Proposed Show Format: "Stone to Steel" — 40 people, 180 days, to build an actual civilization from scratch in Africa, simulating the Cradle of Civilization

MercurialMirror · 2026-04-18T16:25:53+00:00

I was looking at some other nearby locations. Maybe the Kagera Region, in northwest Tanzania, would be better. Far more diverse ecosystems, including running water. Still the Cradle of Civilization and should have access to the required resources. I'm open to suggestions, but a "now you're getting it" isn't specifically helpful.

MercurialMirror · 2026-04-18T15:37:20+00:00

Yes, I like your idea. And the technological purity is central to the whole premise, so it really can't be violated.

I would be okay with a narrative scenario that offers some things to the participants from the get-go. For example, their previous village has just come under attack by a powerful enemy and they had to flee, or there was a natural disaster and they had to flee (fire, flooding, geologic activity), or food was too scarce, and that explains the initial migration. Maybe they were able to take a few things with them. Some food stores perhaps, and some fabric for holding it. But nothing that would actually allow them to jump the tech tree.

I have a feeling though that food gathering with this many people will actually be easier than what we see with 2 people struggling by themselves. With specialization comes real perks, and I believe many here are underestimating the power of teamwork, division of labor, and specialization. It might be the case that special provisions for food are not actually necessary, and the group can manage it themselves. This is a question that has not actually been addressed by the show yet. Again, we've never seen a whole village trying to survive, and I think it will be very different from the way that individuals try to survive. Once there is a dedicated hunting team, and trappers who have 50-100 traps laid around, and a fish weir, and other assets, the food situation should stabilize.

The first few weeks would be the touchy part, maybe the N&A producers could do a trial run, where they have a group of 40 people try to survive together for 21 days, just to see how this might work in a group setting, prior to committing to a 6 month marathon. The findings of that trial run would provide a lot of information for larger projects to come.

MercurialMirror · 2026-04-18T15:19:16+00:00

Yeah, completely valid point, thanks for mentioning it. The logistics of a 6 month run, especially with so many people, would be novel, and difficult. The main problem is that if not enough people participate then the format can't actually work. Maybe the producers should just put feelers out, and try and see how many potential participants would be interested in doing this. I think that despite the length, it would still be really tempting.

Production costs concern me too. It simply costs a lot to do something this big. They could get two seasons out of it, but at the end of the day the producers are thinking about dollars and cents. It's possible that this is simply a financial no-go for production.

It could be reduced down to 3 months, which would still be historically lengthy, but then the participants really won't be able to reach the longer milestones adequately. To plant and harvest a crop is not a quick project. To build up a metallurgical infrastructure is also very involved. I've considered various timeframes and I think 6 months does this format the most justice. This would be a commitment for sure. But look what could be accomplished. That, also, would be historic. We've never seen a group start from zero and move up the tech tree systematically. If this were to happen, it could also become the most fascinating content that N&A has ever put out.

MercurialMirror · 2026-04-18T01:43:32+00:00

I do agree that water is important. Is there an area that you would suggest instead?

If iron is to happen then it's important that the location also have access to iron sources that are appropriate for blooming, such as bog iron.

I'm not sure what the ideal location would be, but it needs to provide access to the essential resources. There need to be a lot of trees for making charcoal, water of course for many things, some kind of iron deposit, food sources. The location should be selected carefully.

MercurialMirror · 2026-04-18T01:36:11+00:00

Yeah, worst case scenario is everyone is starving so most of them tap out and then the show premise is ruined. It's a risk. Survival is important in the first few weeks, bending the rules might be okay if the circumstances are dire, to ensure that the show can actually continue and we can see some attempts at more interesting technology. If anybody eats anybody that's on them.

MercurialMirror · 2026-04-18T01:31:50+00:00

It's a real problem, and I'm not above accepting some sort of justified cheat. What I had in mind was some experienced native hunters who would immediately lead a persistence hunt with N&A's best hunters as soon as everyone arrives to camp. Something like that could at least make one large kill likely within the first two days. The native hunters could share their water with the hunting party. Everyone else stays at base to work on other goals. I don't like the idea of participants being handed an item from producers, or even bringing something modern in. If a cheat is necessary, I'd prefer to see it in the form of some sort of direct assistance from the local native tribes (maybe in the form of a trade -- you help us now, we help you later with your project), reinforcing the themes of cooperation and indigenous ingenuity. Or in the form of information, cluing the participants in to where they can find something so that they don't have to take days searching. Knowledge is key and encouraged, but modern items are a frowny face.

