Getting Bigger and Bigger: The NYTimes has an article that discusses two economic studies looking at the link between cigarettes and obesity. One says that higher cigarette taxes led to lower rates of smoking which led to more obesity, but the other found that higher taxes=lower smoking= less obesity. My personal views like the second one, but the article is interesting, especially for those with a penchant for econ. Also, Kristen forwarded me an article which discusses Clinton's involvement in efforts to help fight childhood obesity in the US. And if we can't reduce obesity, Slate has an article that suggests we use obesity to our advantage. They're kidding, right? Oh, and Durham, NC is the Silicon Valley of the fat economy, with weight reduction supplanting the tobacco industry.