Rolling Through Intersections

Prompt of the day inspired by “Annie are you okay?”

The unsettling presence of a dangerous, unseen threat…

"Annie, are you OK?"
"Annie, are you OK?"
"Are you OK Annie?"
"Annie, are you OK?"
"So, Annie, are you OK?"
"Are you OK Annie?" 

The first step in CPR —

"Annie" from Michael Jackson's song "Smooth Criminal" refers to Resusci Anne, a CPR training dummy used to check for responsiveness during first aid. In the song, "Annie" does not experience a real-life scenario where she is "okay"; she is a symbolic figure representing the unconscious person in a resuscitation scenario, and her status remains unknown within the context of the song's narrative. 
Origin of "Annie"
CPR Training: Michael Jackson was inspired by the CPR mannequin, Resusci Anne, which is used in training to teach people how to check if someone is conscious.
The Script: Trainees are taught to ask "Annie, are you okay?" to the dummy to ascertain responsiveness.
"Is She Okay?" in the Song
The question "Annie, are you okay?" is repeated in the chorus as a symbolic representation of the first step in CPR.
The lyrics suggest that Annie has been injured and is unconscious, and the question is an inquiry into her condition, not a statement about a real person's actual well-being.
The song does not provide a definitive answer to whether Annie is okay, as her consciousness is the very thing being tested in the context of the CPR scenario.

1st amendment rights —
It’s not unusual for those exercising free speech to feel pressure to conform views, keep head low while injustices may be occurring.
I’ve known it as a child, as a news reporter, as an employee, writer on the internet (though, largely no one cares) and wherever systems are put in place to play on apathy until it becomes conformity.
Anyone who knows anything about dystopian fiction, have heard about other countries stifling constituents, or just some teen soap opera, including internet, free speech is not tolerated.
Democracy does not have a place in places where there is nothing governing it.

Now hostility. Discomfort?

Yeah, that’s all I can muster up. It’s also a good time for stoicism.

We don’t know if Annie is ever ‘okay’. Michael did not elaborate further…

AI Overview
The puzzle-like meaning of Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal" has been figured out based on two main elements: the story in the lyrics and the real-life inspiration for the "Annie, are you okay?" lyric.
The narrative of the song
The lyrics tell a fictional story of a woman named Annie who is violently attacked in her apartment by a "smooth" and elusive intruder.
The song sets a dramatic, almost cinematic scene with Jackson describing the crime from the perspective of an onlooker who discovers the aftermath.
Key lyrics like "He came into her apartment, he left the bloodstains on the carpet" and "She was struck down, it was her doom" describe the sudden and brutal nature of the crime.
The criminal is called "smooth" because he leaves no evidence, making him a mysterious and terrifying figure.
The origin of "Annie, are you okay?"
The song's most iconic and haunting line is not just a plea for a fictional character. It was inspired by real-life CPR training.
Michael Jackson took a CPR course and learned that trainees are taught to ask a practice dummy, named Resusci Anne, "Annie, are you okay?" to check for consciousness.
Jackson took this training protocol and worked it into the song's dark narrative. The repeated question becomes a desperate cry from a bystander trying to save the life of the victim.
The origin of the song
"Smooth Criminal" began as a different song, which explains its hard-edged gangster theme.
An earlier version of the song, called "Al Capone," was recorded for Jackson's Bad album but did not make the final cut.
Jackson later reworked the track into "Smooth Criminal," but the darker, noir-inspired themes from the gangster concept remained.
The deeper meaning of the "puzzle"
The fusion of these elements—the fictional crime story, the CPR-inspired chorus, and the gangster-influenced tone—creates a complex and memorable song.
The energetic dance beat clashes with the dark subject matter, creating a jarring and tense mood.
This artistic contrast is what makes "Smooth Criminal" so compelling and why its meaning has intrigued listeners for decades.



Many opinions here are attributed to response from Google’s AI Assistant. Do you have a problem with that? Are you okay, Annie?

Damage is already done. Feel helpless, world? Your team won yesterday? What do you do when they lose? They did ‘leave everything out on the field’.

Root for humanity with your voice.
Redact?
Why would anyone…? Shhhhh