If you're developing for iOS, consider the Redpark serial cable: http://www.redpark.com/c2db9.html I have one and have personally made an LED blink from my very own custom-written iOS app. From what I'm told, this is the only general use serial cable which has ever made it through Apple's hardware approval process (which is prohibitively expensive for any "person" who isn't also a corporation). Alastair Allen gave a great workshop at OSCON in 2012 demonstrating to use of this serial cable with custom iOS apps: http://www.oscon.com/oscon2012/public/schedule/detail/24068 Additionally, with the adoption of Bluetooth 4 in iOS devices, that is also another way to connect hardware to custom mobile phone software without having use the Apple hardware partner program.

This must be the inverse to Clay Shirky's rule that as soon as an organization is set up (or in this case: about to be destroyed), the goal for which the organization began shifts to second priority, and the new primary goal is the preservation/perpetuation of the organization.

From here(s):
http://www.ted.com/talks/clay_shirky_on_institutions_versus_collaboration.html
http://www.amazon.com/Here-Comes-Everybody-Organizing-Organizations/dp/1594201536

I met Bob Cassily a few years in St. Louis (where I've lived for 5 years) and I asked him how they deal with lawsuits. He answered: "We have a huge liability policy." Having been there at least half a dozen times, I have to agree that it can be dangerous—if you're stupid. Yes, you can climb over the railing and onto the airplane wing where you might fall 5 stories onto the parking lot. But if you're dumb enough to climb over the railing, then maybe you're doing us all a favor by removing your genes from society. If you've ever seen this place in real life, you'll have to agree that it's just so incredible that it should be kept just as it is. It is absolutely astonishing!

Suggested emoticon for eye-rolling:

Get a white-noise track and when "reminded" about the new rule, just answer that it's not music but a necessary and vanilla-flavored tool to avoid distractions and be more productive. "Think of it like high-tech earplugs—only better." Demonstrate the track if they need convincing. Then either actually use the white noise track (once you get used to it, it does a few extra brain cells available compared with music), or go back to enjoying your previously scheduled music programming (minus the desk-tapping, humming, or spontaneous burst into song to add the much-needed additional vocal accompaniment to what used to be an awesome part of the song before you started belting it out off-key).

If your music player is of the Apple persuasion capable of such things, get the app: White Noise [iTunes link to the light version]

Have you tried logarithms?

Signed,
literature grad student

It's the spin! The stars are the next to go. Robert Charles Wilson warned us about this!