Stupefaction

Links for 2008-07-22 [del.icio.us]

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Barry Lederer - 1944-2008
Remembrance website for pioneering NY DJ Barry Lederer. “DJs are like actors on a stage, trying to turn on a crowd with their own performance. Good DJs make a good night as good actors make a play.” — Barry Lederer (1944 - 2008)
Disco Pioneer DJ Barry Lederer Passed Away - Disco Music.com
Barry Lederer @ Disco-Disco.com

Third Avenue El - 1955 film

noreply@blogger.com (Karate Boogaloo) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:21:00 +0000

Courtesy of the Vanishing NY Photo Pool on Flickr:

This is a clip from a wonderful short film showing a run of the Third Avenue El, one of the elevated trains that used to travel up and down Manhattan. It gives the viewer a terrific view of the streets of New York of 1955, the year the train was shut down in Manhattan.

The harpsichord, incidentally, is played by Wanda Landowska, probably the most famous harpsichordist of the 20th century.

From Wikipedia:

In the 1930s and '40s, as part of the integration of the different subway companies in New York City—the IRT along with Brooklyn–Manhattan Transit (BMT) and Independent Subway System (IND)—the Third Avenue El and its counterparts on Second, Sixth, and Ninth Avenues came under criticism from New York mayor Fiorello La Guardia and his successors. The Els were regarded as blights to their communities and obsolete, given that subways were being built or were on the drawing board to replace them.

The IND Sixth Avenue Line and the IND Eighth Avenue Line did indeed render the Sixth and Ninth Avenue Els obsolete. Save for a small shuttle service for the Polo Grounds on the Ninth Avenue Line, they were closed by 1940 and demolished by 1941. The Second Avenue El was also gradually demolished from 1940 to 1942, leaving only the Third Avenue El, which was intended to stay in use until the Second Avenue Subway was built to replace it. However, government bureaucracy and pressure from private developers, eager to redevelop Third Avenue, forced the closure of the El prematurely with no adequate subway replacement, leaving residents on the East Side of Manhattan with the overcrowded IRT Lexington Avenue Line as the only subway east of Fifth Avenue.

The system was closed in sections from 1950 to 1973. First, the South Ferry spur was closed in 1950, which connected South Ferry to Chatham Square in Manhattan. This forever closed the South Ferry elevated station, which had serviced all four IRT El lines that originally ran in Manhattan. Next to close was the City Hall spur in 1953, which started at Park Row in Manhattan and then connected with the South Ferry spur at Chatham Square. On May 12, 1955 the main portion of the line from Chatham Square to East 149th Street in the Bronx closed, ending the operation of elevated service in Manhattan. The removal aided property values along the East Side, and the head of the Real Estate Board of New York suggested that Third Avenue be renamed "The Bouwerie" to symbolize the transformation.

In the 1960s, the remaining service was named the 8. Finally, the remaining portion of the line in the Bronx from East 149th Street to Gun Hill Road closed in April 1973.

In the Bronx, the line was replaced by the Bx55 Limited bus route making only the stops the former line made. This bus route was one of the first to have free transfers with the subway with the transfer points at the 3rd Avenue-149th Street and Gun Hill Road White Plains Road IRT stations. With the introduction of free bus to subway transfers systemwide, the Bx55 lost its special status.

Barry Lederer RIP

noreply@blogger.com (Karate Boogaloo) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:50:00 +0000

I just found out from Barry's sister that he passed away recently. Besides being a pioneering DJ worthy of anyone's respect, Barry was a super nice guy always willing to share great stories of the glory days of New York disco & it's various characters. He will be missed.

Visit this website set up in his memory.

