When a horrifying natural disaster kills tens of thousands of people and creates untold suffering for millions more, suggesting that this staggering tragedy is just cosmic payback for something these people's government is doing — well, it's not just in hideously poor taste, it's callous and thoughtless, too.

Sharon Stone just had to weigh in with her thoughts on the devastating earthquake in China, though. Commenting at the Cannes Film Festival, Stone reportedly said: "I'm not happy about the way the Chinese are treating the Tibetans, because I don't think anyone should be unkind to anyone else. And then all this earthquake and all this stuff happened, and I thought, is that karma?"

Good point, Shazzer. You know, it's almost as if it would be okay if, say, a bunch of people attacked and killed thousands of innocent Americans as payback for all the terrible stuff your government's done around the world... Oh, no, wait — it would utterly reprehensible.

With a dazzling display of compassion Sharon revealed her caring side, as she talked about how the Tibetan Foundation had asked for her help in their support of the massive relief operations. "They wanted to go and be helpful, and that made me cry. It was a big lesson to me that sometimes you have to learn to put your head down and be of service, even to people who aren't nice to you."

Great, but I'm thinking that a few other 'big lessons' might be helpful — nê, Sharon?

No wonder 'Memoirs of Geisha' star Ziyi Zhang got incensed during her time in Cannes. She's been actively involved in fundraising for relief efforts — especially while at the Film Fest — and has donated well over R1-million of her own money.

So, she was none too sympathetic to find a bunch of festival-goers who hadn't even heard that the quake had happened! "I was as angry as a madwoman. I said: 'Are you idiots? You are well-dressed people who look like you identify with society, but you don't know what's going on on planet Earth.' It's incredible!" I wish it were incredible. I fear it's all too commonplace, actually.

But, turns out, it's not just the stars and the people they bump into at Cannes who make mistakes. Sometimes even, well, gossip columnists do, too.

Yes, it's time to say mea culpa. That's because I was one of those speculating about Kirsten Dunst's supposed stint in rehab for troubles with the booze. But, Kirsten's just come out to say that she was really at Cirque Lodge (where Lindsay Lohan and half of Hollywood really have gone to substance-abuse rehab) for help with depression.

"Now that I'm feeling stronger, I was prepared to say something," said Dunst. "Depression is pretty serious and should not be gossiped about." No, indeed, it should not.

Jack Nicholson's lovelife, on the other hand — that's prime gossip fodder. Or, at least, it used to be back in the day. And that's exactly what 'An Officer and a Gentleman'-star Debra Winger is telling all about, in her new autobiography, 'Undiscovered'.

Deb and Jack starred together in the 1983, Academy Award-winning hit 'Terms of Endearment' — but it sounds as if it was more lust, than endearments, that were on Nicholson's mind at the time. When Winger went to Germany with Nicholson, the legendary playboy wasn't all that keen on just cultural sight-seeing…

Jack told Debra that she, "should relax and enjoy the trip — and perhaps join him on his search for the perfect brothel".

Yes, this book contains the flabbergasting revelation that Jack Nicholson apparently had a penchant for prostitutes. Well I never. Who'd a thunk it?

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