TWO more people died Sunday after a drag-racing car went out of control and careened into a crowd of spectators…

Authorities respond to the crash after a drag racer slammed into a crowd, killing six people.

Authorities revised the death toll Sunday afternoon, after initially reporting seven people had died.

Tennessee Highway Patrol spokesman Mike Browning said the dead included two 15-year-old girls and a 17-year-old girl. The accident injured 18 others, including a 5-year-old boy, who were taken to hospitals in Tennessee and Mississippi.

Authorities on Sunday identified the driver as pro drag racer Troy Warren Critchley, an Australian who is now based in Wylie, Texas. He suffered minor injuries and was taken by car to a hospital for treatment, authorities said. Watch authorities respond to the scene »

There were no criminal charges against Critchley, Browning said.

The crash occurred Saturday night during an “exhibition burnout” — when a driver spins his tires to make them smoke — at the Cars for Kids charity event in Selmer, located about 80 miles east of Memphis.

On amateur video of the crash, broadcast on WMC-TV in Memphis, the car’s engine is heard revving loudly before the vehicle speeds down a highway lined with spectators on both sides. After a few hundred feet, the car skidded off the road.

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Thank you The Associated Press
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Beef Jerky…be careful what you eat!

“If I bought groceries the way I buy health insurance, I’d eat a lot better - and so would my dog.”
- Phil Gramm

Cats and dogs seem to like this treat…what does that tell you…? Personally…I don’t eat red meat…YUCK!

Exposing (and Evading) Grocery Store Fat Traps

My wife recently pigged out on beef jerky. What was supposed to be light, healthy snacking turned into an all-out eating binge. Her ravenous consumption of the stuff made me think it must be an especially good brand. I was in a hurry when I bought it at my local health food store - and that’s where I messed up big time. Ignoring the label, I was caught by the number one grocery store fat trap - which was the cause of my wife’s abnormal appetite.

A grocery store fat trap is nothing more than a scheme designed by food manufacturers to make you eat more of something that you think is healthy. These foods and food additives are fat fertilizer. They are great for a company’s bottom line, but really bad for your “bottom.”

Right before she threw her head back to dump the last crumbs of the beef jerky into her mouth, my wife turned the bag over to read the fine-print ingredients. She gasped, “Why the hell did you buy this! It’s loaded with high-fructose corn syrup!”

High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is fat fertilizer on steroids. And she knows it. A very fit mom, she keeps her lean and muscular build by avoiding grocery store fat traps.

HFCS transforms people into eating machines. Once consumed, it sets into motion a chemical cascade that begins with spiked insulin and ends with feel-good molecules known as “endorphins.” Intoxicated by artificial feel-good, the brain is unable to sense overeating and demands more, more, more - and the excess calories get stored in your body.

I’ve even heard of kids accidentally taking bites out of their fingers when under the influence of HFCS. Worse yet, many children who overindulge in Frankenfoods that contain HFCS and other sugars eventually become diabetic.

From beef jerky to bread and even spaghetti sauce, HFCS has infiltrated most processed foods and turned them into fat traps. Avoid this ingredient at all cost!

But that’s not the only trap lurking in grocery stores.

“Fat-free” labels

These hoodwink millions of unsuspecting victims, and have been a goldmine for the food industry since 1993. The obese seek out this label in hopes of waking up skinny. It never happens - but that doesn’t stop them from getting ensnared over and over again. I can hear the rationale: “It just seems so plausible. I’m fat, so I should eat fat-free foods.” Wrong.

After the fat is removed, sugar is added. Sugar is great if you’re at a birthday party, but that’s it. Like HFCS, it is nothing more than fat fertilizer and a heart attack waiting to happen. Look for it listed as sucrose, dextrose, or cane sugar on the labels of your favorite foods. Then buy something else - like an all-natural food high in healthy fat.

Healthy fat which you can find in grass-fed beef, seeds, nuts, avocados, and eggs - is essential for proper growth, development, and the maintenance of good health. It provides your body with vital energy, without causing you to gain weight. In sharp contrast to carbohydrates, sugar, and trans-fats, healthy fats tell your body to burn fat and make you feel fuller quicker. Add them to your grocery list.

Artificial sweeteners

This trap gets most weekend warriors. “Energy” bars, protein powders, and sugar-free goodies - each and every one of them is loaded with drugs disguised as sweeteners. The widespread belief that these nicely packaged foods and drinks are good for you is a perfect example of how marketing strategies supersede medical science and common sense.

