Gronox

Who doesn’t enjoy a nice warm shower? It’s one of the best things to wake up in the morning and get going for a full day. Showers have evolved from a simple spigot in the wall to include all kinds of option for luxury and enjoyment. Steam showers are becoming more popular and prominent. Imagine flipping a switch and getting undressed while your shower fills with steam to create your very own at-home sauna. Doesn’t that sounds like a great, relaxing way to end your day?

Different shower heads can provide an enjoyable experience for your daily showers. You can get a removable hand-held shower head for convenient cleansing. There are plenty of shower heads that are made to massage with many different settings to provide relaxation to the lucky person in the shower. Many showers have several different shower heads set at different levels within the shower. When you turn on your shower in the morning you are sure to get clean from every angle. Shower tiles can also make your shower special. Some showers have custom tile work to create a beautiful design that really makes a unique and enjoyable experience. If your shower is somewhere that you spend time every day, why not make it memorable?

More about showers and baths on this very nice site.

Hampton Court Palace can be found to the south west of London, on the banks of the River Thames, surrounded by park and impressive grounds. Hampton Court Palace, Henry VIII?s outstanding riverside abode is sited in over five hundred acres of forest & private grounds.

Inciting the feeling of over four hundred & fifty years of legacy, fancy dressed performers can be seen all over Henry eight’s & King William 3’s inspiring own accommodations. The sights, noise and whiff of the magnificent Tudor kitchens where royal banquets were setup for Henry?s court of over five-hundred individuals can also be viewed.

Hampton Court Palace has been split into 6 unique routes or tours. The Maze at Hampton Court Palace which is placed on the Thames to the west of London is in all likelihood the most illustrious hedge maze on this planet. Buy Hampton Court Palace tickets at great prices from Enjoy England.

Hampton Court palace has a horrific heritage & is supposedly haunted by many spirits, including two of Henry 8s wives and a nursemaid to his kids. Hampton Court Palace owners & workers will be on hand to help guests to their booked state quarter for a wine & canap?s function. Costumed staff will declare the evening supper and guests will be requested to find their designated seats for a tremendous 2 course meal with chosen fine red wines.

Hampton Court Palace has over 60 acres of state gardens on top of the 600 acres of royal wood. The palace gardens go back to the sixteenth Century, when the original Privy Garden was laid out between 1530 and fifteen-thirty eight for King Henry the 8th.

I am often asked why I prescribe antibiotics to my patients with rheumatoid or reactive arthritis, late-onset asthma, Crohn’s disease, fibromyalgia and other so-called “autoimmune diseases”. Before I prescribe any medication, I ask myself whether it will help or hurt. All of the “auto-immune” diseases cause severe disability. Conventional medications neither cure these diseases nor stop the progressive destruction that they cause. Doctors prescribe immune suppressives that sometimes have deadly effects. Antibiotics are far safer than the drugs conventionally used to treat these diseases. So, if antibiotics can be shown to help control these diseases, they should be used long before a doctor thinks of using the conventional immune suppressives.

When a germ gets into your body, you are supposed to produce cells and proteins called antibodies that attach to and kill that germ. These diseases are felt by many doctors to be caused by your own immunity. Instead of doing its job of killing germs, your immunity attacks your own tissue. If it attacks your joints, it is called reactive arthritis; if it attacks your intestines, it’s called Crohn’s disease; your colon, it’s called ulcerative colitis; and if it fills your lungs with mucous, it’s called late-onset asthma. I do not believe that your immunity is that stupid. Accumulating data show that all of these conditions can be caused by infection. Many diseases that were thought to be autoimmune turn out to be infections: stomach ulcers are caused by bacterium, helicobacter pylori and others; multiple sclerosis may be caused by HHS-6 virus; rheumatic fever is caused by the bacterium, beta streptococcus, group A; Gillian-Barre syndrome may be caused by the bacterium, campylobacter; Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis by E. Coli, Klebsiella, Bacteroides or Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis; and so forth.

