Daniel Vaughn may be the most envied man in America right now. Not only is his book, “The Prophets of Smoked Meat: A Journey Through Texas Barbecue,” coming out next month as the debut title in the Anthony Bourdain Books line, he’s also taking up a post as the barbecue editor of Texas Monthly magazine. It’s the first position of its kind in the country, and the 35-year-old Ohio-born Vaughn left his job as an architect to pursue his fiery passion for smoked meat full-time.

The last hand in the “two thumbs up” film critic team, Roger Ebert, died Thursday, two days after revealing cancer returned to his body.

Ebert and Gene Siskel co-hosted the iconic review show “Siskel and Ebert at the Movies” until Siskel’s death in 1999 after a battle with a brain tumor.

The Chicago Sun-Times, the base of operations for Ebert’s syndicated reviews, announced his death at age 70.