In the film "epic 2015," the year 2015 is described as the "best of times" because people:

In the film "epic 2015," the year 2015 is described as the "best of times" because people will be able to access more information than ever before. In the year 2015, the public has access to any information which is unbelievable in the previous age. Every person adds something and takes part to make a living. 

the discoverers and explorers: 1. natives showed jedediah smith the way. 2. william sublette was the first cross it with a caravan. 3.joel walker and his family were the frist settlers to use it. the jumping off point: 1. founded in 1827 near where the missouri river flows into the mississippi. 2. by the 1840's, it was the most popular "jumping off" point for pioneers to stock their wagons with supplies. 3. missionaries from the church of jesus christ of latter day saints attempted to make independence their zion, or holy capital. the route west: 1. the first emigrants to oregon came by ship before the trail was established. 2. ships continued to to travel to oregon even after the overland migrations began, but they were not popular among the pioneers. 3. the fare for a sea journey to oregon was quite expensive--few pioneer families could afford it. i don't know the other three i'm sorry.

in 1897, pershing became a tactical officer at west point, and that's where he was given the nickname "black jack." pershing's first name is "john," for which "jack" is a nickname, and he was a white man who commanded black troops. hence "black jack".