I am a happy owner of Sennheiser's PX 200 IIi. There is a less expensive version which doesn't have the microphone and iPod/iPhone controls in the cord. They are over the ear, not around, but the seal is still good enough that ambient noise is at least subdued. I can use them on flights without going up to full volume. I had to go this direction because every headphone with noise cancellation gave me motion sickness. You'll probably pay more than $50, but you get what you pay for.

Are you suggesting that it is Americans' fault for insisting upon a decent standard of living? Perhaps we should adjust our standard of living to match that of the average Chinese employee working at a Foxconn plant making iPods. I'm sure looking forward to 12 or 15 hour work days, 6 or 7 days per week for $100 a month. That's just enough money to pay for rent at my factory-owned dormitory, and pay for my crappy factory-supplied meals. Oh yes, and since the factory owns the dormitory, I'll be homeless the instant I quit my job, too. And this is APPLE, for crying out loud. Imagine what it's like making crappy little Happy Meal toys.

It's all too easy for us to take advantage of overseas conditions like this. All the dirty details remain hidden from the average Wal-Mart customer. All we care about is getting something cheaper, but nobody really takes notice of why it is cheaper.