Shouldn’t We Be Concerned About Resistant Bacteria?
The argument that giving antibiotics causes bacteria to be resistant to that antibiotic is reasonable, but it has no place in discouraging people with these diseases from taking them. First, these people have serious diseases that cause permanent damage and death. Second, the treatments that are available are toxic, shorten life, cause cancer, and have to be followed with frequent blood tests. On the other hand, I prescribe derivatives of tetracycline and erythromycin. These drugs are extraordinarily safe and do not require drawing frequent blood tests. If you were to become infected subsequently with bacteria that are resistant to these antibiotics, you would have lost nothing. No reasonable doctor would prescribe erythromycin or tetracycline for acute serious diseases, such as meningitis, pneumonia or an abscess, because tetracyclines and erythromycins do not kill germs, they only stop them from multiplying. Instead, doctors prescribe far more bacteriocidal antibiotics that kill bacteria.

Many doctors criticize my use of antibiotics, but antibiotics are far safer than conventional treatment, cost less, can be administered by a general practitioner, and often cure the condition, rather than just suppressing symptoms. I know that the most physicians who develop these conditions will treat themselves with antibiotics because they know that conventional treatments with prednisone, chloroquine, azathioprine and methotrexate are toxic, and treatment with erythromycins and tetracyclines is safe. However, treatment of many conditions with long term antibiotics is controversial and not accepted by most doctors; discuss your particular condition with your doctor.

How you can help to prevent antibiotic-resistant bacteria:
Suffer through short-term illnesses. Don’t ask your doctor for antibiotics when you have a cold, flu or other self-limiting illness. You may feel miserable, but antibiotics are useless against viruses.

Finish your prescription. If you stop taking a prescribed antibiotic as soon as you feel better, you encourage the development of resistant organisms.

Become a vegetarian. The bulk of antibiotics are given to animals raised for food. As long as humans demand huge amounts of meat, farmers will use whatever means they have to deliver their product economically.

Definitions:
Bacteriocidal Antibiotics, such as penicillins and cephalosporins, kill bacteria. They are used to combat most bacterial infections, particularly acute, serious diseases such as meningitis, pneumonia, a ruptured intestine or an abcess. However, most bacteriocidal antibiotics are not effective against chlamydia, mycoplasma or ureaplasma, bacteria that have no cell walls.
Bacteriostatic Antibiotics such as tetracyclines (including doxycycline and minocycline) and erythromycins (including Biaxin and Azithromycin) keep bacteria from multiplying. Your own immunity is then able to kill the bacteria and remove them from circulation.

Dr. Gabe Mirkin has been a radio talk show host for 25 years and practicing physician for more than 40 years; he is board certified in four specialties, including sports medicine. Read or listen to hundreds of his fitness and health reports at http://www.DrMirkin.com

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How does a stun gun work?

The way a stun gun works is by interrupting the communication signals from the brain to the body. A stun gun does not harm a person permanently; it only temporarily disrupts the way our body functions. A stun gun won’t cause damage in the long run because the electricity that it delivers into a person’s body is very high voltage but low amperage electrical charge. In this way, the charge is not intense enough to cause any long term damage to the person.

So when you press the stun gun against a person and deliver the shock to them, a few things happen contributing to their following [stunned] condition. The electric shock delivered by the stun gun will combine with the electric signals from the brain and this will confuse your body and make it hard to move. Another effect the stun gun can have is causing a person to do excessive amounts of work directed towards nothing in a particularly short period of time. This will use all of the persons energy so that they will temporarily be unable to do anything.

When triggered, the stun gun emits a bright electrical blast that is quite intimidating and makes a very loud popping noise that will attract the attention of anyone within earshot.

Which is better? Stun Gun or Stun Baton?

I would have to say the Stun Baton as it has plenty of stopping power and will shock an attacker if he tries to grip it from you 6″ down from the tip-top. Or if you don’t want something so large, go with the cell phone stun gun. The cell phone stun gun is the neatest stun gun I ever seen and it has plenty of raw power to back it up 180,000 volts plus a personal alarm all in one.

How do I use a stun gun?

To use a stun gun, hold the electrodes firmly against a muscular area of the attackers body such as a shoulder, thigh, or buttocks. You will not receive a shock even if you are touching the person being stunned. To completely subdue the attacker, the stun gun must be continuously applied for a few seconds. More time is required if the person is large, or you are using a low voltage model.

Can Stun Guns be Lethal?

