Very sad state of affairs

When I pulled up my homepage this afternoon, I gasped. I don't do that often. The sudden passing of actor Heath Ledger.

Now, the investigation is ongoing, I realize, but I am sure there will be findings of one of two things 1) He had a misdiagnosed condition and he died of cardiac failure or a brain aneurysm 2) He overdosed, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

Let's add him to a long list of Hollywood youngsters that are on the brink or fallen over the brink in the last year:

Brad Renfro
Paris Hilton
Whitney Houston
Britney Spears
Jamie Spears
Amy Winehouse
Lindsay Lohan
Anna Nicole Smith and her son
Keifer Sutherland
Nicole Ritchie
Owen Wilson
Shia LeBeouf

I also add, from my own hunch, Matthew McConaughey. Every time I see an interview with him, he's so high. It is a matter of time that he gets caught with a substance or a DUI or something. I'll bet a Starbucks run on it.

All of these people have had scary run ins with the authorities involving some kind of substance abuse in recent months! Not just years! Several have lost their lives already, and only in the last year. Granted several are getting cleaned up and salvaging their futures. I give them credit for that.

I am also frightened that these people are who the media and/or Hollywood tout as worthy of fame and our admiration. Acting is starting to feel like professtional sports to me. It's all about the talent of the person and not the character, so let's continue to pay them a lot of money.

It is sad. As much as I love pop culture, it also scares me to death on days like today.