Rant #1,892: Shakin' All Over

I have warned everyone about the ills of Facebook, how it is the current Wild, Wild West, and how one should protect themselves from what goes on there, since it really isn't policed very well by Mark Zuckerberg and his minions.

OK, that remains true, but every once in a while, I can smile at what I see on the social network, and such was the case yesterday, in a post that is circulating, in one form or another, throughout Facebook.

I don't know who came up with this, but it really is a mindless diversion, goes in one ear and out the other, and is fun.

List 10 possible concert performers that you have seen at one time or another in your life, but make up one of those, and ask the Facebook nation to choose which one of the 10 you have not seen in concert.

Yes, simple as that.

I read about a dozen of these posts yesterday, and yes, it is mindless, for sure.

But during a difficult day--on top of being on your guard on Facebook all the time--it really is a true, mindless diversion.

Here is what I put up, and let's see if you can guess who I didn't see in concert from these 10:

1) Cheap Trick
2) Alice Cooper
3) Temptations
4) Willie Tyler and Lester
5) Gladys Knight and the Pips
6) Lulu
7) Monkees
8) Jay and the Americans
9) Diana Ross and the Supremes
10) Liza Minnelli

I figured that that was a really good list, one that would get whoever wanted to participate thinking.

Of course, regular readers of this column should know about the wild cards of this thing, namely Willie Tyler and Lester and Lulu.

Just to reiterate, I saw Willie Tyler and Lester a few years before they became "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In" regulars, at the Westbury Music Fair during an afternoon concert also featuring Gladys Knight and the Pips and the Temptations.

It was back in 1969. and stands as the absolute hottest show I ever saw.

It was a trip that we went to in Rochdale Village Day Camp, the Temps' "Cloud Nine" was climbing up the charts, and people were dancing in the aisles throughout this concert.

As for Lulu, it was my first concert, at Palisades Amusement Park in New Jersey, and while she wasn't on for very long, I do vividly remember that concert, which took place in 1966 or so.

The others I have seen through the years, including Liza, who I have seen probably a dozen times or more with my wife, who is a huge fan of the July Garland/Liza Minnelli/Lorna Luft axis.

Goodness, I have seen the Monkees in one form or another in concert heaven knows how many times, and I have seen Jay Black numerous times, too, but back when he could also legally use the "and the Americans" as part of his monicker.

Cheap Trick and Alice Cooper I saw on a double bill probably 10 years ago near where one of my brother-in-laws live way out in Suffolk County. It was an outdoor concert, I went with my son, we had eighth row tickets, and it was absolutely the loudest concert I have ever attended. My ears are still ringing from it!

So that leaves Diana Ross and the Supremes, and unfortunately, I never got to see them perform, so they are the answer to the question.

And you know what? Someone got it right away.

I mentioned to her that she must have read all that I have said about seeing the other acts right here and also on Facebook, and she said no, she just figured out that it must be Diana Ross and company, but she could not explain why.

I thought I really had a good one, but I guess, at least for her, that it was too obvious.

Yes, it was a nice diversion during a cold, kind of rainy April day, and I am sure that I will read others' takes on this today and into the weekend.

I can probably come up with another list if I like, but I think I will hold off, at least for now.

How about you? Can you make up such a list yourself?

Let me tell you, it is better--and much more fun--than putting up the usual political diatribe.

I think the reason that someone created this thing--and it clicked with so many people--is that so many of us are sick and tired of such nonsense.

I know that I am--but I reserve the right to go back to that nonsense if I want to or feel the need to.

But going back to the other thing, did I ever see the Turtles in concert? How about Herman's Hermits? What about the aforementioned Lorna Luft?

Judy Garland anyone?