Oh my goodness... I can just HEAR PETA people around the world screaming in unison about the benefits of beans, tofu and seeds.

In an attempt to get more protein into his diet, doctors have ordered Travis Barker to start eating meat again after 25 years of being vegetarian.

(can you hear them writing up a press release)

The drummer is on a protein-packed diet after he suffered third-degree burns in the horror last month (Sep08) - and he has had to go back to eating meat to speed up his recovery.

The star, who is receiving treatment at a Los Angeles hospital, tells Us Weekly magazine that he has no regrets about his decision. If it will help him heal faster, then he is all for it.

"I need protein from food rather than just protein supplements. I changed my diet. I would do anything I possibly could if they said like, ‘There’s a possibility you might heal faster if you do eat meat or just change your eating habits’. So I did. I don’t regret it at all, I feel so much better."

It is a thought that is shared by everyone who is aware of the crash. 

Travis Barker gave a few quotes regarding the plane crash that took four lives including two of his personal friends to Us Weekly and said that he is thankful to be alive.

"My biggest fear ever is to be involved in a plane crash, so when that happened ... well, I'm just thankful to be alive! I'm just grateful to be here at all."

The drummer has arranged to travel home by bus with his father and ex-wife Shanna Moakler to keep him company. In the meantime, he is trying to get through the surgeries as best he could.

"I am doing the best I can possibly be, I'm so anxious to get out of here. ... I've just been in surgery after surgery. I have third-degree burns basically from my feet up to my waist and both hands. One of my hands has second-degree burns and one has third-degree burns."

And naturally, the father in him is so desperate to heal to be with his children again.

"I'm trying to have a quick recovery and play the drums again and be able to hold my kids again," said Barker, who has two children, Landon, 5, and Alabama, 2, with Moakler.

Travis is set to release from the hospital in two weeks if everything goes according to plan.

THIS is the title Page Six used on a story about Travis Barker and his new fear of flying? I mean, it hasn't even been a week and the news outlet is already poking fun at the incident? I'm sorry. I know it's about attention grabbing headlines, but I think this is too much.

These men are forever scarred mentally and physically. And they are the lucky ones...

Travis Barker was released from the hospital after spending a little over 9 days recovering from burn injuries.  The medical center made the following statement:

"Travis Barker was discharged from the Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital this morning," spokesperson Beth Frits told Us Monday afternoon. "He left in good condition."

Friends say that he's "trying to stay upbeat."

The man is so very lucky to be alive.  I wish him the best in his recovery, both physically and mentally.  He has a long journey ahead of him.

Well, this sounds more like the truth. The other day, it was reported that DJ AM was released from the hospital and took the bus home to LA. FISHY and debunked!

But Jermaine Dupri has told People that Travis Barker has about two more weeks left of his hospital stay. In the meantime, friends and family are doing all they can to keep the rocker comfortable.

"He’s doing good, he’s gonna be all right. He’s just got a lot of healing to do. He’s supposed to send a message out to everybody in a couple of days to let everybody know that he’s feeling better. He’s definitely feeling the love from everyone.

"He’s just now getting everything in the hospital set up for him - iPods, computers, everything that he needs. You got to make sure he is comfortable."

This just goes to show that no matter how careful an airline is, anything can happen.  People is reporting that the plane crash involving Travis Barker and DJ AM may have been caused by a blown tire.

"The cockpit voice recorder went on for two hours, but the last 18 minutes were most pertinent, because those words proved that it was a tire blowout that [may have] caused the crash killing four people," Debbie Hersman, board member of the National Transportation Safety Board in Washington, D.C., tells PEOPLE.

"After getting their clearance from Air Traffic Control, the plane only got 80 knots on the 8,600-foot runway before the incident," she said.

UGH.  I got chills just reading that.  Life is too short.  Also in news related to the crash, Mandy Moore just flew in to be with DJ AM.  I wonder if Nicole Richie will be visiting anytime soon...

Great news! AP just released a statement from the doctor who is treating Travis Barker and DJ AM. He promises BOTH parties will make a full recovery. Dr. Fred Mullins also noted that they are being treated for second and third degree burns. Burns like these can take up to a year to recover from.

Mullins says Barker was burned on his torso and DJ AM, whose real name is Adam Goldstein, was burned on his hands and part of his head. The doctor says both men are still in critical but stable condition.

In addition to this news, it has also been announced that the plane was not flying home because Chris Baker's wife was in labor. Not that it matters really, but a lot of people are saying that's why they were on the small plane.

This crash has really shaken people. I for one can't stop thinking about it. In fact, I keep remembering when Aaliyah's jet went down. I LOVED her as she was my favorite artist and was really devastated. At least Travis Barker and DJ AM can live to tell the tale... but what about the four other people on the plane who's families weren't so lucky. It's just awful. 

More updates were available this morning about the crash and how it is rippling through Hollywood. DJ AM's rep has released this statement regarding her client and Travis Barker's condition and request for privacy.

Both Travis Barker and Adam Goldstein (DJ AM) are in critical but stable condition and are being treated at Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta, Georgia after surviving a plane crash late last night in Columbia, South Carolina The hospital will issue a statement with an update on their condition at 9:00 am eastern time tomorrow. Due to the nature of the injuries and the evolving course of treatment no further information on their condition is available at this time. The accident claimed the lives of four people on board, two of whom, Chris Baker (Lil Chris) and Charles Stills (Che), were close friends of the injured. On behalf of Travis Barker and DJ AM, deepest sympathy is expressed to the loved ones of all who perished in the crash. As the two recuperate and mourn this loss, privacy for them, their families, and friends is requested at this time.

