La Baguette

 I asked Copilot to write me a blog post about the history of the baguette.

Here it is.

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The History of the French Government's Involvement in the Nature and Price of the Standard French Baguette

Post-Revolutionary Equality

After the French Revolution, the newly formed government introduced the concept of the "bread of equality." This law mandated that bakers could only produce one type of bread, eliminating distinctions between bread for the rich and the poor. This led to the creation of a bread that was affordable and accessible to everyone.

Standardization in the 1920s

In the 1920s, the French government passed a law prohibiting bakers from working between 10 pm and 4 am. This restriction meant bakers had less time to produce traditional round loaves, leading them to create longer thinner breads that could be baked more quickly. This is one of the factors that contributed to the modern baguette's shape.

Cultural Symbol

The baguette became a symbol of French culinary tradition and identity, especially after World War II. It represented France's recovery and prosperity, and the government played a role in promoting it as a staple of French cuisine.

UNESCO Recognition

In 2022, the craftsmanship of the baguette was named to the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, highlighting its cultural significance and the importance of preserving traditional baguette-making techniques.

Price Control and Government Support

The French government used to regulate the price of bread, including baguettes, but this changed in 1987. Since then, bakeries have been free to set their own prices. However, there have been discussions and measures to support bakers, especially in light of rising costs for ingredients and electricity.

In recent years, concerns about rising wheat prices and electricity costs have led some bakers to consider raising their prices. The government has stepped in with measures like the "electricity damper" to help bakers manage their bills.

Spiders Etc.

 Me: Do spiders have three body segments like insects?

Copilot: No, spiders do not have three body segments like insects. Instead, spiders have two main body segments:

Cephalothorax: This is a fused head and thorax, where the legs, eyes, mouthparts, and other appendages are attached.

Abdomen: This is the rear part of the spider’s body, containing the digestive organs, reproductive organs, and spinnerets for web production.

In contrast, insects have three distinct body segments: the head, thorax, and abdomen. 

This difference is one of the key ways to distinguish between spiders and insects.

Me: I live in Seattle and have house spiders living with me.  

The body size is a little less than a centimeter and the legs are maybe 5 or 6 centimeters in length.  

What kind do you think it is?

Copilot: Based on your description, it sounds like you might have giant house spiders (Eratigena atrica) in your home. These spiders are quite common in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. They typically have a body length of about 1 centimeter and leg spans that can reach up to 5 or 6 centimeters.

Giant house spiders are known for their speed and size, but they are generally harmless to humans. They actually help control other household pests like flies and beetles. 

If you’re comfortable with them, they can be beneficial roommates!

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I have written a brief beginning to the first chapter to another novel I am considering writing.

For the first time anywhere, here it is.

It's a sequel to The Cream Soup Spoon.

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Peter thought to himself "I guess I'm going to need to clean house pretty soon.

"I hate to waste a moment of my few remaining moments on that soul killing sort of activity, but I guess I am going to have to do it,

"After all, the spider webs are beginning to occlude the light from the ceiling fixtures, and those fixtures are high bright LCDs".

A high pitched, metallic-sounding "voice" rejoined.

"Yes, I think it's time. But leave our food traps, please".

That voice was the voice of Sophia, one of the many spiders that had moved in with Peter over the years.

Alfie, an apparently big orange cat, but actually a fluidly mobile entity, spoke.

"Peter, we need you to start writing again.

"You said another was imminent, and it is getting REALLY IMMINENT.

"And it can't happen if you don't write it".

"Bullshit!!!"

The metallic sound of the word "bullshit" made Peter start to laugh; Sophia, if anything, was a proper lady; "bullshit" would not have been thought to be a part of her mental processes, let alone her ready-to-use vocabulary.

But she used it. 

Peter started laughing, stopped, started again, and then could not stop.

Choking ensued.

Things calmed down and Alfie, Peter and Sophia stared at one another.

Peter had told Sophia of his adventures with Bert, Cinq, Rose, Genji, Lancelot and Alfie when Alfie had appeared one day at the residence that Peter, Sophia, and the rest of the spiders share; Alfie was sneezing amongst the spider webs, but otherwise seemed to know his way around.

"This looks just like Bert told me it looked" he said.

Sophia immediately identified Alfie as kindred, although he had half as many legs as she.

After all, Peter only had two.

Legs.

And she had accepted him.

So, staring at each other after the "bullshit", they had every component of an ability to sort things out.

What A Moron

donnie the dildo is running around Pennsylvania today saying "they spent all that money on voting machines; but we have to wait twelve days for the vote count; give me a break".

Accompanied with a moronic donnie curled lip, mussolini style.

And the MAGA MORONS roared in hysterical approval.

Of course, you morons, the voting machines can have a count at poll close.

Kinda like the till of the electronic register at day's end at your local pub.

If you let them do that.

Use them the way they were designed to work.

With a lot od cross-footing and balance checking and an end-count tally, with a final cross-check.

Like you morons won't let your voting machines do.

Because of your trumped-up bullshit voting machine myths.

If all the pub crawlers in all the neighborhoods of western civilization harbored the same sort of trumped-up bullshit myths about the way their favorite bar's cash register worked, and how those trumped-up bullshit myths were against Jesus, and all of them chose a dear leader to represent them in amelioration of the imagined effects of those bullshit, trumped-up, anti-Jesus myths, all those pubs would go out of business for lack of cash flow.