Explore the complexities of distributed systems in this 28-minute conference talk from SREcon19 Americas. Delve into the history of distributed databases, debunk common myths surrounding the CAP theorem, and understand why network partitions are inevitable. Examine popular consensus algorithms and their role in mitigating risks associated with distributed operations. Learn about the crucial importance of human factors in fully comprehending the systems we build. Enjoy original illustrations featuring playful cats as sysadmins throughout the presentation. Gain valuable insights into the design trade-offs involved in architecting distributed systems and find inspiration to visualize technical concepts through doodling.