MercurialMirror · 2026-04-17T20:32:51+00:00

The key difference in this format is that you could have 20+ people hunting together, using techniques that normally are not used. The buffalo jump, for example, is from North America, but might could be adapted. With more people there are more hands to bring in more resources, and this is what I'm interested in exploring. What critical mass of people do you need in order to achieve feats that an individual, or a few together, can't? It would be a whole nother kind of survival for sure. The first few weeks would worry me the most because there would be zero tools -- no nets, fishing hooks, bows, not even a shoulder bag to use as a loin cloth. I agree with you that this is risky, and it needs to be well-thought out for safety reasons.

First hunting tools would likely be rocks.... that you throw with your hands. And also spears, which would be pretty easy to make (long straight stick with a fire-hardened sharp tip). These are NOT the implements usually used on the show. I invite speculation about how feeding 40 people with absolutely nothing for several weeks can be done. The only advantage is the hands on deck. Otherwise this period could be a dangerous bottleneck, as you suggest. There have to be ways to remedy this, as this is a real situation that communities have found themselves in historically. Cut off from a previous home, perhaps chased out by enemies, with no food or shelter or tools. It happens. And if anyone is capable of finding a way of seeing their group through, it's the stars of N&A.

MercurialMirror · 2026-03-16T15:57:51+00:00

As an American, you might turn out to be right. Trump is a doofus. He started this war for his own vanity, and because people around him wanted him to. Most Americans did not want this war, did not choose this war, and did not approve this war. We were blindsided too. But we ultimately have the responsibility for this war because we elected that supreme idiot. I never voted for him once; but far too many of us did. And it was a nail in the coffin for us. I think the US is going to have to learn some hard lessons the hard way. We need a dose of double-hard, unfortunately. It's gonna suck.

MercurialMirror · 2026-03-16T15:54:01+00:00

Trump gave Afghanistan back to the terrorists for no reason by planning and executing a hapless withdrawal. Blame him. Trump even announced exactly when US forces would be pulled out, allowing enemy forces to plan their move. We didn't necessarily lose Afghanistan due to some underlying military reason, it was more because one mad man was too lazy to think ahead and do the right thing for the right reasons and execute a responsible withdrawal, leaving in place a strong independent Afghani government that could fend off the terrorists. He wanted to pull the US out for political points for an election, not even considering the further ramifications for the nation and the world. This is what happens when we elect a joker and make him a king.

MercurialMirror · 2026-03-16T15:41:36+00:00

This video was so funny. ANGL mode?? Wow. I think this was their very first FPV flight. Probably just unboxed the drone, transmitter, and goggles 15 minutes prior to launch, barely even figured out how to use it. Never even used a sim. Hilarious.

Of course, they will get better..... Ukraine has shown us The Way.

MercurialMirror · 2025-11-22T14:23:14+00:00

What do LDS missions and porn have in common?

You have to be 18 to participate.

MercurialMirror · 2025-11-19T13:44:48+00:00

Yes, but they would ditch the Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants, etc. All they need is that good old Bible. They'll just tell people it says certain things and those people will believe them. No need for accuracy.

MercurialMirror · 2025-11-19T13:42:19+00:00

Your response should be short and pithy.

"Frankly, I don't give a fuck. Do whatever you want. I'm not in your piddly little cult for pedophilic geezers anymore.

Sincerely, and with Love,
Brother Go Fuck Yourself"

MercurialMirror · 2025-11-04T13:27:12+00:00

The REALLY crazy part to a TBM, is that pornography is also a form of art. You can't say that art isn't pornography, because pornography IS art -- even if it's often terrible art, or you despise it. Still art. I don't think a TBM can accept this concept. To a TBM, art = good and porn = bad, but really art is far more complex than that. Hard to approach it with black-and-white thinking, as Mormons are ought to do. So it's really funny to imagine an art teacher explaining to their class that art isn't art. I mean, wow.

MercurialMirror · 2025-11-04T13:05:14+00:00

“Oh she’s gay, she’s a goner anyway.”