Stunguns can’t be lethal they don’t have enough amperage to kill someone. They only effect the regular muscles in your body not the vital organs such as the heart or any of those organs. They just temporarily stun your muscles and makes a person fall to the ground and make it feel like they fell off a 2 story building and they are very confused and disoriented for minutes afterward. Stun guns do not kill. However, on persons with a heart condition or other medical problems, it is possible. Just as possible as someone sneaking up behind a person with a heart condition and saying ‘BOO’ in his ear.

What are the types of stun guns?

Three types of stun gun weapons are made for retail. The first is a static charge gun which immobilizes people by using an electric current powered by static charge. The second gadget is called a Phase Induction gun, which delivers a charge to living creatures through an electric current achieved through phase induction. The final type of stun gun is the T-Wave gun. This device disrupts the brain’s signals to the body by means of an electric current completed with EMD (Electro-Muscular Disruption).

1. Static charge. Range in volts is between 80,000 and 625,000. Uses 9-20 watts. 80,000-100,000 volts stun guns use one 9 volt battery and 200,000-625,000 volts stun guns use two or three 9 volt batteries.

2. Phase Induction delivery. Range in volts is from 100,000 to 625,000. Uses 7-15 watts. This type of stun guns (Talon brand) uses more effective and efficient delivery of the shock. A 200,000 volts stun gun using phase induction delivery is equivalent to a 300,000 volts stun gun which uses static charge.

3. Electro-Muscular Disruption – EMD – is used in tasers. It’s amore powerful 18-26 watt electrical system. The air taser gun looks like a pistol but uses compressed air to fire two darts that trail electric cable back to the handset. When the darts strike, a five-second 50,000 volt charge is released down the cable, causing the assailant’s muscles to contract uncontrollably. The taser causes temporary paralysis and research suggests there is little permanent risk to health. A laser helps target the assailant and taser works at ranges up to 21 ft. Electrical signals – taser waves or T-waves – overpower the body’s normal electrical signals, temporarily confusing the nervous system.

Advanced taser guns have the advantage of being able to get through thick clothing. If the darts miss, there are two probes in front of the weapon, allowing the unit to be used as a stun weapon. Because these weapons affect the central nervous system by imitating the electrical impulses used to communicate within the human body, a hit anywhere on the body can be effective. Thus, the ADVANCED TASER is much easier to use than sprays or even firearms that require a hit to a specific zone of the body. Air Cartridges are not reusable. You have to replace them after each shooting. Therefore, use Advanced Taser only in emergency situations (unless you have a lot of money to spend for buying cartridges).

Olga Timbol’s web site First Home Security offers a wide variety of stun guns and other self defense and home protection products.

“It’s a complicated offering and we really can’t get through it (sales presentation) in less than an hour.”

That’s what I was recently told by a start-up technology company I was asked by a friend to meet with. My friend, the majority investor in this company, asked me to review their sales presentation – a 50+ slide presentation loaded with features and functionality.

Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, considered by many to be the greatest American speech of all time, defining democracy and our purpose as a nation, took three minutes to deliver. So, why would it ever take anything more than 30 minutes to describe a company, it’s offering, and benefits to a prospective customer? That’s 10 times longer than Lincoln used at Gettysburg!

In my business, we see an awful lot of presentations. Emphasis should be placed on awful. Companies spend way too much time bragging on themselves and extolling their greatness as opposed to focusing on the meaningful ways they aid the interests and alleviate the concerns of their customer. Customers could care less about the things you have, they want the things you do. Customers buy benefits, not features. Features and functionality exist to support the benefits you offer. Get to the benefits first.

I don’t believe there is such a thing as the “right” or “wrong” number of slides in a sales presentation. That being said, never have a sales presentation that is over 10 slides, including the opening and closing slides. If you need more than that to convey your value and benefits, something is wrong. Limit yourself to a number of slides and challenge yourself to get to the main points faster. You don’t have the luxury of time with a prospect; you need to lock their interest early.

An interesting exercise is to make a presentation from the customer’s perspective, addressing information the way they are likely processing your conversation with them. Use the following titles for each slide and compare this presentation to whatever you have today. Which is more meaningful to your prospect?