Lindsay Lohan also used her MySpace account to pay tribute to the victims of the crash as well as those she knew.

"Please send your prayers out to Adam Goldstien (sic) and Travis Barker - along with the others lost in the plane crash… it’s so scary to think that life can end so fast… we must all treasure each and every moment and be thankful for what we have."

More celebrities have chimed in. Click on the continue reading link below to see who did.

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As some of you may know, I am in Vegas for a blogging conference and had to step out of my room for a few hours. I just wanted to thank all readers who actively kept the information piping in during my absence. That's what makes blogs so wonderful... the shared community aspect and the general concern felt by all for these men.

For those of you who haven't read through the comments on the original post about the plane crash that killed several people and injured Travis Barker and DJ AM (Adam Goldstein), here is a recap. I've also included additional information I found while scanning the web for updates.

• Chris Baker, the third passenger to die in the crash was Travis' assistant. He was frequently on Meet the Barkers and just welcomed a new baby into the world. Picture here.  
• DJ AM has severe burns all over his face. Travis' injuries are concentrated from the waist down.
• Shanna Moakler has rushed to Travis' side. They have decided to NOT tell the children yet until more answers are found.
• Travis did not want to be airlifted like Adam... perhaps because of what just happened. The crew had to knock him out to even transport him via car.
  
  • "Shanna spoke to Travis last night. He was defiant after the accident and didn't want to be lifted in a helicopter, but rather an ambulance, so they had to knock him out."

I have some terrible news this morning. Reports have come in that Travis Barker and DJ AM were in a plane crash and both suffered severe injuries.

Officials say a Learjet has crashed while departing from a Columbia, S.C., airport, killing four people on board and critically injuring two others -- ex-Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker and "DJ AM" Adam Goldstein.

It was not immediately clear who else was on board the jet. Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen says the plane carrying six people was departing shortly before midnight Friday when air traffic controllers reporting seeing sparks. She says the plane went off the runway and crashed on a nearby road.

It gets worse...

Someone emailed me this morning saying the unnamed dead were the band, Blink 182. Here is the email:

Vera--

I just found out some very sad news.  There has been a plane crash near Columbia SC and the entire band of Blink 182 has been killed.  CNN hasn't picked up on this yet, but someone I know who works in air traffic informed me of this just minutes ago.  I'm searching for info, but appears the news hasn't been released to anyone yet.  I'm just so sad.  Wanted to share with you as I'm sure info will be released shortly.

I can't confirm the email, but I wanted to share it so it can be debunked. If anyone hears that this isn't true, PLEASE post it in the comment section.

Update: Reader just emailed me and said her friend probably misunderstood Travis Barker's relationship with Blink 182. The rest of the group was NOT on the plane! PHEW!!

This news is truly devastating.

Update: Though both critical, we now know that Travis and Adam are in a burn unit together. We do know the pair was returning from a concert with former Jane's Addiction singer Perry Farrell and Gavin DeGraw. Let's hope they weren't on the plane either...

Barker, 32, reportedly was taken to a burn center in Augusta, Georgia, and was listed in critical condition Saturday morning. Hospital officials also confirmed that DJ AM (real name: Adam Michael Goldstein), was also admitted to the burn unit, in critical condition. 

Update 2: Two dead were crew. Two left to confirm. This is just terrible.

Update 3: Hospital just released statement saying Barker and Goldstein both have "extensive burns".

Update 4: A INO reader from Georgia just emailed me that her local news is claiming the injuries are so extensive that both parties are not likely to survive. The two unnamed bodies are also currently receiving autopsies to determine the identity.

Update 5: Perry Ferrell was not on the plane.

Update 6: Some good news. Both Travis and Adam are stable. Critical... but stable. THANK GOODNESS!!!!!

"Both Travis Barker and Adam Goldstein are in critical but stable condition," Beth Frits, spokesperson for the Joseph M. Still Burn Center, tells PEOPLE. "Goldstein was airlifted here and Barker was brought by ground transportation. So they arrived separately." 

Update 7: Details emerged from ABC News claiming that Travis and Adam walked away from the wreckage on their own before rescue team could arrive.

Barker and Goldstein got out of the plane on their own before rescue crews arrived, according to Lynne Douglas, a spokeswoman for the Columbia Metropolitan Airport. The four who died never emerged from the plane's burning wreckage. 

Update 8: Three people have been identified. Pilot Sarah Lemmon, 31, of Anaheim Hills, CA co-pilot James Bland, 52, of Carlsbad, CA and Chris Baker, 29, of Studio City, CA. My thoughts are with their families.

Update 9:  Eyewithness at the scene recalls what he saw:

"I didn't know what I had seen -- it was maybe 800 feet in front of me, but as I approached it closer though I made out a fire. By then I was able to see the tail of the jet and I recognized it as a jet," Owens said.

Owens then described what he saw as he tried to make it to the wreckage.

"It's in flames and the fuel is running across the road and I had to cross the fuel to get to the two guys that seemed to have been dumped on the highway," Owens said.

Owens said the two men were running around and stripping down to extinguish themselves. He then asked the men if there was anyone else on board the plane and they said four more were with them.

"We turned to the jet to try and see if there was anything we could do, but immediately, there was nothing anyone could do," Owens said.

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