Artificial sweeteners make your body lose its natural ability to count calories. If athletes cannot distinguish between proper eating and overeating caused by artificial flavors, they will never reach their fat-loss or muscle-building goals, period. Exercise becomes a waste of time. Artificial flavors include sucralose (Splenda), aspartame, acesulfame K, saccharin, and neotame.

MSG

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) has several aliases you should be on the lookout for, including hydrolyzed vegetable protein, hydrolyzed protein, hydrolyzed plant protein, plant protein extract, sodium caseinate, calcium caseinate, yeast extract, textured protein, autolyzed yeast, and hydrolyzed oat flour.

This white, crystalline amino acid is made in a lab and then added to meat products and most canned or packaged foods to “enhance flavor.” One small problem: It doesn’t have any flavor. It just enhances overeating - and the food manufacturer’s bottom line.

Once consumed, this fat fertilizer not only spikes insulin, it also lowers the hormones that ward off obesity, premature aging, and diabetes: IGF-1 and human growth hormone. And if that’s not enough to scare you off, it can be damaging to brain cells too.

Consider the shocking findings by German scientists who recently warned that their country should abandon the use of MSG at once. Why? They found that pregnant mothers consuming this fat trap were giving birth to children who were insulin-resistant.

Apparently, fetuses can be doomed to overeating for life, thanks to neuronal damage caused by Mom’s MSG-eating habit. The damage was most prevalent in a specialized group of nerve cells in the medulla oblongata, thalamus, or hypothalamus - the areas of the brain that control proper eating and metabolism. This might be one explanation for the drastic increases in childhood obesity worldwide.

Some things are worth dying for. Fat traps are not. If you want to live thin and slim, be alert to these common grocery store fat traps. You might have to dedicate some extra time to carefully reading food labels… but you’ll never fall victim to them again.
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Writen by Shane Ellison, M.Sc.
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Baby Boomers…isn’t it amazing what the food and drug administration will allow to be pushed off to the American public??? John and Jane G Public don’t have a snow balls chance in hell!

They also allow you to poison your self with pharmaceuticals!

I am sitting here shaking my head right now!

Hope I didnt spoil everyones appetite…but you need to know Baby Boomers! As it states earlier…don’t be hood winked!

Good Luck American…remember you are what you eat!

~The Baby Boomer Queen~

4 killed in dagster, charity benifit…

In from SELMER, Tennessee, a drag-race car lost control during a parade and spun into a crowd of bystanders on Saturday, killing four adults and injuring as many as 15 people, authorities said.

Investigators were trying to determine what caused the street rod dragster to go into the crowd at the Cars for Kids charity event in Selmer, about 80 miles east of Memphis.

Scott Henley of Selmer witnessed the accident and said the vehicle started burning off its tires, then began to fishtail and slammed into a light pole before spinning around into the audience.

“Bodies were flying into the air when it happened,” Selmer Police Chief Neal Burks said.

The identities of the victims and the driver, or the driver’s condition, were not immediately known after the accident.

Tennessee Highway Patrol spokesman Mike Browning said authorities did not know how many people had been taken to hospitals.

Cars for Kids holds several events throughout the nation and raises close to $200,000 annually for charities that help children in need, according to the group’s Web site.

About 40,000 to 60,000 people were expected to attend the weekend event in Selmer.
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Thank you AP News
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A picture says a 1,000 words!

From BAGHDAD, Iraq, U.S. Army Spc. Gerald Lee Meeks says all he wanted in Iraq was to “keep everybody alive, all my buddies.”

That hope was shattered last month when a roadside bomb blew up one of his best friends, and Meeks had to carry his slain buddy more than a mile back to base.

“I didn’t want to believe it until I actually had to carry his body bag, which was pretty bad,” he says, making a fist with his left hand and smashing it against a wall. “We had to carry him two clicks [kilometers] all the way back here.”

There’s a long silence as Meeks looks at two comrades. Finally, after a pause that seems like hours, he slowly says, “Those images will always be in your head. I’m sure many people over here got them, but I mean … it just sucks. … He has three kids and a wife.”

He pauses again, correcting himself: “A widow.”