Missing In Action

noreply@blogger.com (Karate Boogaloo) — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:40:00 +0000

Thought of the day: "Missing In Action" by the Comsat Angels:

Hello daily life
I don't want to fight today
I surrender
I'll put my toys away
No aliens came
I lost my little light
It was so well explained
Now I'm getting older as I write
What's that sound?
What's that light?
What's that sound?
Missing in action
What's that light?
Missing in action
Lost in the last attack
Lost in the last attack
Lost in the last attack
Lost in the last attack
One childhood
The little kid retired
He surrendered
His parking space expired
Wave bye-bye
Ghost writer in the sky
He'll see you soon
Now I'm getting older as I write
What's that sound?
What's that light?
What's that sound?
Missing in action
What's that light?
Missing in action
Lost in the last attack
Lost in the last attack
Lost in the last attack
Lost in the last attack

Listen to "Missing In Action" (MP3)

Jimmy Bryant & Speedy West

noreply@blogger.com (Karate Boogaloo) — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 11:56:00 +0000

Jimmy Bryant & Speedy West...you've never heard music like theirs before. Photo from If Charlie Parker Was A Gunslinger.

Links for 2008-07-18 [del.icio.us]

Sat, 19 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Liquid Liquid Music

Daily travels

noreply@blogger.com (Karate Boogaloo) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:08:00 +0000

Brooklyn-bound B train:

Liquid Liquid to perform!

noreply@blogger.com (Karate Boogaloo) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:56:00 +0000

Dennis Young from LL has informed the 99 Records Yahoo group that Liquid Liquid will be reforming for a couple of shows in the UK & Ireland this fall:

"Liquid Liquid will be reforming again after 5 years to play in London & Dublin Ireland. The london show is at Barbican on October 4th & Tripod in Dublin on October 5th. Nothing planned at this time for any US shows. Will keep you posted."

Apparently tickets are on sale already for both shows. I'm surprised I haven't seen any press about this yet.

Buy Liquid Liquid's Slip In and out of Phenomenon now!

Keep up to date with 99-related news as it happens. Join our Yahoo group today:

Click to join 99Records

Links for 2008-07-16 [del.icio.us]

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0500

George Orwell - Complete works, Biography, Quotes, Essays
Read Orwell free online.

News From ZE Records : New Digital Release - Mutant Disco Vol.4

noreply@blogger.com (Karate Boogaloo) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:47:00 +0000

This just in from Ze Records.

Visit their digital download store for more info.

In 1978 and 1979, ZE Records released its first 12" singles and LP's from No Wave with James Chance/White, Arto Lindsay, Mars, Lizzy Mercier Descloux or Lydia Lunch, to the birth of Electro with bands such as Suicide, or even twisted Disco with Kid Creole, Don Armando, Aural Exciters, Gichi Dan, and Was (Not Was). Some kind of timeless Disco, that we would describe as “Mutant” for our first compilation in 1980. August Darnell has been the first one to carry through this cross-over ambition between Rock and Disco, with the now famous remix of James White’s “Contort Yourself”. Pseudo-brothers David and Don Was would add to their band the MC5 guitarist: Wayne Kramer, Charlie Mingus’ trumpet player: Marcus Belgrave, and Parliament/funkadelic’s percussionist Larry Fratangelo; standardizing thereby a musical pattern for generations of bands who’d then pleased dancefloors around the world.

Therefore, here is the fourth volume of the series, in a way, to come full circle with the Mutant Disco on ZE Records. In this latest opus, one can discover a remix version (Let’s go to bed) of Was Not Was’ “Shake your head”, with Ozzy Osbourne and the lovely Kim Bassinger (who remplaced Madonna who did the demo); and a remix of the delirious “The Party Brooke Up”, two tracks from their Second album “Born to Laugh at Tornadoes”. An Optimo remix by Twitch – one of today’s best Dj – of the cult classic “Contort Yourself” by James White & The Blacks. Another remix by Australian’s Stiff Figure of the rather minimal “Herpes Simplex” by Rosa Yemen, Lizzy Mercier Descloux’s first musical incarnation from 1978. Also another remix of NY queen Cristina’s “Disco Clone” renamed “Ballad Of Immoral Manufacture”. There’s also an Arthur Baker legendary remix of “Tease Me” by the nonetheless legendary Funkadelic member Junie Morisson, of whom we reissuing the 1984 first Lp on ZE: “Evacuate Your Seat”. A remix of : “Rico Mambo” by Breakfast Club for their first single on ZE, being no-less than Madonna’s first band, on drums at that time… On the rocker side, we have a mix of Alan Vega’s “Fireball” out of his first Lp, or Gichy Dan “Action Man”. Also another remix by San Fransisco based band TUSSLE, of Irving Berlin classic “I’m an Indian Too”, on its Don Armando 2nd Av. Rhumba Band’s version (while their album “Deputy of Love” is now also reissued on ZE). A remix version of Lizzy Mercier Descloux’s last recorded song in 2003, “Hard-Boiled Babe”. A remix of les Garçons, from their first LP “Divorce”, recorded by Bob Blank in his legendary NY studio; and a remix of Michael Dracula’s track “Destroy Yourself”, originally recorded for their album debut “In The Red”.

