SCSI voodoo

SCSI voodoo
 /skuz'ee voo'doo/

   [common among Mac users] {SCSI} interface hardware is notoriously
   fickle of temperament. Often, the SCSI bus will fail to work unless
   the cable order of devices is re-arranged, SCSI termination is added
   or removed (sometimes double-termination or no termination will fix
   the problem), or particular devices are given particular SCSI IDs. The
   skills needed to trick the naturally skittish demons of SCSI into
   working are collectively known as SCSI voodoo. Compare {magic}, {deep
   magic}, {heavy wizardry}, {rain dance}, {cargo cult programming},
   {wave a dead chicken}, {voodoo programming}.

   While ordinary mortals frequently experience near-terminal frustration
   when attempting to configure SCSI device chains, it is said that a
   true master of this arcane art can (through rituals involving chicken
   blood, ground rhino horn, hairs of a virgin, eye of newt, etc.) hook
   up your personal computer with three scanners, a Zip drive, an IDE
   hard drive, a home weather station, a Smith-Corona typewriter, and the
   neighbor's garage door.