More Milk And Frank Zappa January 5, 2025 Per yesterday’s post on switching from cow’s milk to soy or oat milk (but not almond): Rich Guess: “Have you ever read James Cromwell’s piece on why he glued his hand to a Starbucks counter?” → I have now! Thanks, Rich! (Cromwell played Logan Roy’s brother on “Succession.”) Executive summary: Starbucks knows soy and oat milk are far better for the environment — yet grossly overcharges for them. To which I would add: they’re missing a great opportunity to educate 50 million customers a week on the virtues of those alternatives. We’re all on this planet together, after all. David Hood: “So, when water is used in agriculture, where does it go? Is it gone forever?” → Clearly not. So (I asked ChatGPT), “does it matter that it takes 20 times more water to make whole milk than soy?” While the water does cycle back into the ecosystem, the context and the way it’s used still matter a lot. Here’s why: Resource Allocation: A significant amount of water used in dairy production is sourced from regions experiencing water scarcity or drought. For instance, parts of California heavily rely on irrigation for dairy and almond production, affecting the availability of water for other critical uses and ecosystems. Water Quality: The water that cycles back often carries pollutants from the agricultural processes, including fertilizers, pesticides, and animal waste. This can contaminate water supplies and aquatic ecosystems, impacting both wildlife and human populations. Energy Consumption: Treating and pumping large volumes of water requires considerable energy. Reducing water usage in agriculture directly reduces greenhouse gas emissions associated with energy consumption. Local Impact: When a lot of water is drawn for agricultural use in a specific region, it can significantly affect local water tables and the availability of water for residential use, affecting both communities and wildlife. It also matters that whole milk has more than triple the CO2 impact. UNRELATED BONUS 45 possibly prescient seconds with Frank Zappa Recorded 38 years ago, in 1986.