If you could bring 10 items with you to the Northwest territory during the 1780s what would it be?
Water, ammo for the gun, trading items, whiskey, extra clothing or blankets in case it gets cold, a plan or map of where you are going, resources to keep you and your horse shelter, grain for your horse, and a match might come in handy to light a fire. Edit: You being a greenhorn and all, you might want a trail guide? LOL, Good luck with your assignment, sounds fun!
Are "Doomsday Preppers" realistic or just crazy?
Ah, finally a good question I can answer with real knowledge. The TV program has some serious flaws, specifically 2: 1. It focuses on extremists. 2. The "theme" of the show focuses on people who are preparing for a specific thing. I realize this is just Hollywood and they have to have a shtick, so I don't hold it against them too much, but the show is unrealistic and is an offense to real "preppers". Of which I am one. So I will address both #1 and #2. 1: I think the simplest way to mythbust this one is to recall to your attention your great grandmother. She grew some food in her home garden, canned a lot of it for the winter and almost certainly had a shotgun. She knew that credit was a trap and "if I can't afford to pay for it today, I can't buy it today". She was mostly self-sufficient and definitely self-reliant. Same for your great grandfather. Think about it, this is how humans have lived for 100,000 years, before Socialist "safety nets" and living in cities was invented. People took care of themselves, mostly in a rural environment where there were no systems of support, so they had to do for themselves and rely on the local community (and be there for them when sh*t turned weird) for everyday life and emergencies. 2: Only stupid people prepare for a specific emergency. Because there is a "commonality of disaster". meaning you always need the same things no matter what comes down. You need shelter, water, energy, food, defense, communication, medical care, and a reason to live and help your fellow man. I confess that I do watch the show, but I have major objections to it. It is too sensationalized. About as unreal as a 'reality' show. Their 15 minutes of fame.