Arthur Weinstein RIP

noreply@blogger.com (Karate Boogaloo) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:59:00 +0000

From the New York Times:

Arthur Weinstein, Starter of Nightclubs, Dies at 60

In the glittery, manic, often ostentatiously naughty 1970s and ’80s, Arthur Weinstein was king of the night. His kingdom was a new breed of nightclubs that transcended disco balls, tired formulas and strobe lights to become ultra-hip destinations for those deemed worthy of entering.

He died last Wednesday in Manhattan at the age of 60. His wife, Colleen, said the cause was head and neck cancer. A friend, Steve Lewis, posted a message on the Web saying Mr. Weinstein had died of “beauty.”

“He was trapped by the drug called clubs, its kaleidoscope-like enchantment, its vision, its pitfalls,” wrote Mr. Lewis, who worked in clubs with Mr. Weinstein.

Months before the celebrated Studio 54 opened, in April 1977, people with first names like Calvin and Bianca were frequenting Hurrah, a club at Broadway and 62nd Street that Mr. Weinstein and his partners owned. There was no velvet rope to separate the beautiful and desired; instead, the club had a private list of the preferred.

Mr. Weinstein later opened illegal after-hours clubs downtown that mixed the fashionable and the young and artistic. The kids had radically odd colors of hair, and the coat-checker was a transvestite.

Mr. Weinstein’s position as an after-hours outlaw led to his paying bribes to police officers, and then, under threat of federal prosecution, to wearing a hidden microphone to catch rogue officers. He was proud of the illegal clubs — the Jefferson on East 14th Street and the Continental on West 25th.

“It was the first time anyone decided to open an after-hours club for nice people,” he told The Observer, the London newspaper, in 2004. “Not scum.”

Mr. Weinstein had another success with the World, a Lower East Side club — this one legal — distinguished by chandeliers, rotting rococo sofas, cherry syrup lights and a V.I.P. room where Stolichnaya — and perhaps other substances — flowed limitlessly. A former fashion photographer, he designed dazzling lighting systems for many other clubs, including the Limelight and the Tunnel.

In an interview, Ian Schrager, who operated Studio 54 with Steven Rubell, placed Mr. Weinstein and his clubs on a continuum of New York night life that extends back through the Stork Club and the Cotton Club.

“Arthur is part of that,” said Mr. Schrager, who now develops hotels and other properties. “He would be one of the important people around that world that you would have to talk about.”

Mr. Schrager praised Hurrah as the first ’70s nightclub with style, meaning that it wasn’t “merely painted black.” He continued, “It was the first one that upped the stakes a bit.”

Scott Taylor, a bartender at Studio 54 who teamed with Mr. Weinstein in most of his clubs, said Mr. Weinstein was driven by a desire to be happy.

“We were like circus people,” he said in an interview. “We never did it for money. We did it because this is what you did.”

Arthur Alan Weinstein was born in Manhattan on Dec. 15, 1947, and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history from Seton Hall. He briefly taught in high school, then got a job with a silk-screening firm, learning a skill he used until he died. He next worked as a fashion photographer, mixing with models and other celebrities.

Mr. Weinstein later got a job as a waiter at Le Jardin, a club on West 43rd Street, where he skimmed money by keeping the cash he collected from customers and submitting free drink tickets to bartenders instead, according to Anthony Haden-Guest in his book “The Last Party.”

