Let Me Tell You An Amusing Story…

All the old history was written for the amusement of the ruling classes.  The lower classes couldn’t read, and their rulers didn’t care about remembering what happened to them.
—     Francis Zappa
As quoted by his son:  Frank Zappa
From his book:  “The Real Frank Zappa Book“
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On This Day In:
2021	Together Forever
	Think It Over
	Small But Fun
2020	Still Learning
2019	Almost Hallmark
	Beyond All Reason
2018	Daydreams And Wanna-Be’s
	Or Work For #45
2017	Summer Pale
2016	Ain’t It Funny
2015	At Both Ends
2014	Whiner(s)
2013	Just Passing Through
2012	Dog-gone Heaven
2011	Occasional, Sad Results

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Just Chill Dude…

Failure is nothing to get upset about.  It’s a fairly normal condition;  an inevitability in ninety-nine percent of all human undertakings.  Success is rare — that’s why people get so cranked up about it.
—     Frank Zappa
From his book:  “The Real Frank Zappa Book“
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On This Day In:
2021	Don’t Let The Violent Take It From Us
	Scratch Me
2020	Or Frightens Us
2019	The Best Gifts
2018	Sweep!!!
	We Must Be Living In TRULY Historic Times
2017	The Best?
2016	Timely Opinions On “The Donald”
	Even Allowing For Coincidence
2015	First Things First
2014	Without The Other
2013	Earn This
	Seeking A View
2012	Stumblin’ Along My Way
	We’re Proud Of You, Jr!
	Union Card
	Two Philosophies
2011	Simply Unpredictable

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Taking The Chance To Improvise

I want to know three things when I go on stage:  [1] that my equipment is working, [2] that the band members absolutely know the material, so I don’t have to worry about them, and [3] that the rhythm section can hear what I’m playing and that it has some ‘concept’ of it so it can help build the improvisation.
If those conditions are met, if the acoustics are reasonable, and if I’m satisfied with my amp sound…, then all I want to do is go on autopilot, wiggle my fingers and listen to what comes out.
During the 1984 tour, I would usually play eight solos per night (five nights a week, times six months), and out of that there might have been twenty solos that were musically worth-while enough to put on a record.  The rest of it was garbage.  It’s not that I wasn’t trying to play something;  most of it just didn’t come off.
If you’re working this way, the chances of doing it ‘right’ every time are not good — but I’ll take the chance.  I don’t feel I have anything to apologize for, or any exalted reputation to uphold.
—     Frank Zappa
From his book:  “The Real Frank Zappa Book“
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On This Day In:
2021	A Bit Like Politics
	How About Tonight?
2020	Independent Isolation
2019	This Pilgrim Has Had A (Mostly) Happy Road
2018	And Men, Too
2017	Damned If You Do
2016	A Storm Over The Horizon
2015	What About Today?
2014	Idiot, n.
2013	Temporary Reality
2012	The Great Objective
2011	Read A Book

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Open Early

A mind is like a parachute.  It doesn’t work if it is not open.
—    Frank Zappa
From his book:  “The Real Frank Zappa Book“
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On This Day In:
2013	Movies And A Lifetime Of Lyrics
	This Truth
2012	Cheaper To Hold
2011	Resistance Is Futile
	One Great, One Enjoyable, One Terrible…
	Unfortunately, No Approval Is Required

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Winning?

Take the Kama Sutra.  How many people died from the Kama Sutra as opposed to the Bible?  Who wins?
—    Frank Zappa
From his book:  “The Real Frank Zappa Book“
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On This Day In:
2013	Still Inventing
2012	Motivated
2011	Waiting In Line At Starbuck’s

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Just Setting Out

I never set out to be weird.  It was always other people who called me weird.
—    Frank Zappa
From his book:  “The Real Frank Zappa Book“
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On This Day In:
2013	Scott’s Inscription
2012	Good Knowledge
2011	Social Safety Nets

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One Standard Deviation

Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible.
—    Frank Zappa
From his book:  “The Real Frank Zappa Book“
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On This Day In:
2012	High Anxiety
2011	And I’m Taking Me There
2010	1,000

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Decoration Time

Without music to decorate it, time is just a bunch of boring production deadlines or dates by which bills must be paid.
—    Frank Zappa
From his book:  “The Real Frank Zappa Book“
[And love has nothing to dance to…     —    KMAB]
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On This Day In:
2012	The Beatitudes
2011	Good Fences Make Good Neighbors
2010	Back On The Asphalt
	No Sweep – Rangers Win Game 3 by 4 to 2
	Greek Myths For Kids

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License Problem

A drug is not bad.  A drug is a chemical compound.  The problem comes in when people who take drugs treat them like a license to behave like an asshole.
—    Frank Zappa
From his book:  “The Real Frank Zappa Book“
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On This Day In:
2012	Giants Win Game 2 Of The 2012 World Series 2 To 0!!!
	Adage, n.
	Questions Women Should Ask Before Voting…
2011	What Are You Looking At?

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Why The Young Stay In College Longer These Days

If you want to get laid, go to college.  If you want an education, go to the library.
—    Frank Zappa
From his book:  “The Real Frank Zappa Book“
[I knew there was a difference between college and education!    —    KMAB  🙂 ]
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On This Day In:
2012	Perceptions Of Worth
2011	Flavor
2010	Giants Win 1-0 !!

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Not Sent Yet

There is no such thing as a dirty word.  Nor is there a word so powerful, that it’s going to send the listener to the lake of fire upon hearing it.
—    Frank Zappa
From his book:  “The Real Frank Zappa Book“
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On This Day In:
2012	Wall-Crawler Reboot
	Learning To Count
	On Worshiping God
2011	Emancipated Differences
2010	A Little More Technology, Please…

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And Never Will

Communism doesn’t work because people like to own stuff.
—    Frank Zappa
From his book:  “The Real Frank Zappa Book“
[The problem is there are “common goods” (air, water, public areas) which are owned by all, but which are being monetized for the benefit of the few at the expense of the many.    —    kmab]
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On This Day In:
2012	The Human Adventure Continues
2011	Almost Never

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I Love Beer

You can’t be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline – it helps if you have some kind of football team, or some nuclear weapons, but in the very least you need a beer.
—   Frank Zappa
From his book:  “The Real Frank Zappa Book“
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On This Day In:
2012	Trial By Jury
2011	First Class
	Got Knowledge?

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Legal (Almost)

The United States is a nation of laws, badly written and randomly enforced.
—    Frank Zappa
From his book:  “The Real Frank Zappa Book“
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Is Not

Information is not knowledge.  Knowledge is not wisdom.  Wisdom is not truth.  Truth is not beauty.  Beauty is not love.  Love is not music.  Music is the best…
—     Frank Zappa
From his book:  “The Real Frank Zappa Book“
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