Not To Get Off On A Rant Here
But the Associated Press released their list of the top 10 news stories of the year.

Shockingly Lohan, Paris, the Spears Family, Winehouse and Ritchie didn't make the cut.

I'm being serious. Sure, each one on it's own isn't that big a deal, but the slow breakdown and collapse of young famous women was the news story of the year. Taken as a whole it's overwhelming. I can't remember a year where so many young women in the spotlight disintegrated in front of our eyes.

It's the end of the certain type of innocence, the death of the American dream and the opening of our eyes to a system that seems designed to destroy young women all rolled up into one.

I can't remember in my lifetime ever seeing someone in the spotlight so quickly and consistently break down as Spears did this year. And then Lohan happened. Along the way Paris lost her allure. And then Winehouse and now Jamie Lynne.

Whether or not you are interested in these stories doesn't really matter - because it does symbolize some sort of huge change in the way we look at celebrities - particularly if they are young, female and pretty.

It would be like if our parents generation had to watch Judy Garland, Marilyn Monroe and Janis Joplin all breakdown together in a matter of months.

No one is protecting these people anymore. There doesn't even seem to be a system to sweep problems under the rug or put some sort of positive spin on them.

We've been delivered from innocence, people, and all that's left is the scent of burning meth, dirty diapers and the look of smug superiority from people who should know better.