It's not just a coincidence that dramatic changes in nuclear deformation occur over just a few nucleons in the middle of a region defined by proton and neutron shell closures. Some of the most sudden and intense shape transitions on the chart occur in the A = 100 region bounded by the Z = 28 and 50 proton closed shells and the N = 50 and 82 neutron closed shells. These rambunctious nuclides have been studied using various experimental and theoretical approaches. This talk will introduce the turbulent, A = 100 region, citing some of the historical literature. (Mostly) recent experimental results, principally - but not exclusively - from ISOLDE, will then be presented. A special emphasis will be placed on ground-state properties and how they complement the more specific spectroscopic probes.