With partners, Mr. Weinstein opened Hurrah in November 1976. With a homey atmosphere and eclectic fashion shows (one was for footwear only), it soared. Then Studio 54 opened. Hurrah skidded and closed.

“Steve built a better mousetrap,” Mr. Weinstein said.

Mr. Weinstein struggled unsuccessfully to turn the defunct Bond clothing store in Times Square into a club. (Someone else later did.) He then found the Jefferson, a defunct theater on East 14th, but was unable to cement the deal to turn it into a club. But he moved his family into a loft above the theater. When he started to build a bar there, his wife realized that he planned to turn their home into a club.

“You mean you don’t want a nightclub in your apartment?” Mr. Weinstein said, according to Mr. Haden-Guest’s book.

Actually, she did, because the family needed money. She decorated the place with vintage furniture and funky wallpaper: little pink elephants drank champagne over the bar. The first customer, on New Year’s Eve 1980, was Christie Brinkley. But the Jefferson closed five months later.

From 1981 to 1983, Mr. Weinstein ran the Continental, which his wife also dressed up in a jaunty retro style. His final success as a club owner was with the World, which he ran in the mid-’80s. After it, too, closed, he designed lighting for other clubs and pursued silk-screening and other artistic interests.

In addition to his wife, the former Colleen Mudery, Mr. Weinstein is survived by his daughter, Dahlia Weinstein, of Manhattan; his brother, Robert, of San Mateo, Calif.; and his mother, Renee Weinstein, of West Caldwell, N.J.

Dean Johnson, described in Mr. Haden-Guest’s book as a “drag queen rock and roller,” posted a reminiscence on the Internet about the time he was working the door of the Save the Robots club on the Lower East Side. A man he was reluctant to admit declared he was Mr. Weinstein’s brother.

A few minutes later, Mr. Weinstein showed up and asked if Mr. Johnson had indeed turned away his brother. “Yes,” he answered.

Mr. Weinstein was impressed by Mr. Johnson’s spunk. “Would you like to come work for me?” Mr. Weinstein asked. A week later, Mr. Johnson was doorman at the World.

Links for 2008-07-15 [del.icio.us]

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Lime Spiders
Australian garage band

Daily travels

noreply@blogger.com (Karate Boogaloo) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 01:04:00 +0000

Manhattan bound D train:

Bob Gruen 'ROCKERS' - One more week!

noreply@blogger.com (Karate Boogaloo) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 18:24:00 +0000

Things are rather quiet 'round these parts these days. However, if you haven't seen Bob Gruen's amazing ROCKERS photo exhibit or want to get a last look, now is the time. The last day will be Tuesday July 22th.

Come celebrate the success of this huge, extraordinary installation of Rock & Roll photos by legendary photographer Bob Gruen:

Closing Party
Tuesday, July 22nd
7 - 10 PM
313 Bowery (at Bleecker St)

Morrison Hotel Gallery Bowery
morrisonhotelgallery.com
212 677 2253

Links for 2008-07-14 [del.icio.us]

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0500

White Sox Jerseys collection

Links for 2008-07-10 [del.icio.us]

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0500

PoPsiePhotos.com
Reelin' and Rockin' in the Streets of New York: A Quarter Century of Music & High Times in the photographs of William "PoPsie" Randolph, Broadway's most famous Jazz and Rock Photographer

Fleet Foxes: White Winter Hymnal (video)

noreply@blogger.com (Karate Boogaloo) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 21:19:00 +0000

I first heard these guys towards the end of last summer when they were still looking for a record deal before signing to Sub Pop. This song was on the tapes I heard as well as being on their myspace page, and it immediately struck me - the harmonies, the melody and most of all the Spector-ish arrangement. It sounded, and still sounds like no one else right now which is really attractive to me. As for the video, I have to say I'm a wee bit disappointed...it's cute but I was hoping for something a little grander.

Amazon.com Widgets

Bob Gruen on NY1 this week

noreply@blogger.com (Karate Boogaloo) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 21:10:00 +0000

Thanks to Randy for reminding me of this & writing about it:

You've all seen photos by Bob Gruen. Perhaps you've seen his name but never knew what he looked like.