1. Opening Slide
2. “Who Are You?”
3. “What Do You Do for Me?”
4. “How Do You Do It?”
5. “How Are You Different?”
6. “Why Should I Believe You?”
7. “What Does It Cost?”
8. “Do You Offer a Guarantee?”
9. “How Do We Start Doing Business Together?”
10. Closing Slide

Jim Logan is a direct response marketer that writes, speaks, and consults on the topic of businesses making more money. He may be reached at http://www.jslogan.com

In the dynamics of the self-concept and in the tendency to self-actualization are found the primary causes of Shyness and Social Anxiety Disorder / Social Phobia. It seems that these conditions result from the introduction, in the self-concept, of the elements which obstruct self-actualization. This obstruction is damaging and experienced as discomfort inasmuch as it precludes that a given force, self-actualization, expands. We will detail each part.

Self-concept

What the self-concept is – the set of values and beliefs, conscious or accessible to one’s consciousness, as well as attitudes and opinions the individual has of himself, of himself as regards others, the world and all that one’s mind can reach.

In the case of Shyness or Social Anxiety, the concepts must be examined:

• as regards himself;
• as regards himself vis vis the other person.

Concepts as regards oneself – are predominantly depreciative. Examples: “I’ve got nothing to talk to other people about”, “I am not able to face life”, “I am ugly”, “I am not knowledgeable”, “I am not intelligent”, “I feel unprotected, like a child”, “It is awful when someone belittles me”, “I cannot stand being rejected”, “I am not nice to be with”, “I have no presence of mind”, “I cannot tell jokes or interesting tales”, “Indeed I do have ‘that’ problem”, “I am ashamed by ‘that’ problem of my parents”. Many of these concepts – or similar concepts – fit neatly into what is known as low self-esteem or beliefs.

Concepts of oneself vis vis the other person – this “other” being perceived as stronger, more capable and intrinsically hostile. Examples: “People are ready to jump on me and criticize me”, “Everybody has a boy/girlfriend, except me”, “Nobody gives a hoot about what I say”, “People may not actually come right out and say it, but they do not think well of me”, “Everyone sees me as a child and will try to take advantage of me”, “If I react, he / she will catch me from behind”, “Other folks are always judging me”, “They will make fun of me, depending on what I say”, “If they do not laugh at me in my face, they will surely do it behind my back”, “What if they discover ‘that’ problem?”, “If I blow it or shoot myself in the foot, everybody will know about it”, “No one look at me with respect”.

Previous experiences – For these concepts to be impregnated into one’s self, the person will have gone through lasting experiences.

Self-actualization

Tendency to Self-Actualization – A concept created by Kurt Goldstein in 1940 and later widely used by Carl Rogers, it means a basic force which drives the person forward and onwards. This force has biological and psychological aspects. In the psychological field there are forces which drive us on in several directions. When these forces are obstructed, we feel discomfort.

Social Anxiety Disorder and Shyness – Feelings

Feelings experienced through Shyness and Social Anxiety – These are feelings one experiences when a situation brings up depreciative aspects of self-concept and the threat represented by the other person. Example: the individual whose self concept says “I have nothing to talk to other people about” and he faces someone whom he figures is about to criticize him – will feel discomfort in that situation. In fact, this discomfort is a set of feelings and emotions, threat and danger being rather common – this is known as anxiety. Then this anxiety arises from the obstruction of the force that drives the person to social integration.

Anguish is also highlighted and in many situations it preceeds reactive depression, i. e., it preceeds the depression as a consequence of the situation.

The person feels threatened in social situations or facing the prospect of such situations. In feeling the threat, he/she undergoes physiological reactions which prepare the organism for flight in order to survive. Flight is one’s natural way out in Social Anxiety Disorder because, according to his self concept, the person has no weapons to fight off the threat.

Although there is no physical risk, what is felt is at the same levels of physical risk and can be as high as the risk of losing one’s life. It is a threat of psychological death, of no longer existing as a person, of disintegrated self. At a lower intensity level, one’s impression is that of coming to suffer major losses.

Instintictively, the person avoids threatening situations, i. e., avoids contacts with others. If alone or with relatives or with a friend, then there is no threat or it is lower. A natural consequence is the loneliness of solitude.

Deadlocks – In many situations, flight is impossible. In other situations, the inner force, in the form of desire, of need, is very intense. What to do in such deadlocks? People find adaptive ways. Example: they develop behaviors in order not to allow that the hostility – which they think others harbor towards them – to come to the surface. Among such behaviors are common changes in one’s tone of voice, the use of auxiliary verbs, the use of the verbal conditional tense, milder gestures, verbal economy. Through such actions, they judge that they control the hostility that they think exists in others.

