3 Weird Questions/Thoughts about Whitney's death (possible Pol)

First, how many psychics predicted this at the start of the year? This year's predictions were done only a month ago, so this should have been easy to see. I'm talking about public predictions, ones printed. Not "secret" predictions. The answer? Same number that predicted Michael Jackson's death. This was a rhetorical question.


Second, someone said on the radio that Whitney's demise is a good example of the cost of being a celebrity. I wonder whether celebrities suffer from higher rates of anything beyond what is explained by their higher income level. There are a lot of celebrities who don't suffer Whitney's meltdown. And, there are many non-celebrities who meltdown just like Whitney. How can someone say it's due to celebrityhood? By the way, I read one study once where they look at the rate of drug useage by professional athletes (not performance enhancing drugs, but illegal). Correcting for income level, professional athletes used drugs at lower levels than the population at large.


Finally, and the one that is political, I've heard Al Sharpton in several, different newscasts. I don't get his connection to Whitney. Why is his opinion particularly useful here? I can see that answer is potentially political, so thus the warning in the subject line.

Here's one for you....The February 2 National Enquirer's Lead story was that Whitney was in bad shape....very bad shape....it basically predicted her death. How did they know?

K: We're gonna check the hot sheets.
[Kay pulls up to a newsstand and buys a pile of supermarket tabloids]
J: THESE are the hot sheets?
K: Best investigative reporting on the planet. But go ahead, read the New York Times if you want. They get lucky sometimes.

alenleroy, when I first heard of Whitney's death I checked the Daily Mail which had the most accurate news and the best photos, yes the New New York Times gets lucky sometimes but not recently.

I do note that many artist are shooting stars that soar high and burn out fast, then there are the Tony Bennetts who go on decade after decade. The One-Hit-Wonders, the shooting stars and the Tony Bennetts all contribute to our couture.

Thank you Whitney, Tony and the many others.

In the Sixties/Seventies, when I toured extensively, I witnessed so many stoned "A" list celebrities crawling around in their own vomit. I had to push one onstage after pulling him out of a cab - he was headed home 15 minutes before he was due onstage. I witnessed several taken away in ambulances. And I saw several, totally stoned, put on amazing concerts. I personally don't understand why celebrities are more susceptible that the general population - but there is no question that they are. Maybe it is because they have the money, the minions to go get it for them, and the like-minded friends to share it with them. I know that, like everyone in the business I was offered a smogasbord of drugs pretty much every tour night. Having been really ill once, I never wanted to see them again - but many would be high every night - often before the show! I think that then. everyone thought that they were indestructible - maybe today's artists still do. It is very sad. Amy, Michael, Whitney - what a tragic waste. And nobody learns from what went before them - that is so sad.

Speaking of Sharpton- he is a bottom feeder who has always taken advantage of such instances to shoot off his ignorant mouth about some imagined injustice. I am surprised that Jesse Jackson has not joined the fray.

Give him time.They both remind me of a jack in the box,always popping up when something happens in their community (trying to PC here) and they think they can get some face time.

"Speaking of Sharpton- he is a bottom feeder who has always taken advantage of such instances to shoot off his ignorant mouth about some imagined injustice. I am surprised that Jesse Jackson has not joined the fray."

Fear not; jesse has joined the fray speaking in front of the church Whitney grew up in. Sharpton has a show on msnbc, so NBC has been promoting him.

"Second, someone said on the radio that Whitney's demise is a good example of the cost of being a celebrity. I wonder whether celebrities suffer from higher rates of anything beyond what is explained by their higher income level."

People will always try to find patterns. About six months ago there was a weekend where Marty Allen, Shecky Green and Don Rickles (all in their late 80's or early 90's) were all performing in Las Vegas. An article in the Review Journal had the slant that is it humor that keeps people young, healthy and active. The article also sited George Burns working into his 90's. Of course, the article completely ignored Lenny Bruce, Freddie Prince, Gilda Radner, Andy Kaufman, John Candy, John Belushi, Richard Pryor, etc. etc. etc............ all comedians who died way too young.

"Don't believe everything you read on the internet" - Abraham Lincoln

Larry from Las Vegas, NV

lhfried: You're absolutely right. We look for patterns and see them even when they aren't there (thus superstition). And we'll recall evidence that supports our theory better than evidence that refutes. We'll even block the awareness of evidence that refutes.

tonyrob: I saw those same things too, but I was in a college dorm. There are two obvious reasons why musicians might use more drugs and you mention them: they've got a lot of money and they're young. Another possible factor, and I'd be curious about this one, is that they can put on amazing concerts while using. That wouldn't work in some fields.

TB, don't you know that he's an expert on everything ?


Rick