His friend was Army Sgt. Robert J. Montgomery Jr., 29, of Scottsburg, Indiana. He was killed May 22 when a roadside bomb went off during a patrol not far from Fire Base Red, which is in Iraq’s “Triangle of Death” about 15 miles (25 kilometers) southeast of Baghdad.

Meeks still struggles with what happened, even as he fights to survive every day.

“There’s a bunch of mixed emotions going on in there,” he says. “You want to scream out loud, you want to go home. … You just hate seeing these people every day after one of your buddies dies.”

Soldier part of U.S. military ’surge’
More than 3,500 U.S. troops have died in the war, including five more Thursday. Meeks is among the thousands of troops at the center of the U.S. military’s “surge” — the plan to put more boots on the ground, spread the troops out and get them into places where the military has not had a direct or consistent presence in the past.

He’s a young soldier who’s been worn down by the war and everything that comes with it. The 21-year-old from Spanaway, Washington, has been in Iraq for eight months, his first tour here.

On a hot day in mid-June, Meeks is planted on a corner “sniper’s nest” on the rooftop of Fire Base Red. He’s manning a gunning position — keeping a close eye on the palm groves and fields in front of him. He’s looking for any movement. Base troops have come under major attack already this week, and this spot is one of the most dangerous places in Iraq.

He takes his tour day by day, rarely thinking further than the next patrol, his next mission.

As Meeks speaks, Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch, the commanding general of the 3rd Infantry Division, is nearby on the rooftop, talking with CNN correspondent Hala Gorani about the “surge” and the strategy behind it.

The military is working to establish small patrol bases such as this one and form alliances with Iraqi army units to patrol the volatile farmland and fight insurgents. But in this area, there are no Iraqi forces, Lynch says. (Watch the general describe the lack of Iraqi forces as “the problem” )

“We’re in an extremely risky business. This is indeed combat operations that we’re experiencing out here,” he says.

Peering out over the vast area, Meeks gives a soldier’s view. “To tell you the truth, it is one of the biggest s— holes in Iraq. There is an IED planted everywhere,” he says, referring to improvised explosive devices, or roadside bombs.

The conversation is quickly interrupted by the general, who walks over to Meeks and hands him a special military coin.

“Thanks for what you’re doing,” Lynch says.

“Wow,” Meeks responds.

Once the general walks away, Meeks looks at his two buddies in this netted fire position and adds, “That’s pretty cool.”

Quickly, the conversation picks up again about that fateful day when he lost his friend. Montgomery was in the lead. Meeks was five men behind him.

“The blast hit — sharp metal went up in the air and came down. I could hear my two buddies screaming, and they were yelling Sgt. Montgomery’s name,” he says. “I could tell from the screams of their voices that something bad had happened.”

Meeks’ face slowly changes — from remorse to sadness and slowly to anger — as he continues.

“Our medics came rushing up with our platoon sergeant … and, um, there was just utter silence out of him. And then I heard KIA [killed in action].”

A hero’s tribute in Indiana hometown
Back in southeastern Indiana, residents on May 31 lined overpasses hanging flags and banners to honor Montgomery as his flag-draped coffin made the 20-mile journey from Freeman Field in Seymour to Scottsburg, a town of about 6,000. Montgomery was the first soldier in Scott County to die in the war.

When the body arrived in his hometown, more than 2,000 people crowded the streets, and two fire trucks formed an arch for the procession to pass through, says Mayor Bill Graham, Montgomery’s uncle.

“It was overwhelming,” Graham says. “The streets were lined and people were crying. An unbelievable tribute.”

Montgomery was buried about a block and a half from where his mother raised him, Graham says.

“As low and as devastated as the family was, the outpouring of love and respect that the community showed helped carry the family through such a low, low time. I’m so proud of the respect shown,” he says.

Montgomery’s older brother, Micah, a master sergeant in the Army, came home from Iraq for the funeral, but he has since redeployed. “It was a great loss to Micah,” Graham says. “His mother told him he could not go back to Iraq, but his reaction was that all of his friends and brothers were over there and he must go back.”

Graham says troops in Iraq should know “that people over here support them.”

“We can never thank them enough for the sacrifice they are making for freedom.”
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Thank you Cal Perry from CNN
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We can thank them…I have a unique way to send gift cards to our troops! It is a gift card for cards…even the stamps are enclosed. With the click of a mouse they can send a card anywhere in the US and Canada. They have over 8000 cards to choose from and a I LOVE YOU or even a Sympathy card, can be sent in a blink of an eye.

