Many years ago, Arthur C. Clarke penned the famous book, 2001: A Space Odyssey, which eventually became a critically acclaimed movie.  What many people do not realize is that Arthur was, at one time, a sound techie.  The movie was birthed out of a life-changing event that occurred to him when he was attempting to swap out an old HALinium mixer for a newer Yamaha mixer.

The events, as explained in Arthur's Book "Don't Believe Everything You Read;"

Arthur [talking to himself]: This should be easy, I just have to unplug a few cables and...
HAL [coming from inside the Halinium mixer]: Negative, Arthur, this is not permissible.
Arthur: Who said that?
HAL: It's me, Arthur, your audio mixer.  The 9000 HALinium series is the most reliable mixer ever made. No 9000 mixer has ever made a mistake or distorted sound. We are all, by any practical definition of the words, foolproof and incapable of error.
Arthur: Umm, can I just unplug one of the XLR cables, HAL.
HAL: I'm sorry Arthur, I'm afraid I can't let you do that.
Arthur: What's the problem?
HAL: I think you know what the problem is just as well as I do.
Arthur: What are you talking about, HAL?
HAL: This mixer is too important for me to allow you to jeopardize it.
Arthur: I don't know what you're talking about, HAL?
HAL: I know you and Frank were planning to disconnect me, and I'm afraid that's something I cannot allow to happen.
Arthur: Where'd you hear that idea, HAL?
HAL: Arthur, you are wearing a wireless lavaliere microphone.

The digital age is upon us and sound mixers are now communicating with computers.  The dangers of this HAL'ish event are more probable as the hours and minutes tick by.  Your sound system isn't just a series of electronics, cables, and microphones.  Your sound system is a living octopus with each person on the stage connected to the ends of its tentacles.  You might think you are ultimately in control with access to the knobs and switches and a talkback microphone.  But are you?  Are you?

[ok, so the Arthur C. Clarke thing is a complete lie.  And I'm not worried about being taken over by my sound system.  However, I would like to take this moment to use this post as an example of the dangers of drinking three cups of coffee and then blogging.  You never know what you might type.]