I'm just getting started on a paleo diet and feel better already!

Smaller questions from one cleaning out old food and buying new:

Why can't bacon be cured?  The butcher I go to said their bacon is smoked,
period, no additives.  Does that make it okay?

Why are olives okay?  And if olives are okay, why aren't pickles?

What about umeboshi plums?  They're pickled in salt, I believe -- but maybe in
miso, too, which is soy -- I'm not sure.

Medium-sized question:

Am I missing something in using the archives?  Is it really necessary to click
each message?  Is there a way to run through an entire month, say?

Large question:

I'm very overweight so my system is really out of whack.  From *Neanderthin* I
was assuming I could eat whatever I wanted among meats and okay veggies and
should cool a bit on fruits because of glucose.  I see discussion on here,
though, and a few archived messages that some people say you have to limit
either the *amount* of meat you eat and/or the *ratio* of meat to veggies in
order to lose weight, heal, etc.  I'm willing to learn the science and history
of the paleo plan gradually but for now I just need instructions on the best
way to follow the plan.

Thank you!

Caryl in Minneapolis
(Any other Paleo list members around here??)