On occasion I have been known to write diaries inspired by songs that I like. The other day, while driving in my car and being quite stressed about about the State of Things including the future, I selected the David Bowie/Queen song "Under Pressure" on my iPod. Turning up the volume, a rush of issues, concerns, and headlines hit me with the rock-and-roll power of a good guitar solo--albeit it in an angst-filled way. These are not easy times; most of us, if we're honest, are feeling under pressure. With the help of Bowie and Queen, I bring you below the fold that rush of free associations I was having as I listened to their great early 80's song. This diary is purposefully link-heavy: you'll want to read the headlines from the links, save those that you'll want to read later in full, and then move on to the next link. You might want to cue up the song too if you have it.
"Mm ba ba de Um bum ba de Um bu bu bum da de Pressure pushing down on me Pressing down on you no man ask for Under pressure - that burns a building down Splits a family in two Puts people on streets Um ba ba be Um ba ba be De day da Ee day da - that's o.k. It's the terror of knowing What this world is about Watching some good friends screaming 'Let me out' Pray tomorrow - gets me higher Pressure on people - people on streets Day day de mm hm Da da da ba ba O.k. Chippin' around - kick my brains around the floor These are the days it never rains but it pours Ee do ba be Ee da ba ba ba Um bo bo Be lap People on streets - ee da de da de People on streets - ee da de da de da de da It's the terror of knowing What this world is about Watching some good friends Screaming 'Let me out' Pray tomorrow - gets me higher high high Pressure on people - people on streets Turned away from it all like a blind man Sat on a fence but it don't work Keep coming up with love but it's so slashed and torn Why - why - why ? Love love love love love Insanity laughs under pressure we're cracking Can't we give ourselves one more chance Why can't we give love that one more chance Why can't we give love that one more chance Why can't we give love give give love give lovegive love give love give love give love give love give love 'Cause love's such an old fashioned word And love dares you to care for The people on the edge of the night And loves dares you to change our way of/Caring about ourselves This is our last dance This is our last dance This is ourselves Under pressure Under pressure Pressure"
.....fade out with finger snaps