In the case that you weren't invited to the Cannes Film Festival, or weren't glued to your television, you may have missed it. The actress Sharon Stone, who fought an image problem for so long and finally rose like the phoenix, is in deep waters.

Talking about the Chinese who, after the recent devastating earthquake have counted over 68,109 dead and 19,851 still missing, she said "I thought, is that karma?" Ms. Stone had led up to this question by speaking about the Chinese (Government's) involvement in Tibet. She stated that after she had pondered the karma issue, the Tibetan Foundation asked her to help her in their aid to China. This, Ms. Stone said, made her tearful.

I happen to believe in karma. Not in a divine retribution kind of way, where entire populations pay for the sins of the individual, but in a vague, pay it forward kind of way. One example is my parking karma. It's most excellent. Cricket never drives if we have to go anywhere in town, because without fail I can find a spot on the block that we are going to, generally a couple of doors down from the place. It's very simple: I always feed the meter the full two hours, however long I am staying. If I am leaving after say, twenty minutes and there's some one about to park behind me, I let them know that there is a loaded meter where I am leaving. Sometimes when I'm running late for a therapy appointment a spot opens up for me right in front, at a section on Walnut Street where there are, for reasons I cannot explain, a two hour parking limit, but NO METERS. (I hope no one from the Powers That Be is reading this!)

Sharon Stone must be wishing she can blame this all on too many Martinis. No one in their right mind could possibly believe that over sixty eight thousand people died because "When you are not nice, bad things happen to you."

Unless, perhaps you're John C. Hagee, who believes that God got all sorts of angry at New Orleans for planning a big ole Gay Pride Parade, (see Right Thinkers and John C Hagee of 5/16/08). He has that twisted logic where a Natural Disaster (combined with government ineptitude and indifference) is a clear message of wrath from above. Much like we thought thunder was God moving the piano when I was a kid, I guess. I wonder what he thinks about China? How 'bout Myanmar?

Sometimes, it would do our entertainers well to follow the concept of the Founding Fathers in the idea of Separation of Church and State. Those in politics could try it too. Tom Cruise et al. could take their Scientology back to their gleaming fortresses. We look to the stars for their acting skills, and I don't think we need their moral or spiritual guidance. Happily, actions speak louder than words.