Bob Gruen is undoubtedly one of the world's preeminent rock'n'roll photographers, certainly when it comes to punk. He's shot John Lennon, Led Zeppelin, KISS, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Tina Turner, the Sex Pistols, the Clash, the Rolling Stones, and just about everyone else since 1974.

If you're a fan of any of the bands mentioned above, you'll thoroughly enjoy this thoughtful and candid profile airing on local New York cable news channel NY1 this week. For best results click on the yellow "Broadband" flag right below the main headline for the Bob Gruen story.

http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=235&aid=83493

Daily travels

noreply@blogger.com (Karate Boogaloo) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 15:46:00 +0000

Manhattan bound D train. Two Japanese kids who couldn't stay awake. The dude was completely hip-hopped out, tattoos included, down to his Rucker Park hat, And One t-shirt, and braids.

NY Rocker 1979-80

noreply@blogger.com (Karate Boogaloo) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 22:02:00 +0000

NY Rocker, Dec 79/Jan 80 issue:

ESG - Danceteria - 1984

noreply@blogger.com (Karate Boogaloo) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:22:00 +0000

Courtesy of former Danceteria video man, Danny Cornyetz, here's a live video of ESG performing there around 1984 or so.

Greenwich Village Sunday - 1960

noreply@blogger.com (Karate Boogaloo) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:00:00 +0000

Daily travels

noreply@blogger.com (Karate Boogaloo) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:57:00 +0000

Downtown D train. Just call me the subway sartorialist:

This Sunday in Brooklyn

noreply@blogger.com (Karate Boogaloo) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 18:28:00 +0000

If you're looking for something to do this weekend, this looks extremely promising. Plus, its free!

After two sold out summer soul revue-style shows in 2007, Chicago-based southern music label The Rabbit Factory, Inc. returns with a bigger and better line-up. Not since Atlantic Records foray into the American south or the golden age of soul music at the Apollo Theatre and Chicago’s Regal Theatre has the gritty sound of southern soul appeared up north with such force as with the Rabbit Factory Soul Revue. The vintage “chitlin circuit”-styled bill features classic southern soul artists performing with an eight-piece dance band, Wiley & the Checkmates, from Oxford, MS.

The July 6th show will feature the core Rabbit Factory Soul Revue of The Checkmates performing with Herbert Wiley, the legendary Roscoe Robinson (Blind Boys of Alabama), Ralph ‘Soul’ Jackson (Spooner Oldham/Muscle Shoals) and Hermon Hitson (Jimi Hendrix/Isley Brothers/Joe Tex). This line-up has been receiving rave reviews from its high profile performances at SXSW and the Ponderosa Stomp. The show itself is part of the popular JellyNYC McCarren Park Pool Party series, opening for Ronnie Spector.

Sunday, July 6th... Doors at 2PM.

Links for 2008-06-30 [del.icio.us]

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Goodreads

Club 57 at Irving Plaza

noreply@blogger.com (Karate Boogaloo) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 19:25:00 +0000

Via Nostalgia Mold, a postcard for upcoming shows at Club 57 at Irving Plaza...and oh, what shows they were:

You should get to know your pizza just like I know mine

noreply@blogger.com (Karate Boogaloo) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 01:46:00 +0000

Now this is good marketing (and yes, the pizza is pretty darn good):

On Wednesday, June 25th at 7pm, please join Jesse Malin, Johnny T, Kevin Cole and Magnum PR for the first in a series of special events at the brand new rock and roll Pizza Shop, 110 Avenue A (at 7th street ) in New York City .... Come down and meet renowned photographer Bob Gruen, who has personally approved limited edition Clash pizza boxes bearing one of his unique images of the legendary band...

The Pizza Shop is owned by Jesse Malin (Coney Island High, Niagara, The Bowery Electric), Johnny T ( Niagara , Black & White, Motherf*cker, The Bowery Electric) and Chef Kevin Cole (Two Boots, Three of Cups). All three are musicians who met several years ago playing in different bands in the East Village .

