Thanks. I have a whole pile of books on that subject to read, but I’ve gotten so overwhelmed by the cruelty of it all, I can’t bear to face it. I basically make my own choices and try to live my own life. It’s kind of a cowardly way to look at things — but I got tired of crying all the time.

If you haven’t already done so, I recommend reading Eric Schlosser’s “Fast Food Nation” and Michael Pollan’s “The Omnivore’s Dilemma.” Both of these are incredibly eye-opening about the state of the factory-like conditions of feedlots – and they offer some useful alternatives. We’re trying to make sure more of our money goes to local, more humane, and sustainable farms, but it’s difficult to have a large degree of control if you’re not in an agricultural region.