Concretely, they begin to speak in a lower voice, use expressions such as “I wonder whether you could?”, “Perhaps you might be able to”, “Could it be that you might do this?”, “Were it possible, I would like”, and they develop verbal mannerisms, speak little, beat endlessly around the bush before coming to the point, and so forth and so on.

The person who is not able to make these adaptations or regards them as insufficient constantly feels that disintegration is about to take place. In other words, he or she lives in constant apprehension.

It becomes evident that the dynamics of self-concept and self-actualization play a central role in the Shyness and Social Anxiety Disorder. To overcome them the person needs to change these dynamics.

Ruy Miranda is a Brazilian Physician and a former University Professor. He obtained his doctorate in Psychiatry in 1965. In Social Anxiety Disorder website he offers a wealthy of free articles on Shyness and Social Anxiety Disorder / Social Phobia. He is author of the novel “The Saga of a Shy Fellow” which excerpts you may want to read at http://www.social-anxiety-shyness-info.com/novel/sample-online/index.htm

Copyright © 2004-2005, Ruy Miranda, all rights reserved. You may reproduce this article as long as it is in its complete form and that the resource box is included.

You can easily find millions of Articles on internet on top websites like www.ezinearticles.com but there is always a shortage of good and brief articles. In my opinion articles should be always brief and too the point. The people should be able to easily grasp what the author wants to say or discuss. It should not be like long story which kept on going and going.
Good article are always in great demand as people are thirsty of information and knowledge. Good articles are like wells of knowledge and information for them.

Articles may be further divided into many categories such as
Articles related to Science which are further divided in to Technology, Medical Science, Research and Development and list goes on.
Articles related to Spiritual Science
Articles related to today’s world and happenings
Articles related Sports
Articles related to Cultures
Articles related to finance like banking, mortgage, credit and debit cards.
Articles related to mother nature

Thus, articles can be on anything but it should be precise and too the point. People love short articles which save their time. Articles help in improving the thinking power of human beings, it also adds creativity to the life. Whatever development in every field, we are seeing today, is the result of creative ideas.

Ideas should flow freely so that they may synergize and we get a better tomorrow.

Take Care,

CyberForce is Always with You.

Website: http://www.cyberforce.info

Parsons chairs are commonly seen in homes around the dining room, adding a simplistic type of elegance. The great thing about using parsons chairs is that their design blends in with just about any home décor. This piece of furniture is considered “transitional” since the elements of its design covers a number or periods to include Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and Mission.

Although you will find parsons chairs on the market today made from many different materials, the construction method and design remains much the same – honest and simple while offering charm and sophistication. The other fascinating aspect of parsons chairs is that because it has transitioned down through the years, you will find different elements that capture each period. For example, some parsons chairs have the richness of the Mission period, incorporating an emphasis of line in the design. Then, for the Art Nouveau period, the parsons chairs have more fluidity, a scroll back and a unique quality.

With the Art Deco parsons chairs, these tend to be more ornate and detailed. The materials used are colorful, bold, and often exotic. In fact, some of the more expensive Art Deco parsons chairs will be made from leopard skin and black ebony wood. Keep in mind that while there is a full array of Art Deco chairs, when shopping around for a “true” parsons chair, it will generally include just one small element of the Art Deco period.

As you shop around for parsons chairs, you will be focusing your attention on three elements – the back, legs, and arms. With this type of chair, the back is designed in a number of styles, which includes straight, scrolled, or camel backed. Typically, the straight back falls more in the Arts and Crafts period while the scrolled and camel back go with the Art Nouveau period. For the legs of the parsons chair, these too are seen in a number of designs. As an example, it is common to see the legs turned, tapered, fluted, upholstered, Chippendale, and cabriole. Most of the styles lean toward the Art Nouveau period with the exception of the fluted and Chippendale, falling within the Arts and Crafts.

Finally, the arms on the parsons chair are also unique. Now, keep in mind that there are some of these chairs that have no arms but most do. For those with arms, they would be scrolled, upholstered, or simply plain with exposed wood. Again, most arms come from the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods except the armless chair that goes along with Arts and Crafts.