110 Avenue A has been a pizza shop since the 1960's. The owners wanted to keep the old school vibe, but not the old school grime. The space has been completely gutted but the feel of a vintage pizza parlor still remains. The decor is classic black and white tile, hard wood floors, black formica countertops, and unique art (including a Ginsberg print of Jack Kerouac standing on the corner of 7th street and Avenue A). As you listen to a mix of Reggae, Soul and Rock & Roll you can take a seat in the back booths and watch a classic Kung-Fu or surf movie if the game isn't on.

The pizza boxes are all limited edition prints. Around 1500 of each box style is made and then never reproduced. The first one being a photo of the Clash from 1979 taken by world famous rock photographer Bob Gruen. Each box will have a different image created by well known and local artists featuring their particular style and medium and these boxes are free with a purchase of any pizza.

Amazing food, killer music and collectible art!

Dying Is Hard. Comedy Is Harder.

noreply@blogger.com (Karate Boogaloo) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 22:01:00 +0000

George Carlin's death has obviously been reported far & wide, but you may have missed this nice little piece by Jerry Seinfeld in the NY Times this week.

THE honest truth is, for a comedian, even death is just a premise to make jokes about. I know this because I was on the phone with George Carlin nine days ago and we were making some death jokes. We were talking about Tim Russert and Bo Diddley and George said: “I feel safe for a while. There will probably be a break before they come after the next one. I always like to fly on an airline right after they’ve had a crash. It improves your odds.” Continued here.

George Carlin RIP.

Daily travels - Virginia edition

noreply@blogger.com (Karate Boogaloo) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 02:28:00 +0000

Courtesy of my mom...who else?

Have a fag...

noreply@blogger.com (Karate Boogaloo) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:59:00 +0000

I couldn't resist:

From Vintage Ads:

And from Dusty Sevens, in either the "What the Hell?" or the "Seemed Like A Good Idea At the Time" department:

Vintage stores

noreply@blogger.com (Karate Boogaloo) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 12:42:00 +0000

Via Vintage Ads, both of them still alive online:

Midnight Records:

Psychedelic Solution:

Its funny that Psychedelic Solution popped up on Vintage Ads. Just two days ago, the store was mentioned by Alex over at Flaming Pablum.

Every Picture Tells A Story

noreply@blogger.com (Karate Boogaloo) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 02:29:00 +0000

Here's a very cool event taking place next Tuesday, June 24, at the Morrison Hotel Gallery on the Bowery. All proceeds benefit VH1's Save the Music:

FROM JOHN LENNON TO JOHN LYDON - A GALLERY WALK THROUGH THE ROCK OF AGES
WITH LEGENDARY ROCK PHOTOGRAPHER BOB GRUEN
Tuesday, June 24th, 6:00-9:00pm

Photographer Bob Gruen will be giving a personal tour of his acclaimed photography show "ROCKERS," 280+ photographs currently on exhibit at Morrison Hotel Gallery Bowery. Bob will take guests on a personal journey through the photo archive, telling the stories behind many of these famous photographs which make up one of the most extraordinary collections in music history. The show spans from 1965-2007 and includes the world's most famous musicians from Elvis to Madonna, John Lennon to John Lydon, Bob Marley to Bob Dylan and everyone in between. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the admission price and twenty percent of any print sales at the event will go to VH1 Save The Music Foundation.

Admission is $25 (all proceeds go to VH1 Save The Music Foundation). For reservations please call 212-677-2253 between 12-7 (Sunday-Wednesday) and 12-9 (Thursday-Saturday). Closed on Monday.

Morrison Hotel Gallery Bowery
313 Bowery Street
212-677-2253
Morrisonhotelgallery.com

I don't think I can be there, but I wish I could be. If you've ever seen Bob's NY Dolls DVD, New York Dolls - All Dolled Up, you may know that one of the extras is Bob talking about specific photographs and giving the back story for each one...who was late or sick at the session, what was happening that particular day. Its probably my favorite part of that DVD. And to get to hear Gruen give the same treatment to this incredible array of photos is really a huge opportunity to learn something beyond the surface.

Keep on digging...