X-Message-Number: 28023 Date: Sun, 11 Jun 2006 01:38:56 -0500 From: Subject: Peak Salad, next? >World grain stocks apparently peaked in the late 1990's, and they have >declined about 30% since then... >World grain harvests have effectively hit a plateau, even though the human >population continues to increase: > >Mark Plus We continue to be entertained by Mark Plus' "peaks". Will it be "Peak Salad" next? Why not? After all, Mickey D's is now advertising an "Asian Salad" lunch which I certainly have left to try out, preferring the Chinese buffet or the salad bar at any steakhouse. And is there yet a country without a McD presence? My answer to this dilemma is that the buns (made of wheat, a grain) on the Big Macs have reduced in demand, due to the nouveau popularity of the Asian Salad. This quantity alone is enough to move the world market into an apparent shortage of grain. No buns needed, no grain needed. It clearly has no relationship with the potential supply of grain were it to be planted. Would that The Singularity might come and solve this problem for us (and then, of course, quietly go away). As to the population increase, perhaps we should do some screening, there are dangerous pseudoeconomists being born every minute :D Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=28023