The thing about the parsons chair is that the design is so varied while still being labeled the same type of chair. For this reason, the parsons chair fits so nicely with any décor. If you love the Mediterranean or French look, the turned or scrolled legs, straight back, and exposed arms works great. If you prefer a more contemporary look, you could have a parsons chair upholstered in leather with fluted legs and no arms. However, if country is your preferred look, then the camel back is perfect. Because of the diversity of the parsons chair, people around the country have incorporated them into their dining room design.

Jennifer Akre is a successful business owner of numerous furniture websites such as http://www.GourmetDecorStore.com. Her sites offer product and information about parsons chairs and other furniture and decor for your home or garden.

Initially aired following the 1997 Super Bowl, King of the Hill discovered an instant audience niche that has the followed the show loyally ever since. The brainchild of Beavis and Butthead creator Mike Judge (also known for the hit movie Office Space), King of the Hill is a unique animated series in that it doesn’t rely on “cartoon” suspension of reality or outlandish antics. In fact, the show would arguably be just as successful if it were not animated at all. Nevertheless, it’s Mike Judge (voice of Hank Hill) and his unique brand of humor that make King of the Hill a must-see TV series…

Set in the fictional town of Arlen, Texas, King of the Hill follows the life and exploits of Hank Hill and his traditional nuclear family. Hank is a red-state propane salesman who loves beer and apple pie, but he’s constantly inundated with modern liberalism and grapples with the demands of political correctness. Hank is joined by his wife Peggy (a substitute teacher), his son Bobby (an awkward pre-pubescent youth), and a trailer park-like live-in niece named Luanne… Providing added comic relief to the series are Hank’s off-the-wall friends Bill, Boomhauer (who is inaudible), and Dale (who believes everything is a government conspiracy)… Hank’s Laotian neighbor Kahn (whose daughter Bobby is quite fond of) and his family live next door, providing Hank with a continuing dose of culture shock…

The King of the Hill (Season 4) DVD features a number of hilarious episodes including the season premiere “Peggy Hill: The Decline and Fall” in which Peggy survives falling out of an airplane, but is nevertheless left in a full body cast. Meanwhile, Cotton and Didi have a baby, but rather than care for the child themselves, they push the task onto Bobby… Other notable episodes from Season 4 include “Bills are Made to be Broken” in which Hank convinces the local high school football coach to let Bill play one more game so that he can get back his old school record for touchdowns, and “Naked Ambition” in which Bobby accidentally sees Luanne naked, causing Joseph to eagerly seek his own peek…

Below is a list of episodes included on the King of the Hill (Season 4) DVD:

Episode 61 (Peggy Hill: The Decline and Fall) Air Date: 09-26-1999
Episode 62 (Cotton’s Plan) Air Date: 10-03-1999
Episode 63 (Bills are Made to be Broken) Air Date: 10-24-1999
Episode 64 (Little Horrors of Shop) Air Date: 10-31-1999
Episode 65 (Aisle 8A) Air Date: 11-07-1999
Episode 66 (A Beer Can Named Desire) Air Date: 11-14-1999
Episode 67 (The Hank’s Giving Episode) Air Date: 11-21-1999
Episode 68 (Not in My Back Hoe) Air Date: 11-28-1999
Episode 69 (To Kill a Ladybird) Air Date: 12-12-1999
Episode 70 (Hillennium) Air Date: 12-19-1999
Episode 71 (Old Glory) Air Date: 01-09-2000
Episode 72 (Rodeo Days) Air Date: 01-16-2000
Episode 73 (Hanky Panky) Air Date: 02-06-2000
Episode 74 (High Anxiety) Air Date: 02-13-2000
Episode 75 (Naked Ambition) Air Date: 02-20-2000
Episode 76 (Movin’ On Up) Air Date: 02-27-2000
Episode 77 (Bill of Sales) Air Date: 03-12-2000
Episode 78 (Won’t You Pimai Neighbor?) Air Date: 03-19-2000
Episode 79 (Hank’s Bad Hair Day) Air Date: 04-09-2000
Episode 80 (Meet the Propaniacs) Air Date: 04-16-2000
Episode 81 (Nancy Boys) Air Date: 04-30-2000
Episode 82 (Flush with Power) Air Date: 05-07-2000
Episode 83 (Transnational Amusements Present: Peggy’s Magic Sex Feet) Air Date: 05-14-2000
Episode 84 (Peggy’s Fan Fair) Air Date: 05-21-2000

About the Author

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, a blog where you can find more reviews like this one of the King Of The Hill (Season 4) DVD.

