Dealing With Mom

So my Mom came into town - as she does every Summer - for the entire Summer. And as happens every year - she expects me to not have anything going on and I can do all of these things with her.

But what really aggravates me is how she thinks she can dictate what I do. Specifically - go to her church - a Catholic church.

Here are my problems with that:

1. It's not my church, not my religion, I have strong feelings against the Catholic church. I was not "born a sinner" and do not need the Catholic church to get me to heaven or wherever after I die. I especially do not need the Catholic church seeing how they are more guilty of offenses to what I believe how God wants us to act. Here's a few: Child molestation that was covered up and allowed to continue. Not allowing women to make their own decision in regards to their bodies - abortion rights. That gays and lesbians are somehow "bad" - I have many gay and lesbian friends - they are very good people.

2. When I go to church with my Mom, she gets this evil scowl on her face. Every time. People look, people stare - it looks like something is wrong. Combine this with growing up and having her scream DAILY "Damn you kids" whenever she became frustrated. So I see her getting this scowl - my pre-programmed brain thinks I have done something wrong, people are staring like something is wrong... it is just not worth it. I have told her that it is making me uncomfortable - and she claims it is because she takes church very seriously. So I tell her if she takes church so seriously then why can't she let me make my own decision as to what church I attend? Her reply - because I raised you as a Catholic. Or the even more insane response "because if I buy you brunch then I'm telling you to go to church." You see we usually had been going to brunch either before or after mass - that is until this past weekend. I said forget it. Not doing it anymore.

Why Hollywood is Dying a Slow Death

Hollywood is the heart of the entertainment industry. It is the entertainment capital of the world. It is where the power lives to create the music and movies that enrich our lives.

And Hollywood is dying a slow death. Its walls are falling and the city is being pillaged.

Hollywood's walls of ego have been too high for too long. It is overtly profit driven. It has to be for it to function and feed the escalating ego's of its inhabitants. But that has caused a lot of artistic material and excellent talent to be shunned at the gates. Or worse, fear entering those gates knowing what is behind.

But the times, they certainly are changing. There are a number of technologies coming together that are causing Hollywood to die a slow death. Affordable, high quality digital recording and editing equipment, and affordable worldwide distribution through the Internet.

Think about it. Hollywood is Hollywood because that is where the power lives. The power to make entertainment products, and get the products distributed.

But now we have affordable equipment to allow virtually anyone the ability to create. Albeit, there is the factor of talent - but consider this: where does the talent originate? Everywhere. Surely, Hollywood does not have the magic water that creates the talent. The talent is born throughout - and is drawn to Hollywood. Of course various talents will still need to come together to create - however, they no longer have to be part of the Hollywood system to come together and produce quality product.

Worldwide distribution of these products has also become a reality for people outside of the Hollywood system. Emerging broadband technology and media file technology is allowing artists to distribute their product at extremely low costs - worldwide. Were it not for MP3 and broadband technology, I doubt we would be seeing this mad gold rush by companies outside of Hollywood selling music. The major online music sales players: Real Networks is in Seattle, Apple is in Cupertino ... and Microsoft, who is in Seattle, just entered the market.

Sure these companies are buying the music from BMI et all down in Hollywood. But what's really happening? They are buying old material rights.

Where is the new material being produced? Everywhere else. Indie artists and labels now have it easier than ever to create and distribute music - where ever they may be located. Additionally, they can get worldwide distribution by the same companies who developed the technology that allowed them to creat in the first place!

The NEW power in entertainment is with technology. The power to create AND the power to distribute. And that power isn't in Hollywood anymore.

It's everywhere else.

Hollywood is dying a slow death.

Welcome to a new world.