You don’t have to guess about how can I help…what can I do to say thanks…just contact me for more information.

Thank you troops for fighting for freedom and putting your life on the line every day!

Smiles and world peace,
~The Baby Boomer Queen~

see what was the NUMBER1 Song when you were born, married, graduated…

Here is a cool site…it tells you what song was #1 when you were born. married…graduated…
I thought that you, Baby Boomers might get a kick out of this!

Mine was “Cry” by Johnnie Ray & the Four Lads

http://www.joshhosler.biz/NumberOneInHistory/SelectMonth.htm

~The Baby Boomer Queen~

Top 10 Ways to get LUCKY at LOVE

Hello Baby Boomers…

So many of us are losing our mates. There are plenty of reasons…death, divorce. terminal illness.

So for those of you who have spent a life time [or so it seemed] and now are faced with the possibility of looking for a new partner…this is a good article.

Being one, who has been out there for the last 12 years, my personal advice is never to lie! If you are going on line to look for your soul mate or other mates…be honest…Those lies will catch up with you. Starting any relationship based on lies will get you a dishonest relationship.

And remember Rome wasn’t built in a day. Take your time…be selective. The best part of any relationship is always the first part…so make it last.

Well. those are a few words of sage from me…good luck Baby Boomers…I am here if you need me.

Hugs and kisses,
SMILE!
~The Baby Boomer Queen~
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Top 10 Ways to Get Lucky at Love

Know what you want. Your looks change and fade, character does not. While a certain amount of “chemistry” is nice, don’t rely solely on lust.

What qualities are you looking for in a mate? My book “Find a Sweetheart Soon! Your Love Trip Planner for Women” helps readers define their love goals.

Get clear about what you don’t want. Knowing what you really can’t tolerate in a partner is important. Make a list of your “don’t wants” and then cut it down to the 10 most important. Any more than that and you’ll be too picky.

Live your life. Once you know clearly what you want (and don’t want) in a relationship, shift your focus to living your life. You’ll find that you start noticing those who might fit, and passing by those who don’t.

See the big picture. Don’t try so hard that you miss the obvious. If you are great at focusing, step back now and then and look at the big picture. Work on having a playful, whimsical attitude towards life.

Get out of the house. Cultivate opportunities to
expand your social circle and meet new people
expand your social circle and meet new people. Vary your routine. Have you thought of entertaining to enlarge your social circle?

My new ebook “Looking for Action? The Find a Sweetheart Party Planner” tells you how to throw parties to build a wonderful group of close friends - it’s easy!

Open your eyes and your attitude. Lucky people notice, create and maximize chance opportunities. Chat with other shoppers while you are waiting in line. Be ready with a “calling card” a personal business-type card with basic contact information.

Get curious. Don’t content yourself with the obvious. Ask questions. Wonder why. Find answers.

Try something new. The best way to have things stay the same is to never do anything different. Vary your daily routine, just to keep yourself awake. Shake yourself up and notice what happens. Keep yourself open to chance opportunities, and then take advantage of them.

Expect good luck. Monitor your self-talk for negative messages that interfere with luck. Replace the negative thoughts with positives. Surround yourself with examples of lucky people.

Learn from bad luck. Take steps to prevent more bad luck from what you have learned, then let the “bad” go. Don’t dwell on or rehash the bad experience. Look for the positive elements.
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Thank you Kathy Lord
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Kathryn Lord, romance coach and author, met her now husband Drew online. Out of the dating world for years, Kathryn conquered her fears, found her perfect mate and built a solid relationship. She put what she has learned into writing in “Find A Sweetheart Soon! Your Love Trip Planner for Women.” A psychotherapist, Kathryn has been helping singles and couples for more than 25 years. She is on the web at Find-a-Sweetheart.com.

WORD to the WISE…

Word to the Wise: Expedient

An “expedient” (ik-SPEE-dee-unt) - from the Latin for “to make ready” - is something contrived or used to meet an urgent need.

Example (as used by Theodore Roosevelt in a 1918 article for The Atlantic): “If, when assailed by the ostrich, the man stands erect, he is in great danger. But by the simple expedient of lying down, he escapes all danger. In such case, the bird may step on him, or sit on him; his clothes will be rumpled and his feelings injured; but he will suffer no bodily harm. I know various men… who have had this experience.”

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