For complete transparency, I have been on a soft boycott of Hollywood for many years. And by “soft” boycott, I mean I will only go to see movies that are verified “unwoke.” That’s why in the past five years I’ve only seen Top Gun: Maverick and John Wick 4.
I mention that because I may be biased with my belief that I’m not missing much. Hollywood has been stuck in a creative slump for years with everyone seemingly focused on remakes, reboots, regurgitations, and comic book blockbusters, none of which make for good moviemaking. Now, it seems Hollywood will take its failures and exacerbate them by ramping up their omnipresent wokeness to ludicrous speed.
Here’s a brief writeup by Discern News Wire followed by my further commentary:
Controversy Surrounds Academy Awards’ New Diversity Guidelines for Best Picture Nominees
The Academy Awards have come under fire for their recent implementation of diversity and inclusion guidelines, specifically for films vying for the “Best Picture” Oscar. Several voting members have expressed their concerns after the Academy Awards introduced the Aperture 2025 initiative, a comprehensive set of regulations aimed at promoting equity and diversity in Hollywood.
Critics argue that the guidelines are excessive and undermine the authenticity of the casting process. One director interviewed by The Post stated, “I’m all for diversity, but mandating specific types of people for nominations? It feels contrived. The best person for the role should be chosen. Why limit the choices? Unfortunately, this is the world we live in now. It’s crazy.”
Starting in 2024, film producers and directors will be required to submit a dossier to the Academy, providing information about the race, gender, sexual orientation, and disability status of the cast and crew members involved in their films. According to reports, one prominent Hollywood producer mentioned that very few industry insiders support these guidelines but choose not to speak out due to fears of cancel culture.
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Critics argue that iconic films such as “The Godfather” and “Schindler’s List” might not have qualified for Best Picture under the new inclusion guidelines. Concerns have been raised about the potential chilling effect on artistic freedom and creativity if every film is required to conform to specific criteria for a nomination. Additionally, esteemed actor Richard Dreyfuss strongly condemned the new inclusivity standards in a recent interview, describing them as nauseating.
During an interview on “Firing Line,” Dreyfuss expressed his vehement opposition, stating, “They make me vomit.” He defended his rejection of the concept, emphasizing that film is not only a commercial endeavor but also an art form. He firmly believed that artists should not be compelled to conform to constantly shifting moral standards.
Dreyfuss further argued against special treatment for any particular group, stating, “I don’t think there’s a minority or a majority in the country that has to be catered to like that.”
The Oscars released the controversial guidelines in 2020, stating that they aimed to encourage equitable representation both on and off the screen, reflecting the diversity of movie audiences. Failure to adhere to these stringent guidelines could result in disqualification from Oscar consideration for films lacking sufficient representation of people of color, individuals with disabilities, or those who identify as LGBTQ+.
Despite facing backlash from Oscar voters and critics, a Best Picture winner at the 2023 Academy Awards, “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” managed to meet the inclusion criteria. The sci-fi indie film featured a predominantly Asian cast, including Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan.
Some Hollywood executives are willing to accept the new guidelines but with certain reservations. One executive stated, “We want to be inclusive, but it’s essential to make the best movie. It’s unreasonable to include a person from a specific ethnic group if they don’t belong to the story being told. Similarly, featuring an LGBTQ+ character should align with the narrative. Imposing restrictions can undermine the integrity of the film and hinder its success at the box office.”
The debate surrounding these diversity guidelines continues as industry insiders grapple with the balance between fostering inclusivity and maintaining creative freedom in filmmaking.
Diversity Versus Forced Diversity
Let’s be clear. I’m all for natural diversity. I’m a mixed-race legal immigrant married to a mixed-race American citizen with very mixed-race children. I believe that diversity in the proper context can strengthen us. But that’s a far cry from the forced diversity that’s plaguing this nation and forcing institutions to make decisions based solely on race, gender, and other Cultural Marxist considerations rather than merit.
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Imagine a world in which Godfather couldn’t even qualify to win Best Picture. That’s the world we live in today. So when I say I have been soft-boycotting Hollywood for years, I think it’s finally time to make it a hard boycott.
But this isn’t really about Hollywood. This is about our society’s collision course with oblivion. Movies are frivolous. Meaningless. What happens when forced diversity impacts areas that are not frivolous?
The military is an obvious example. For the first time in my life, I’m actually very concerned that our warfighters are not properly prepared to face threats abroad. It’s not because the warfighters themselves are any worse than in the past. It’s not that our technology hasn’t kept pace. It’s the woke attitude pervasive in the Pentagon that concerns me.
What about education? Healthcare? Law enforcement? What about the fact that airline pilot qualifications are being hampered by forced diversity to the point that the best pilots are being passed over because they don’t check enough boxes?
This isn’t something we can vote our way out of any time soon. Any surge of lucid patriots making their way into offices of government cannot come quickly enough. We’re faced with two possible outcomes. Either we will watch forced diversity prompt a massive disaster (and not just in the form of Kamala Harris) or we will double our efforts to dispel this worldview.
Pushing back on Bud Light and Target for trans-indoctrination practices is a start, but it’s not nearly enough. We need every business that engages in forced diversity to hear the same message that Anheuser-Busch got, only louder. It’s not just about LGBTQIA+ supremacy. It’s about all forms of forced diversity.
We either address this now while we still have a nation or we will watch helplessly as the truly “woke” get their wish of a dismantled United States of America.
Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
