareSpace account can be a "designer," and so on---and how these things are both beautifully empowering and incredibly frustrating for the pros in these fields. ## Chapters - Intro (2:54) - Prosumerization (2:54--12:42) - I'm-Trying-To-Be-A-Professional Buttons (12:42--20:15) - The Digital Economy (20:15--27:51) - Conclusion (27:51--29:08) # Music - "Old Foes" (http://yaquinabay.bandcamp.com), by Yaquina Bay. Used by permission. - "Winning Slowly Theme" (https://soundcloud.com/chriskrycho/winning-slowly), by Chris Krycho. Used by dint of being written for the show. # Links Things we mentioned in the show you might care about: - Squarespace design kerfuffle (http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2014/01/on-january-22-squarespacehttpwwwsquarespacecom-ann.html) - Ben Thompson/Stratechery (http://stratechery.com)