There's been no shortage of snickering since a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit by McDonald's patrons seeking damages because Big Macs made their kids fat. There seems to be a consensus that intelligent life understands burgers, fries and shakes are fattening.

Just days before Judge Robert Sweet dismissed the suit, researchers from the University of North Carolina quantified a fast-food problem that even casual gluttons ought to understand by now: Portions at restaurants such as McDonald's and Burger King have grown dramatically. Customers are "super-sizing," and for a few extra quarters, downing more fries and soda, the most profitable offerings for the restaurants.

The restaurants' public relations people point out the average person still eats three-quarters of his food at home. Indeed, blame for America's growing waistline can't be laid just at the feet of the Golden Arches. But one wonders whether super-sizing at the drive-thru has taught us to super-size at home. Or was it the other way around? This much is simple math: As our meals get bigger, so do we.

- The Sacramento Bee

All this unpleasantness with Saddam Hussein should be over any day now. North Korea should be quieting down, too. No doubt al-Qaida will be sending an apology for Sept. 11.

That's because the peaceniks are out in full force, holding demonstrations in Washington, D.C., and San Francisco to show the world's top evildoers what a swell, peace-loving, non-threatening nation we really can be. But what happens when your enemies believe in violence? Al-Qaida believes fervently enough to declare war on all Americans, vowing to kill as many as possible by any available means. Iraq believes strongly enough to launch an aggressive program to develop chemical and nuclear weapons. North Korea is so committed to violence it went full speed ahead with its nuclear program after signing a 1994 treaty promising not to do so.

We are at war because America is under attack by terrorist organizations. We must fight back or the attacks will continue, no matter how many peaceniks paint signs, hold hands and sing "Give Peace a Chance."

- The Daily Courier, Connellsville, Pa.

When it comes to complexity of pricing, pharmaceuticals can match gasoline.

Canadian pharmacists have been warned by drug manufacturers to stop selling drugs to Americans at prices 20 to 80 percent lower than in the U.S.

Now, GlaxoSmithKline says if they don't stop, the manufacturer will cut off supplies of its drugs. It is a major source of medicine for asthma, depression and AIDS. It claims improper temperature, humidity and radiation levels during shipping could make the drugs unsafe.

Drugs requiring specific controls can be damaged by mishandling. But it also appears many who need these drugs cannot afford U.S. prices. Thus, they go to Canada or buy them over the Internet. Rather than ugly threats, we'd like to know why the very same drugs in the very same packaging can be sold for so much less in Mexico and Canada than the U.S.?

- Las Cruces Sun-News