Well, at least we North Carolinians are not smoking as much as at least 10 other states, according to the United Health Foundation's latest rankings.  In 1990, nearly a third of North Carolinians smoked.  Now, 20% do.  That may still be too high, but as I type this from the American Tobacco Historic District, looking at the Liggett & Myers building and about upteen other former tobacco warehouses, it's safe to say we've come a long way.

Don't pay any attention to the 37th ranking in overall nutrition, however - we may give up our smokes, but never our slow-cooked pork barbecue and hush puppies from, say, Allen and Sons.  Not at least for another 20 years.