Free Republic

Long before the days of electricity and fridge freezers, meat was preserved by smoke. A new study suggests the practice could stretch back almost 2 million years, and may even be a primary reason our ancestors started making fires in the first place. While the generation of flames is inextricably linked with the rise of humans, in the earliest days it would've required significant time and effort to ignite and keep fires lit. The benefits of preserving meat may have been a key reason why that time and effort was worth it. The study is the work of two researchers...

If you want authentic barbecue, it's a good weekend to fire up your backyard pit because barbecue restaurants say some South Florida cities aren't too hot on their traditional slow cookers. The fragrant smoke that attracts 'cue lovers is often a turnoff to neighboring homes, so a growing list of cities are adding restrictions to routine health and fire codes, making it difficult for restaurants to open. "If they knew what they were going to have to go through to open a place, I don't think anybody in their right mind would ever get into this business," said Mark Vasturo,...