How to hire people 101

I am back again with another weekly issue of Supermarket Simulator Sunday!... on Monday... uh... anyways... let's explore a brief recap on this edition of Supermarket Simulator Sunday Monday!

I am close to getting some new product licenses. I didn't quite get there this go around but I am only one level away. While I didn't get any new licenses, I did expand the store even more. I got the walls and floor painted as tradition and moved around the cold foods section. I also ended up hiring 2 more cashiers! So now there's probably 12 or so places to check out. Pretty damn good for a small convenience store! Yeah I still call this a convenience store.

Overall, not much more happened after that. Customers shopped, I took care of inventory, and... that was it really. Once you start getting deep in the game, most of it really is idle work. And this might genuinely be my shortest blog post ever since I literally just explained everything from the stream that happened in this blog. So to make up for it... here's an 8 paragraph essay written by ChatGPT about the history of bees.

The history of bees stretches back tens of millions of years, far predating human civilization. Fossil evidence places the earliest bees in the mid-Cretaceous period, around 100 million years ago, likely evolving from wasp ancestors that began feeding on pollen rather than other insects. As flowering plants emerged and diversified during this time, bees evolved in tandem, forming one of the most critical mutualistic relationships in nature. Their ability to pollinate plants allowed ecosystems to flourish and laid the foundation for the planet's vast biodiversity.

Over time, bees diversified into over 20,000 species, with the most well-known being the honeybee (Apis mellifera). Originally native to parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa, honeybees developed complex social structures that allowed them to thrive in colonies with thousands of individuals. Within each colony, a queen, drones, and worker bees perform distinct roles to maintain and grow the hive. This social organization gave honeybees a unique advantage in food production, defense, and reproduction.

The domestication of honeybees by humans began around 9,000 years ago in ancient civilizations such as Egypt and Mesopotamia. Egyptians famously kept bees in clay hives and harvested honey for food, medicine, and offerings to their gods. The Greeks and Romans later adopted and refined beekeeping practices, recognizing not only the culinary value of honey but also beeswax, which was used for candles, cosmetics, and writing tablets. Bees held symbolic status in many cultures, often associated with industriousness, purity, and divine communication.

During the Middle Ages, monasteries across Europe became centers of beekeeping, producing honey and beeswax for religious ceremonies. With sugarcane still rare and expensive, honey was the primary sweetener in Europe for centuries. Innovations in hive design—such as the use of removable wooden bars—allowed for easier access to honey without destroying the colony, setting the stage for modern apiculture.

In 1851, a major breakthrough came when American apiarist Lorenzo Langstroth invented the modern beehive, known as the Langstroth hive. This design introduced movable frames that allowed beekeepers to inspect, harvest, and manage bees more efficiently. Langstroth’s understanding of “bee space”—the exact distance bees naturally leave between combs—was revolutionary and is still used in beekeeping worldwide today.

As agriculture industrialized in the 20th century, bees became even more vital. Their role as pollinators became central to the success of many crops, from almonds and apples to blueberries and cucumbers. Migratory beekeeping emerged, especially in the United States, with beekeepers transporting hives across states to follow crop seasons. Honey production became global, with major producers including China, Argentina, and the United States.

However, the past few decades have brought growing concern for bee populations. In the early 2000s, beekeepers began reporting massive losses of colonies due to a mysterious phenomenon known as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). Factors contributing to bee decline include pesticide use (especially neonicotinoids), habitat loss, parasites like the Varroa mite, and climate change. These threats have highlighted just how delicate the balance of ecosystems is—and how essential bees are within it.

In response, conservation efforts have gained momentum. Scientists, activists, and farmers are advocating for bee-friendly practices, including reduced pesticide usage, planting wildflowers, and preserving natural habitats. Urban beekeeping has seen a rise in popularity, with rooftop hives now common in cities like New York, London, and Tokyo. Schools and environmental organizations promote education about pollinators, encouraging the next generation to value and protect bees.

Bees are not only essential for agriculture but also for maintaining ecological diversity. Wild bees, many of which are solitary and non-stinging, are often more effective pollinators than honeybees. Their decline, along with that of honeybees, threatens the stability of food systems and ecosystems alike. Recognizing their importance, the United Nations even designated May 20th as World Bee Day to raise awareness.

In conclusion, bees have been shaping life on Earth for over 100 million years, and their relationship with humans has evolved from mythic reverence to scientific stewardship. They are vital workers in our gardens, farms, and forests—tiny engineers of global ecosystems. As we move forward in an increasingly industrialized and climate-pressured world, ensuring their survival is not just about saving a species—it’s about preserving the balance of life itself.