As little as 10 years ago the choices of telephone headsets for your home or office were few and vendors were limited. Now with the advent of new technology and the internet, the choices are great and suppliers are plentiful. Choosing the best headset for your application and finding a company that knows and understands the product with the ability to support your needs before and after the sale has become essential. Choosing the appropriate headset can be accomplished by considering the grade, model, and style of the headset and by selecting an experienced and reputable supplier.

The potential headset buyer first needs to recognize the difference between two distinct grades of headsets. Local office supply stores stock and sell telephone headsets priced from $50-100. These are consumer grade headsets which are considered entry level headsets. These headsets supply hands free communication and provide an excellent solution for 15-20 minute calls while talking to friends and family. The units usually include a single ear headband or an ear model headset with an amplifier. The amplifier is required to make the headset compatible with most telephones. Speaker/microphone volume controls are limited and the headset plugs into a telephone’s handset port. There is typically no compatibility settings on the amplifier, therefore the system may or may not function properly depending on the telephone it is connected to. The quality is typically equal to or below that of your telephone handset.

For the professional, commercial grade headsets offer many upgrades with additional choices in a price range from $150-225, including an amplifier. The quality is much improved over a telephone handset and the durability will provide for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week use and abuse for years to come. There are generally 5-10 amplifiers to choose from, which increases compatibility and ease of use with individual phone systems. In addition, a quick disconnect connection built into the cord allows the user to disconnect and walk away from the telephone without removing the headset.

When choosing a particular model of headset, the first thing to consider is the environment in which it will be used. Most commercial grade headsets are available in two models. Voice tube models are well used in standard to quiet environments such as private offices or areas with less than 10 employees. Noise-canceling models work well in medium to loud environments with 10 or more employees in a common area. The noise-canceling microphone dampens background noise, allowing the user’s voice to be clearer to the other party while blocking out background noise. Noise-canceling models typically cost $10-20 more, but in loud environments, they are a worthwhile investment.

The next consideration in choosing a headset is the wearing style. Telephone headsets come in two styles: over-the-head or over-the-ear. The traditional and most popular headsets are monaural and consist of a headband over-the-head with a speaker on one ear. Headband models provide a snug fit, with an ear cushion resting gently against the ear. They provide excellent sound transmission and quality along with a comfortable fit.

For those who want a lower profile headset that doesn’t interfere with various hair styles, an over-the-ear model is a good choice. Lightweight and hardly noticeable, an ear model rests gently on and against your ear. An ear model, however, can be awkward to fit with eyeglasses and can feel less stable.

For use in an extremely loud environment or for those desiring uninterrupted focus when on a call, binaural headsets are the optimal choice. These headsets are styled as headband over-the-head with speakers covering both ears to block out background noise and other distractions.

Relatively new in the industry are convertible headsets. First time headset users may want to consider these because they provide multiple wearing styles which allow the user to find the most comfortable fit. They typically include a headband for over-the-head use, as well as an ear piece for over-the-ear usage.

The last decision involved in the purchase of a headset is choosing a vendor. If a reputable and experienced vendor is found, the product knowledge, after sale support and full manufacturer warranty they provide will be invaluable. Finding a reputable vendor to supply headsets is easy when you know what to look for. First, only consider vendors that are authorized headset suppliers. Speak with their agents and take note of their ability, or lack thereof, to direct their attention to your specific needs. In addition, ask questions about the warranties supplied, return policies, length of time in business, and their relationship with the manufacturer. Beware, many on-line and auction based companies sell headsets “as-is” with no warranties or returns and many times ship incorrect items or products with missing parts. Simply put, most of those deals are too good to be true for a reason.

Doing some limited research and choosing the right headset vendor will result in a pleasant experience that will provide numerous benefits to the user. In addition to comfort and convenience, studies have shown that efficiency can increase as much as 43% with the use of a headset and that neck and shoulder pain can be reduced up to 41%.

Wayne Baumgartner is the President of Headsets Direct, Inc., an authorized Plantronics headset distributor. Mr. Baumgartner has been providing headset solutions to users worldwide for more than 17 years. Further information on telephone headsets may be obtained at http://www.headsetsdirect.com or by calling Headsets Direct at 1-800-914-7996.