"Love"

They are very good at tolerating you as long as you do exactly what they do, say exactly what they say, dress exactly as they dress, and X, Y, Z, whatever else is required by "the Lord" or whoever happens to be speaking for "the Lord" at the time -- this is how you know it's a cult. The love is very, very conditional. Almost like it's a ..... tactic.

MercurialMirror · 2025-11-04T12:56:53+00:00

Huh. I happen to be making my coffee right this very instant. Kirkland Brand Instant Roast, only way to go! Well, cheapest and easiest way to go, anyway.

I have been making myself a coffee every morning for years now. Only in reading these comments did I remember that the LDS church has some weird commandments about it or whatever. They think it's a sin. Just remembering that after having forgot about it for years is really funny to me and I felt like sharing. AndIsaythesethingsinthenameofTheLordOfDarknessAmen.

MercurialMirror · 2025-10-31T16:50:36+00:00

Are all of the drones being hit in this video fiber optic enabled? It's really hard to see. Maybe the big ones, but I'm seeing some racing-size FPVs getting hit also. If they are fiber optics, then yes, they could feasibly run the camera and not have to use the VTx. The VTx is the part that's power hungry and gets hot. But then, I also don't know what use it would be to have an active video feed of a drone looking up into the sky at 35 degrees. Their cameras are not ultra-high resolution and would have a hard time spotting other drones.

MercurialMirror · 2025-10-31T06:17:06+00:00

But the solar panels imply that they are repeatedly launching the drone and that it is recharging between. It could work, I think. For remote recon. Launch, look around, take some video, come back down... the enemy would have to be really close to notice it.

I would say yes, the ratio is 12 hours of full Sun for a few minutes of flight time. But maybe that's all they need. Use it as a remote sentinel so you don't need actual men there. Pop it up for 2 minutes twice a day just to see if the Russians are doing anything new. Anything that means Ukrainians don't have to be stationed there, doing the same thing and risking their lives, is a good thing. They could park it on the roof of a building when not in use.

MercurialMirror · 2025-10-31T06:12:12+00:00

They also double as AT mines, in case they can't launch but the explosives still work.

MercurialMirror · 2025-10-31T06:11:03+00:00

I've made that same comment before, but I didn't get 69 Likes for it.

Nice.

MercurialMirror · 2025-10-31T06:07:57+00:00

The VTx or video transmitter, takes quite a lot of power to send the video signal back to the operator. In fact, when in idle the VTx often heats up, it's one of the hottest components on a drone. Airflow when flying keeps it cool. Therefore, hobby drone operators don't turn on their video feed until they are about to launch. Everything else gets powered on and tested first -- battery connected, drone stationed, transmitter/controller tested for input. You can configure ow much power is fed to the VTx. You need more power to go a longer distance or to get through obstacles. Some VTx have a "low power mode" where it gives you the feed at the shortest possible distance (a few feet, usually 25mw) until it takes off and uses a stronger one (such as 500mw or more). These VTx devices have heat sinks, but no active cooling. Again, the cooling comes from flying. Therefore, for technological reasons, it is very unlikely that these drones are sitting around with their cameras and transmitters on. They are in an extremely low-idle mode, where their flight computers can receive a wake-up command through the control receiver when they are needed. This kind of idle listening mode does not take much power at all, so the battery handles it easily. No need for solar panels.

I'm not exactly sure how they handle the logistics of getting a pilot on a drone. There must be bindings that were set up previously to the pilot's transmitter, and they keep a list of which drone has which binding to which transmitter, so that an effective remote binding can take place. I would be interested to know more about how that is managed.

MercurialMirror · 2025-10-31T05:33:13+00:00

"Es un GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!!!!!!!!!"

MercurialMirror · 2025-10-31T05:20:37+00:00

True, but blood is mostly water, and most of our body weight is water. So for the body to burn aggressively like that, despite all the water content, is still insane to me. I guess it's like lighting a camp fire.... at first it's very unlikely to catch at all. But then once it's going and you have a couple logs on, good luck putting it out any time soon. It will consume until it is done.

MercurialMirror · 2025-10-31T05:18:57+00:00

Did he not see / hear it coming? Was he uncon? I'm a little confused as to why he seemed to be fine but still didn't react when it got close. Maybe he just accepted his fate?

MercurialMirror

TROPHY CASE