This isn’t completely on-subject, but I think it’s worth mentioning that engineer Roger Nichols passed away recently.
See: http://www.rogernichols.com or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Nichols_(recording_engineer)
This man was an extraordinary engineer (and pilot, electronic whiz, nuclear scientist, etc.)
I’d also like to add that even with his accomplishments, the US health system has left his family almost completely broke in less than one year of medical treatment.
Oh man. May he rest in peace. I have loved listening to his engingering on the the Steely Dan albums all my life.
Oh, man…this is depressing. 
I remember his EQ columns well. You could toss the rest of the issue, but I hung on to his every printed word. Always lots of great info. Roger was a real innovator–he took the art of engineering up several notches. I once had the honor of hanging with him at an AES show, and he was a total class act.
Well, I’ll tip my wine glass to him tonight as I spin The Nightfly. Goodbye, Roger–gone but never forgotten.
The tape machine grounding story in the Wiki article is a well-known legend. Becker & Fagen were convinced that Nichols had been electrocuted. When they discovered he was fine, they nicknamed him “The Immortal” Roger Nichols, and even included that credit on some of their albums.
A cruel irony now…